I've been looking around for an engine to go in my 41 Plymouth... wanted a 413 but can't seem to find one. I did notice that the big Caddy motors are around though, and I've always wanted to build one. The problem is nobody seems to know a lot about them and what I can find elsewhere on the 'net doesn't seem all that reliable. Even cad500parts.com seems a little fanciful (20 hp from using their oil pans? 420 hp from an 8:1 compression engine?). Then there was the old guy at the car show who said "slap some 472 heads on a 500 and you got yourself a 500 horse motor!". so what I wanna ask is, does anyone here have firsthand experience building these? My goal is at to obtain at least 400 horse and come in at or under $3500, which could probably only be done by purchasing a running engine and bolting on the proper parts. I've heard that the stock bottom end can handle obscene amounts of power, but again, that's just what I've "heard"...
No first hand experience yet... but soon, oh so soon. I'm building a 500, it should be really badass. I like how these engines are designed. Try cadillacpower.com for a decent forum on these torque monsters. 500cid.com is a good source for your performance parts.
I did a 500 for a friends 1/2 ton 67 chevy truck cams are out there we used a 282 Hy lifters the intake was the big expence around 560 bucks the heal on the 472/500 is the intake sets down below the deck. we at first used a 2 inch spacer it helped alot. but found the intake in time. the heads need some cleaning on the pockit but breaths well at high RPMs when done with the 411 gears the motor was at power very fast. the real down side was at 45 you kick in passing gear and it would get scary real fast and thats with L50s in back. we used stock pistons and rods there good for todays gas.
OK. I had to wait less than a week for somebody to ask about 500 inch Cads being any good. If you search back a few days you can find a thread about Iron Cad with Iron Crank goes 400 on gas. Yes it did a 485 cubic inch turbocharged gas burning streamliner went well over 400 several times last week at Bonneville and is still running, but not the turbo. Maybe you could contact Specter to see what they think
Hey man! Why dont you buy a 440, paint it hemi red with stock valve covers (painted hemi red as well) and slap these on the valve covers, http://americanmotorabilia.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=78_56&products_id=896&osCsid=9239ba95f0ec1e31d9bcb62e9f376a56 No one will know the difference.
Uh, wrong-O on that. I have a '68 high compression 472 that's .060 over in my '36 roadster. I used cam and valvetrain componants from MTS, and ported the stock intake (very little clearance underhood) and heads per their reccomendations. It's 10:1 using Egge pistons, runs great on pump (premium) gas, and, according to MTS, with how it's set up, is 400 hp. Remember, these are 375 stock. An Edelbrock intake flows much better than stock, headers supposededly really wake them up, and you'll want rocker shafts as opposed to the stock pedestal rocker arm set up to turn it over 4500 rpm, but, it's scary fast as is. You can't find reliable info on the 'net? You're not looking very hard. Expensive? Mine was all in at less than 2500 bucks, counting the machine work (hot tank, crank 10 under, resize the big ends of the rods, bore, valve job and assemble the heads). That's dirt cheap power, AND it gets 18 mpg on the highway. Nothing at all wrong with a BBC, but don't believe all the good advice you get here...
not trying to create a bbc versus cadi thread, but if you can build a cadi engine for less than a bbc, you have done something right! I love cadi motorr, I know first hand the power they can make.
Get on some of the "E-mod" (IMCA) forums. A lot of those guys ran 500 Cads 10-15 years ago, and there were some aftermarket parts available at the time. The 472 head trick is real, but it gives you about 12:1 compression. Those engines are nothing to laugh at, the late 60s - early 70s Cads would move, and there was no "weight saving"...
Curious thing about the weight: my '70 DeVille ('vert) weighed in at 4950 wet. That's on a certified scale, not 'off the top o' me 'ead'. New Volvo XC90 weighs over 6,000 pounds. Just FWIW. And, yes, that Caddy did move very well, thank you. 16 mpg if I went v*e*r*y easy, 12 mpg everyday. Nothing special except HEI. Cosmo
Didn't read it that way...that's why I said it wasn't necessarily true. My 500" Cad engine cost me $2000.00...and that's doing everything to it...all brand new. I'd say that's at least less than a BBC (and since I've never had a BBC built, I don't know), but if it isn't then it's comparable to a BBC. R-
Another advantage for the Caddy...weight savings. An all-iron 500 cad weighs a lot less than an all-iron bbc and about 50 lbs heavier than an all-iron sbc. I put a stock '76 500 in a '40 Pontiac Sedan. With a 3.08 ratio, the thing flat hauls. I am putting an Edelbrock Performer manifold on (because of the good rep they have). Shaft rockers are really only needed for 4000 rpm and up. These engines like to tug, not rev.
Exactly all the way around. The weight savings plus the huge torque even with a tall rear will surprise you. I'm wondering about my 472 with a 700R built to handle it and a 3:73 rear. Anybody know if there's a plate to adapt the 700 to a Caddy?
im a big fan of a 500, and i'd only use a bbc if i wanted to blend in and hug a tree or something while eating bbq tofu.
Even if a caddy cost a little more to build you can get them cheaper then a bbc so it will make up for the difference,everyone around here thinks a bbc is gold and wants about a grand for one and you can buy a running and driving caddy for alot less.
http://www.cad500parts.com/catalog/page031.htm Another possibility would be to use a 200-4R, which has both Chevrolet & the B-O-P-C pattern on the case...it will need to be built & upgraded to handle the torque, but the same can be said for most transmissions.
The big Caddy engines are best if you are wanting moderate power without spending a lot of money. A modest rebuild even on a low compression engine will get you close to the 400HP/500lbs torque. A good cam, roller timing chain and a little clean up port job is about all you need. A little die grinder work on the intake helps too. If you want much more power the cost climb quick. Improved rockers are a must if you want to wind one much over 4500. All speed parts are pricey due to low volume sold. So if you want a high rever and big power the big Chevy may be better. I've got the little brother 425 in my 52 Chevy hooked to a built 200-4r and a 3.42 posi. Traction is non existent even from a rolling start. I've got a 500 but haven't bothered with it because the 425 is plenty for a cruiser.
If the pattern on the box is chevy...check out this page: http://www.cad500parts.com/catalog/page031.htm Sorry, just saw that Homespun posted this link already. Cadillac Motorsports Development is a good source of parts, and a good site for finding information specific to caddys. Be sure you check out the oil pump details.
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