In my "junking" travels I have come across a disassembled 1954 331 V-8 engine. All the parts are there but both heads are cracked. All accesories like carb, intake, oil pan, distributor, etc are there. I was thinking about buying it to avoid it going to the scrap yard but I dont really need it and am wondering if anyone else does either? Clue me in HAMBERS!
From my research after i bought my 55, the 54 is the least desirable of the 331s. But still by no means not worth picking up BUY IT!!!
Def worth snagging, i'd like to find similar to keep around for spare parts...building these motors can be expensive. cracked heads were common on the small port siamesed cneter exhaust 331s. You can find 390 heads to swap on, or some say '58 365 heads work best on the 331 bore. I went to 4" bore and 390 heads on my '51.
Grab that 54 block they're getting scarce. That block can be bored out to make a 365 incher. You can use 390 heads and speed equipment is out there. Have any questions pm me.
Heads aren't that hard to find. Also, you'll probably have better luck finding used flywheels and transmission adapters for the '49-'54 engines than the '55-'62 blocks.
If the motor is really going in the scrapyard, and it´s price reflects that, then why not save it? Has to be of some use, whole or parts, for someone down the road, be it Yourself or someone else.
(Deleted my earlier post because it was a highjack, sorry corndog) I'm a sucker for engines so I'd get it if the price was right. Hmmmm.... no plans yet. Have to get it first.... Trade you for some inkwork!!!
My bro just rebuilt a '54 Caddy 331"...and rebuilt the Hydramatic behind it...it's back in his '54 Hardtop and gets 21 mpg on the highway...has plenty of power and easily cruises at 75 mph. If you decide to purchase it and sell parts, he would purchase the water pump from it... R-
....because Cadillac changed the rear of the block in '55 to use a full bell housing, like a SBC (but not the same pattern). The '49-'54 blocks use the same flywheel and bell housing as '49-'64 Oldsmobiles.
Take the engine! Those are good, sturdy engines. Also, to my knowledge, I think it was the Cadillac 331 and the Olds 303 that started the horsepower race back in '49. When I bought my '56 Cad, the heads were shot. so, I put on some from a '58. I didn't do a complete overhaul. I only changed the piston rings. That was 6 years ago. 25000 miles later,the engine still going strong, with no oil burning. Yeah, good engines!
50's Cad engines look great in a traditional rod! Here's a 53 in a 33 Ford coupe I am currently building.
I sure don't think Bill Frick felt they were junk when he built 53. 54. studilacs in 53/54. Does anyone know what the differants were between the 230hp 54 and the 250hp 55. 331 cu in. eng.
According to one reference book I looked into, the '54 had 8.25 to 1 compression ratio vs 9.0 to 1, in '55 models. No other differences of consequence listed. Ray
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