Hot Rods Let's talk Cadillac 331's, 365 and 390's

I don't know about .010 bearings but the 020's are un-obtainium now. I was looking for .020 mains for quite a while, finally found a set at Speedway; however the box got damaged in transit and all I received was the rear main set. Got my money back for that set. The crank is still good and I didn't want to have it turned again so just checked clearances and re-used the old bearings. Getting parts for the 331 is getting harder all the time...

 

A little out of the box thinking on this... so don't crush me. Haha.

I don't have a torn down early OHV Cadillac in front of me yet.. buuttt. Would it be possible to adapt a set of SBC aluminum heads or LSX heads to the block with machine / fabrication work? I've seen Ford 300 I6 with an adapted LSX head, there has been a V12 LSX engine built before by cutting and chopping up heads to fit.. with the exception of water / cooling, and rocker oiling, (unsure of how Cadillac flows vs SBC and if we can make that work someway) could we not make a newer head work? I'd gladly grab a sawzall and chop up a set of LSX heads (junk yard cheap) to make a Cadillac engine a weird beast and confuse the masses.

Oh boy... I've created a can of worms.. save me. lol

- Alex

 

Would anyone happen to know the bolt pattern or the harmonic balancer? I know the crank pulley only bolts on one way and I need to machine a set of pulley spacers to space my belt out 3/16 of an inch. I found this file, but I’m not sure if it is correct. Can anyone confirm?

 

Hey guys, Anyone know what this could mean? I pulled this top water pump bolt out and it’s kind of black and sooty. The bolt is over sized because the threads were stripped. The motor runs ok, I just needed to remove my power steering bracket. My antifreeze isn’t black like this so why would this bolt be like this? A crack in the head right here? Thank you

 

Petrified Permatex?

 

“They” would be me. Maybe it’s that simple, it just seemed like it was wet and more than just a bit of rtv. I guess if it was a crack there would be some more catastrophic type symptoms….

 

Just showing off today... the 331 and Hydro are finally installed.

 

That makes my pee pee feel funny.

 

Here's a random issue I've had I wonder if others have also. My distributor tends to get stuck in the block. It will still rotate to adjust the timing just fine, but if I want to remove it, it lifts up about a quarter inch then gets stuck. I had it happen with the stock 55 distributor and an old flat cap Mallory. It was probably out for adjustment two years ago it's not like it's never been out. Had the same problem when I pulled the stock one out a few years ago.

 

390 update. Rotating assembly balanced. Head machine work done. Block work is next! Speed Gems Transmission adapter trimmed down to match the profile of the engine/bellhousing better

 

Forged pistons? Who made them?

 

Racetec

 

Post a part number if you don’t mind, really any part numbers help for future reference.

 

Does that adapter system still use the tiny modern starter? Ron

 

Yes, uses a Powermaster mini starter and an 11” 168 tooth Chevrolet flywheel

 

I am assuming that the flywheel is modified to fit the crankshaft I’m just asking to verify as a stock Chevy flywheel probly wont just bolt on

 

Sorry, I should have added that there is a crank adapter/spacer to take in account the thickness of the bellhousing adapter and the center bolt pattern difference on the stock Chevy flywheel.

 

Thanks for the info I figured there had to be some kind of modification as the Chevy flywheel bolt circle is different I’ll definitely check into this adapter for my project

 

Nice job taking the time to trim down the adapter, one of those things you don’t see but well worth the effort.

 

well worth it because you can see it if you look close

 

here is a video of my 54 extended bell 331 running. It has a Ross roller cam, Howard roller lifters, roller rockers, Chevy big block rods, custom j and e pistons and chevy valves on stock 331 heads. Running a 56 2x4 with original Carter wcfbs. I am running Porter shorty mufflers. I have an original caddy dual batwing that I am trying to workout converting from oil bath that I look to run in the future


https://youtube.com/shorts/jVAKoWg1xao?si=GFMefUhqvaJUTukt

 

Sounds great

 

What a great build @tuff57 .
Did they provide you with a cam spec card for that hyd roller?

 

I used that adapter. Hated the ugly little starter. Used the earlier Chevrolet cast iron bell housing that accepts the 3 bolt Chevrolet starter. Ron

 

@Roothawg
Sorry for the delay. Thanks for the compliments! I probably have it 90% tuned. Just dialing in the timing and carbs. I’ve put about 25 miles on it on a couple of short trips. Hoping for nice weather this weekend to take it for a good blast

 

Is it possible to change the default to full size instead of thumbnails?

 

Thanks!

Let us know how it runs out. I'm dying to know.

Also, what lifters did you end up running? Any pics of said lifters? Inquiring minds want to know...