Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Don,

That '26 T was a good illustration of how they were built "back than." It's a lot different than a lot of folks think. Split bones and no drop on the axle. I was a bit surprised to see the coil-overs. Later addition, maybe?

A little OT, but it's amazing how much that 51 Cad V8 looks like a small block Chevy. When I first glanced at the picture, that's what I thought it was.

Seems like I remember reading that the same engineers worked on both engines in the 40's and 50's and that the Chevy was just a refinement of the Cad design.

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

A little OT, but it's amazing how much that 51 Cad V8 looks like a small block Chevy. When I first glanced at the picture, that's what I thought it was.

Seems like I remember reading that the same engineers worked on both engines in the 40's and 50's and that the Chevy was just a refinement of the Cad design.

That would be Ed Cole, brilliant engineer/manager who led the transformation of Chevrolet from a stodgy family car to performance legend. If you do a web search there are lots of articles/bios enumerating his move from Cad to Chev in the early 50's.

Thanks for jogging my memory, Bob. I should have remembered his name, since he was so important in the development of the 55 Chevy.

My memory just ain't what it used to be!

Mike

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

Thanks for jogging my memory, Bob. I should have remembered his name, since he was so important in the development of the 55 Chevy.

My memory just ain't what it used to be!

Mike

The good news is we give you lots of company!

Yep, back in the '50's and early '60's Caddys were one of the most popular OHV swap engines, right along with Olds. I think it was Bill Frick (?) who pioneered the Fordillac swap. They were fairly lightweight, pretty compact, and very potent for their time.

Jack, I was surprised to see the coilovers too, but on closer examination found out they were just shock overload springs, the kind that clamp over the shocks. Dan asked me the same question, why he had a leaf spring and also those, and my only guess was that he found the car sat too low and put those on to boost the height. I didn't get a chance to ask him, but will do that the next time I see him. It could be that he added them before they left for the Nationals. Perhaps carrying a passenger and luggage set the car down a little lower?

The owner, Phil, was my hero when I moved to Cape Coral in 1985. It was the first rod I saw on the street, and he drove it almost every day. He was just starting his real estate business, and I would see him driving to work fairly often with a white shirt on and his necktie flying in the breeze as he drove the roadster to work. I swore when I got my '27 running that would be me, and pretty much that is what I did...........except I haven't worn a tie in a lot of years.

Don

BTW, anyone else notice that this thread has been viewed over 100,000 times!! Got to be some kind of record for CHR.