TiredIronGRB's 1955 Cadillac Build

I drove to Detroit and picked this up a couple weeks ago...





It came with a brand new set (5) Firestone wide whites and this "Air Ride" suspension system (not installed).



It's a roller, no engine or transmission...the plan is for a blown 350 and a TH400.

 

I cut the rest of the center section of the trunk out, will go back without a tire well



Made a crossmember for the airbag mounts and tacked the lower mounts to the axle. I'll drop the axle out and weld all the mounts up and replace the axle and pinion seals.

 

Went through the rear axle ('75 Chevy truck 12 bolt) and put all new seals, bearings and brakes. Welded in the airbag crossmember then mounted and plumbed the rearbags.





Here's a short video of the ride height and down to the bump stops.

 

After installing the bags and bump-stops I think I have a some what safe scrub-line, when I'm flat on the bump-stops the frame is 2" off the ground. When I'm aired up to ride height I can deflate the tires and have about 1.5" of clearance, So as long as I don't lose air pressure on the bags and have a flat at the same time I should be ok.



I've started fabbing up a new trunk floor, will mount the compressor and airtank on the top shelf area.

 

Nice job! Thanks for posting, i'm bagging my '54 this winter. The way you did yours is almost exactly the way I was planning on doing mine. Glad to see it all works out and looks great with the car down!

 

Nice. Gary

 

Nice & clean...

And that's what worries me about air bags...cuz I tend to put lots of highway miles on my Caddy (over 3500 since May 16th of this year to October first)...that it's one more thing to worry about out on the highway, unless you want to carry an extra bag with you all the time...which I don't, nor would I want to change it alongside the road...

I think I'll just stick with my three inch lowering bloks...those get me four inches of ground clearance anyway...and that works fine for highway driving...

R-

 

I'll carry a short piece of 4X4 to wedge in just incase

 

Nice looking piece.Looks like a solid car to start with.Good Luck with your project.

 

you sure made that look easy

 

Love a Cad, Looks good! Keep us posted

 

Wow, that's an awfully nice car to start with! What's the rest of the plan?

 

It had a little rust in the floor pans and trunk, and it has some filler in the lower quarters. I plan to make it a solid (fun) driver but no show queen, probably won't even paint it.

I know some will puke but I plan to build another blown SBC with a 400TH behind it to put in it.

 

Thanks for sharing, I was wanting to do the same with the 56 that I just picked up.

 

The '56s are my favorite I've had several. I found a '56 Convertible in an old garage here in town and have been trying to get it for about a year now.

 

After fitting all the trunk panels I removed them again to make airtank and compressor mounts.


I used some plastic electric conduit and fittings to protect the airlines.

I fabbed some shock mounts and installed the front bags.

 

Here's some pics of the trunk panels after final fitting, I'll remove them one more time to paint them and put bedline on the rest of the trunk area.

 

You mean like 'blower through the hood' blown?

 

Yes, but may not run a hood. I did a '56 Fleetwood like that and it looked prretty sharp.

 

Gotcha - to each his own, but I just lost all interest in it - I'm a Cadillac junkie but just can't dig it.

I remember your sedan from the rumble so I know you'll do nice work on it.

 

It's really to early to say for sure on the engine, I have a early model 350 4 bolt main that I haven't even tore down yet.

 

nice work bro !

 

Looks like a sweetheart of a car to me. Nice pick up..I'd say.

 

Killer work. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

 

Damn,I watched that one on ebay untill it was pulled without ending.Looked like a great start.Lookin killer,keep us posted!!

 

I was also looking at it on evil bay. Much nicer start than i had. I used shockwaves in the front. Easy set up and didn't have to fool with relocating the shock as I wasn't / haven't made up my mind on suspension.

 

Got the engine and transmission mounts fabbed up. Headers fit like a glove.



Driveshaft looks like it will clear the floor but I may have to run a two piece with a mid-shaft bearing.

 

Painted the trunk floor pieces and installed the rest of the air system.

 

Nice build. Keep the updates coming..............

Brian

 

I agree.......The long,low, look is accentuated by the stock massive hood. Just my opinion........