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Hot Rods Let's talk Cadillac 331's, 365 and 390's

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Roothawg, Apr 7, 2016.

  1. CollegeKid
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 111

    CollegeKid
    Member
    from Minnesota

    How do you get the Big Block Chevy rods to work in the Cadillac?
     
  2. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    The Pontiac 455 rods are supposed to be closer according to the sales guys at SCAT.
     
    jet996 and CollegeKid like this.
  3. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 3,150

    lumpy 63
    Member

    I wonder if a dog bone and spyder deal using LS7 style lifters?
     
  4. tuff57
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 105

    tuff57
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from wantagh

    I don’t believe I have any photos of the lifters, for the rods all I believe my machinist did was cut the crank to accept the Chevy bearings/rods. We had to modify the block for the lifters with the tie bars to fit. I was having some carb issues (even in the video I posted it was around 950-1000), but I have it idling about at around 800 rpms and with only 12 initial + 14 mechanical advance degrees of timing shes a real ripper. As it breaks in I will up the timing as I think it can take a whole bunch more. I’m also thinking about getting valve covers that have breathers in them. I’m talking with a gentleman in New Jersey who is building an even gnarlier engine than mine and he will be adapting a big block Chevy oil pump to his and adding a good bit of baffles to his stock pan so I might look to upgrade to that in the future if it works for him
     
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  5. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 3,150

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Do you remember what the original application was for the lifters with tie bars?
     
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  6. rod1
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,380

    rod1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    So, am I reading this right ? 55 starters are a 1 year only thing? A friend has a 55 motor that is supposed to run, but the starters gone. Wants to do some trading on some bike parts I have. I've got a bunch of earlier starters ,and a mini starter on the wilcap kitted 55 motor, but coming up short with a later one. Will a 59 390 work? I may have one of those in deep stash, but going to be tough to get to. I'd really like to hear this mill run, before I trade
     
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  7. tuff57
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 105

    tuff57
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from wantagh

    I bought everything from Ross, best advice is to give him a call
     
  8. Which starter you need depends upon the bellhousing and flywheel that's on it. The tooth count on the flywheel changed over the years and so did the starter mounting pad on the bellhousing. I know for certain that a '62 390 starter won't work on a 331...
     
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  9. Dogberg
    Joined: Dec 30, 2017
    Posts: 19

    Dogberg
    Member

    I strongly believe.. It became 176 teeth in 1954. Pictured is a -55 bell with starter fastening holes not centered, and that is probably the difference on 54-55 starters. I bought a mini starter that "should" fit
    54-55, and it almost did. It will though when I make a new adapter plate with off center holes.

    / Johan
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Adrenaline
    Joined: Sep 26, 2022
    Posts: 57

    Adrenaline

    Gotta keep this alive. lol

    So, id like to reduce the compression on my 365 a little bit. Ideally i want to avoid swapping out the pistons because, well, money. Are there any options out there as far as head spacers to or even some really thick gaskets? Trying to make this a bit easier on me and my wallet if possible. Thanks!
     
  11. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,369

    Marty Strode
    Member

  12. rod1
    Joined: Jan 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,380

    rod1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  13. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,903

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    IMG_0792.jpeg IMG_0793.jpeg IMG_0794.jpeg
     
  14. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,903

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Picked this up over the weekend IMG_1319.jpeg IMG_1322.jpeg
     
  15. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    Scotty's Garage! and Moriarity like this.
  16. CollegeKid
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 111

    CollegeKid
    Member
    from Minnesota

    Moriarity and Roothawg like this.
  17. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,903

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Picked up another one of these, looks NOS IMG_1824.jpeg
     
  18. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    How in the world do you find all these?
     
  19. Mike Paul
    Joined: Oct 10, 2003
    Posts: 1,019

    Mike Paul
    Member

    Resized_20241011_105939_1728663383481.jpeg A little 390 progress Resized_20241011_100120_1728663392789.jpeg Resized_20241011_110510_1728663450936.jpeg IMG_3752.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2024
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  20. tuff57
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 105

    tuff57
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from wantagh

    I took my car to trog last weekend so can say i have 98% of the bugs worked out. So far well over 750 trouble less miles. Got 16 mpg with the t5. Here is a video of a 1-4 gear pull. Still have to mess with the belt (one of the last bugs) to fix that belt squeal

    https://youtube.com/shorts/hNuNlEJrFvQ?si=5Oq73uxgk0VqNS0R
     

    Attached Files:

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  21. CollegeKid
    Joined: Dec 13, 2009
    Posts: 111

    CollegeKid
    Member
    from Minnesota

    Man you’re lucky. I tried bidding on one on eBay a few weeks ago but didn’t win
     
  22. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    Sounds great. I wish I was further along on mine. I can't remember if you posted your specs. Now that you have it dialed in, do an idle video again. I love speculating what mine will sound like.
     
  23. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

  24. Mike Paul
    Joined: Oct 10, 2003
    Posts: 1,019

    Mike Paul
    Member

    probably end up cutting some valve pockets. Anybody know of a good quality timing set or a way to change to a double roller set? The “Engine pro” set I bought changes the intake valve center line from 112 to 101
     
  25. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    I have thought about retrofitting a SBC set up, but I haven't researched it. Could you just have a keyway cut on the cam gear to advance or retard?
     
  26. Mike Paul
    Joined: Oct 10, 2003
    Posts: 1,019

    Mike Paul
    Member

    that has been talked about. The other issue is the new chain is a little sloppy
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  27. The sbc timing chain and gear conversion is doable, but I believe the biggest issue is the dia. of the crank snout. Last conversion I read about was managed by cutting the snout off the Cadillac crank and welding on one from a sbc...

    Wish someone would come up with a better set-up than the stock gears and chain.
     
    Roothawg likes this.
  28. tuff57
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 105

    tuff57
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from wantagh


    I also believe this is the way to get to done from what I’ve read
     
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  29. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 25,250

    Roothawg
    Member

    I think I do recall that...I have old man brain....

    @Mike Paul ......so how do you get around the lobe center issue? That could make a huge difference on what you thought you were getting versus actual.
     

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