1949 Cadillac Roadster Build

[Moulder]

The sectioned hood and the shape of the windshield makes it look like a mid 50's car. I like the look you're going for!

What kind of grill are you going to use/make?

[Mike Motage]

Very cool project! Love the rendering.

How much of the original body will you be using ?

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by Mike Motage

Very cool project! Love the rendering.

How much of the original body will you be using ?

I'll be using most of it but modifying the hood and fenders, reshaping and skinning the doors and skirting the rear fenders. Roof, deck lid and some of the firewall will be removed and replaced with hand made panels.. I'll be using a new Cadillac as a donor car so all drivetrain, electronics, interior, wiring etc. will be updated. I'm going to keep about half of the original frame and modify the rest to accept the new front and rear suspension cradles. The original frame is a very stong X member type that is almost a perimeter frame. I'll have to remove the outer rocker panels and replace the inners with 1/8" plate to help keep the body rigid once the top is removed so there'll be a lot of fab work in this one.

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by Moulder

The sectioned hood and the shape of the windshield makes it look like a mid 50's car. I like the look you're going for!

What kind of grill are you going to use/make?

I'll have to make the grille based on the original 49 horizontal bars without the verticals. I have a set of 56 dagmars and center bar that I'll modify for the bumper.

[Moulder]

I know cadillac has some front wheel drive cars. Is the donor front or rear wheel drive. Auto or manual? Is it an Ls or Northstar motor? Sorry for all the questions, I've always liked large tastefully modified cars. I would like to do a custom 40's-50's dodge, chrysler, or plymouth some day. I've already got a 474cid hemi that could be used to power it.

I 'm excited to see how this project unfolds.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Originally Posted by Moulder

...I would like to do a custom 40's-50's dodge, chrysler, or plymouth some day. I've already got a 474cid hemi that could be used to power it....

You should buy this from me: http://imperialclub.com/Yr/1957/Kerrys57saga/index.htm

[Gojeep]

Looks like a great project to follow along with.
Not up with all American terminology, but is there a difference between tunnelling the headlights and frenching them? Only had heard the latter term before.

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by Moulder

I know cadillac has some front wheel drive cars. Is the donor front or rear wheel drive. Auto or manual? Is it an Ls or Northstar motor?

I am studying the CTS and CTS-V The donor has to be a rear wheel drive only. Front wheel drive and all wheel drive won't work because the transaxle is behind the engine and in the 49 the engine sits to the rear of the front spindles. I need to get a couple more dimensions off of a CTS. Mainly around the dash, windshield and firewall. If the CTS measures out to be useful, I'll be looking for a 2012 or 2013 CTS . Those two years used a 318 HP version of the LFX V6. After 2013 they went to a turbo 4 cyl engine. Surprisingly, the CTS and the 49 weigh the same! Curb weight is right around 4,000 pounds. I might get lucky and find a CTS-V but it won't be cheap. I still have a lot of research to do in that area.

[Jack 1957]

Originally Posted by Gojeep

Looks like a great project to follow along with.
Not up with all American terminology, but is there a difference between tunneling the headlights and frenching them? Only had heard the latter term before.

Semantics. Originally the term "Frenching" meant to minimize. Simply incorporating the shape of the bezel into the fender. Traditional custom purists might still insist on that definition. In reality, though, the term "Frenching" has morphed to cover just about any custom treatment around headlights, tail lights, antennaes, etc.
Tunneling is pretty much the same treatment.

[Jack 1957]

I had originally intended to use 1/4" round stock at the leading edge of the head light openings where the inner and outer sheet metal meet but after tacking it all together, I didn't like it. Sloppy looking and would have required too much mud work. So I made new inner sleeves and tipped about 1/4" at the leading edge to meet with the outer fender extensions.