500 Caddy Motors - Views?

I am thinking of importing and running a 500 Caddy motor and BOP 400 box in my tudor project. Is anyone running one and/or are they views out there I need to know about it? Thanks guys.

 

get big rearend for all that torque...

those are neat looking engines, not exactly traditional but there are a fair amount of speed parts available for them. the biggest thing that i can think of is that it might not fit too well between the rails and you'll have to clearance your firewall somehow i'm pretty sure as well. i say go for it and then hold the fuck on when you hit the pedal...that much power in such a light car will be FUN!!!

 

my view is........ i think its GAY! i think that motor belongs in a 70s muscle car and whoever drives a car with that motor should have cut off blue jean shorts and a super tight t shirt, a mustach and long flowing hair. but... thats my VIEW. hah

 

MAXIMUM TORQUE SPECIALTIES.
http://www.500cid.com/

 

You have a Cad motor yourself!?!?!?!?

 

a 1955, 331...... see my point now

 

If you put an aluminum intake on it it will only be about 40lbs heavier than an iron headed small block chevy. the caddy motors are pretty kick ass.

 

real intelligent fella here. I'd like to thank Richard D for posting the link to MTS. Those guys make some sick caddy speed equipment. The Big caddys make enough torque to turn the earth on it's axis. The pres. of my club built a 512 (bored 500) for a buddy of his with ported heads, 10:1 comp, edelbrock performer intake, sanderson headers and big Edelbrock 4 bbl, then dumped that mill in an 86 Monte Carlo...turned a best time of 10.8 in the 1/4. That's wicked fast with a streetable setup, 3.55s, and a redline of only 4800. Those big Caddy mills are great because people who have Caddys can transplant a much more powerful motor in and still keep it in the family. I'm all for off engine swaps, but something about a caddy in a caddy just seems right for me. Something about the "standard of the world" that putting an engine in from another car seems like a retrograde. I think the trick to these engines is to run a long gear since the motor doesn't rev and produces diesel-esque torque.

That being said. I don't think they're the prettiest of the bunch, and in a rod with no hood, I don't know if it would be the most aesthetically pleasing. However, you could look at that as a challenge to build the prettiest big Caddy mill around. Anybody can make a flthead look good. I love em, and it's my opinion that we don't see nearly enough of them

 

you guys are so uptight sometimes....

 

Thanks guys. Have been looking at the MTS site for a year or two and now they have moved to Cali it should make it a little easier for us to ship things down here. I'm looking for something different, hence thinking of this. I have always been a fan of torque rather the horsepower. So the big question is has anyone located near Long Beach got a nice runner they can put on a pallet for me? (Have posted a wanted ad on the MTS site)

 

Pm me if you are serious. I have a buddy here that is Aussie who will likely help you find that engine and get it to Perth. He imports american hot rod stuff and cars for a living to your great country with all the hot blonde chicks. Can't help but reminisce about my old navy days when I think of Australia.

 

www.cadillacpower.com Lots of good info on their forum.

 

Pete, 2 guys in my club have 500" Cads. You won't be on your own.
Last time I asked an engine was $150 Long Beach to here.

 

Even a mild built engine will twist a chassis... the low end torque IS amazing.... in FL they are loved by swamp boats for the low speed torque....to turn that prop at low RPMS.. shoot some NOS ... in a 6K lbs beast and run high 10's... no problem....HOT ROD did an print years ago..

Hope YOu have got a good front end THEY ARE heavy engines...

 

500 cid caddy motor w/aluminum intake is 70 lbs lighter than a BBC.
30 lbs heavier than SBC. We put one in an El Camino to tow a boat, we weighed it before dropping it in.

 

Will be building a strong as f### chassis for this. Looking for 500hp and 550ft/lbs in this. 400 kitted box and 9".



Should be fun.

 

that won't be tough at all with a cad 500...hell, the torque is almost there stock

 

also run a TALL rear end gear ratio. These engines dont like to rev a bunch. But that wont be a problem with how much torque they make, my De'Ville was running 2.89:1 gears and it would still scoot
personally i would run an older mill but these engines are sweet...

 

Big, wide and ugly as a mud fence. I had one in a f-150 and had alot of fun with it. Just glad it was hidden under a hood.

 

32 Fordoor. 500 Cad, Turbo 350 trans, and a 9 inch Posi (2.75 gear).

 

I got this picture somewhere on the list of your motor, I think it looks great !

just my 2 cents,

CBB

 

Yeah thats looking good to me. I'm not too caught how it looks as long as its not completly ugly.

 

390 valve covers and a beehive... see thats just like a rich hollywood crossdresser. you would never know until you took off the clothes.... it would bother me.. but i gues in aussy you cant realy choose.

 

My 65 Impala wagon has been Cad 500 powered since 1974.
3.31 gears were a lot of fun but 2.56's netted almost 15 mpg
Ohio to Florida. Currently building a 500 hp combo with a
Gear Vendors OD on the back of the TH400. That and a 200 hp
plate setup and me and the "Land Yacht" are going import hunting
at the local Club 1320...

She's so fine, my 509...

 

Oh man, you've got my dream parts in view... a caddy 500, and a jag. I want to put a jag frontend clip and a 500 in my mustang. Also want to build a 54 Chevy with a jag clip and a 500! I think it would be a great combo...

 

how cares if the motor is "pretty" no one will be able to keep up with you long enough to get a look at the motor anyway.

 

Yes indeed, thats the idea!

Hey Ramblur would you mind posting some specs on your motor, components used etc and maybe a link to some info re the O/D. Will it cope with the torque?

 

Personally, I think you're going to have a hard tim egetting 500 hp out of the big Caddy. However, I think you'll be surprised how much torque you'll make. I think more realistic numbers would be 350 hp and 650 ft/lbs of torque

 

It a great motor and cheap to build ...500cid with early 472 small cc heads work real good ....My buddy Bill from NJ has a 1949 Caddy(all steal) with low buck 500 cid motor Running mid 11 ETs all day (over 4 years of racing same motor no problems) ...

Its the (Blue/gold top) tank hang the front wheels on..Plus its a good site

http://www.500cid.com/P3.html


Heres the car before paint (His family has raced it since the1950's)

 

I'd suggest you hit up Amazon for Doc Frohmaders "Big Inch Cadillac" Book. Its the bible for these motors.

I think they are sick as hell. Huge amounts of torque, pretty damn good HP #'s. They aren't entirely ugly. And they are light compared to what you get on the Chevy side of the fence.
Gas Monkey did one with their Bullrun car you can see the whole build on their site. Heres a pic I snagged from there.


My old man is a huge Caddy buff and has a handful of these engines. Albiet none in vehicles. If he doesn't start putting them on the road I will, and he knows it.
Here is a pic of his 529 Blackbird from Kruzick. 750 HP