Greetings from the Mitten

[BonEvil]

Hope everyone is having a good 2021... even though we’re only 3 weeks in. I picked a 1978 Bonneville Brougham roller back in the fall of 2019. It was a one owner Kentucky car, that was immaculately cared for, and from what the grandson son, was never driven in fowl weather. Originally equipped with a 400cid w/TH400, and an open hi gear rear end, the grandson who inherited the car was prepping for an LS swap. When up acquired it, I was told there a 3.73 10 bolt posi swapped under it. Unfortunately that was not the case, still had the open rear. I found a 3.42 posi 10 bolt from a early 90’s caprice for it. If I had the funds I would’ve put a mild cam .30 Pontiac 400 in it, but out of necessity, and a 1/3 of the price I picked up a 419Cid SBC with aluminum heads from a fellow that fell on hard times. I knew the builder and after I purchased it, along with a TH350 and Holley 750, was told this was a 12.5:1 compression motor that ran 10.90’s in a previous car. Albeit 600 lbs lighter than the Bonneville. The plan was to do, and still is, a sleeper, complete with black steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. The goal was to do one last project with my dad, unfortunately he succumbed to Alzheimer’s this past July, and the last two years were helping my mom care for him. November of 2020, my brother called and said “let’s get this big bitch outta my garage and drop a motor in”. we started the Saturday after thanksgiving, rounding up the miscellaneous brackets, pulleys, driveshaft, trans mount that were not with the car. That, was a chore my friends. But after scrounging through a scrap yard, some sand blasting and repainting, we dropped her in the week before Christmas. A spray of 112 octane and a twist of the key, she came to life. Over the winter I’ll swap the rear ends, remove the chrome trim, patch the peg holes, and paint, get her some new shoes, and exhaust and will hopefully have her ready this spring. Thanks for looking.

 

[BonEvil]