Jay Leno's Toronado

[dwasson]

I Tivoed Rides this week and just watched it. This one was about Jay Leno getting a '66 Toronado converted to a RWD, 1000 HP, Twin Turbo, Supercar. I always like the shape of the '66 Tornado but never wanted one because of the FWD and the complications of working on it. Jay Leno's team avoided all of the grief by pulling the body off and setting it on a stretched C5 Corvette chassis. If you get a chance to see this episode check it out.

[Donny Carlson]

I Tivoed Rides this week and just watched it. This one was about Jay Leno getting a '66 Toronado converted to a RWD, 1000 HP, Twin Turbo, Supercar. I always like the shape of the '66 Tornado but never wanted one because of the FWD and the complications of working on it. Jay Leno's team avoided all of the grief by pulling the body off and setting it on a stretched C5 Corvette chassis. If you get a chance to see this episode check it out.
look here:

http://forums.gminsidenews.com/showthread.php?t=8450

I like Jay Leno, but geez. He got two corvettes from GM to cut up for the project, a one-of-a-kind "concept" engine, and if you watch that Rides episode, GM had the car out in Arizona for 2 or 3 weeks with engineers to get it to run right and tuned properly.

BTW, I read in Autoweek that Leno's car money comes solely from his stand-up pay. He reportedly has yet to tap into any of the NBC money.

[CRUZTAKER]

I remember those, but at the time was too young to understand it was one of those front wheel drive pioneering kind of cars. Always liked the look, different from other cars at the time.

[Joe Walsh]

That's a SWEET ride...but IMHO Jay should have made it AWD.

[bigslim]

I saw that episode and loved that car. They ended up making special wheels that look like stock but made for the rear-wheel drive and he also got one of a kind red line tires. It was so cool when he stomped it and lit the rear tires up. I would love to have that car. I remember when the first time I saw one GM was showing the front wheel drive setup and had the Toronado hooked up to a trailer with the rear tires removed. It was a pretty cool site to see.

[the_pack_rat]

The fact that he basically left the BODY stock looking is pretty sweet.

The fact that he had to change the drivetrain into someting GENERIC GM AKA C-H-E-V-R-O-L-E-T BLOWS.

The man has more MONEY than GOD.

He could have kept the Olds 425 in there & made it turn some numbers way more impressive then STOCK quite EASILY.

Bottom line ...

LOVE the PHYSICAL of that car ...

I mean the PAINT on that car is UN-******believable.

However ... he should have done something more O-L-D-S-M-O-B-I-L-E with the drivetrain.

That car is really NOT a Toronado/Oldsmobile anymore.

Eric

[David Morton]

Not an Olds? Hear here. But nice! :D

Jay's alright because he's a performance nut. I saw a show where he has one of those motorcycles with an army surplus gas turbine helicopter engine in it. Extreme throttle lag, going up and coming down, but something that's gotta make you think "Bonneville", as in salt flats.

[PhastPhil]

I saw that show. Jay also compared it to a new Bently GT, saying it had a better power to weight ratio, was faster, handled better and was a lot classier looking than the Bent GT. That's what I like about Jay. Her could easily have afforded a new Bently GT, but instead he built something that he thought was better. A true car guy!!

[mercutio]

I wish Jay had left it front wheel drive. That's what made the car so unique, otherwise it's just a Buick Riviera. The Chevy engine and RWD took away all of the Olds character.

[David Morton]

I wish Jay had left it front wheel drive. That's what made the car so unique, otherwise it's just a Buick Riviera. The Chevy engine and RWD took away all of the Olds character.You young pup! The Riviera was front wheel drive too! As was the El Dorado.

They all had the same TurboHydraMatic 425, which was like a THM 400 turned sideways. I built one when I worked for the Buick dealership here. Bulletproof tranny that 425. It was in a Toronado that had an Olds 350 Y motor. "Rocket Olds 350" Nice engine when you could keep the rocker arm covers from leaking. An Olds 455 was available.

The Rivieras had either the Buick 350, 425 or 455.

Anybody remember what the El Dorados had? Was it that Caddillac 500?

[Racerx88]

You young pup! The Riviera was front wheel drive too! As was the El Dorado.

The Riviera was NOT FWD !!! The Eldo was however. The Riv did not go FWD til '79.

[the_pack_rat]

The Toronado was always a FWD car since it's 1966 intro.

The Eldorado became a FWD car in 1967.

The Riviera was NOT a FWD car until 1979(as previously stated).

The 66-70 Toro & 66-70 Riv did share similar body styles despite one being FWD & the other RWD.
The 67-78 Eldo & the 71-78 Toro shared similar body styles.
All (3) Toro-Eldo-Rivi shared similar body styles 79-85.
1986 + : I won't even go there ... they were an INSULT as far as I am concerned. :P

The only year Toronado in which a gas 350 was available was 1979 or 1980. These were designated by an "R" in the VIN(5th digit). The "Y" designation in regards to an Olds motor was for the 1980-1990 307.

Transmissions :

The TH425 FWD trans was used in the 66-78 Toronado & 67-78 Eldorado.
A TH325 was used in the 79-81 Toro-Eldo-Rivi.
A TH3254L(OD) was used in the 82-85 Toro-Eldo-Rivi.

Engines :

Toro -
66-67 - 425
68-76 - 455
77-78 - 403
79 - 350
80 - 307 or 350
81 - 84 - 307 or 4.1 V6(Buick)
85 - 307

Eldo -
67 - 429
68-69 - 472
70-78 - 500
79 - 350 FI(Oldsmobile)
80 - 350 FI(Olds) or 368 FI
81 - 368 FI(8-6-4) or 4.1 V6(Buick)
82-85 - 4.1 FI

Riviera -
63-65 - 401 - 425(1 4bbl or 2 4bbl 64-65)
66 - 425
67-69 - 430
70-76 - 455
77-78 - 350 Buick - 350 & 403 Oldsmobile
79 - 350(Oldsmobile) or 3.8 Turbo V6
80 - 350(Olds) - 307(Olds) or 3.8 Turbo V6.
81-85 - 307(Olds) - 3.8 Turbo V6 or 4.1 V6

All were 8 cyl 4bbl equipped cept' where noted. Also note - the boat anchor 350 diesel was available in all (3) 79-85 cars.

Eric

[mercutio]

[QUOTE=David Morton]You young pup! The Riviera was front wheel drive too! As was the El Dorado.

Did the young pup teach the old dog a new trick? ;)

[David Morton]

Did the young pup teach the old dog a new trick? ;)I suppose he did. I stand corrected. I just hope it's not old-timers disease starting to get me with the selective memory.

Could've sworn the Riviera was FWD right along side the Toronados and El Dorados. I had a neighbor that had four of 'em from 64 to 67 or so and I thought he said they were FWD.

[Geo]

The Toronado was always a FWD car since it's 1966 intro.

The Eldorado became a FWD car in 1967.

The Riviera was NOT a FWD car until 1979(as previously stated).

The 66-70 Toro & 66-70 Riv did share similar body styles despite one being FWD & the other RWD.
The 67-78 Eldo & the 71-78 Toro shared similar body styles.
All (3) Toro-Eldo-Rivi shared similar body styles 79-85.
1986 + : I won't even go there ... they were an INSULT as far as I am concerned. :P

The only year Toronado in which a gas 350 was available was 1979 or 1980. These were designated by an "R" in the VIN(5th digit). The "Y" designation in regards to an Olds motor was for the 1980-1990 307.

Transmissions :

The TH425 FWD trans was used in the 66-78 Toronado & 67-78 Eldorado.
A TH325 was used in the 79-81 Toro-Eldo-Rivi.
A TH3254L(OD) was used in the 82-85 Toro-Eldo-Rivi.

Engines :

Toro -
66-67 - 425
68-76 - 455
77-78 - 403
79 - 350
80 - 307 or 350
81 - 84 - 307 or 4.1 V6(Buick)
85 - 307

Eldo -
67 - 429
68-69 - 472
70-78 - 500
79 - 350 FI(Oldsmobile)
80 - 350 FI(Olds) or 368 FI
81 - 368 FI(8-6-4) or 4.1 V6(Buick)
82-85 - 4.1 FI

Riviera -
63-65 - 401 - 425(1 4bbl or 2 4bbl 64-65)
67-69 - 430
70-76 - 455
77-78 - 350 Buick - 350 & 403 Oldsmobile
79 - 350(Oldsmobile) or 3.8 Turbo V6
80 - 350(Olds) - 307(Olds) or 3.8 Turbo V6.
81-85 - 307(Olds) - 3.8 Turbo V6 or 4.1 V6

All were 8 cyl 4bbl equipped cept' where noted. Also note - the boat anchor 350 diesel was available in all (3) 79-85 cars.

Eric

INDEED, AND PONTIAC THE DUMB ASSES TODAY ARE CLAIMING THAT THE 5.3L LS4 IN THE 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP IS THE FIRST APPLICATION OF A SMALL BLOCK V8 (OHV ORIGINAL NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH DOHC 32V V8s OR THAT 4.1/4.5/4.9 V8 THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE) IN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR. STRANGE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WENT ON IT'S OWN COMPANY.