I've done torn up my original motor, had it rebuilt, tore it up again, bought a replacement, and it's tore up too. So... who cares? I do! Why? I'm about to start trying to get my ole barge back on the road. It's a LONG process this time, as I'd rather get it right, then just get it done. I know it needs some body work, brake work, trans rebuild, new window seals all around, new door seals all around, new trunk seal, new carpet, new dash cover, new headliner, new seat covers, and a coat of shiny black wouldn't hurt either. Chrome is presentable, and stainless is beautiful, but some of that's going bye bye with the body work, as I just want to smooth it out a bit. But the motor, is my biggest worry. I done paid 7 grand to get right the first time, took damn near a year to build it and set it up, and two years later here it was smokin like a cheap cigar again, with torn up cylinder walls, shredded pistons, and leaky valves. That block was so messed up I personally enjoyed busting it up with a sledge hammer!!! So much for numbers matching! But... I've got a "newer" 61 or 62 block, that has, according to the seller, only about 60k on it. The rings must be bad, because it's got BAD blowby from the breather cap and downdraft tube, but no (ok minimal) smoke from the exhaust. I want it built right, so I can hammer down, and not mess it up. So I can pull a trailer when I wanna, and not blow a gasket. SO I can cruise cross country with the family, and not worry about getting stranded. So... here's my plans for making it (closer to) bulletproof. I want electronic ignition, pertronix II, with a rev limiter. I want hardened valve train and seats, so unleaded won't be a problem. I want new fuel lines, and tank lined, new electric fuel pump(to clean up the engine bay too) so it can handle the ethanol. I'm debating on installing a fuel injection unit, one to replace the carb, but not the entire intake. Something I can throw the old pancake air cleaner over and totally hide. I want chevy pistons and connecting rods, to lighten the rotating mass, and improve the capacity to turn higher rpm's without damage. I want a nice mild performance cam, don't need the lope, just want the torque and hp curves to match, instead of the stock form with torque down low, and hp at the "I'm gonna blow up" range. I'm debating whether or not to rebuild the stock 4 speed hydro, with a 700R. The hydro goes to 1to1 in 4th, and most 700's have a 1.00:.73 or so overdrive. Is it worth it for highway cruising? and although I've read the details on what's needed for the swap, such as adapter plate, new smaller starter, bending the trans kickdown, shortening the driveshaft, I wanna know... is it worth it? And... if I can't find somebody to help me build a fantastic 390, that won't grenade in 2 years or so, then I wanna go bigger. I've looked at chevy 454's, 496's, 502's and such, even have a lead on a 502 marine motor. But again, looking at rewiring, manufacturing engine mounts, finding a suitable transmission, shortening the driveshaft, trans crossmember building, and on and on.... it's a lot of work. Plus I'd really rather keep it appearing stock, and I truly love the sound of a 390, and they are one of the best looking engines I've ever seen. So... who knows who is the best at building these 390's? Not just who knows a great machine shop, but actually build it, break in the cam, seat the rings, and make sure there aren't problems, and set it up so I can drive it. Because if I have to pull and reinstall based on another's lies, or incapacity to build a great motor, somebody is gonna be swimmin with the fishes. So whose up to it? Who does awesome work, not just basic machine skills. If it's you, lemme know about it, if it's somebody you know, gimme a name and number. Thanks Chris
my question is how/why do you keep tearing motors up? I assume you're not drag-racing it, or running it at Bonneville. I'm pretty tough on most of my hot rod engines, and I can say I've never had occasion to "tear up" any of them. Best engine builder is yourself from a standpoint of nobody will care more than you will, nobody will take the time to do it right as much as you SHOULD, and finally, there's nothing more fulfilling than to know you did it yourself. dj
lost the password a while ago, and nineteensixtycaddy is my e-mail address, so I typed it in out of habit, before realizing I was typing a book! As to why I keep tearing motors up... that's a great question!!! The original was old... had been sitting for years, I swapped fluids, cleaned it up, and drove it for 2 years. It gave warning, with smoke, and I drove it till it died saving money for a rebuild. Found two torn up cyinders, the rings had gone, pistons grenaded, and the rods tore into the water jacket... that was my smoke!!! But the dang thing was still sort of running. Then came the rebuilt motor. Ran like a top for about a year, so I figured it'd been broken in sufficiently. Then...drove it near every day, 20 miles each way to work, out of necessity. Occasionally, I had to put a young punk in a honda in there place, or the normal camaro, mustang crowd. So.. I'd let the secondaries open up on the carb, watch the gas guage go down, and watch them dissapear in the rearview. Again, 6 months of "abuse" like this, and no problems. I'd told the builders, I wanted to be able to hit the strip if I want to, and tow a boat or small camper too. So... they told me, it was built with a mild cam, hardened seats, and a mild port and polish. I then towed a very small trailer, when moving from Chicago to the Wilmington, NC area. Bout 2 hours from wilmington, started puffin white smoke from the breather tube and downdraft tube. So at 1.5 years after rebuild... it's smoking and making noises. Being married at the time, wife said NO MORE $$$ on that damn car. So... drove it occasionally to shows, cruize ins, and on rainy days to work. Eventually, it was dying, running weaker and weaker, making banging noises, telling me the rings and valves were going. Had it checked out for free, bad compression on three different cylinders. Bought another engine in Canada, 60k from a triple carbed Eldo. Guy ran it on the test stand via video, ran great, no smoke. But he wanted to keep the carbs and intake. So.. no problem. Put on my intake and carb, put it in my car, and 5 minutes later, smoking like a champ. So.. I tore into my original engine, and found the same two cylinders torn up again! and a third cylinder too! Block was really messed up, metal everywhere, chunks missing from the cylinder walls. Drove on the "new" smoking engine one day, and the trans went out on me. Not sure what exactly happened, put her in reverse to pull into a parking spot, made a grinding noise like crazy, but pulled in anyway. Fired her up to try and go home, and nothing. The connections are good externally, but it's like nothing his happening inside the trans. So... I parked her. Nasty divorce later, still dealing with E.D., remarried, kept primary custody of son, had a new daughter, life goes on, and I've still got the ole caddy. So.. I know the engine smokes bad, but runs. Wanna do a fantastic rebuild of the engine and trans, but have two great shops here local to work on the trans. Engine... I have no idea. I've done engine swaps, lots of wiring work, and here lately been working like crazy with wiring problems on a 95 blazer that I put a new motor in. Can't get it right either, thinking time for a new wiring harness and or computer. But I've never done more than intake swaps, oil pan and valve cover replacement, and replace accessories on an engine. I've never had the heads off an engine. I know nothing about rebuilding an engine. I fear I'll do a worse job than the dummies I paid the last time. But from the standpoint of caring about it... the caddy is truly my first child! My son and daughter... of course I love em... and I'd never compare them to a car... but car guys know what I mean. So... I still ask... no beg... for a great shop in NC or surrounding areas that can at least give me a hand in getting things moving in the right direction. peace chris
btt, I've had a few suggestions, some even out to texas, but I'd really like to know someone whose GOOD at this, and on the east coast.
If it's the same two cylinders you think it is the Carb flooding those two cylinders?? You using the same Distributor too?
i may be wrong, but i think i saw an article about a 390 caddy rebuild in a hot rod deluxe mag couple years ago. maybe R&C? do a simple search thru mags sites. i remember it being top notch work.
Is there anything special about the 390 that would be dificult for any reputaple machine shop? I have been pondering the mill for my "the one" build and I like the looks of the 390 but want it to be fairly fast at the drags but dead reliable for road trips.
390 is just a bored and stroked 331, I had hardened seats and new guides put in my heads and I rebuild the rest of the engine. I think any good machine shop could build one without a problem. I have not run my engine yet,getting close but not yet. But from what I have read Its a very dependable engine.
My $.02 I have a 57 Cadillac with a 58 365 in it. I have an older cousin that had a little first hand experience from back in the day working on Caddys. He gave me some things to watch out for. They have a problem with cracked heads near the center exhaust port. It's a heat cycle issue. When they crack you getr small amounts of coolant into the oil. The oil pumps have vacuum pumps built onto the bottom of the oil pump. The pump housings can get nasty and catch the vanes of the pump which can possibly jamb the oil pump or the debris can clog the pick up tube. As a result I checked the oil every time I drove it and I caught the grey sludge that was the result of a cracked head before it could frag my engine. When I rebuilt the engine I removed the vacuum pump. All has gone fine since (about 9 years ago). I would still not want to daily drive it due to the heat cycles on my currently good but 50+ year old heads. I do daily drive a 65 Pontiac Star Chief, I have no problem daily driving an old car. Hope this helps. Carmak
This is an old thread but let's resurrect this zombie! Keith Tardel of Rex Rod and Chassis in Johnson City, TX rebuilds them.
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