They were sitting next to a lot of crap. Colby said they hadn’t sold much. I probably should buy that hood your dad is selling off his El Camino but didn’t drive something that could haul it.
Cant believe with all the Chevy engine suggestions no one suggested a 4l80 transmission. All it is is a th400 with o/d added
1986 to 1996 351 HO most commonly found in Broncos of that era. Factory roller cam, great power and torque stock. just finished an off topic 76 f150 short box, used a 1989 351 HO 30 over, Elderbrock heads, Performer intake, roller cam, C4 and 355 gears. around 400 hp. If you keep your foot out of the 750 mileage is in the 12 to 14 range. I am also very fond of the 5.0 and 6 speed auto in my 2014 f150. It can tow a Silverado on my 20 ft car trailer at 75 all day long and pull 16 to18 mpg just as well as my 460 powered dually at 9 or 10. If you go with the 351 use the Bronco or 4x4 rear sump pan and pickup. just my 2 cents. Sadly my 2014 is starting to fall victim to Wisconsin winter road salt. Got my eyes on a solid 1976 F350 and may consider a combination of the two for a quarter of the price of a new one. Take your time healing that back injurie. Rushing it is a dead-end road. Don't ask how I know. Larry
Except that it's electronically controlled. So now you're in the cost of the transmission, a lockup converter, and the stand-alone computer like the TCI EZ-TCU, and it's still a pain in the balls to setup. When you add all of the stuff together, it's probably about $1500 more to run the TH400 with the GV, but all you need is a vacuum line and a switched 12v, and the transmission is indestructible and can tow in overdrive.
The best choice doesn’t use spark plugs For a hamb friendly choice? Well I had a stock 352 in a f100 that had plenty of torque and got around 16mpg But hooked to a manual trans. A c6 probably would have lowered that. if I wanted to tow with a sbc with a modern OD auto trans I’d go 6l80. Nv4500 for a stick Ive got a th400 with an add on OD. Does great but ya have to make sure ya cut it off when your supposed to. The th400 really needs a lower 1st gear. Towing up to 8500 pounds, I’d prefer the brakes and suspension associated with 8 lugs. The 350 in the kids 61 pulls whatever ya hook to it. 4speed and 4:88 gears. But not near as fast as newer trucks.
Putting all your nostalgia feelings aside..... -The sbc 383 with a 4L80 is a no brain'r...or even a 350 -Parts available off the shelf almost anywhere and thy meet your need for a roller cam.... -Goal being low maintenance, because you have other sh!t to work on...
Sorry but I'd go with a 351 Windsor too. Too many options out there to build these little motors to the power/torque level you want. Parts, performance parts etc are readily available. If I wanted something different I'd look to BOP, don't have to be a 455, could easily be a 400 in any of the BOP offerings. Pontiac, Olds, buicks all made gobs of torque for towing and gas milage wasn't all that bad either. I've had numerous warmed over 389/400 Pontiacs I built and gas milage was always between 16 to 18 mpg and that's with me driving it and I'm no soft shoe driver. Low end torque was awesome. My step-dad built an old Chevy pickup with a caddy motor, 472 I believe, drove the crap out of it and used it daily on the farm. That thing would pull or tow anything you put behind it. Idle'd at 500 rpm, smooth as a babies bottom and got around 17 mpg. ....
The cracking I am talking about is in the stock builds upon tear down inspection. Apparently it is a casting flaw issue.
Actually they are pretty efficient when you get rid of the smog stuff and do a few minor things to tune them for todays fuel. The curb weight for those barges was way heavier than the Truck you have in mind. "In summary, the weight of a 1970 Cadillac could range from around 4,500 to 5,300 pounds depending on the specific model and trim. Keep in mind that these are approximate values, and actual weights may vary." Back it up with an overdrive transmission and gearing so its loafing on the highway and its going to get decent mileage compared to a smaller engine that's working harder and needs premium gas because of its higher comp ratio. I have a 2000 Chevy with a 4.8 and a 4L60 that I use for towing a trailer a lot. I can tell you that while it always gets me there, it sometimes works hard to do it and there definitely is a difference in the mileage it gets when towing. I realize a Caddy probably isn't what you will use, but there are a lot of them that people put in trucks because of their torque.
Yeah my first car was a 500 powered caddy. I seem to remember the dry and empty curb weight of a coupe DeVille being like 5750 lbs lol
Got a 500 in my bus Gets around 7-8mpg Has a th400 with OD added The 350 that was in it got 10-12 mpg no OD The 500 does pull the hills better
Nothing wrong with a 351w (I have one) and I'm a big fan of the 425/455 Olds, or the other options, but if you don't already have the one of these on hand, it gets expensive (dollars & time) real fast... Tho not rare, the oem 351w roller motors don't seem to be laying around everywhere, atleast around here.
They only made them 94-97 I think. I’m no expert, but I did a little research. I have another option that I can’t talk about here, but that’s also an expensive initial buy in. Keep in mind this thing will be empty 80% of its life, but when you need to pull a trailer, I want it to have enough balls to do it. Every truck I build gets a brake controller also. My 2 wheel trailers even get trailer brakes. Overkill? Of course.
A little more speculation on a Caddy and its cost. You can find complete engines for about $500-$700 most of the time and often with the turbo 400 attached. Usually they are not high mileage and some even run with a minor tune up and oil change. The trans can be used or sold for $200. The engines cylinder walls will most likely be in good shape, but might want to hone them and put new rod and main bearings in. I would look for a camshaft upgrade but for a truck the OEM cam will suffice. It definitely will need new timing gears. $100 or so. If speed or looks is not overly important, the stock manifold and carb can be used but the carb will probably need rebuilding. If you want something nicer, Edelbrock has an aluminum intake for about $400. Carb will cost the same whether its a Ford, Chevy, or Cad. I'd upgrade the distributor to a Pertronix and try to get a hotter spark because the combustion chamber is large and the flame has to travel a long way. Just a simple standard valve job on the heads but some stronger valve springs. Oversize valves are available, and a little homebrew porting to aid the flow. If replacement pistons are desired, there are lots floating around on the internet that are pretty cheap. $334 www.ebay.com/itm/266163553936?hash=item3df8958690:g:IoAAAOSwffRlZ3sF&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8HmLS7gdsV0K5J6BuYHEN7ouiw58YmbcuH94WJ5jLahnK0S0l%2Fsq%2B5xZz2GvrVpnwxr%2F26VADiwjhW5zz2E7fMa6Uv8q%2BEljdfRSroos%2B4XIhncqgi4AABlC24Vfubhp0fVI116qK5G6LX13psmhqszSxF0nu9e7GJhgvvU7rKg4v%2BLMBbopQ7oywCKJWNmuFEvUo1Rq1bVGpXmdH4RYss01aNjJtgBYOBiML53dlVua2Mwq3cerDQiL0MpqmMXAfdPlDDJXt6K26sgp%2FkcKEFtZBp%2BQ8lrlfuoSnLpSsif53184qekk8qvol0TrV39%2F%2BQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9yN0vqtYw $425 www.ebay.com/itm/266462452946?fits=Make%3ACadillac&epid=76198249&hash=item3e0a665cd2:g:WPgAAOSwolBkvV8H&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Fcu3X9tMGSh%2FbTu0Y%2FNuW1%2FTSXJlh48ZFb%2FlVIGbcZvHPaF1YPUEfF%2FpSPSh%2B%2BuNUj5YJgtJ4qwfaeMRViInSzeoWpgcszNqv6k9gerRxnOGxzLnf1GWCrHnaI7frPWuFDldJw839rwSuWGWskVg6zepo5zdcarwStOwdgQ0VLz7uS73kFnf%2FduoL5OEbX1BvCGrbqCmHFxF14R2wGtINxUA6ihz9js%2BFynu4iSeM6GpMa7HQ4%2F6woznPfQGbCwDpFzg0aTo6MdJEsO9mv4SVM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9yN0vqtYw And there are forged ones available for more money, but these prices are comparable to other more common engines. Add some headers for better breathing. Surprisingly Sanderson makes some but there are others available for unbelieveably cheap prices. $164 www.ebay.com/itm/185914810712?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1fyTyXeVUScyFdlUuaQZckA4&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=185914810712&targetid=4580909052916235&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603418355&mkgroupid=1236951585419131&rlsatarget=pla-4580909052916235&abcId=9323207&merchantid=51291&msclkid=8392c5277576149f3fcca09916e7144f Cad High Perf sells a transmission adapter if someone goes with the 4L80. A well built 700R4 could work without a trans controller but the torque of the Cad will destroy it if abused. Just pointing out that a simple reconditioning of a Cad can be done reasonably inexpensively.....or you can go for a lot more power with more expensive parts. Thats where the Cad parts start to become more costly than a Chevy. But a great truck engine can be built on a modest budget as well.
Two different friends, two different Effie’s, 30 years or so apart…. First one had a 289 4 speed from a wrecked Mustang, stock rear end. Ran like a scalded dog, pulled decent, we drug a few cars on a trailer around with it. No idea on fuel mileage. Other one many years later, another friend. Had a LT or whatever GM called it, the small block with the OptiSpark distributor behind the water pump, out of a Chevy Caprice. It was a small engine displacement wise, 4.9 ? I don’t remember, just know it was that it was the smallest V8 put in the last rear wheel drive Caprice. Had an overdrive automatic behind it. It did a good job on the highway, I think he may have even towed with it some, not sure. Sadly, both friends have since passed on, so I can’t ask them. My experience, I had a 84 4x4 F150 with the 351 HO, 4 bbl Holley, C6 transmission, 31” tires, 3.55 ratio rear. It would pull anything I put behind it. Fuel mileage was always around 10-12 mpg, loaded or empty. I should have kept it. My 99 F150 5.4 automatic 4x4 gets just slightly better mileage, around 12-14, pulls decent, I’ve had around 8500 lbs behind it, more weight than I really had enough brakes for. Right now I’m halfassed looking for an older 3/4 or 1 ton pickup, preferably gas powered, just for towing purposes. A 12 valve Cummins would be the only diesel I’d even look at, but, sorry Dodge fans, that’s the best engine in the worst truck. I may or may not ever purchase something, but if the right deal ( read cheap) ever came along I might.
Building a tow pig for a guy I know. 64 c30 Has a popular no spark plug 6cly inliner. Allison auto Hydroboost im looking at maybe putting a 65 c10 together. I could add the c20 discs and larger drum rear with Hydroboost and still look like a SWB c10. Pull and stop like a tow pig should Plus look totally old school on the outside
I have a 455 Buick in one of mine. What I've learned about old obsolete engines is that parts are expensive, take time to get, and sometimes a small issue leads to a big research project to even find what you need. Not what I want in a daily. I would stay away from the old Buick Olds Pontiac Cadillac big cube engines, or anything oddball for a daily driver. Even a fuel pump for my Buick isn't on the shelf anywhere anymore. A SBC or the infamous LS will have easiest parts availability and cheapest parts, which means less downtime for a minor repair on a daily. If the towing is occasional, a 5.3, 350, or 383 will do what you need without complaint. I'm not sure how many other cars you have, but I've found great value in having a daily I can rely on not needing constant repairs so that I can spend more time building/upgrading my collection of cars.
Obviously there must be some reason why the results here vary so much. I know one was a very heavy bus and expect somewhat lower mileage, but the 350 just had to be gasping for air and working hard while the Caddy wasn't straining. On the other hand lostone's example shows whats possible. 575 Lb/FT@2600 rpms www.motortrend.com/how-to/hrdp-9809-500ci-cadillac-big-block-engine-build/
I’m pushing a very un-aerodynamic 6.5/7k pound slug pretty hard We put a 472 in a c20. Went from 10 to 14 mpg over the tired 350 that was in it. I’d use a 472 if I were to do this again.
A friend of mine had his truck totaled in an accident but the drivetrain is intact. He said it was a 2006 Ford f150 with a v6 and 5 speed. Not really Hamb stuff but gets me thinking.
I've been a 53-56 F-100 guy since around 1966. They filled every need I had while making my life around Vehicles for the most part. I've done a lot of different things to them through my career. This 53 Panel Truck found its way to me around 1970 as a parts truck. it was totally stock then minus the motor. It soon became my Shop Truck with a 4bbl 351-C and a C-6. It towed many a load on a Flat Trailer. Traveled coast to coast and border to border pending the needs. It didn't look like this when I sold it in 1986. This is how it was found in 2018 by member Spooky then returned back to myself. Trust me, they can and will work hard if that's what you ask of them. When the Panel left, this Truck was well in the works to be next in line as Shop Truck. Like you I had all kinds of ideas for drive train and settled on a Hemi and 4 speed choosing to stay Old School (I just didn't know any better). The old Panel towed both trailers in the background all over the country. As with most of us life continued to change, and I got a new Wife and got deeper into Rodeo and her Drill teamwork so the 2-horse trailer stepped up to a 4-horse unit and soon a Stock trailer also. I also bought a new 3/4-ton 1996 Ford Club Wagon with a 460 and 4L-60E. It was getting 10 mpg, and I couldn't tow in overdrive. That Sucked! Prior to that my older brother had bought a new Class A motor home with same exact drivetrain and could tow in OD. We found out it was all in the computer, so my Club Wagon got the Brains of a Class A coach and has been giving me 16-18 mpg and tows in OD ever since. The Club Wagon now has 180K on the clock with nothing but standard service. I believe it is a Roller Cam motor and if I was where you are now, I think I strongly consider this unit. In our combinations of new and Old I like a manual fan and a motor with normal valve covers and this version of the 460 checks off each of those boxes.
Hard to beat a a sbc for reliability, fuel economy and the availability of low-cost replacement parts. Got a shop truck/daily driver project going on also, putting in good running 400 sbc with tri-power, it was left from another project car that I sold without this engine. Someone started this truck about 3-4 owners ago, so I think got lucky after the last one gave up. "maybe" lol The frame is from a mid 80s G.M.C. H.D. 3/4 ton with 4 speed granny transmission with 8 lug wheels and big brakes, been picking at it and collecting parts for it the last two years. The cab is in body shop prison right now for repair/paint. Norb
I'm with you on the old car thing, I can't really stand new cars, as of right now and the near future I won't own one. Granted I don't live in a place where they salt the roads, in many feet of snow or super blistering heat during summer. My girl does have a newer car and I ride a M/C to work (traffic here is horrendous and I don't want to taint my vision of old cars with my shitty job). When I move I'm going to be in a similar situation as you for wanting a shop like truck, except I'll have some snow during winter. My panel truck will be that truck, I'm leaning towards selling the 261 and replacing it with a 331-390 Cadillac in stock form hooked to the stock 3 spd O/D.......and frankly I'm excited about it.
Have no plans to buy a new truck. My OT I’m cruising now is hopefully temporary. Got a 63 and 65 c60. Got another c60 headed my way and a 64 c10. I get the pro guys buying newer due to the cost of shop time But these bigger trucks are cheap and EZ to modify. Look great dropped in the dirt.
Not sure that a 12valve would be the best version. I put nearly 400K on a 92 model and thought that I died and went to heaven when I bought the new '02 24 valve. I still have it at 287K and it will still do everything I ask of it and mileage (in a 7200lb 4x4) as high as 22 on the hwy. They can be had for less than the $5k rebuild costs of many gas engines. The downside for the F100 is the engine weight and that would be very difficult to overcome. Now, back to our regular programming...
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