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Projects Who's runnin a Buick or a Cadillac Engine

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Donuts & Peelouts, Aug 26, 2017.

  1. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Who's running a Buick or a Cadillac Engine out there? Post your Pictures and tell us how they are treating you like driveability, performance, how are your 1/8 mile time etc.

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    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  2. Canuck
    Joined: Jan 4, 2002
    Posts: 1,104

    Canuck
    Member

    425 nailhead with a vp400. Runs great, cruises effortlessly. Haven't tried it at the drags.
    [​IMG]
    Canuck
     
    Fern 54, 40FORDPU, Roadsir and 3 others like this.
  3. wrenchbender
    Joined: Sep 5, 2007
    Posts: 2,337

    wrenchbender
    Member

    Gonna be running a 390 Cadillac next year in my willys and it will be punished every time I hit the throttle be watching for a build thread coming soon


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  4. [​IMG]

    472 Caddy w th400 trans
    I really like it, BUT....
    radiated heat under the hood and very high oil temeratures was a huge problem until I got that dealt with. (wrapped pipes, strategic air deflectors, oil cooler, pre luber, etc)
    Really great for towing things cross country, especially thru the mountains.
    What I do not like is lack of good gear ratios, which means having to choose between peppy performance and 9 miles per gallon, OR 17 mpg and pulling like a locomotive.
    I would very much like to use something like an overdrive 4L80E trans that has a good low gear for launch AND a good high gear for gas mileage.
    Unfortunately I cannot afford the several thousand dollars for the trans and $3,000 controller.
    I am still hoping to find a reasonably priced method of controlling a 4L80e to appear someday.
    I had no problem at all cheaply controlling the 700r4 I put behind my Stude engine in my truck and have been driving for well over 20 yrs now (I designed and sold thousands of those Stude adapters, including 700r4s for Hudsons quite a while back- retired from that long ago- don't know who has my old tooling now), but the 4l80e seems to require a bit more electronics to control it than I want to spend. Still looking for a cheap method.

    why be ordinary?
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017

  5. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    I seen somewhere guys online are doing the 4l80e (older 4l80e'swith out the computer. How I don't know but I'm looking into it.
    What year is the 472

    What years the 390 and the Nailhead 425?

    Keep them coming

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  6. KustomKreeps
    Joined: Jan 7, 2016
    Posts: 324

    KustomKreeps
    Member

    Got a Buick Straight 8. in my 52. Gets me where I want to go and people love the idea of an inline 8. Not much of a performance beast though.
    Got a Buick 401 Nailhead im putting in my Hudson project (link in my sig).
    I just like the look of Nailheads. Also like how narrow they are - will fit in anything.
    Add in the torque of them to get you going = happy man.
    401 nailhead= 1959-66 and think 425 is 1965/66
     
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  7. 41fastback
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 360

    41fastback
    Member

    I have a '76 500 in my '41 Cad. All the '76 powertrain was used. Has high heat buildup as previously stated above. Need some louvers added or something. Cruises fine. Never raced it. Plenty of power. Been on the road 25 yrs. The external oil pump can give you fitment problems.
     
    loudbang and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  8. I am running a heated up 263 I 8 in my 1950 Buick sedan. Three speed, 3.36/1 gears. Smokes em

    Ben
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  9. "35 Ford pick up with a nailhead......runs and drives great. Saginaw power steering and TH400 make it easy. DSCN0590.JPG DSCN0591.JPG
     
  10. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Evil Emery likes this.
  11. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    I was just going to pull the trigger on a cadillac 472 from 1968 but was told to hold off for a 73 and older block due to the pump gas messing with the soft seats in the heads. I want to drive my car on long trips....

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  12. Gman0046
    Joined: Jul 24, 2005
    Posts: 6,256

    Gman0046
    Member

    If it were me a Nailhead would be my choice. They have to be the coolest looking OHV V8. I also think the transmission options are better.


    Gary
     
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  13. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

  14. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,263

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

    Fern 54 and clunker like this.
  15. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    I'm tempted enough living in LA every week theirs something super cheap for sale. Buick 425 for 250$, buick 455 for 400. Cadillac 472 for 300. Chevy 327 for 180$. See what I'm saying.

    So many young guys are selling their old engines for LS swaps it's crazy.

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    Heavy Metal likes this.
  16. I run 93 octane Shell.........been fine for the last 16 years......10 mpg is a bit ugly though......
     
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  17. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member


    I think you might mean '73 and newer?..but probably '75, ...anyways,think about this...you'll probably be pulling the '68 engine apart...same with a '75 engine..., heads have to go in, have hardened seats installed and for get about the worries...or, just add a pint of MMO to a tank of gas, been working fine for me for 35+ years.
     
  18. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Yeah that what I meant sorry. That's fantastic news!! Now I can put my finger back on the trigger lol

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  19. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Hotrodart, you have a nice truck. Why Shell?

    I use shell, mobile and chevron fyi
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  20. RICK R 44
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 474

    RICK R 44
    Member

    Running a 322 nailhead with a T5 tranny in my 51 Meteor. Never had it to the strip. The old nailhead probably has enough torque to bust something!!
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  21. bobbytnm
    Joined: Dec 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,668

    bobbytnm
    Member

    I'm running a 1971 500ci Caddy and TH400 in my 49 Ford truck. If I can keep my foot out of the throttle I can get about 18MPG on the highway. I run low 15's at the dragstrip (15.2) but I have serious traction issues so I have to really feather it off the lights.
    I love the big Caddy, there is nothing like having tons of torque at your beck and call....LOL
    [​IMG]
     
  22. 56cadillackid
    Joined: Dec 23, 2016
    Posts: 103

    56cadillackid
    Member
    from new york

    [​IMG]
    My 56 Cadillac has the original 365 in it , it's pretty tame just driving around but when you put your foot down it hauls. The hydromatic transmission is not great and probably robs it of a lot of power. It's all stock right now but I'm planning on adding 390 heads and maybe a 3x2 setup.[​IMG]
     
  23. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    Love those bumper bullets, kid!
     
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  24. Jibs
    Joined: May 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,893

    Jibs
    Member

    My 472 Cadillac in my 47 Chevy. 472 has been in my 47 Chevy since 1992, probably over 150K miles on the engine. 500 Cadillac in my avatar, 1929 Essex coupe. 500 in the Essex is the second one, hurt the first one doing a burn out last year. You didn't say V-8 only so this is the Kenne/Bell V-6 Buick in my sons old T-Bucket. 47 eng 3.JPG essex eng 1.JPG T eng.JPG
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2017
    Fern 54 and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  25. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    56cadillacKid nice ride, looks like you got a couple air horns.

    Jibs. 231? Hows that V6 pull? And of all your engines which one is the most responsive?


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  26. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    Bobby thanks for your dragstrip time. Hope you can get your traction figured out buddy

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  27. Jibs
    Joined: May 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,893

    Jibs
    Member

    Donuts & Peelouts, the V-6 is probably the most responsive because of the light weight. Nineteen inch wide M/T tires help with traction also.
     
    Donuts & Peelouts likes this.
  28. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

  29. Donuts & Peelouts
    Joined: Dec 12, 2016
    Posts: 1,193

    Donuts & Peelouts
    Member
    from , CA

    check this video out.


    and google "4l80e manual" or "4l80e no computer" and many other threads have been written in other forums.
     
  30. MO_JUNK
    Joined: Jan 22, 2006
    Posts: 1,196

    MO_JUNK
    Member
    from Rolla, Mo.

    472 Cadillac in my 1957 Chev. pickup. I only have about 500 miles on it but I really like the torque. IMG_2309[2].jpg IMG_2311.jpg IMG_2312.jpg
     

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