Cadillac Project

The 41 Cadillac project is ongoing and will be for quite a while. I decided the next part of the puzzle in this build would be the frame and suspension.  My choices were to use the 41 frame and incorporate the 2007 components into it, or cut up the 2007 and graft the unibody on to the 41. I opted for the first to keep the 41 frame. The 41 Engine, transmission, rear end and body was removed and the frame stripped.

 The body bolts to the frame were badly rusted and had to be cut off . I could not reach the rear fender bolts to cut them off and will remove them later.
 The steering column was unbolted from the frame and stayed with the body until I decide what the steering will be.
 Put the body on a couple of moving dolly's so I can move it around. 

 Engine, trans., rear end and suspension were next and are for sale. If any one is interested I can be E-Mailed at austinpeakrd@gmail.com for more info.

 The engine has 138,000 miles on it and is a 346 CI flat head V8 with a hydromantic transmission complete with all the components clean oil on the dip stick and turns over with a ratchet and socket.
 Do not know the condition of the rear end but it is complete with springs.
 The rusty frame was taken to Blastco Company in Henderson NV as I could not find any sand blasting Co. in Kingman.
 Blastco will also media blast the 41 body for me when the time comes. 
 I made a frame/body dolly out of 2 in. and 2.5 in. square tubing and used 8" swivel wheels on it. Above and below is when we picked up the frame all nice and clean.
 The frame was put on the rotisserie when I got it home then painted with gray self etching primer.
 I used my airless spray gun to keep the overspray down and put a 1/2 gallon on the frame.
 The X member will be modified for the 2007 floor pan's 
 The frame all primed and ready for modification.
 Next on the agenda was to remove the engine, transmission and suspension from the 2007. With the car on the hoist I built a dolly with a pallet on it then blocked it up to about 3' off the floor so I could get under it. All the wiring harness's, A/C, heater and water lines disconnected then only 6 large bolts on the bottom held the subframe, engine, transmission and front suspension the whole assembly came out the bottom of the car while lifting the body on the hoist. I was amazed.
 This is a 4.6 L duel overhead cam V8 North Star with 32 valves and a 6 speed transmission.
 The sub frame was removed from the engine but the front suspension was left in place then moved under the 41 frame. In the background the 2007 body was put in the new frame/body dolly I made.
 I had trouble locating the correct place of the front wheels and had to move them forward to match the 126" wheel base of the 41 as the 2007 is 116.4" wheel base, this moved the radiator into the grill area that I will deal with later as it is more important to have the front wheels centered in the front fenders.
 The old motor mounts, some brackets were removed and a couple of notches made in the frame to make room for the new subframe. Plates were made with 3/8" steel for the rear 2 mounts and welded the the frame, the 2 center mounts will be where the frame is notched with plates welded in at the correct height after the frame and motor mount are level with each other.
 The front cross member must be cut out for the engine so a new front cross member was fabricated to support the 41 fender and grill assembly at the correct location.
 The new front cross member is also the 2 front subframe mounts. All 6 of the subframe mounts are bolted in place so it can be removed as it was in the 2007.
 Final adjustments were made and the plates welded in. I notched the frame where the steering rack and pinion shaft is for a new u-joint to extend the steering shaft back to the column.
 The car ride height can be adjusted by moving the front and rear coil-over's mounts up or down at a later time.
 The 2007 rear end and subframe was moved under the 41 frame to figure out what must be done to make it fit.
 That is the progress I have made over the last several weeks and will post as this project goes along.

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