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I'm trying to get my 56 together to drive to the Lake Lure / Chimney Rock event in a few weeks. This weekend I got all the brake line & hoses on & filled & bled the system. This week I will be wiring it up. I.m anxious to hear the 472 Caddy engine run for the first time.I stil have to find a driveshaft . The 400 trans is a long tailshaft one so my drive shaft will be slightly les than 4 feet long.I have always been able to find a shaft to fit all the other projects I've worked on , but I'm thinking this time I might end up using half of a two-piece GM driveshaft. Guess I'll spend some long nights in the garagenext couple of weeks.
I have the 500ci and TH400 in my 49. When it came time for a driveshaft I just went down and had one built. I am running a 9" out of a 1060 F-100. I just went to the local driveshaft shop and they told me how to measure for it. I took them back the measurements and they fabbed it up. New "U" joints, slip yoke, balancing, etc. The whole thing cost me less than $200.
You'll like the Caddy power. Great engines, relatively light weight, tons of torque, fairly efficient to drive (if you can keep your foot out of it) I just can't seem to take off from a light without the tires breaking loose though.....lol
Bobby
Glad to hear good stuff about the Caddy engine. A couple of my buddys have owned Caddys in years past and they tell me they got decent gas mileage . As good as or better than most Chevys with a 350. I,ve laughed a couple of times at guys who have seen the engine in my truck and didn't know what they were looking at. I painted the engine back the dark blue that came on it . Before I put the Delco electronic distributor in it I had a two or three people conrgatulate me for putting a Ford engine back in it. I'm thinking about trying to disquise the distributor and run a Ford aircleaner on it . Some blue oval decals on the chrome valve covers would help . I've also had several guys ask if I would install a Volare front suspension in thier truck like I did in mine.