Cadillac guys...Whats needed to put a TH350 behind a 390

Im thinking of putting a caddy 390 in a Merc and was wondering what was needed to install a TH350 behind it. Are there any old tricks or is it a simple bolt on kit??

Pete-

 

wilcap adapter plate

 

Here's the wilcap adapter

 

Try Bendtsen's at http://www.transmissionadapters.com/

-Saint

 

I got one too for my 331 Caddy. Heavy duty as hell and couldn't bolt up better! The machine work, laser cutting and doll locaters are perfect. Check them out.

 

I have a 37 caddy with a 429, an adapter and a 700 trans, and a 700 with adapter bolted to a 350 olds for our 34 olds, but I just removed a 350 from behind a 350 buick and put in a 200r4, I'm thinking that a 350 with the BOP[and cad ] pattern might just bolt right up, or perhaps the 390 bolt pattern is different if they didn't use the 400 trans with it(?) I can't recall when they started the 400 trans. in caddys, but it seems that the 390 and 429 would be the same- why not go with o/d?

 

I was gonna reccomend a call to Pat at wilcap too.

 

None of the 390 Caddies used the BOP pattern and cannot be bolted to any later GM (BOP/Chev) trans without an adapter. I have both Wilcap and Bendtsens adapters and think they are both very good.

The '64 429's got the BOP pattern block face when the Turbo was introduced.

Ray

 

I was in my gareage this a.m. and I was wrong(as the last post says) there is an inch difference between the top bolt hole centers of the 350 bop and the cad trans that I have which came with the car- maybe its' not a 65 trans that I have' thanks to hnstray for the info

 

I have the wilcap adapter it bolted up perfect no problems. I have the starter on the passenger side. You will also need a mopar starter.

 

If using the wilcap kit how hard is it to find the mopar starter needed???

Pete-

 

unless you are really hungup on using a TH350 didn't the last of the 390 engines have the TH400 tranny?

 

you can buy it at any auto parts, its a new style gear reduced starter like on a 90's dakota or probably any rear wheel drive dodge with a v-8

 

No, the '64 429 was the first Caddy to use the BOP style bolt pattern and with it, the TH400.

Ray

 

IIRC Cadillac did not go to the infamous BOP pattern till 68. Yes they used the th400 in 64 with the 429 but the bolt pattern was the oddball Cadillac pattern.

It might even be the same as the 55 331, 56-58 365, and the 59-63 390's.

Pretty sure I saw this information somewhere.

So, it may be possible to get a 64-67 Cadillac TH400 and bolt it right up to the 390.

 

Hi Pete,
I had the Wilcap kit on my green roadster and it was great. I beat the shit out of it for 10,000 miles with no problems. You can get it right from Wilcap or from Speedway..the one they stock is actually a Wilcap unit and not a knockoff.

The starter is a stock Dodge pickup truck starter on the shelf at Auto Zone for about $50. The bolt pattern on those starters is the same from about 1965 to about 1993. My buddy Stevie works at Auto Zone and we just went through the computer until we found the best priced one. I could probably get you a part number of the one I used.

The kit comes with everything you'll need including hardware.

 

63 and 4 used a buick th400 with an a-dapta (cast iron). 63-4 only that will bolt up if you machine the flexplate and run the 63-4 starter. The driveline will also need to be altered as will the tranny crossmember. To make mine work I parted a 64 Kind of a pain in the ass. go with the A-dapta kit listed above.

 

Hmmmmm...........back to the laboratory I guess....

Ray

 

I dont want to assume since you're doing an adapter plate with non mopar engine/trans BUT

I've always used the big ol' mopar starters on my small blocks and bigblocks, since the same starter will fit from slant six up to big blocks. Then i heard about their gear reduction starters that are used on the newer Magnum powered Dakotas, Durangos, Rams, etc..

I'd read that you need to do a touch of work to fit the wiring bundle for a bigblock dodge, but they bolt right onto a smallblock without any hassle whatsoever.

I've seen them from $125 to $175, and even over $235 from Mopar as a "racing starter" but they all seem to have the same part number-maybe some slight spec differences but sized the same..

mine was $30 from the boneyard, and although i miss that machine sound from the big Mopar starter, i'm impressed with how fast it cranks over my big mill....

 

I had a '67 CDV ragtop with the 429 and TH400. I needed it rebuilt at one time and the shop told me the only difference between it and "other" TH400's was that the rear nose was longer. This was about 25 years ago. Only cost $350 at the time to R&R it at Culver City Transmissions. Never had an issue with it till the day I sold the boat.

 

IF ... I were going to use a adapter to use a Chevy bolt pattern automatic
I would not use a Turbo 350. With the 390 Cadillac, a Turbo 400 would be a much better choice.

OR MAYBE ... even a transmission with the OverDrive

 

Hi My new never used Bendsten 390 to GM auto trans adapter kit is what you need- Paid $750 take $500- Has flywheel, high torque starter, etc
[email protected] Florida
Doc

 

I got a Cadillac kit from them too. A real piece of shit, low quality ill fitting crude item. Didn't have to have them locate any dolls though.

 

Hello, does anyone have a CAD drawing of a 390 cad rear where the bell housing bolts up?

 

I have a 49 cad ambulance that i bought that has a 390 with a richmond 5 speed on it and i believe it is a wilcap adapt. on it i believe. It is nice drop it into 5th and the motor is hardly working.

 

Sounds cool, I need a CAD drawing so I can make my own adapter. I can can measure the block I had was just trying to save time.