I recently picked up a fresh early caddy engine and good hydramatic...supposed to be a 390 but I don't know how to i.d. it. Can anyone help me out? Thanks. P.S. what a heavy bugger...this thing is a moose! Almost couldn't get it out of the pickup.
That is a 390, a '61 or '62 based on the oil filter on the side of the block. GREAT engines, tons of torque and power and smooth as butter.
Spin-on oil filter started in '60, distributer moved to the front in '63. So yours is a '60 to '62 There's going to be a stamped # with a prefix that will show what intake set up it had, and what year it wasHere is a list http://www.tpocr.com/cadillacec.html '60 to '62 is are the best years for many reasons. Yours looks awesome, complete and all the components are in great shape. congrats.
That's a stock Jetaway 4 speed Hydramatic. It looks like it has a stock Rochester 4gc four barrel, glass bowl filter and rebuilt fuel pump, also stock generator. Looks like it was a non-A/C car, so there's a lot less to go wrong with all the bits and bobs
So where should I look for said stamped number? On a SBC its on a pad right below the passenger head. Also, is the trans a give/throw-away....for pre-49 hot rod purposes?
Should be just above the pan rail drivers side of the block. Also, the Engine Number is stamped on the Bellhousing Flange at the rear of the Left Cylinder Head. I really like the Jetaway, I rebuilt my own myself and it works great, I liked how it was designed on the inside, they are very reliable. The engineering was already done by GM a long time ago for max torque with the 390. Most people on this sight will suggest using it as a boat anchor, but they also still wear polyester leisure suits from the 1970's and have bushy mustaches so what do they know? But honestly, if I were building an A or traditional rod I would, in fact, also want a manual transmission with my Caddy 390, and the first step would probably be here http://www.wilcap.com/cad.html They make adapters for the 390 to a lot of different manual transmissions, I would take that list and look for a trans. The one that might make the most sense is their setup that allows the use of a small-block Ford bellhousing and a T5 five-speed. If you are planning on running an auto, I would stick with the jetaway. The rebuild kit is only a couple hundred dollars, and they are not that difficult to rebuild, I was able to and I barely have opposable thumbs. What are you doing with this motor? What is it going into? What's your budget like? Is it for you or for you to resell? Just curious. Here is an example of how to find and read your engine stamping View attachment 3324949
Thanks for all the great info. Much appreciated. Once I'm able to i.d.the engine specifically so I'm confident of what I have....it will be for sale. I have way to much stuff. Especially now.
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