Ok, I found a 56 caddy 2 dr. Ht like I posted before. I'm currently in Springfield Ohio for the next 2 months so I told my Roommate and my Dad to go buy it and left them the money to do so. Now they "me too a little" are worried that we won't be able to find parts for it. I already know this is going to be a really big project, I know its going to need new pans and patching. My Dad's biggest worry is that I'm not going to be able to find parts for it. Are these that hard to find parts for? I'm sure I'll need all new suspension, ball joints etc... I know for enough money you can build anything but like most of us on here I'd like to keep this thing under a modest budget. Ok am I just being a big pussy? Should I just go buy this thing? The work and time is not a problem and the car is all there"Well from what I can see... it is sunk in the mud", I just don't want to get this and find out its going to be a million dollars to get parts for. Thanks guys -Zipp
Yes you're a pussy. Now buy it. Kanter has engine and suspension rebuild parts that seem reasonable. Any Kustom or sled show I'll automatically stand out from the mercs and fords. Keep looking on evil-bay as they always have something you'll need.
Don't be a pussy. Get that car. '56 Caddy 2dr ht has got to be one of the ultimate cars, especially for a custom project. Remember, you don't have to restore the car. Build it as a custom and you will probably want to update some things, so you could subframe it or find a whole later model frame and suspension to slip under it. You will be able to find alot of stuff for it with a little perserverence. What you can't find, or do find that might be too expensive (like trim, etc.), find something else that you can modify and use. Add your own flair to it and make it your own. a '56 Cadillac 2dr ht.........................man, I think I'm turning green.
That 56 coop had better be in your yard here soon. I pulled my 56 coop out of a field nearly 2 years ago, it came with free Black widow spiders and hornets.
check out http://www.coopersvintage.com/ they have a lot of parts at better prices than I could find anywhere.
It's way too expensive to try to fix. Just go ahead and give me the location of the car and I'll take care of it... '56 Cad 2drHT is my ultimate custom... you're a lucky man to find one, now GET IT!
Get it!!!! Mine had NO interior when I got it....no seats, nothing. I drove it home sitting on a bucket. Also no one believes me but my Caddy was built on a budget. Find the right people to help and you can do it. Brian
Caddies aren't that tuff to find part for...or parts cars...most all of the same year 4-doors are perfect for that...I've subbed my '55 (virturally same car) with a '78 Pontiac Trans Am...and moved the brakes to under the floor with a booster...got a '500" Caddy sitting in it right now... R-
Listen to Brian you can do it on a budget,I did. The only things I've farmed out was the stainless trim welding after I chopped it myself and had a pro do the windshield. I drove it 3 hours to the glass shop without ANY glass through 5 separate rain storms. If there is any work you can't do ask around for the old buddy system and trade for it.
Ho-Boy...was shooting for early spring...looks like mid-summer now...still a ways to go... Just rehung the gas tank and mounted the engine for the last time...the front clip is back on and the bumper is mounted solidly in its place...I'm working on radiator supports and radiator now (cross-flow). I've picked up a '66 Buick tilt column (from Owens Salvage)that almost bolts in...but have to lengthen it three inches...so the Buick column shift will work with the Tirbo 400...and it looks like the stock steering wheel will go back on without any probs. And a new wiring kit has been ordered...just can't deal with only five stock fuses... No, nothing to show in pix just yet...I do have pics of the brake mount/booster I can send you if you want...PM me an e-mail address if interested. R-
I sent my buddy to go put some cash down on it and he said he'll pick it up this weekend for me. Man I can't wait to get home and clean all that rat shit out of it, lol. Really it smells really nice from all the rodents in it, I'll have them take some pics for me and I'll post em.
It's got a 500 caddy motor and th400,I will be going with lowering blocks out back and cut a coil or two off the front,pushing to get it ready by the end of April with the paint staying the way it is May go with moon discs on the wheels ,I have the stock hubcaps aswell so I'm not sure yet 40studedude....Lets see a pic of them block huggers
this is who I use. I go there first then look elsewear. Nice folks and they have pretty much everything and don't try to rape you on cost. I've ordered from them 3/4 times now.
How hard was it to get that 500 into that roger? I've got the motor out of my 53 right now and I can either spend the dough to rebuild the 331 or stick something larger in it. Was thinking big block or maybe something as easy as a 365. Those put down enough ponies stock for what I need. I'd like to keep my car stock frame since we're going to be notching the back and bagging the front on stock. Possibly get a disc brake set up but that's it.
Kind of on the same note, MY caddy "We put money down it" still has the stock engine and trans in it. I haven't been able to get the hood open though cause the hood latch is frozen. Should I keep the caddy motor in it or since I'm going to probably put a different subframe and possibly bag it anyway go with a SBC? I already have everything for a SBC, just need to rebuild it but then again I already have the caddy motor also. I've heard the caddy motors can be pricey at times.
To answer both you guys...IF using the stock frame, the late 500" is going to interfere with your stock crossmember...you'll need to "releive" it to make room for pan and oil filter...you can use an Eldo pan...which puts the oil sump at the rear...but those are pricey. Putting a 500" Caddy in a Pontiac sub-frame is not that hard...build a few motor mounts and a tranny mount and you're done...however...and let me make that a huge HOWEVER... As for a sub...it's one hell of a lot of work...once you get that sub mounted where you want it -- TIG welded...nothing LESS -- then you've got a ton more work to do...your innner fender panels "don' woik no mo' "...you'll need to clearance them for the later A -arms...then you'll find you got no place to mount that massive bumper...building new mounting spots/bumper brackets ain't easy...then you'll notice you ain't got no mo' place to mount the radiator cuz the steering box is in the way (depending on what sub you use of course) and the 500" is a longer motor (with fan and pulleys)...and as usual in a situation like this...now the hood closing mechanism needs fixing cuz you had to move it to make room for the radiator and support. ON top of that...you'll need a place to bolt down the front clip...the original spot is gone with the original frame you tossed out. If that isn't enuff to keep you in the garage for a few extra days...what're you going to do with the tranny now...need new mounts for that too...and new shift linkage...and then...you may want to change the brake system...that'll cause some head scratching...then, if you change the column for a tilt...well, need I say more...??? The reason I went to a sub-frame and a '500" is they were cheap enuff to purchase...and I had delusions of grandeur...still do...and I'll finish it and it'll be a killer "sled"... Holdfast...rebuild the original...there's nothing wrong with it...it'll run all day and forever... Zippeay...find an original engine...or rebuild what you've got...if you can...it'll run as good as a 331"...most of the probs with a SBC is motor/tranny/exhaust...but it'd be easier compared to what I did. R-
I've bagged mine with the stock frame. Shockwaves in front and air over leaf in back. The rear was fine but when I added 3" lowering blocks I am getting bad axle wrap so I am in the process of making a triangle 4 link with large bars and going with shockwaves in back. I put an Olds 455/th400 in mine , great drivetrain but a bitch as far as stock frame with the starter on the drivers side so I had to use a mini starter and put in a 68 firebird power steering box. It seems to work great as I've driven the hell out of it for 2 years now
that's what my boy phil told me about...the axle wrap. We're gonna do a 4 Link in the rear with a fat notch. The front I was looking into the shockwaves as well. Any chance I could get some photos of how you did the front. We're doing that first as the motor is out right now. Thepowderhound@gmail.com Roger...thanks. You're telling me what a lot of other folks are. That 331 is an animal. Still runs fine. Just needs a freshen up...127,000 miles on it and 20 years of sitting. Things amazine. Hopefully do a stock rebuild with the EELCO cam.
Hmm... Guess I'll wait to get home and unfreeze the hood before I see what kind of damage the motor is in... Then I decided what I'll do from there. I was told to go with a camaro front end because the stock suspension parts can be a PITA to find. And so I thought well if I'm going to put a camaro subframe in the SBC motor will be easy to throw in there. Now its not sounding as easy as I thought... Guess I'll do a little more research. How much does a rebuild 331 run? Or how much would it cost to rebuild mine?
Holdfast...my bro's '54 below...pulled it out of field, been sitting for over 12 years...replaced the fuel pump and the valve cover gaskets...didn't even change oil...still had anti-freeze in the radiator...checked the tranny fluid, put in some fresh gas and we've been driving it all over hell for the past three years...has over 100,000 on it as near as we can figure..had to chase the mice out of it too...took us 18 months to get it to look like this tho... This shot from the HAMB drags...ran a 19.22 in the quarter... R- Zippeay...around here a complete rebuild on that 331" can be done for about $2000.00...
yeah. Your brothers car is awesome. I remeber talking to you about it a while back. Great car. That's pretty much the story on mine. Sat in a field from 84-04. New gas tank. New fuel pump. New batters. Some mystery oil. Drove home at 70mph no problems. Suckers are built to run. Yeah a complete rebuild is gonna cost you about $2000. I'm hoping mine doesn't run me that much......I don't have it...haa. That $2000 is new internals and all that jazz. I'd plan on spending from $1500-2500. Depends on how much of the work you do yourself or with the help of friends as well. That's the only way mine's getting done. The help of fellow hambers. I'm honestly hoping to reuse a lot of my motor.
I can do a good portion of it myself, my father lives close to me now and he knows more about motor stuff than I do. I'm more of the body/welding/sweep the floor kinda guy, lol. Just kidding, well sort of, I've messed with motors a bit but I know there's a lot I don't know. I'm sure if we decided to keep the stockmotor in there that we can do everything but the machine work. Did all the caddy motors have the batwing aircleaner? I know mine does cause it was sitting the back seat, wasn't sure if only certain motors had those air cleaners on them. Man I can't wait to get home and play
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