Tommy Holmes – Woody Boaters Sexiest Man Alive Reports in From CD’s Engine World

tommy-in-shop

Tommy’s INDAHOUSE!

Cub Reporter Tommy Holmes reporting in from Michigan with his first Winter 2016-2017 shop tour. Russ Arrand of Cadillac Boat Shop had a engine pickup scheduled so I tagged along due to having nothing to do. We traveled to Hudsonville, Michigan (between Grand Rapids and Holland, Mich) to CD’s Engine Service where we meet up with Casey and Dave (C & D, get it).

cds-engine-service

CD’s Engine

This shop has an amazing collection of machines that I have no idea as to what they do but I assume Casey and Dave do. I’ll let the pictures do the talking – oh ya they also always seem to have engines hiding  all around so it’s like a squirrel finding a nut or in my case a Woody Boater finding a Block.

russ-and-caseyRuss and Casey having a power meeting, so powerful it blurred the shot.

engine-block-3

After getting tossed from the power meeting, I’m off to find some engines. The first one is big and blue.

engine-block-2

The second engine is a secret red and gray one under a confidential wrap.

engine-block-7-cc

Here is one that I know, it’s a 300.

engine-block-5-chris-craft

This is another big blue one.

engine-block-1

This one is a small one so that’s why there are two.

engine-block-6

A few recent barn finds.

engine-block-4-russ

OH, this is the one we are taking home. It’s silver.

ford-lotus-pistons

These are some pretty shining, high performance pistons for a Lotus racing engine.

ford-lotus-bath

The Lotus block. (Thanks to Bryan for explaining this).

The big meeting was dragging on and on so I decided to do a “machine show”, sorta like a boat show, and take pictures of all the machines and explain them to my fellow woody boaters.

big-green

This one is a big green machine.

sun-performance-analyzer

Sun performance analyzer

This device was once on the cover of Popular Mechanics magazine, circa 1959.

shop-1

This is part of the shop, CD’s.

mr-wizard-hood-fuzzy

This is where Mr. Wizard controls the Land of Oz with an engine nearby of course. In focus of course!

megaflow-1000

I know what this machine does, it Flows Mega about 1,000 times.

drill-press

This is not your father’s Drill Press.

carburetor-table

Carburetors, dud.

big-red

This is a big red machine. I need one of these.

big-red-ta

This is the Big Red T&A machine. I want one of these.

big-jetThis is a Big Jet machine.

OK, that’s enough. Its people like Casey and Dave that keep our Woody Boats running like a , well like a boat. Thanks to them we can spend more time varnishing.

dave-and-laptop-technology

BTW, Dave was too busy viewing woodyboater.com to say hello.

loaded

p.s. we did finally get loaded up and Casey said the magic words “I’m buying Lunch”.

Thanks for the visit.

21 replies
  1. Rick
    Rick says:

    Thank god Casey and Dave are not color blind or they would never know what machine to use on which engine. I assume it’s all color coded. Red machine is used on the red engines. Now where are the on switches.

  2. Texx
    Texx says:

    Thanks for sharing your story with us here today Tommy. You are the best.

    You could almost say that story had a lot of “lumps” in it… – Texx

  3. Wylie
    Wylie says:

    Casey and Dave know Hot Wood. The Cadillac Boat Shop knows where to get r done. Good job Thomas helping Russ carry that motor to the trailer.

  4. Jack Schneiberg
    Jack Schneiberg says:

    I’m really glad Tommy Holmes was able to nail down all the details and specifications of the shop equipment and the engines.

  5. John Rothert
    John Rothert says:

    I went to a BIG shop that rebuilds classic engines in Richmond Va, had them doing a flathead for my argentine boat…..took a woodyboater buddy along for the tour. He and I began commenting on several of the blocks sitting around and because of OLD AGE we knew what most of them were….a young machinist called out to the rest of the employees…”guys, check these two out, they know what this old stuff IS. A senior moment…..but we were left to wonder who will know in a decade or so???? or care, I guess….
    GREAT SHOP those fellow have, thanks for posting Tommy!
    John in Va.

  6. MikeM
    MikeM says:

    What a riveting report, Tommy. Thanks! I bet your favorite piece of equipment was the red T&A machine, right?

  7. Mrs. Blandings dream engine
    Mrs. Blandings dream engine says:

    Can they fix my engine? It’s blue, not like a robin’s egg blue, maybe a little less blue, with a touch of yellow-green, but not too much yellow, sort of reddish blue-green-gray-yellow, but not too reddish…

    Oh yes. I forgot. It smells like oil, not too much oil, sort of a bacon oil, smells like……..

  8. Chad
    Chad says:

    Casey & Dave can build/rebuild anything with those fancy colored machines.

    Engines that leave their shop rarely return. They just keep running…

  9. Nehmer Kid
    Nehmer Kid says:

    Casey and Dave are honest. They have done a lot of exotic engines and ones that others couldn’t fix. From Scripps to 427, from Gray to Hercules blocks. The key to these two as they stand by what they do and they are honest as the day is long. Strait shooters and know their stuff. Very high quality work and they both have wooden boats themselves, and work with chapters in the area.

  10. Rick
    Rick says:

    Can I have them put a 300 sticker on my blue engine will it make Panther go faster. B just doesn’t sound like a fast letter.

    • Russell Arrand
      Russell Arrand says:

      Casey and Dave have done great work for me over the years. They stand behind their work and offer advice after the fact. They both own wood boats and use them in our club activities. Use them if you want quality work and want the best there is.

  11. Dan T
    Dan T says:

    Great to know there’s still a good machine shop up and running. Their all pretty much gone in my neck of the woods. Thanks Casey and Dave!

  12. Monica Moore
    Monica Moore says:

    Tommy, the secret engine is Scarlet and Gray. Must be a Buckeye! Well done. I now feel educated on engines and machines.

  13. Jon Peele
    Jon Peele says:

    Take all those old rusty engines pieces and parts back in the the remote corners of your shop. Throw them into the back of your pickup and send them to CD’s. Months later back comes a shinny juiced up engine. Oh, and don’t forget to send your check book

  14. Alex
    Alex says:

    My colleagues and I have nothing but praise for Casey’s work. We have all had him rebuild engines for us with nary an issue. A highly talented, fair-minded man in the classic engine business is a wonderful resource to have.

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