Cummins or Cadillac?

[Ridge Runner]

these engines are dirt cheap and can be had for about 200 bucks from any junk yard with little to no wear on them.

Lest you get someone's hopes up, I can tell you this part is completely false. I manage a junkyard and these engines are very scarce. Of the few yards which actually do have one, most are selling rebuildable cores for $500 and good engines for $800-$1000. If you don't believe me, just do a search for these engines on car-part.com. It sucks because I had plans for putting mine in a '54 F-100 that I'm going to build and sell, but now I'm having second thoughts since these are great engines and I don't like the thought of not being able to easily come by another.

Also, I'd say the BBC is closer to 50-100 pounds heavier than the Cadillac 500. Most people estimate that the 500 weighs about 50-75 lbs. more than a Chevy 350, and the BBC definitely does not weigh 750 pounds.

 

[Woofwagon]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties, Ridge. Just perusing through craigslist these past few months, I've come across no less than five of these engines. In fact I made an ultimate score some some NOS heads that have been unused since '75. On the mass topic, with an aluminum intake manifold the Caddy weighs in right in between the SBC and BBC. One of the primary reasons I went with the Caddy instead of the Cummins was all the front end work I'd have to do plus the transmission adapting. No way a TH400 could stand up to the pounding of the Cummins, necessitating the use of an Allison or other built up automatic. Like any good engineer, I weighed the cost/weight/benefit ratio, made my downselect decision and went with the Cadillac .

Buick, Olds and Pontiac 455s can be found. I do know of several trucks with those torque monsters in them too. Thank the internet for sites like Rock Auto can can get you parts for cheap!

Lest you get someone's hopes up, I can tell you this part is completely false. I manage a junkyard and these engines are very scarce. Of the few yards which actually do have one, most are selling rebuildable cores for $500 and good engines for $800-$1000. If you don't believe me, just do a search for these engines on car-part.com. It sucks because I had plans for putting mine in a '54 F-100 that I'm going to build and sell, but now I'm having second thoughts since these are great engines and I don't like the thought of not being able to easily come by another.

Also, I'd say the BBC is closer to 50-100 pounds heavier than the Cadillac 500. Most people estimate that the 500 weighs about 50-75 lbs. more than a Chevy 350, and the BBC definitely does not weigh 750 pounds.

 

[Woofwagon]

I like the whole idea of a Caddy big block.. It would probably be an awesome propane motor...:smiley_drive:

Any engine can run awesome on propane, except for diesels of course. They like to use that as 'happy gas'. Propane/methane is an ideal motor fuel as it atomizes completely in the intake air, promoting complete combustion. IIRC, propane has an octane rating of 105 so you can run pretty high compression like in the 12:1 range without detonation. Someone will obviously chime in on this.

 

[Ridge Runner]

On Craigslist I don't doubt that you can still find them depending upon your region, but you said they're a dime a dozen in junkyards.

 

[Woofwagon]

On Craigslist I don't doubt that you can still find them depending upon your region, but you said they're a dime a dozen in junkyards.

Cheekiness aside, I should just buy another here locally on Craigslist for 200 bones to show it can be done and neener neener neener

 

[chilliwak]

Cheekiness aside, I should just buy another here locally on Craigslist for 200 bones to show it can be done and neener neener neener

ok good to know...:bike_rider:

 

[Woofwagon]

Even Hot Rod Magazine just published this article on the 500 Cadillac. This will be an ongoing series on how they are rebuilding this engine.

http://www.hotrod.com/features/1601-building-a-cadillac-500-from-the-junkyard/

Superbuickguy, can you help me here in the near future to mod an HEI to run TBI?

 

[superbuickguy]

yup - sundays are best

 

[chilliwak]

Ahh, you North West guys are so helpfull....:luxhello::littlefriend::sunny::sport_box:exclaim::********::clapsmile

 

[Woofwagon]

Ok, shouldn't be too much longer and I'll get with you on how to mod this Cadillac dizzy. I'll bring the whole kit with me.

 

[chilliwak]

Looks like we need an update on this whole caddy motor thingy....

 

[Woofwagon]

Planning on having the short block done with new bearings, and a full balancing. I may put in some higher compression pistons as the new heads that I have are lower compression but are correct year for the engine block. I figure that since I have the money, I will splurge on a full roller valve train and eliminate the requirement for ZDDP additive to the oil. I do need to get an Edelbrock manifold for the Caddy here soon. Probably after I have the short block gone through.

 

[superbuickguy]

I haven't got much done either



It's funny, I have a picture of your cadillac motor when I sold it to you in front of the 'cruiser



and I still have no idea where (or even if I should) post the build. It's far more domestic the '40....

 

[Woofwagon]

Yeah, the Caddy motor is all torn down to the short block level. I'm going to keep as many parts as possible, such as the power steering pump and alternator (which I may have rewound to a higher amperage rating). I need to call Pacific Auto Machine to schedule a time to bring the block over to them for inspection and machining (if any). The Cadillac engines idled so smoothly, that balancing may not be required. I have a cam spec'd out and am going to bite the bullet on a complete roller valve train. It's just a matter of finding the time at this point, which is good, as I don't want to rush a project.

 

[chilliwak]

Rush or not we are all looking forward to seeing your motor go in... Nice looking Toyota. Is that a Chevota?:Wow1: