Cummins or Cadillac?

[UHAULER]

Remember that the 425/472/500 Cadillac engines were designed to move big cars with smooth power for 300,000+ miles. There are a lot of advantages to using them for truck engines as I've been finding out. Many Chevy/GMC truck owners in my home state of Idaho would put them in tow vehicles to good effect.

Yep, My dad was a buick man. He had a 68 electra with a 430 that went about 250k miles that we drove to the wrecking yard.A 70 electra with a 455 that went about 250k miles and was still running ok and a 73 centurian with a 455 that had 290k miles on it when he sold it and was running fine. I had a 68 skylark that i put a 455 stage 1 engine in place of the 350. All of this talk makes me want to put a Buick 455 into something.

 

[superbuickguy]

Yep, My dad was a buick man. He had a 68 electra with a 430 that went about 250k miles that we drove to the wrecking yard.A 70 electra with a 455 that went about 250k miles and was still running ok and a 73 centurian with a 455 that had 290k miles on it when he sold it and was running fine. I had a 68 skylark that i put a 455 stage 1 engine in place of the 350. All of this talk makes me want to put a Buick 455 into something.

I had that thought... so I went with a 455 in a 50 Sedanet

 

[Woofwagon]

Superbuickguy, you know what would be really cool for that '50 Buick? Put a full tilt Toronado or Eldorado powertrain in the front of that thing. Kind of like CadZilla but with twin turbos. I know the TH425 transaxle can handle lots of power.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Thanks fellas.

Aren't the NV4500's rated at 450 ft/lbs? So it had me wondering.

That Caddy engine looks real appealing now.

What grade fuel do you plan on running? Think it will get those numbers on low grade swill, or have to go high octane. Heck, Hi-Test is more than diesel here in Eye-dah-ho.

Unfortunately, you can't get Buick-Olds-Pontiac bolt pattern bell housings for the NV4500. I'm not sure how different they are, the only thing you might be able to do is adapt an SM465 bell housing to an NV4500 tranny. I checked on this a couple years ago with Advance Adapters.

 

[Ridge Runner]

you're thinking NP208, I promise you the 205 is heavier than the 203... the cynic in me believes that the reason they made the transmission/transfer case cover removeable in the 4x4 was so you could use an engine hoist to lift that sucker...

No, 82fb has it right.

 

[Clutch]

Unfortunately, you can't get Buick-Olds-Pontiac bolt pattern bell housings for the NV4500. I'm not sure how different they are, the only thing you might be able to do is adapt an SM465 bell housing to an NV4500 tranny. I checked on this a couple years ago with Advance Adapters.

Don't crush my dream man!

Found this: http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/project794.html

 

[Woofwagon]

Get the pattern for both engine and transmission then take it to a local shop who has a water jet or plasma cutter. They can lay it out and cut from mild steel plate.

 

[east_tn_81]

Get the pattern for both engine and transmission then take it to a local shop who has a water jet or plasma cutter. They can lay it out and cut from mild steel plate.

What he said. The beauty of technology.

 

[Clutch]

What he said. The beauty of technology.

For sure.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/car...-now-re-create-an-entire-classic-car-15566080

 

[Woofwagon]

I plan on using the waterjet where I work to cut brackets as needed for lights, boxes or even suspension parts.

 

[Jeep]

You can buy a BOP to GM bell housing adapter plate dirt cheap.

 

[Woofwagon]

You can buy a BOP to GM bell housing adapter plate dirt cheap.

Yes, Jeg's sells the adapter plate between BOP and Chevy automatic transmissions for 60 bucks.

 

[Woofwagon]

Ok I've got the cam picked out for the Caddy. A COMP cam with 268 duration on intake and exhaust is going to be just the right setup for torque and fuel economy on long expeditions. At 250 bucks with lifters, Summit has the best deal.

 

[Clutch]

ooooh baby, I can't wait until this done!

 

[Woofwagon]

Found a complete master rebuilt kit that comes with a 280/284 cam with lifters and timing set for $1084 on eBay. Comes with pistons too, but I still have to look at what size the dish is on the stock slugs. I don't want to run too high a compression on this motor, I'd like it to be able to run on 87 octane with no detonation.