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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: T J Lankes on June 14, 2017, 12:33:11 PM

Title: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: T J Lankes on June 14, 2017, 12:33:11 PM
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/?p=852981
Title: Re: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: chrisntam on June 14, 2017, 06:27:26 PM
Here's a pic...
Title: Re: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on June 14, 2017, 06:38:13 PM
I first heard (and read) about that car back in '85 in Special Interest Automobiles magazine. Car has an amazing history.

Having it at the GN will be a real treat.
Title: Re: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: Jay Friedman on June 14, 2017, 06:50:13 PM
That car used to belong to a guy here in Georgia, so I've seen it several times when we had regional group outings to his house where he kept his fabulous collection.  His first name is Milton but I can't remember his last name.
Title: Re: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: g27g28 on June 16, 2017, 08:56:51 PM
I heard about it in the same place Eric, still have the magazine as well.
Title: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: bcroe on June 17, 2017, 12:16:45 AM
Boost certainly transforms engine performance, if it doesn't blow it.  I'd like to hear
some 0-60, quarter mile numbers before getting too excited about this one. 

Bruce Roe
Title: Re: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: Scot Minesinger on June 17, 2017, 01:16:29 AM
Bruce,

In 1960, 0-60mph 8 seconds was fairly quick and the Chrysler 300's in late 1950's with 375 hp did about that.  I doubt this 1953 Eldo even when new is faster than your 403 Olds.  An evaluation of performance may not be favorable unless compared to cars of the day. 

I have seen it up close, as the owner lives in our DC metropolitan area - very cool car.  You will like it.

Hope to meet you at GN 2017, like reading your posts.

Scot
Title: Supercharged '53 Eldo at GN
Post by: bcroe on June 17, 2017, 09:43:07 AM
Quote from: Scot MinesingerBruce,
In 1960, 0-60mph 8 seconds was fairly quick and the Chrysler 300's in late 1950's with 375 hp did about that.  I doubt this 1953 Eldo even when new is faster than your 403 Olds.  An evaluation of performance may not be favorable unless compared to cars of the day. 

I have seen it up close, as the owner lives in our DC metropolitan area - very cool car.  You will like it.
Hope to meet you at GN 2017, like reading your posts.    Scot   

Scot,
Now we see a few cars doing 0-60 in 4 sec, and outrageous top ends.  The first
post war really quick models actually claimed some impressive hp numbers, 375
is far beyond what a stock 403 could do.  But they didn't produce those numbers
practically from launch, only at top end.  You saw a fraction of it much of the way
up, the engine and trans curves weren't matched/optimized.  They didn't have
portable computers monitoring & recording all the factors delivering hp to the
wheels, like the latest cars received.  The axle ratio was chosen so that the peak
hp was available at the top end, and everything else just fell wherever it fell. 

You can calculate the seconds of a rated hp required to get a given weight up to
60 mph, the actual performance was FAR behind.  So the 403 with greatly improved
gearing manages 0-60 in the 7s, but don't expect a lot more above that. 

Supercharging was a difficult thing before electronic engine management.  If you
didn't get the mixture and timing and boost properly coordinated, you had a blown
engine.  Now it can be turned up much higher without disaster.  Water injection
and intercooling helped. 

I made a full 2 month effort to get the 79 Eldo to the 2015 GN, only 100 miles
away, and 2 other close national meets that summer.  Also got to the meet for the
Cosworth Vega which uses fuel injection that was then developed and much improved
for the 70s Cads.  The good news is, the Eldo is back in regular service here, and
some development work on the old electronics is still progressing.  But with other
irons in the fire and day to day needs I don't have another national meet planned. 
Bruce