Northstar motors...anyone thought about running one?!

while kicking around the ideas of something different i came across this site that has a bunch of hop ups for the cadillac northstar motor. anyone thought of running one, or has one in their car? a 90's cadillac is easily and cheaply obtained on craigslist....or that auction site... heres a fully built one, and IMO it looks awesome. they also make a cast 4bbl manifold too if the blower is a bit much.




anyway, heres an interesting link with more info...

http://www.chrfab.com/index.htm

what are your thoughts on the subject??

 

I had looked briefly at these motors, but I didnt know they made a 4bbl intake for them. The EFI intake comes out backwards.

 

I have worked on a few and they do have some problems. Since they are all alum head bolt threads pull out, and most leak oil around the lower block where it bolts to the main part of the block. They are light and make good power.

 

I saw one in a Roadster at Bakersfield a few years back. He had made his
own intake. Looked good

 

I've seen their '32 roadster in person. NICE work. He's been at this a long time and it shows. They can build you one to fit anything with any style intake. Not for the weak of heart though, priced accordingly.

 

Dude, did you know your user name reads like "gay RAGE r"? Not trying to offend, just thought you would like to know.

As for the engine it is a little too modern for the traditional slant on this board.Really has not been discussed due to that. For a modern engine they are kinda cool.

 

Hey Tman..I'm wonderig why you noticed the "gay RAGE r"..Are you trying to tell us something are you hiding something..
Also are you the cop for the board.."to modern"..
Duane

 

Actually that was a sincere and honest post. His username just read a bit differently than maybe he thought.

About Northstars however, yes they are a modern mill, yes they do not get covered here due to that, yes I even said I like em. No policing needed, just stating the facts.

 

isn't that the caddie motor that has the starter under the intake manifold? mmm! i alway thought having training wheels on a kids bike was "traditional" also, anyone else?

 

You are not allowed to talk about this. Or think about it. Not traditional enough.

 

I remember working on lots and lots of those motors during my time at cadillac. The lower crankcase re-seal always kept food on my table. Haha. After you do the re-seal though, they wont start leaking again for a long time. The thread bolts on the head do pull out, but if you go to any caddillac dealer you can buy the insert kit for a fair price. Other than that they're really solid engines with good stock power..

 

I have a friend who is going to put one in his '59 Caddy 4dr. I am not discouraging this because I have first dibs on the 390. he he he!

 

Jeesus George, what project is this for? Stuff that thing in the altered you mentioned!

 

Looks a helluva lot better than the damned LS motor. Heh-heh. As far as new engines goes; it's a great motor.

 

come on, you know its not supposed to be pronounced like that. it's a name, who cares?

hotrodding is traditional, thats what is being done to this engine. plain and simple, thats why i mentioned it. it's not just someone throwing valvecovers on an SBC. there are many many people exploring different powerplant options, look at the thread about a "green" hotrod.

 

thats hilarious.

 

Those engines,are reported to need very little cooling too. Anyone else verify this? They sure do look better,than a lot of other modern engines. Wasn't hot rodding traditionally about adopting technology, to better the performance?

 

Come on guys give Josh the benefit of the doubt.....I can vouch that he is as traditional as the best of us.

 

thanks skipper! watch how close you get to me...my screen name could be interpreted as being GAY! haha,

 

Stay cool...Tman is just ****ing with you.

 

Those Motors ****in Rip In Sand Rails I Know That Much Is For Sure!!!!!!!

 

That motor's old enough to be in cars available on the cheap in your friendly local wrecking (oops, I mean recycling) establishment or Craig's List or wherever, for those of us that believe the REAL traditionalists are the ones buying the parts they can afford, to build the car of their dreams themselves, with their own labor, and their own ingenuity, in their own garage. It wasn't so long ago that it wasn't considered a real hot rod if the body and/or ch***is was manufactured after 1948. "Late" models were used for customs, I still feel that way. I'd say a pre 48 hot rod built with that motor by it's owner and/or his buddies to the best of his abilities and whatever resources are available to him could be a pretty traditional HOTROD. This is especially true with all the young guys with limited resources because they are just starting out in life, maybe raising a family or going to school, who might have grown up around and might be familiar with these motors. Have you priced some of the speed parts, factory or aftermarket for any of our "Traditional" motors, 1000 to 1500 bucks for a Pontiac TriPower for instance.
Would I rather build my 29 Sport Coupe with one of these motors instead of my factory fuel injected Pontiac? Not on your life, but I don't consider it any worse than using a mini truck frame under your hot rod or putting a modern automatic overdrive in or putting air bags in to "lay frame" (we actually laughed at the cars that were so low at car shows the side pipes could be layed along the side and not actually attached). My 58 Bonneville had Air Ride before the average hot rodder gave air bags any thought. I guess you could say I was cool before cool was cool. I certainly don't see guys being flamed on here when they ask about doing that now.
I guess all I'm saying is lighten up, picking and choosing some things over others to make "traditional" is pretty silly. Not unlike the having the school systems teach kids real history instead of the selective interpretation of it they do now. I for one, don't like it when they teach them a "living Cons***ution" instead of the real thing.
It's all about the form, function, and art of what we're doing. If we don't teach the new kids "on the block" our way of doing things, the language will be lost eventually and the young guys will just start "drifting" away or building more mini trucks or ricers or drifters or just "going on line" playing games.

 

its all good, no worries.

heres another link for those who are interested

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/cadillac/0505em_cadillac/index.html

 

I Have one here that I may be using in a future build. I will say one thing it was a pain in the *** getting it out of the car. So I did it the traditional way . "I FIRED UP THE TORCH" and cut the car away from the engine.

 

There's nothing traditional about using MIG or TIG welders either.

 

You Forgot the Plasma cutter!!!!

 

And no 4 1/2" angle grinders with cut off wheels.

It was buzz box welders, brazing/gas welding, hacksaws, cutting torches...

 

someone call whine one one....
wah wah wah... here comes the whamulance...

figure out where you are...

The HAMB is dedicated to spreading the gospel of traditional hot rods and kustoms to hoodlums world wide. That’s right – TRADITIONAL. And we aren’t talking Beach Boys and poodle skirts here fellas. If you are into a-side 50’s pop, lawn chairs, ruler contests, and all things that make hot rodding warm and cozy then you might want to find another message board. If you aren’t sure what we mean by “traditional”, then you might think twice as well. If you’ve come here to set a rep, talk some ****, and make some fun then you had better turn around right now. We aren't patient.

Get it, got it, good...

 

They have the BOP pattern, so you can use a 200-4r or most any v6 camaro trans.
just keep that pos away from me.