My friend has this 1974 Cadillac 472 engine that he isn't doing anything with. It runs good, and I was thinking of stuffing it in my 91 RS. From what I know, the overall dimensions are smaller than a BBC. Has anyone ever done this? I have a TH400 to use with it too. I think the hardest part will be the engine mounts and headers. Does anybody have any input?

 

Sounds cool, those Caddy motors are brutal torquers. Somebody makes motor mounts and header adapters that allow the 472/500 motors to use BBC stuff. Don't remember the company it was in Car Craft. I'm sure the problems with plug access and hood clearance remain, though. Anyway, sorry I don't have better info.

 

One more thing - how much "massaging" are we going to have to do to get this monster to fit in my car? I have a 2 1/2" cowl hood to put on it too, hopefully that will be tall enough to clear the engine.

 

you probley wont have too many problems, just grab some frame mounts, test fit the engine and drill holes in the chassis when the mounts look best, also TH400 trans is manditory there, the 700r4 or TH350 will be grenaded the first time you put it into drive,also frame ties are going to be a real good idea. this is a serious powerhouse you got there, not a little toy like a 305 or 350 i saw one in a 80's elcamino and it fit real nice in there, stone stock with just the stock manifolds the car was running mid 13's all day.

 

Does anyone know what rearend came in a 1972 Caddilac Hearse? I dont know what platform the hearse is built off of. I'm shooting for mid to high 12's for less then $2000. I can get the entire car for $500. The only really expensive part will be the rearend. I hope I will be able to use the rear.

 

it will mostly likely have a good 12 or 10 bolt axle, the big B-bodys have solid parts, but are you trying to get 12's out of a hearse?? good look there! those tanks weight like 5,500 lbs, i belive the worlds fastest is like high 13's with a 455 pontiac with like 500 HP but if its going into a diffrent car your cool

 

I'm interested in putting it in my 91 RS. Its an L03

 

the axle is not going to fit, you can do 12's easy on a 2K budget, yank that engine and trans out of it, it will have a TH400 you will need to shorten the driveshaft and have the TH400 yoke put on, also just the drilling the frame mounts and thats about it! also the exhaust re bent but that engine bone stock will haul ***, if you have a few extra $$ left over a edelbrock intake for it and new cam will assure you easy 12's

 

Your biggest problem will be the width, the caddy bigblock is a wide bastard. On the other hand with an aluminum intake it weighs just a little more than the sbc so it's a rocking swap. theres a couple companies that specialize in swapping these engines into just about anything. Maximum torque specialties
http://www.mts.simplenet.com/
http://www.500cid.com/mts/index.html
John

 

I browse those sites often. I know a built 10 bolt wouldnt live behind that engine if I ever did anything to it. Does anybody know what kind of a core charge moser will give you for a 12bolt or a 10 bolt? I'm hoping that selling the 12 bolt(assuming thats what in it), the stock 10 bolt, t5, the LO3, all the ac equipment and any other little tid bits will offset most of the price of a moser 12bolt.

 

Be very careful with that one you are going to be in for more then you can chew believe me i have to get custom headers made for my 400 pontiac swap into a 85 firebird so whatch out it is going to get pricey

 

fox use a 70-73 firebird header, they fit fine or use some ram air manifolds, they flow nearly as much as headers and fit even into the tightest places.

 

I will probably be stuck with the regular manifolds for now, but I can use the BBC headers designed for my car and weld them to a set of Caddy. flanges, This might work for you too.

 

The BBC headers will only work on an engine that is the same width as the BBC due to clearance issues.

 

true...

 

I have been told it is approx. 1" wider, 1" longer and that the cylinders are offset the oppisite way. Looks like the BBC headers are not happening.

 

Yo LottaNuts!

Was that you I saw driving out in Phoenix the other day. Blue RS with the cowl hood. I was in the black bird.

 

Uhhhhhhh, I'm in Virginia.

 

Yeah, I can read. But I ran into a kid on the street just two days ago. Blue RS, 2" primered cowl hood, a caddy motor with header mufflers. And he was looking for a 9" rear end. Thought you might have moved.

 

If you happen to run into him again, could you point him in my direction? Or at the least ask him what his E-mail address is? Thanks! I didnt mean to come off as a jerk if I did.

 

I'm going to need pics to believe that. If the caddy is 1" wider than I don't think the HSC's will fit.

 

Yeah, I know it was weird. The guy looked like a mechanic. I asked him what whe had in it and he said a 500 caddy motor. Then he tried to get on it a little and stalled it. He might have had stock manifolds on it. I just saw the two hacked up mufflers attached underneath. If I see him again, I try to get a number.

Peace

 

I could tell you I have a all alum Rodek in mine with dual 8" exhaust, if all you saw was two fart cans under the car would you believe me?

Have him pop the hood, if the distributor is in front that would be a good indication that it's a caddy.

 

Quite a few years ago, in the Hot Rod Magazine they had an piece in the magazine about putting in 500 Caddy in a mid 80's El Camino and it fit not to bad and run decent too, the only problem that they had was the back of the motor rubbed a bit on the A/C box when they jamed it in but when they started the beast it made room, no room to change the plugs was also a chalenge.

 

I want to do this swap so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!