Reaching out to you Caddy Gurus out there. I was offered up a 500 inch Caddy motor but I can't begine to know if it really is a 500 inch motor, how do you know the difference without seeing the car it came out of. Thanks
if its a big block cadillac use it. 472 or 500,in a street car you will never know the diff. The only way to tell is pull a head and measure the bore/stroke. The 425 has a weird crank flange,notched out around the bolts. www.cadillacpower.com
The 472 and 500 shared the same block casting numbers, the difference is crankshaft. The 472 was from 68--73 the 500 was 74--76.
thanks for the info. the motor is supposed to be a '71. parts store showed both 472 and 500 in 71 but both used the same full gasket kit.
The difference between 472 and 500 ci is the stroke: 4.06 vs 4.304. External differences are nil. None. A couple of hints, but nothing definitive: HEI was optional in '74, std '75 and '76. 500ci was made std in 1975. So, HEI is most often found on 500 ci, BUT can be on late 472s. And I have had a 472 with factory HEI. The Eldorado pan a*l*m*o*s*t makes a definite 500, but the first 3 years of FWD Eldorados had 472s. EGR will be on later engines, but still both. EFI IS definitive, only found on 500 ci engines. That's what I know, others may know better. Beware, 425s and 368s look very similar, though both share a single plane intake that is a giveaway. And both share a rear-sump pan. Neither can be built into a 500. Cosmo
472/500 used the 4.300 bore the 472 used a 4.060 stroke and the 500 used a 4.304 storke the casting numbers four the 472 crankshaft is 1486424, the casting numbers for the 500 is 1495094or1496793 i hope this helps if u need any more info let me know i have lots.
thanks for the help cosmo and jamf500. it doesn't matter to me which motor 472/500 as long as i know when it comes time to buy parts. i just bought the motor to put in my '31 3w buick. i plan on pulling it apart to check things out and put new gaskets, so i'll check the stroke and crankshaft numbers. can the oil filter be converted to a remote or position be changed in any way?
I have 500 caddy (76) in my 74 chevy pu. IT IS HEAVY! it is big and very heavy! the 500 has a solid, bolt on harmonic balancer. You can check stroke by pulling a spark plug and use a rod (welding or?) to find stroke, bore same on both 472 and 500. pistons and heads are different. so it is best to get one that is complete. front wheel drive has a rear sump oil pan, rear drive is front. I used a bb chevy truck pan and welded it to caddy pan rails, I also made up a pick-up and windage tray. The cam shaft in 75 76 are dogs look into a cam while you are changing timing chain and gears (stock had nylon teeth). As you can tell by my user name I would push you towards a 455 buick, 25 lbs heavier than a sb chevy and shorter /not as wide as the caddy.
originally wanted a buick but found the cadillac motor and tranny with 80k already out, local and within budget. the coupe has a sbc in it now and as much as i love them this build needed something different. the caddy is cool
One more thing stay away from the 77 and newer caddy v8s they are not the same and fewer parts. I had a 70 455 in my 68gs it was worn out, sounded like a old gm diesel car (80s).ran 13.9s all day frying tires and running out of power at 4000 rpm.(1/4 mi) RWB
where the trans bolts to the block you will find numbers the # will have 5200 in it it's a500 425 are good motors i'm trying to hook 2 500's back to back in alittle project i'm into putting a425 in another car cads are good i have 8 or 10 of them been collecting them for years if you don't want it or you are going to sell it let me know trick intakeand big heads you can getout of albq.new mex . they have alot of stuff cads are good just cost alot to make them go very heavy cars not alot of rpms but alot of torque just put ypur foot inthem and go. in a body that weighs less than there counterpart 500 engine 400 trans and 300 gear you are going to move i'm going to use stock 500 engines 400 trans 300 gear 4 link about 140'' w.b. avery long hood tube axle in front it should be alright get the cad you'll like it. robertbandit s.w. okla
An interesting piece here that Red white and Bluick might really be interested and have to eat a few words for breakfast tomorrow along with his oaties http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html A damned good link for everyone to save for reference too. Cad 500 625 lbs Buick 400/455 600/640 interesting. It's a well known fact that this series of Cad engines weighs right in the middle between small and big block Chevs and the Cads are usually dead nuts reliable. One is going in my 71 in the spring and maybe sooner if the 350 craps out first.
Thanks for all the great input on the subject, I'm going to get it regardless if it's a 472 or a 500, it should make my old 48 cpe a fun ride.
Caddy is only 40lbs heavier than SBC, change the intake and there isn't much in it, Its also 100lbs lighter than BBC. Very underated engine in my opinion, I'm using a 500 out to 514ci on my 26T project here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267054&page=26 Its not difficult to get big BHP & monster torque from them.
The early 472/500s were 10.5:1 CR, later they were 8 or 8.5:1CR. It's always been my desire to shag a 1970 500. It's the mac daddy of all of in stock condition. Aluminum intake and water pump, rated at 400HP and 550lbft (!!). They were only found in the 70 Eldorado and I think those things make the holy grail of Caddy motors. I can tell you from experience under my right foot, no matter what it's in the rush for the 1st 500' is nearly incompareable to anything short of a full competition build. We were always fond of them for pickup truck duty. The last one was a 76 500 in a 1980 F150. When the 5.0 Mustang was king of the streets I could leave em by 2 cars but at about the 1/8th mile they could catch and pass me. Considering 3.23 gears, full size wt of the truck, and a motor with over 100K miles on it, I had nothing to hang my head about. Empty that truck averaged 14-16MPG too. Enjoy it bro. You're in for a lot of fun...and maybe a few tickets?
The real skinny on Cadillac 501 series engines: First off, the engine family number is 501. This has nothing to do with cubic inch displacement. In 1968, the 472 was introduced. It was produced through MY 1974. In 1970, the 500 was introduced. It was Eldorado only until MY 1975, when is was series-wide (except Seville). Not produced after MY 1976. In 1977, 1978, and 1979 the 425 was produced for ALL Cadillacs, except Seville and FWD Eldorado. This engine went in C,D,and Z body Cadillacs. There were NO other engines. Bore and stroke: 4.082 x 4.06. Not produced after MY 1979. From 1980 on the sole 501 engine was/is the 368 (6 Litre). B & S 3.80 x 4.06. Main difference in induction, some having carby, some FI, some variable displacement. This engine is not common. All of the above share external block dimensions. All of the above share the main spotting features of a left-ward slanted distributor, front and center mounted A/C compressor and near-bracketless accessory mounting. All RWD 472 and 500 have a front-sump oil pan. All FWD Eldorados 1968-1978 have a mid-rear sump pan with two drain plugs. All RWD 425 have a rear sump pan. The pickup tube hanger must be modified for use on 472-500 (shortened), as the main caps on the 425 are smaller than 472-500. I suspect that all 368 have the same pan, but have not confirmed. I also do not know what pan configuration is on the downsized Eldo/Seville with the 6 litre (368). They are rather rare. There were no exceptions to the above from Cadillac. 1982, '83 and '84 368 engines are found only in limosines and commercial chassis cars. CC had carbs. Limos had V8-6-4. Cosmo
And from experience the 472 with cast crank and flat tappet cam will go 416 mph. Courtney Hines "Cad Company" power!
The Jalopy Journal
