One of the coolest things about custom rods is probably the thing you see the least--the chassis. Yeah, sure, you know when one's been altered by the mere stance of the car...but just "how" that height alteration was achieved is a mystery until you start crawlin' around on the ground, peepin' under wheelwells and such. When you start seeing tubular control arms and fancy things like that, many interests begin to pique. So, it goes without saying that a custom chassis sans body is a sight to behold.
We got these spy photos of a wild '58 Cadillac foundation being put together by Wally Tecca at Art Morrison Enterprises (AME) in Fife, Washington. Having been a member of the AME team for nearly 15 years now (he's currently in charge of chassis assembly and general production), Wally knows a thing or two about custom rod frames. His Coupe de Ville is being built around a nostalgia theme, albeit with a modern twist. We all know that cars of the "day" didn't create gouges in asphalt (although Larry Watson will be a personal opponent of that claim), and while there were airbags as far back as the late-'50s, extremely low stances just didn't seem to be the thing. That was then; this is now, and Tecca's Cad is all about the now.
Instead of merely equiping his existing chassis with AME components front and rear, Wally decided to start from scratch, opting to construct a straight-rail perimeter "outrigger" frame with 1/4-inch flat strap welded to the underside to take the brunt of low-profile cruising rather than the rails themselves (the strap is replaceable). Also part of the frame is an integral tubular center console, which is where all the air lines, wiring, and plumbing will be routed, making access easy (by removing an interior panel) even when the Cad's laid out. The front suspension is AME's standard IFS with Firestone airbags--mounted on a low-profile crossmember with Maltese cross gussets--while the rear is a triangulated four-link, also with airbags, locating a narrowed Ford 9-inch with "adjustable" bump stops (in case of the event of tire failure on long runs). Wally's running a 472ci Cad engine with custom-fabricated mounts to provide added clearance. With a few modifications, an AME drop-out trans X-member was used to locate the 400 automatic. Late valve covers have been cleverly retrofitted with early-Cad stamped valve cover centers. As for the exhaust, he utilized the solid-mount type, another choice made due to the extremely low stance. Spintech mufflers offer a sleek fit up in the framerails (via male-female slip connectors), and flex pipe coming off Sanderson headers will soak up the vibrations. Finally, Wally constructed a 26-gallon fuel tank to "minimize" stops on his trips from Tacoma to Southern California.
As you can imagine, we're anxious to see the final result of Wally Tecca's '58 Cadillac--and hopefully you are, as well. For the time being, enjoy the fruits of his chassis labor.
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 Wally's custom, square-tube...  Wally's custom, square-tube chassis utilizes a standard Art Morrison (air ride) IFS with Firestone bags, tubular control arms, stainless spindles, an 11-inch disc brake kit, and an AGR 20:1 power Mustang rack-and-pinion. |
 Strength questionability is...  Strength questionability is obviously not an issue with this chassis. Since it will be closer to the ground than most (and more often than not), 1/4-inch plate was stitch-welded underneath, and can be replaced when it wears too close to the framerail. The tubular portion below the header is the front leg of the integral center console. |
 A low-profile AME crossmember...  A low-profile AME crossmember was used, and iron cross gussets were fab'd for looks as well as added strength. |
 Custom motor mounts were required...  Custom motor mounts were required to keep the 472 Cad's oil pan nowhere near the ground when the chassis was down. |
 The trans mount was created...  The trans mount was created by using a modified AME drop-out X-member. A B&M shifter has been mounted in an elevated position above the tranny in the tubular center console. |
 Out back, Wally positioned...  Out back, Wally positioned a Ford 9-inch rear with a triangulated four-link, tube shocks, and Firestone airbags in custom, tubular hats. The cross-topped "screw" is the adjuster for the bump stops. |
 As mentioned in the story,...  As mentioned in the story, a solid-mount exhaust system was built for clearance purposes. To compensate for the lack of vibration absorption, flex-pipe was fit between the Sanderson header collector and the first frame turnout. |
 Spintech 2 1/2-inch square...  Spintech 2 1/2-inch square mufflers were used for their ability to fit within the framerail confines without dangling below. |
 If you've ever dealt with...  If you've ever dealt with an early Cadillac, you know the stock chassis doesn't offer a lot of options in the rear for exhaust; Wally's design eliminates those problems altogether. |
 To retain the early look,...  To retain the early look, early valve cover centers were grafted into the stock 472 valve covers. |
 And for those ultra-long hauls,...  And for those ultra-long hauls, Tecca built a 26-gallon fuel tank that tucks nicely in the back of the chassis. This design does not rob a lot of trunk space, either. |
You want low? |
How's this?! |