540 C.I. Merlin, Jerrico 4 Speed
Nothing shows off a cars chrome like black paint. There are a lot fewer 442s around then a lot of the other muscle cars. So if you want something unique and different that everyone else doesn't have, this car is a consideration. Or if you want to show up at the “Cruise In”, but don’t want to just show up in another 60's or 70's muscle car like everybody else with 300 or 400 H.P. and, want to show up with the baddest monster of any of them around this is again a car to consider. It is truly a real beast! The owner had a 66 442 when he was in high school and always wanted another one, except he wanted it to be something way wilder. So he bought this car in 1999, and started with a car that was more stock with a good body. They did this car right! They sand blasted it down and confirmed that there where only a couple spots that needed looked at, and repaired. (Mostly in the fender and doors) The build was originally completed, and than several years later he went back, and had the engine gone through and modified to a higher degree of power and some other tweaks that he felt were necessary. He has enjoyed it but it is time for a new home.
Often people build the engine for big power but don’t upgrade the drive train that should go with that kind of power. The plan was from front to back, from side to side build to handle that kind of power. It did require some tweaking at some point, which a lot of people build a car and wont do anything with it afterwords. If you use them you learn there are somethings that need to be tweaked out. Locally known as “Blackie”.
For more information contact Chad @ 330-353-1750, or see 198 photos at www.autoconnectioncars.com
DETAILS OF CAR:
* Merlin 540 C.I. bought new in 2000, upgraded in 2010
* Jerrico drag race transmission
* Ford 9”rear end with Detroit locker
* 4 wheel Willwood disc brakes- with stainless brake lines
* 2 ¼” custom hand built stainless steel headers with 3 ½” stainless hand built exhaust to tips
Engine-
* Internally balance cross drilled steel crank light weight
* 4 ¼” stroke
* 4 ½” piston
* Heads Brodix square port aluminum C+C ported
* Air gap dual- 4 intake Edlebrock
* 2- 650 Edlebrock carbs
* 700 lift comp Cam
* Comp roller lifters and rockers
* 700 H.P./ built specs required (1050 strip dominator required to get those specs)
* 700 lbs toque (1050 strip dominator required to get those specs)
* MSD ignition
* Rev limiter- RPM run to 7000 rpm max for longevity- per builder
* Rods and pistons speed pro or comp( owner can't remember)
* 10 ½ to 1 compression ratio
Transmission-
* Jerrico drag racing transmission straight cut gears with sliders, with reverse
Clutch-
* Tilton hydraulic throw out bearing
* Ram light weight flywheel
* Zoom 11” pressure plate and clutch
Radiator-
* 4 core aluminum with hand fabricated custom shroud
Read end-
* 9” Ford with Detroit locker
* 3.50 Ratio
* 35 spline axle
* Axle tube brace
* Hand built ladder bars- welded on to both ends of the tube
Suspension-
* Hothkis sway bar
VIN-
3 = Oldsmobile
3817= 2 Dr Holiday Coupe 442 option
6= 1966
2= Fremont,CA
108601= Production number
Cawl Tag-
66=1966
3= Oldsmobile Divison
38= Cutlass V-8
17= Holiday Coupe
Buyer are required- To do their own research to verify the researched codes above are correct. No information was found to verify it was born with 442 option.
Mechanical-
* Turn Signals work front and back, left and right
* Headlights work on high and low beam
* Taillights work on both sides
* Brake lights work on both sides
* Wipers mechanism was not installed, typical for a show car
* Fuel gauge works
* Optional Pro Comp tachometer with recall works
* Oil pressure runs around 50 lbs
* Water temp gauge works typically runs 160 to 180
* Volt gauge works runs around 14
* Toggle switches on the dash are not currently used
* Heater box and controls are not installed in the car
* Horn does not work
* Speedometer and odometer not compatible or hooked up to Jerrico transmission
Test Drive-
The owner took Chad for approx. a 5 -10 miles drive, and Chad drove the vehicle back. It actually steered very nicely from slow to highway speeds. The manual steering gears offered a really nice feel of the road, and it stayed very true and handled very easily. Upon applying the brakes several times the Willwood stopped it very quickly and smoothly. We did not notice any type of pulling, or pulsation at all, it worked smooth and efficient in stopping this beast. The car starts very easily, and fired right up warm without even using the gas. Though it is a lot of power it can be controlled easily. The hydraulic clutch actually required very little travel, and was easier to engage and disengage than even typical mechanical clutch in most cars. Shifting in all four gears seems to work properly without any problems, and both up shifting in all four speeds seem to work correctly as it should. Check out the ride on our you-tube channel.
