Technical Roothawg's 390 Cadillac build

That's awesome! Thanks.

 

Barrelnose pickup has it right. I made an attempt to rig up a rocker arm ratio checker using two dial indicators today... worked, but not as accurate as what I wanted. So, after my portfolio matures and I retire I'll have to take the time to build a fixture for this and get some final numbers on these. Ended up doing what Barrelnose did and came up with the same ratios. Doing the math using the '62 shop manual I came up with 1.648 to 1 on the 390 rocker arms. Measuring '62 390 rockers yielded 1.68:1. Measuring '55 331 rockers I came up with nearly the same at 1.6 to 1. Measuring Studebaker rockers gave me approx. 1.5:1

 

I believe we have a consensus then. With those numbers, I should be able to get a half inch of lift ok.

 

How are you guys dealing with the road draft tube? I have been pondering a pcv valve in the valley pan.

 

I run the tube, puts the blow bye and oil under the chassis. I bought an extra dfaft tube with intentions of using a pcv valve, but I never did it.

 

They are, but I don't wanna smell like carbon gasses. I guess I could tie them into the exhaust somehow.

 

I run a PCV system copied from the '62 California versions. I've had no issues with it in the 15 years it's been on my '331.

 

Do you have a diagram? Or some pics of how you did it? My ideas were too hack (even for me, and the thing I enjoy most is being a hack). I would like to try it.

There is a lot of &&@@@ coming out of that tube for sure, I stuck a rubber hose in it that runs under the car past the passenger compartment to cut down on smell. I like the idea of rolling old school, but I would like to try something better. Maybe Warbird has a good fix.

 

With multiple carbs I would run a road draft tube so that I can dedicate all of the vacuum to the carbs, but a single four I run a pcv.

 

Clunker,
Here you go... Scroll down to post #33.
URL="http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...lac-ohv-v8s-1949-1962.8282/page-2#post-327103

 

Awesome. Thank you.

For some reason this link goes to a different thread, but by searching hamb for "cadillac-ohv-v8's-1949-1962" , it brought me to the correct thread, (in case someone wanted to check it out). Since I have an extra draft tube, I'll try it. I do run dual quads on my 390, so I will be interested to see if the vacuum is compromised.

 

Here it is from Warbird's previous thread.

When I did the PCV installation on my 331 I cut the road draft tube off just outside of the elbow that attaches it to the valley cover. Then welded a correct dia. washer to the end of the tube and welded half of a pipe coupling over the hole. If you have access to a lathe you could turn out a fancy adapter to go from the I.D. of the tube to female NPT. The adapter I welded up works fine and its hidden down below the intake manifold so isn't noticable. Into this adapter goes a pipe to hose fitting. I installed the PCV valve into the manifold vacuum port on the secondary side of the front WCFB. You could do the same, or just plumb it into the vacuum port on the manifold. I used a PCV valve p/n FV100, which I think is a Fram part number. Have your parts guy do a search for the PCV valve for a '61 Cad, which is what I did. Then it's just a matter of rounding up the correct brass pipe fittings, hose and hose barb to make the system work.

Hardest thing on my installation was drilling out the manifold vacuum connection on the back of the WCFB from 1/8 NPT to 1/4 NPT. Not a lot of extra meat there, but it worked.


Hope this helps...

 

I think you would be wasting your time with larger valves and a solid lifter cam. You can't make the intake ports flow enough and a bigger valve will be shrouded by the cylinder wall. I went through a few iterations of cylinder head porting to learn this. The exhaust side of the early 390 head is quite good. The intake side suffers at the lower lift levels. See my build thread "New Skool 331 Caddy Build" for flow charts before and after porting.


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Since you brought it up, would you just run the stock valves and move on? I remember you said there wasn't a whole lot of difference for the money spent or are you satisfied?
I am more concerned with those clunky retainers. I know they are part of the oil seal. I just wonder if a sbc valve, retainer and prongs would work? Maybe cut the guides for Teflon seals?

 

Guys, I just posted up a question to the Offenhauser website requesting the 3x2 be brought back. If you can give me a thumbs up on the vote it might help them see that there is a need for them to reproduce them. Might have to sign up. I had to in order to post the question.,

http://offenhauser.co/ask-offenhauser/question/please-bring-back-the-331-cadillac-3x2/

 

If you look at the 2x2, it's not too far from the original 3x2.

 

Got a response from Offy already!!!
Thanks DMarv for the response.

Offenhauser hears you! The resurrection of the Offenhauser 3x2 for the early Cadillac V8 engines has been on going for the last few years. Offenhauser hopes to make them available soon, but there is more work to be done. Stayed tuned to the Offenhauser website because when they are available it will be announced here first.

 

The 472/500 has the seals that are part of the retainer. The earlier Caddies have an umbrella seal.

They will cut the guides to use a modern positive seal. Also will need a stronger valve spring. Planning to set the RPM limit at 6500 or below.

I'm satisfied with the flow now. At least as good as a decent SBC head. Stock 390 with a tri-power was rated at 345 HP. If I can get 425 HP I'll be elated. We'll see!

 

If I can get 350 hp, I'll be satisfied. It's more about the curb appeal.

 

I want a 3 carb offy intake!

 

Well, I found something this week that I couldn't live without. My good buddy Sid scored this intake and I had to have it, so here ya go. Soon to be sent off to the buffer.

 

Rightfully so! Nice score. I have one of those for my Olds, my hunch is, it will actually work better than the Edelbrock 4x2. I'll probably run the 4x2 just for the glamour, but I think the 2x4 is a real good combo for the street.

 

The carbs are just shells, but I am interested on what has the same footprint?

 

nice

 

I believe the Rochester 4-Jet and the Carter WCFB both have the same footprint.

 

Root, there is an oil galley plug inside the distributor hole that the machine shop should, and most likely will, remove during cleanup...be sure it goes back in.

 

Here's a thread dealing with that exact question.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/carter-wcfb-carbs-what-else-fits.83482/


Don't toss those carbs, if they happen to be the correct carbs for a 50's dual quad someone could use them.

Nice looking manifold . I like.

 

Toilet bowl Holley...

If you can fix them, keep the WCFB's. Otherwise a couple of small AFB's or AVS carbs on adapters.