1978 SedanDeVille Mint Worth HOT RODDING?

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Goldies Gold Plating - 30 Apr 2004 18:58 GMT

I own a 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville in immaculate condition that runs
EXCELLENT. It has 140,000 original miles and a 425 cu.in. engine. I am
looking to build an old model "hot-rod" that's not seen every day. Would
this vehicle qualify? If so what's involved and who can I turn to for
engine/suspension and drive-train parts? It seems Caddy motors are a
forgotten breed when it comes to performance upgrades. Is this because it
shouldn't be done? I'm 37 and don't want a buzzing rice burner all the
"kids" have.
I appreciate American muscle and love the looks on peoples' faces when
they see a 4,000 pound-plus car lighting its tires and taking off.
I've heard it said that there is NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT and I
totally agree.
Hitting the gas and going fast without waiting for a turbo to spool-up
or worrying that your horizontally mounted motor/tranny combo in your fwd
car is going to fall out is comforting.
ANY ideas and/or suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Freddy fred@goldiesplating.com

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Dick C - 30 Apr 2004 20:05 GMT

Goldies Gold Plating wrote in alt.autos

> I own a 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville in immaculate condition that runs
> EXCELLENT. It has 140,000 original miles and a 425 cu.in. engine. I am
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> car is going to fall out is comforting.
> ANY ideas and/or suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

The Caddy is a very heavy luxury car. And if kept in immaculate condition
it may become a collectors item worth more than it is now.
And if you hotrod it, when done you will have a heavy luxury with a more
powerful engine.
I have heard of caddy engines being used in various hot rod applications,
but not hot rodding the caddy itself. The first thing you want in a hot
rod is a relatively light weight car, after all the underlying motivation
is acceleration. And the more the car weighs, the slower the acceleration.
You can buy a lot of 60's and 70's cars that are far more appropriate for
hotrodding than the slug you have.

Signature

Dick #1349
Damn it . . . Don't you dare ask God to help me.
To her housekeeper, who had begun to pray aloud.
~~ Joan Crawford, actress, d. May 10, 1977
Home Page: dickcr.iwarp.com
email: dickcr@comcast.net

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txgizmo@earthlink.net - 01 May 2004 01:40 GMT

Many years ago - probably around 20 - there was an article in either
Road and Track or Car and Driver (probably the latter) about a
supercharged Seville that used to frequent Mulholland Drive in Los
Angeles and shock other street racers. It was actually kinda cool (if
you like outrageous).

>I own a 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville in immaculate condition that runs
>EXCELLENT. It has 140,000 original miles and a 425 cu.in. engine. I am
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>Freddy fred@goldiesplating.com

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karl haas - 01 May 2004 07:44 GMT

How about the boxy Seville body hung onto a Grand National chasiss
that was in the original Bonzai runs(not legal)?
Nah, that ain;t a Caddy

Karl

> Many years ago - probably around 20 - there was an article in either
> Road and Track or Car and Driver (probably the latter) about a
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> >
> >Freddy fred@goldiesplating.com

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j.shavish - 01 May 2004 15:56 GMT

> How about the boxy Seville body hung onto a Grand National chasiss
> that was in the original Bonzai runs(not legal)?
> Nah, that ain;t a Caddy

hi Carl i never heard of the bonzai caddy but i heard of the bonzai
cat http://www.bonsaikitten.com/ it is funny but a cat will go in a
jar and like it my friend john,S cat went in to a jar to he has a
picture of it

> > Many years ago - probably around 20 - there was an article in either
> > Road and Track or Car and Driver (probably the latter) about a
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> > >
> > >Freddy fred@goldiesplating.com

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karl haas - 01 May 2004 23:32 GMT

I'm afraid to let the webmaster know my name!

Mr X

> > How about the boxy Seville body hung onto a Grand National chasiss
> > that was in the original Bonzai runs(not legal)?
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> > > >
> > > >Freddy fred@goldiesplating.com

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