News:

Reminder to CLC members, please make sure that your CLC number is stored in the relevant field in your forum profile. This is important for the upcoming change to the Forums access, which the board has delayed until May 15th to give users who are not CLC members time to sign up for the club, More information can be found at the top of the General Discussion forum. To view or edit your profile details, click on your username, at the top of any forum page. Your username only appears when you are signed in.

Main Menu

1959 Cadillac Disc Brake conversion

Started by Ben Acheff, May 13, 2009, 11:33:01 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Print
Go Down Pages 1 2 3
User actions

TJ Hopland

#40
July 02, 2009, 07:21:23 PM
Glad you got it done.  Sounds like you got the same results i did, wondering what you got yourself into and if it would ever be done.  Also looks like you got the same end result of why did I not do this a long time ago.

I ran into the same issues when I was looking into conversions.  No reply from many of the companies.  Thats one reason I went with Scarebird, for the most part they only sell a bracket so you know from the start its going to be up to you to get the rest of the parts together and working.  I have been down the 'complete bolt on kit' road before and just like you made several trips to several stores to get the job done.  Just one of the joys of cars. THe thing that was most annoying about my last project is it was a 66 mustang, not a rare Cadillac.  You would think that if there was a proper kit for any car that would be one of em.
73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI, over 30 years of ownership and counting
Somewhat recently deceased daily drivers, 80 Eldo Diesel & 90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

The Tassie Devil(le)

#41
July 02, 2009, 08:20:49 PM
Great news Ben.

There is nothing like having reliable brakes that will pull up a vehicle when you really have to, and know that you will stop.

Bruce. >:D
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Christian

#42
July 28, 2009, 06:48:58 PM
I have a '59 Cadillac Sedan de Ville that I am starting a resto-mod on.  I am dropping in a Smeding 540 BBC 620hp/680tq and a built 700R4 tranny.  I haven't decided on the rearend yet.  I am looking to upgrade the complete suspension and braking to handle the increased hp and offer much better performance.  I live in Montana at 4100 feet altitude in the Rocky Mountains and often road trip on the Interstate.  It's a 4850lb sled but I want to get the best performance out of it within reason.  I will fit 245/40R18 up front and 275/40R18's in back.  What direction should I go?

35-709

#43
July 28, 2009, 10:08:29 PM Last Edit: July 28, 2009, 10:11:19 PM by Geoff Newcombe #4719
Well ---- if you have read all of this thread you already know where to go for disc brakes.
 
I am also a member of the Modified Chapter of the Cadillac & LaSalle Club --- http://www.modifiedcadillac.org/  --- and you will probably be better off posing your questions there.  However, I will say the same thing here that I would say over there ---- I do not for the life of me understand the mad rush to put a Chevy in a Cadillac when you can go to someone like MTS (Maximum Torque Specialties) and get a built 472/500 inch Caddy (and have them bore it bigger if you want), or build it yourself with their parts, that will be more than happy to twist the tail of that Smeding.  So many modifiers spend grand sums of money building their cars and then cheap out or do it the easy way with a Chevy engine when they could have a torque monster Cadillac engine in their Cadillac.  It will have more class and panache and be worth more in the end than a Cadillac with a Chevy in it.  The only thing I can figure is that modifiers do not know about MTS and some of the other Caddy engine specialists, nor do they realize what a monster engine they can build out of a 472/500 ---- for the same weight or a little less than that Chevy BB!!

Have a fun time with your project!

Geoff N.
1935 Cadillac Sedan resto-mod "Big Red"
1973 Cadillac Caribou - Sold - but still in the family
1950 Jaguar Mark V Saloon resto-mod - Sold
1942 Cadillac 6269 - Sold
1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible - Sold
1950 Packard 2dr. Club Sedan
1935 Glenn Pray - Auburn Boattail Speedster, Gen. 2

STDog

#44
July 28, 2009, 10:24:10 PM
Quote from: Geoff Newcombe #4719 on July 28, 2009, 10:08:29 PM
nor do they realize what a monster engine they can build out of a 472/500 ---- for the same weight or a little less than that Chevy BB!!

A lot less weight, especially with the Aluminum heads now available.

walt chomosh #23510

#45
July 28, 2009, 11:18:05 PM
Ben,
  I put discs on my 55CDV a couple of years ago,and,it's the best thing I've ever did to my car! Wish I had done it sooner! I had two panic stops in the last couple of weeks,and,I just don't think I ever could have made the stops with my OEM drum brakes....and I did the stop with confidence!(at least one of them!)...walt...tulsa.ok

Christian

#46
July 29, 2009, 12:36:59 PM
I looked into MTS & Potter for 500ci Cadillac builds, they put together some sweet engines with tons of torque.  What made me decide on a 540BBC from Smeding was: expense, availability of aftermarket parts, experience and dyno tuning of stroker motors.  With 620hp and 680tq on 91 octane pump gas that should bring plenty of fun to the party and I can dress it in Cadillac attire.  Since I'm not restoring the car and never plan to sell it (was grandma's since new in '59) I'm not worried about resale value.  For all practical purposes, it will "look" very Cadillac.
Print
Go Up Pages 1 2 3
User actions