thanks for all the info. if i was designing the car for me...... i would keep the 390 and hydro. If someone wants to pay me to build "their" car, i will do what they want. I will just sell the 390 and hydro. Does anyone know what rear end I can change to? I want 4 wheel disc brakes. i was thinking 1990's S10 or 80-90's Camero. Has anyone changed the rear end without ordering custom made?
I would guess offhand that the S10 will be too narrow, unless you want wide tires. The third gen Camaro is probably closer, but they have a rep for being weak. Maybe a late second gen Camaro 10-bolt? For that matter, that 10-bolt came in half ton pickups and Suburbans, so there's a variety of widths, if the disc brake stuff can be put on the wider housing, you'd be in good shape. About any gear ratio on those you could want, too. I'd imagine no matter what you use it will need perches added to fit the Caddy spring arrangement.
If it were me I would try to convince the customer to keep the original mill and inject that, as far as a rear with disks, go for an exploder rear, they are already set up with disks and parts are readily available.
Before I sold my '67 GMC Suburban (with the factory 327 4-bbl) several years ago, I was getting ready to install a 500" Cadillac engine in it. The Cad develops scads of torque the Chevy only dreams about, and is dead-ass reliable, to boot.
as far as rearends I swapped out a chevy half ton in my 53 Caddy .Its 64 inches wide and 5x5 bolt pattern. 70 - mid 80s chevy 1500 trucks. 12 bolt rear so its very heavy duty. It was a straight up swap. I dont know the width of your 61 rear is but it worked great for me. I have had no problems with my 454 thats running in my Caddy.
I love all the great information here. You guys are awesome. Would it change anyone's mind if I put a 04 Vette motor and trans in the Cadi?
Would it change anyone's mind if I put a 04 Vette motor and trans in the Cadi?[/QUOTE] Probably not.... most want to be in the "cool guy" category.... I'm just kidding of course......
a buddy had a 65 caddy with a sbc in it and love it myself when the motor in my 65 caddy was bad i put a 67 caddy motor in it but then i love caddies
What is my running 390 with new gaskets and custom Cadillac scripted valve covers worth? I have a rebuilt hydromatic transmission too.
IM NOT GOING TO PUT THE CADI RUNNING GEAR BACK IN. That part is settled and the customer has spoken. I gave him several reasons for putting the Cadi motor/trans back in, but he is stuck on a new Corvette chassis and drive train. He is paying me, so money talks. I think the motor and trans are worth $1200-$1500. The rebuilt trans cost me around a grand by itself. Here is the new rendering.
You guys are great rodders, but terrible businessmen. LoL. The customer wants a SBC, you give it to him. After he takes possession and hates it, he'll be back for an expensive engine swap. Kacheeeng, more business. Get it?
i'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THESE MOTOR MOUNTS HE'S TALKING ABOUT FOR THE 396 IM PUTTING IN MY CADILLAC, ANYBODY GOT A LINK????? Thanx
In between the 331,365 & 390 series and the 472, 500, 368 etc series there was an orphan 390, 429 series it was a wierd combo, if I remember correctly it used the same head gaskets as the earlier series but had ditributor at the front. They ran very nice but they were prone to overheating and blowing head gaskets. Sometime during 1963 GM in its wisdom replaced the 4 speed Hydro with the much less expensive TH400 3 speed. Humping those big old Caddys from a stand still was too much for the 390,429 motors and I think that is why the 472-500 were developed. Also just down the road Ford had caught up in the BIG motor field with a pretty awesome 429-460. All that being said I agree the 472-500 motors are the best and I replaced the 429 in my 65 Caddy with a 500 from a 75 DeVille and it was a relly nice set up. I also agree the customer is always right!