To made an update:
My original catalytic converter finnaly plugged up (you cant blame it, it gave 29 years of reliable service).
I took my friends sawzall, and took care of that problem. I stared the engine up after that and mashed the gas in park a few times... Oh man, did it have a nice gurgly roar to it.
I installed about 10 feet of small fence post pipe (2" outer diameter) and rigged it up to the old exhaust hangers. The fence post pipe really toned down the bad-assness of the exhaust, but made it sound like a WWII propeller airplane with a 3spd auto. The exhaust noise under a heavy pull sounds nothing like a V8 untill the secondaries pop open.
As a side note to those wishing to remove the catalytic converter, check with your local state patroll... I was given the A-Ok on my car (because its older than dirt and we dont have emmssions testing). Emissions and exhaust noise violations can add up. Also, the gasoline and sulpher smell is pretty strong.
The acceleration from 0-50 really grabs me by my underwear now. I can leave long long strips of rubber with both tires in parking lots (the whole lenth of them doing a slight turn). Power braking is no sweat, flipping cookies also is easy.
I had my friends freaking out in the car (doing 55mph in a parking lot), they called it a piece of crap and said their toyotas were better... or so they thought
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I would be doing some real engine work.. But umm... Well, gas is TOO EXPENSIVE for 7mpg, so I just blew my cash on a diesel VW (50mpg).
Im low on cash (down to $1200, and unemployed). If I get some good income, im giving the caddy hell.
Btw, is the 425 engine a weak candidate for hot rodding? Im worried about the crankshaft, cooling, vavles, rods, pistons... Im looking for a lot more Torque under the 2000rpm range, 500Ft-lbs would be nice without forced induction or nitrous
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