Project Chevalade

[Chevalade]

This is what I am starting with.....it will be a labor of love....81 GMC

Lots of plans for this truck.

[team39763]

That's a nice color on there.  What exactly did you have planned for it?

[JJSZABO]

Looks like a good platform to start with - good luck

[Skunksmash]

Oh man please don't tell us you are going to do some kind of escalade body mod to this thing...

[camdenoilchange]

Oh man please don't tell us you are going to do some kind of escalade body mod to this thing...

x2! what are your plans?

[Chevalade]

Plans are for a turbocharged 500 caddy. I am on THE cadillac forums. I know where to get every possible performance part for it.

Hoping to put around 11-1200 at the crank. Tranny is still questionable. I am in a tossup of a turbo 400, a 4l80e (manual shift) and a 6l90e. Waiting to have someone come out with the proper controller for the 6l90e.

As for the rear, plans call for a 4 link, with adjustable coilovers. In a toss up right now on rims and rubber.....either I go with 15's and big ass rubber in the back....or 18's with a big disc brake conversion on all 4 corners.

Gonna drop the saddle tanks and go with a fuel cell in the back...transfer some weight.

Plans for the body and interior are still up in the air. Not sure if I am going to need to cage it yet. Once we decide how fast it will go then the safety requirements will decide the interior.

[camdenoilchange]

sounds sweet. not a fan of caddy motors but making that kind of power I will have no choice but to like it. keep us posted!

[Chevalade]

Most people are not fans of caddy motors....but thats what makes it appealing.....the fact that it is still a GM motor.....but not the typical run of the mill engine. Anyone and their dog can go and buy a big block chev.....bolt it in and go, or do the norm with a sbc. To take something that wasn't supposed to be performance minded, and turn it into something that can make ya leave a brown streak in yer undies....now that to me is what hot rodding is.

[bigkountry]

If you can get it to hook with that much power, I bet you will have to cage it.

I have a buddy that has an old hearse with the 500 caddy in it, thing is wicked!

[Chevalade]

Yeah....around here anything that runs faster than a 10 in the 1/4 has to have a cage.... so not sure what time bracket I want to cert for.........doubt I can get it to hook to go 8's. Not without some major engineering, and weight shaving.

Some of the old hearses are awesome when gutted, and the motor is freshened up. I think there are a few guys runnin prostreet hearses.

[cubicdollars]

Sounds like a cool project 

[static22]

Sounds cool. If your planning on 11-1200 at the crank it's a safe bet you'll need to cage it.