Rides Leno's Tornado

[ProdigyCustoms]

Damn that thing was just screamin for an all wheel drive Denalli drivetrain! I bet the wheel base would have been very close, also the track width. They could have even looked at Quadrasteer. And they still could have bolted the monster motor right in.
I feel like they really missed considering there target was an all wheel drive Bentley.
It's got me thinkin though, HUM? That 60 Cadillac convertible Michaels wants to do......................................

[MuscleRodz]

I agree they missed the original idea of the project. Still it was a awesome car!

Mike

[trapin]

That car was killer. I loved it.

[TonyL]

I'd have to agree that not going AWD with the car was a big mistake. as awsome as the car is, it'd be even better AWD. It would'a put down insane numbers and has already been done sorta with an 5-15 pickup by Lingenfelder (sp?) and proven effective.

Why hasnt the olds bravada chassis been installed in a Camaro yet?

[Bill Howell]

So is it pro-tour or not? I think it has the hp thing down and it has the right brakes. It seemed to handle the track with no problem.
Frank, awd would be cool but I loved those 0-100 mph burnouts. it seemed he could do burnouts at will. He also seemed to enjoy it. I am jealous! Do you think that was a LS7 or something else? Ya'll saw it at SEMA right? Got to love his one off retro wheels.

[B Schein]

It looked like a LS7 intake to me the runners are a lot squarer. Did any own notice a dry sump Or lack of oil fill tube, I only saw the last 15 minutes of the show.


Brian

[derekf]

If it's dry sump, would it have a dipstick? It looked like there was one in the way when they were trying to fit the turbochargers and the guy pushed it over.

[Steve Chryssos]

You guys have been smokin the happy rock. AWD or not, Leno's got us all beat!! That right there is the ULTIMATE Pro-Touring car!

I watched it prime time. Then I watched it again at midnight and drifted off right at the end. While dreaming, I confused Rides with Overhaulin. Jay Leno handed the Toronado's keys to me. "Surprise!! We built this for you Steve!!" Wow Jay, Thank you so much. My wife knows how much I love gold paint and redline tires..." If it were not for the dog licking my nose in the morning, Leno and I would still be hpt lapping around the proving grounds saying "All wheel drive? We don need no stinkin all wheel drive!!"

I'm going back to sleep!

[ProdigyCustoms]

If it were not for the dog licking my nose in the morning, Leno and I would still be hpt lapping around the proving grounds saying "All wheel drive? We don need no stinkin all wheel drive!!"

I'm going back to sleep!

ROFLMAO! I like the car a bunch, love the body style, right there with the 65 Riv for me. Just though AWD would be cool. I assumed it was a LS2 based something? I wouldn't know one if it bit me anyway, 425CI?

[Steve Chryssos]

Frank,
I got the Riv if you got the time. Start researching potential platforms. I'll get you some chassis measurements this weekend. It'll be at least six months before we can get started. But it will take at least that long to plan the project and then find a doner.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I like the new Cadillac SRX for the Riv with the AWD and the Northstar, also the magnetic ride! 116" wheelbase could easily be fudged under the Rivs 117" wheelbase. I'm thinking we find a roll over for $15K, cut off everthing rockers up and graft the entire unibody and undercarrige into the Riv!
Don't get me going now, I do not need any more distractions, LOL!
BTW, I checked on Michael's 60 Caddy, wheelbase, 130", new Denalli EXT, 130"! Oh man I smell trouble

[Bill Howell]

Two things that crossed my mind as I watched them on the track. 1) I would love to be a fly on the window and listen to that conversation between top GM brass and Leno when he was wearing out their baby. 2) I was wondering if there was any wind noise around the side glass at 140mph.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I wondered how the C5 suspension for a 3300LB Corvette was liking luging a 4500LB car around?

[Steve Chryssos]

Well you got my gears turning. Caddy SRX V8 Specs

Wheelbase (in / mm):116 / 2957
Overall width (in / mm): 72.6 / 1844
Overall height (in / mm):67.8 / 1722
Track (in / mm): front: 61.9 / 1572 rear: 62.2 / 1580

Brakes: power four-wheel vented discwith standard 4-wheelanti-lock, dynamic rear proportioning, Panic Brake Assist
Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm):
front: 12.7 x 1.26 / 323 x 32
rear: 12.6 x 1.02 / 320 x 26

Wheels/Tires
18-inch x 8-inch cast aluminum – standard V-8; optional V-6
Tires: front: Michelin all-season P235/60R18; rear: P255/55R18
Hydra-Matic 5L40-E Hydra-Matic 5L50-E 5-speed electronic automatic
Gear ratios: First: 3.42, Second: 2.21, Third: 1.60, Fourth: 1.00, Fifth: 0.75 Final drive ratio: 3.91 (AWD)

Chassis/Suspension
Front: independent short/long arm with aluminum upper and lower control arms; hydraulic control arm front bushings, solid mounted front frame, pressurized monotube front shock absorbers, 36-mm stabilizer bar; MR shocks available on uplevel models
Rear: fully independent multi-link design with fully isolated sub frame; aluminum upper control arms, knuckles and rear differential; Nivomat load-leveling rear shocks, 22-mm stabilizer bar; uplevel vehicles outfitted with MR air life shocks and electronic auto-leveling compressor
Traction control: Delphi 4-channel system, full speed brake and engine control
Steering type: electronic variable assist power steering, rack and pinion

4.6L Northstar V-8 VVT (LH2)
Displacement (cu in / cc): 279 / 4572
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 3.66 x 3.3 / 93 x 84
Block/Head material: cast aluminum
Valvetrain: DOHC with 4 valves per cylinder with variable valve timing
Ignition system: coil on plug – pencil coil ignition with dual knock sensors
Fuel delivery: sequential electronic fuel injection
Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 320 / 239 @ 6400
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 315 / 427 @ 4400

Recommended fuel: premium recommended but not required
Maximum engine speed (rpm): 6700

[ProdigyCustoms]

looks like the track on the Riv is 63.5 and 63. Keeps looking good. Im thinking we blend them at firewalls. Also, the Riv was 4310LBS, I bet the Caddy is close to that.

[trapin]

I just wanna add that I loved Leno's approach to the car. He paid specific attention to the original vehicle's over all height measurement at curb. Original color, original appearing wheels and red-line tires. And don't get me started on the interior. I mean.....THE GUY HAD THE LEAR CORPORATION DOING HIS INTERIOR. For crying out loud, that's like having The Rolling Stones as your band at your wedding. Ridiculous. I sure hope Lutz and Cowger thought to ask him to bring it to Detroit for the Autorama in Feburary. I would kill to see that car up close.

[boodlefoof]

Anybody got a link to the car!?! I didn't see it on TV and I want to take a look! Sounds killer.

[brn agn]

Remember the "Dare to be Different" theme that Hot Rod magazine pushed back in the 90's? :)

Here is some information on the Toronado:

http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-1966-Oldsmobile-Toronado-Jay-Leno.htm

[Chris442]

It looked like a LS7 intake to me the runners are a lot squarer. Did any own notice a dry sump Or lack of oil fill tube, I only saw the last 15 minutes of the show.

It was definitely an LS7, but it was outfitted with the C5 batwing oil pan. I guess GM didn't give him all of their secrets, lol.


THE GUY HAD THE LEAR CORPORATION DOING HIS INTERIOR. For crying out loud, that's like having The Rolling Stones as your band at your wedding. Ridiculous.

That and the fact that he had a motor from GM that doesn't come out for a year. Plus it was tuned by GM guys at the Desert Proving Grounds in Mesa. I just wish I had these resources at my disposal for my next project, but unforunately I have live in the real world. :doh:

All in all though, I love the fact that it was a Toro. He was right when he said that it was an underappreciated car. Usually most of the Toro's I see are sitting at the parts yard complete less the motor, because that's the only part of any use to any other car. It's sad to see that happen to a great car, but hey I can't complain since I have a '68 Toro 455 in my 442.

[toddshotrods]

I agree with you guys on AWD, that's the way I would have gone too. Would have been an extension of the Toronado's original theme, not a transformation to being normal. They made a big deal about how radical and trendsetting that car was in its day but they erased most of that heritage, i.e. the front wheels had power. Plus, four-wheel smoky burnouts would be too cool!

On the reason for changing to RWD, that wasn't sound. Either Jay's guys didn't do their research, or more likely Papa GM convinced him to use some new corporate hardware and technology - that benefits them more. The TH425 transaxle is essentially a TH400 with a special case. It is a popular tranny for high-powered kit cars, because it can handle the power and sits the motor longitudinally. It could easily have been upgraded to handle 1000+ hp. As for the chain drive, there is a guy with one in the back of a Fiero who had a gear-drive plate made to replace the chain. He ran 10.98ET (I forget the MPH), then started working on some new changes. I think he got distracted with some other project though. The differential just bolts on the back of the transmission housing. All it would take is an adapter plate and custom output shaft to have a stronger diff.

I learned all that because I was considering one of those for the Fiero, until I saw that GM is running one of their front-drive auto transaxles (4t65E) on their Sport Compact drag car. They're pushing over 1000hp through it with minimal maintainence. A call to TCI revealed that their controller would work with it so I can have a lighter, ****pit controllable, paddle-shifted, tranny that gives me better weight distribution.

Not saying he should have built a front-driver, just that it was actually possible. That convinced me that his reason for changing was Papa GM's "subtle" persuasion. Kind of hard to say no to a couple C5's and a mythical motor.

JMHO but the car Steevo and Frank are dreaming up would make that Toronado seem like child's play.

Edit - how come I can't say C O C K PIT ? :ssst:

[ballistic69]

I liked the build up. I found irony in comparing it to a $150k Bentlet GT though, with all the fabrication, 2 C5's cut apart and GM's involvement, I guestimate the Torino cost at least $200k to build.

[ProdigyCustoms]

That is exactly my point Todd. They made such a big deal of the cars historical significance of front wheel drive, then gave it up? The made a big point they wanted to compete with the new Bentley, a all wheel drive car? For that matter, they could have left it a front driver with a hoped up Northstar? Is it a cool car, hell yeah, I just thought they lost their focus along the way.

[toddshotrods]

Hey man, I called you Frank - is that your name?!?! If not I apologize. I am horrible with names, and I after I posted that I kept wondering if I had it right.

I agree 100% on them losing focus. Still a cool car, but seems to have veered a little to the left from conception to execution.

From what I have seen, that seems to be common with custom vehicles though. On one extreme, the factories have focus groups, etc, and spend a boat load of money developing solid themes for production vehicles. At the other end of the spectrum you have a lot of custom shops that seem to just throw every trick in the book at a project and call it a day.

No offense to anyone's particular building style. I am really talking about some of the "big name" shops that build a lot of theme vehicles that often end up being watered down dreams. I think the difference shows in the end because the ones who nail it produce vehicles that are talked about for years, not forgotten in months.

Here you have Big Red and El Mule. Streetrodding had the Foose designed Boydsters I & II. Street Machines will have Chicayne, etc. They are vehicles that you can look back at years later and still marvel at, and often become the benchmark for future builds. I think Leno's original idea could have been that profound. An Olds (which will soon be no more) Toronado (the once great technological wonder) sport luxury coupe (an American icon) taking on Bentley's new dream car, with GM's best new technology. But hey, I am just a broke little dreamer with a few unfinished projects and a small shop on the back of my house. He is a successful millionaire with a warehouse full of rolling dream machines! More power to him because he loves his new toy, and that's really all that matters in the end.

You guys should build that Riv! That would be a nice way to set the pace for the twenty-first century!

Todd

[ProdigyCustoms]

Yes it is Frank. We are in tune.

[Larry Callahan]

I finally got to watch the episode last night. Too cool! Leno is near me. I think I'll try to pay a visit after the new year and see if I can get more info (or a ride) in his new toy.

I love the fact it looks totally stock!

[PeteRR]

Great project. It was the best use of two Corvettes I ever saw. :)

[moparguy]

If that car is not protouring then I dont know what is. I dont think they dropped the ball or lost sight during the build of the car. They said that they wanted it to compete with a Bentley GT and it certainly does that and more!
I think them mentioning the cars heritage was just being insightful about the old car in general.
That buildup seems to rank very high in the pro-touring hall of fame :hail: