Toronado.org

Things are moving along now and all I need to do is finish installing the new exhaust and set the initial timing before I can start the motor for the break-in run. Hope to have it going tomorrow...

https://picasaweb.google.com/102116096803999165281/Toronado?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Looks great! Is that a Rockwell intake? What carb? Hood clearance issues?

Indeed it is a Rockwell manifold along with the Edelbrock Aluminum heads.

Not sure yet about hood clearance, and the carb is a BBC Q-Jet with electric choke necessitated by the Rockwell Intak which has no heat crossover .

I may need to use a 2" filter or revert to the original Toro Air Cleaner for now with the three inch unit you see minus the top or, perhaps, with the top. However, if I do this I will have to hack a bit from the back of the Toro Air Cleaner box as it hits the HEI ignition. I may also consider an Air Cleaner housing from a newer 76 or later Toro. Eventually I want to do a really trick Spectre system that will look like this; it may not happen until I do the Fuel Injection:

Looks cool--I have all kinds of things swimming in my head too.

I am saving a regular 70 Toronado that I one day hope to "hot rod" including FI, gears and.....turbos! Probably insane but if I ever get all the dough together....

I save my GT's for "restoration".

Is the HEI a better setup than a pertronix?

The HEI is a full Hi Energy Ignition while the Pertronix just eliminates points. If the Pertronix is matched to a standard coil you do not have the Hi Energy aspect which raises the voltage to something like 50K Volts and much higher current if you add an aftermarket module. It is also much more flexible in the long run and with the coil in the cap it saves a bit of space and wiring.

I paid $40 for my distributor - hoping it is as well built as it seems - and so I think it is a much better deal as I can add upgrades over time. I intend to eventually go with some sort of digital ignition system either standalone or based on an EFI controller and using a Capacitive Discharge module.

Lookin pretty good man! Can't wait to hear how she runs.... Wait, why isn't that aluminum painted slate blue? Good luck with the hood clearance. I think that filter is gonna stick up too far...

When I was measuring for an HEI in one of our earlier discussions about the subject, the necessary cutout in the air cleaner housing on the stock one, chopped into where the air filter is inside the housing. Ultimately why I went with the pertronix system. It still kicks out 45,000 volts.

I'd love to do something like that on my '66. I really want to use the eyebrows above the headlights for a cold air induction. I think it'd be really cool to cut out that part in the middle, and add throttle-plates that pivot when you step on the gas, kinda like you see on those rediculous air scoops that stick out of the hood.

I will not be modifying this hood so one way or another I will go with an Air Filter solution that allows me to use the stock hood.

I assume you must have upgraded the coil in your system as the stock coil is only good for about 35K volts or so if that.

It is a bit of a pickle indeed. The 14" air cleaner diameter is not a problem, and I may just go with a 2" filter height to solve the problem. We'll see...

very cool! that engine will FRY your front tires;)

Indeed. I built one of these more than 25 years ago with the Mondello JM 18/20 cam and this time I used the JM 20/22 which is a bit more aggressive with slightly higher lift and longer duration.

The first car easily fried both tires and I once took her up to 165 at 5,700 RPM. This car should positively smoke them should I be so inclined... but I think I will leave my speed record untouched.

I got her started yesterday and burnished the cam with a 25 minute run at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm. She ran great with only a small oil leak I need to track down. The twin electric fans seemed capable of cooling her adequately so that is good to know.

Should have her on the road later today and will be taking her down to the shop for an alignment and later in the week tires.

Sounds nice, please let us know how everything turns out:)

And you seem to be the guy to ask....

If I want more power in my 1966, would the Edelbrock heads and
the intake you have bolt on tio my 425? There is something about
the 1966 Toro engine, Evrewhere I look for cams etc it says : Not Toronado
Are we limited when it comes to aftermarket parts?
My car runs very good but I would love to have even more power...
As this is my first Olds I dont know where to start.

sorry to hijack your thread but you really seem to know what your talking about.

thanks