Projects I drove 7 hours for a $100 Cadillac engine.

This little engine was complete when he took the pictures but was only a short block when I got there. No explanation for the missing parts, but for 100 bucks it is probably worth the drive.



Got her on the stand.



Pretty sure that this little engine was leading the Southern 500 when Fireball Robert crashed him into the wall and the nasty wreck broke a chunk off the block. I heard they welded it back together in the pits and won the race. Thats what I heard, anyway.



Most of the pistons looked like this.



She turned out to be a 1955 331, which is perfectly fine for what I am doing, and the block and crank were standard. Cadillac used some very good quality material back in the day, and it looks like the block is actually going to be OK. Gonna need 7 rods and a pair of heads, but it is a start.



This little engine and a T-5 are going to end up in the '34 as soon as I get the '36 done.



See ya, -Abone.

 

Love your plan. What trans do you plan to use? And that coupe body- how much chop on it? Enjoy the fact that you use the " not common" engines in your builds.

 

Sucks some of the pieces went missing before you got there, but not a whole lot of 50's Cadillac engines just sitting around for $100 anymore either, gotta get what you can get, when you can get it.

'34 body looks pretty nice though.

 

Using my amazing power of intuition, am I correct in assuming the '34 is where you're using the '34 X member kit I brought down to you? How's your foot by the way?

 

What? No Pontiac in this one? Welcome to the world of vintage Caddy , hang on to your wallet

 

There's a song in there somewhere.

"I drove 7 hours for a $100 Cadillac engine
Cuz you don't find those little engines just hangin' on trees..."

 

Here's another one on CL, only a little farther..

I'll put it on a pallet for ya..

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/d/oakland-390-cadillac-block-motor-engine/7506182047.html

 

Yep, that is where it is going. I thank you again, by the way. The ankle is all better, was just a minor inconvenience.

-Abone.

 

The '55 331 for my roadster has been broken and repaired in the same place...

 

Seams like a fair price

 

This is gonna be good.

 

Very cool. I love those who put on a bit extra effort than just getting a crate sbc or sbf. Should awesome when done.

 

Blower? Please say yeah.

 

Fireball Robert had a thing about Cads, smashed as many as he could, That’s what I heard anyway.

 

Speaking of Fireball Roberts, I spied this tribute car at the Townsend show this weekend. All hand painted lettering. A top notch vehicle.

 

If you were buying gas in California, you'd have a $400 engine.

 

Welcome to the sickness.

 

isaw fireball race in early 60,at daytona, said he got his name ''fireball'' as a pitcher for Uof Fl. i found a complete w/trans 55 331 eng on e-bay, $500.01, won it by a penny at last second. had to drive 9 miles to pick it up, is in my 34 rdstr. now. IT'S BIG, tight fit...

 

GASP!!!! You mean you're NOT going to use a 350 crate motor with a 350 turbo transmission???
I likes it. When you're done with that motor, you could have prolly bought about 3, 350 crates but really.....what the fun in that? Miss ya.

 

Are the rods bad just because of rust?
If so, I'd clean them, glass bead them and go over them carefully, they might not be so bad as they seem at first blush.
After all, you probably won't be as tough on them as Fireball Roberts was.

 

You should call him on the heads and manifolds, he may give them up if you just ask.

 

Awesome

 

I DROVE 7 HOURS FOR A $100 CADILLAC ENGINE.

For you that's like driving down to the local parts house! you my friend are a Road Dog! HRP

 

Posted some links to a few Cad parts over on the Ebay section.

 

He could not lift the complete engine to take it to the scrapper, so he started peeling parts off it and scrapping what he could get off, he just didn't want to tell me. In the end, it doesn't matter, I had a fun trip and didn't get murdered, which was nice.

-Abone.

 

You want the 390 heads anyway.

 

Quite a few 390's and 472's over on Marketplace. I was surfing around over there yesterday and found some interesting Cad parts..

 

Great score! There's nothing prettier than chromed stock valve covers......

 

Always a great day when you don’t get murdered.

 

There's a set of 390 heads in Shawnee, KS for $120 if anyone is interested. (FB Marketplace)