This 1940 Cadillac LaSalle is a two-door Series 40 business coupe that the owner converted into a race car to compete the Turismo Production class at the La Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico, where it finished third in class in 2015. The build included a re-enforced frame, safety equipment, new electrical system, racing suspension, new drivetrain, and a 361HP 302ci GM V8 built by Precision Race Engines in Tennessee. The car is said to run strong and is ready to race in vintage rallies like the Chi-X and LCP, and can easily be converted to Turismo Mayor class. The car comes with many spare suspension and engine components, and carries a clean California title in the owner’s name. Paint is a glossy medium grey and the dark red stripe and racing livery are decals that can be removed if desired. The body is said to be solid and straight, and has all steel panels and fenders with no rust issues reported by the owner. The frame-off fabrication was performed with quick roadside repairs in mind, so the hood and fenders are easily removed for full access to the engine bay. The car has been stripped of unnecessary chrome trim and has been converted to meet race regulations with specific bumpers and tow hooks. The lights are all working correctly, and the rear windows have been fitted with air ducts. The suspension is all new and has been tuned for road race performance. A Mustang cross-member adds support up front, while tubular upper and lower control arms and 600 lb. coil springs with internal shocks provide a responsive driving experience. Rear suspension is a triangulated four-bar setup with adjustable coils and AFCO racing shocks. Wilwood brakes have been installed with 12.19″ rotors and 120-1260 Ultralite calipers up front, and 11.5″ rotors with 120-6816 calipers in the back. Seven 16″ x 8″ black race wheels mounted with Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 racing tires are included, all measuring 225/50R/16. The sparse interior is purpose built for racing with Kirkey aluminum racing seats, RaceQuip five-point safety belts, and window nets. A nine point roll bar constructed of DOM tubing meets race safety regs, and a TerraTrip radio with headsets allows for driver and passenger communication. A Fire Sense 10 pound fire bottle sits behind the seats, and another manual fire extinguisher is in front of the passenger seat. An auxiliary fire system has been installed for the engine compartment only. A Flaming River manual steering rack with an 18:1 steering ratio has been fitted. Wilwood pedals and remote under-dash Wilwood master cylinders with pressure gauges and bias selector were also added. The aluminum center column contains a variety of new switchgear and RaceQuip gauges, a fuel/air gauge, LED lighting, and a rear-view camera. Power is supplied by a General Motors 302 cubic inch V8 engine with cast iron heads (a race requirement) and a Quick Fuel 450 carburetor. The engine has a 4.030″ bore and a 3″ stroke, and was balanced, blueprinted, and built by Precision Race Engines in Tennessee. The motor was dyno tested at 361 horsepower at 5900 rpms, and 347 lb.ft. of torque at 4800 rpms. A three quart Canton Accusump oil accumulator (with automatic switch) is ideal for operating in severe race conditions, and is used in conjunction with a Canton oil cooler. The ignition is a dual coil MSD unit with rev limiter. Other engine components include an Eagle 4340 billet crankshaft, Eagle H-beam rods, SRP pistons, and a Lunati roller camshaft. Dart 55-165 heads have 9.8:1 compression and new NKG R5673-7 plugs. In-fender headers with .135″ wall thickness lead to side pipes and Pypes 3″ mufflers. The transmission is a Tremec 500 wide-ratio road-race transmission with 5th gear blocked out to meet LCP Turismo Production specs. A hydraulic throw-out bearing from American Muscle increases reliability and offers quicker release and engagement through the gears. An MSD Digital 6AL ignition controller with backup unit is mounted in the passenger floorboard of the car, and an MSD Blaster Coil with backup coil is located behind the center gauge column. The trunk has been modified to hold a 21 gallon fuel cell and one spare tire. A Holley fuel pump sends fuel to the engine. A cache of spare parts come with the car and include new upper and lower a-arms with ball joints, rear upper and lower control arms, rotors, calipers, pads, shocks, and bearings. An additional set of stiffer rear springs, an extra fuel pump and filter, a Quick Fuel 650 carb, and many more spares are also included. The car was built to withstand the intense 7-day LCP and is said to run hard and strong, but like any race car it needs constant tuning and adjustments to maintain its edge over the competition. The coupe passed the technical inspection for the 2015 La Carrera Panamericana with no problem, and is ready for more action. Filed under: lasalle series 40