Does anybody know the differences between all the cadillac motors from 49 trough 67? I think they were all based on the original motor but they kept making changes throughout the sixties. I have a 67 429, will any parts from the earlier motors interchange? Did they make any hop up parts for the 429?
Actually, the 429 is the final incarnation of the original design. It's quite similar to the redesigned '63 390.
63 to 67 429 are same family of engines, 63 390 is one year only and has some xpensive parts! Most 64 to 67 429 parts interchange but there are some 64 only things. 65-67 are pretty much the same except the Eldo motors which are front drive only and have different mounts on the block. Pretty much no hop up parts for these motor but you can use earlier 390 pre 63 intakes and have them machined to fit as the port spacing is the same but the valley spacing between the heads is narrower on the post 63 motors as the heads are bigger. But keep in mind a 429 stock is a raging motor! I had two 64 Caddies and a 65 convertable, all of which just plain hauled ***!!!! The 64 Cadillac was purported to be the fastest production Caddy until the North star engined cars came around. The early 472/500 cars were damn fast but were heavier than the earlier cars. What are you running the motor in? If you have it in a car lighter than the stock Caddy just leave it alone as it will be plenty strong enough and have neck snapping torque.......
So the motor does have some potential huh? I wonder why they never caught on for performance applications? I guess it was because by the 60's there were a lot more options that were probably cheaper (small block). The motor is actually still in my Eldorado right now, I just wanted to learn more about it. Anybody have any pictures of the 390 or 429 in a rod?
Not to be an *** but we have pretty much figured out that you sell electronic injection. Well at least those of us that are still capable of thinking, you don't need to spam everything that comes along we can probably find you if we decide we want to go modern. Now my official disclaimer: I'm nobody will never be nobody and this is not an official repromand by anyone that really matters. I'm just an old fart speaking his mind and burning up more bandwidth. Now onto bigger n better things, if I recall the 429 was the last of the old style cad motors. I think that the topend was redesigned so I'm not absolutely sure that you can bolt up say an intake etc from a 390 or earlier mill. But I have seen em beefed in the past and that stuff probably isn't in big demand these days so if you scrounge you should be able to find some hot roddy stuff out there somewhere.
If your building a 40's/ 50's era car, I do recommend the 49 - 62 Cadillac motor. They went from 2 bbl to 4 bbl in these years, and dual quad's and 3x2's were options... 49- 54 Is the original 331 block- You can bolt a La Salle stick to the back. 55- Last year of the 331, first year of built in bell housing, and they started using the stout Hydramatic this year. 56-58 is 365 cubes 59- 62 is the 390 version- They went to spin on oil filter. Ports also get bigger along the way, and the HP climbs a bit...
I found this link the other day searching for Cadillac motor info. I am considering dropping a 500 Caddy motor in my 34 Ford truck... http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/9364/guide/Why.htm
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