Has anyone here adapted a manual trans to a 472/500 Cad engine. Already have the adaptivator bellhousing to go from the BOP pattern to the standard chev pattern. The flywheel is the biggest issue, a custom machined one from Maximum Torque Specialties is $389 USD, which wouldn't be as big of deal if i didn't live in Canada. The shipping and exchange are killer. Is this the only option?
could someone you know stateside buy the flywheel for you and send it as a gift to save you all the extra costs for crossing the border.Just thinking out loud............
I posted on this a little while ago. Not too much interest. Here's the post. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=368912&Forum=UBB1&Words=caddy&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=1&Limit=125&Old=3months&Main=368912&Search=true#Post368912 So I did a little googlin to see for myself. It looks to me like some B-O-P flywheels might fit.. Same 166 tooth ring gear, and I THINK the same diameter (13.979") also called "14 in?" I've been noting this stuff down. Here's a bit of what I've got (the rest is re bellhousing, and you've already figured that part out.) (I think you want to make sure your B-O-P bellhousing takes the 14" flywheel....I see reference to some 11" clutches on eBay posts re those bellhousings. Maybe some smaller bells are out there?) CADILLAC MANUAL TRANS CONVERSION Apparently, Cad had 166 tooth ring gear on flex plate (for stock Cad starter). Pontiac flywheel has same ring gear count. Also big c.i. (and smaller?) Olds and Buick (big only??) (from CHET HERBERT PERFORMANCE) Hays Clutches MRG-13-130 Pontiac: 1964-76 326-455 with large register bore (2.75) 166-tooth, neutral balanced, flywheel. (Dunno the Caddy dimensions!) This Hays billet steel flywheel for your manual transmission is heavier in weight, over 30 lbs., to help improve acceleration and enhance torque. It features a neutral balance design with 166 teeth. Sold individually. Product Line: Hays Flywheels Material: Billet Steel $234.95 (from McLeod Industries) Pontiac & Oldsmobile Flywheel- 1964-85 (260,307,350,403,455) ENG. C/B - 1968-70 400 461505-1X 561505-1X (Aluminum) 166 tooth 13.979 dia. 4, 5, 7 (clutch styles) That's all I know about that. Should be some 400 Pontiac flywheels (clutches etc) up here in the Great White North. Let me know how this thing works out! BULLETIN: Pontiac flywheel on eBay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33732&item=2477058551&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW Remember, I don't know if this works!
Russ Meeks, Bonneville racer, all around good guy has a camaro 6 speed behind his blown 540 inch Cad sitting in a $150,000 Chassis,
Thanks for the info, Slowlearner. It at least gives me other options to explore. Hemi, I think that's a little out of my league. I'm looking to do it with junkyard readcheap) parts. I'm sure someone with that kind of skill, and/or $$$ would just have the parts custom made.
trust me on this one Russ has the skill and not the cash. Have you ever seen his Bonneville car running a straight six
both these cars, were pretty much built in an enclosed patio behind the house. Russ does have a lot of tools. but nothing high zoot or expensive. it all in the creative mind and doing it. you don't need much cash if you are willing to spend the time to push the envelope a little further a lot of the shop equipment was built just like these cars. Russ put something like 14,000 hours in the chassis. building all every little part by hand. on the race car he built a quickchange on the front of a nine inch ford. I asked him if they were going into production, he said WHY? I only need one. the guy is a freekin genius and modest beyond belief
I've been checking out this board. http://www.cowboyseven.us/forum/index.php Lotsa Cad knowledge. Search for flywheel and there's posts by "Tim", CaddyCarlo" (and now me too ). Both of them used aftermarket flywheels. Note: Tim's flywheel, from "Flash" here: http://www.cad500parts.com/ said to be only about $269 US (closer). Looks like the Pontiac flywheel needs redrilling (a new bolt pattern?). I'll try to follow up. Still looking for cheap!! .
The only thing I can think of is the crank probably isn't drilled for a pilot bushing. I know this was a problem on some of the olds motors.
Yup, the crank has to be drilled. Some very cool how-to TECH on that at this site: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/caddycarlo/caddycarlopage2.html Guy does up a little bushing for the input shaft spigot. I'm trying to keep a little thread alive on the Caddy board I mentioned earlier. It seems the Pontiac flywheel is NOT a bolt in. The guys say you would have to make the center (register) hole bigger to fit the caddy crank. Doesn't sound too difficult. Does any one have the specs on that crank? Diameter of the rear flange?
Here's a link to that thread of mine on the caddy board: http://www.cowboyseven.us/forum/index.php?topic=772.0 Seems that you can buy a Caddy flywheel for a fair chunk less than MTS if you want. "Tim" says, "Flashcraft flywheel was $295 + ship". Here's the link: http://www.cad500parts.com/ I'm still hoping for a cheaper way if there is one.
This just in: "I think the crankshaft is 2.995 - 3.000 for the flex plate to fit over." - (with thanks to "Nova50073" at the Cad Board). So....it looks like there IS a way!
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