So, I went over to this junkyard a few days ago last week and talked with the owner to get some model A parts he has,....guy keeps stalling about them and I have to keep up with him,..agrravating guy and pretty goofy, one days they're practically free, the next day the stuff is valuable!! Average BS! However, in the midst of some **** there stood an old Caddy flathead motor with trans (hydromatic trans.) attached to it. First, is it worth it to even go after it, second, what kind of price would be a reasonable offer for it in its currect state (ie. outside, MIGHT run, not sure, but looks in good shape??).. Lastly,...how hard is it to get parts for it if i go for it?? What were the engine sizes on the caddy flatheads anyway?? Thanks Jason
Jason, Go out & take some pics of this engine,then post them on this thread. Determine why it is in the yard in the 1st place. This is a totally doable engine trans combo. Parts are available thru Burrell(intake 2x2 manifold),Cyclone (21 Stud Caddy heads),Egge (all engine hard/soft parts).Do a HAMB search using Cyclone Vs Edmunds and see what pops up.This speed equip can get expensive, but there isn't a whole lot of these Cads out there in Hot Rods either. The HAMB will be your greatest resource for info pertaining to this engine.Talk ta ya soon.Kevin
ah kevin, you'd be the guy from Cyclone that's featured in this months Garage mag?? have to read the article,....no time!! thanks
I'd like to know what CAD FLATHEAD came with a hydromatic? I've always thought that 49 was the first yr for hydros. And the 49 Cad was the first overhead engine. If I'm wrong school me. Thanks --TV
Hydramatic was designed by Oldsmobile engineers, and the Olds had it in '38 or '39. Cadillac got it in '40 or '41.
As far as the engine size. They came in two varieties. 322 & 346. If it came out of a Cadillac '40-48 its a 346. Some La Salles got the 322 and some pre'40 Cad's got the 322. But since you said your's has a Hdryomatic, its got to be Cad '47 or 48. Parts aren't that hard to find, but they are high dollar. And if you breakdown and need a fuel pump or water pump, those aren't exactly super easy to track down. Speed parts are available. And now with enough guys Cyclone, and Burrell going back into production with heads and intakes. It shouldn't be too hard to outfit. Even though they are fairly rare in the hotrod scene for scarcity of parts and price of those parts. Its made the value of the motors really low. I have a grip of them now, and the most I've ever paid was $400 for a running in the car motor. If the thing has been sitting outside I wouldn't hesitate to offer $100. At least you'll almost recover that if its junk and you have to s**** it on weight alone. If it has all the stuff on it (starter, generator, fuel pump, water pump) those things are all pretty valuable pieces. $30-80 an item in rebuildable condition. I had a nice, nice set of matching Edmunds Intake and Heads a few weeks ago for sale but they're gone now. Sorry!
I need to check that out in my Cad book at the shop. But I've never come across a pre-war Hydromatic in Cad's or La Salles. Seemed like the 1st automatic to endup behind one of these was the duals they put in the tanks.
Right outta my book... "Hydra-Matic transmission was big news in 1941 [optional at extra cost - $110 - 30% of buyers picked it]; the system consisted of a fluid coupling, four forward speeds and reverse controlled by a hydraulic "brain" [from 1946 the Hydra-Matic went to four forward speed ranges]; it was pioneered by Oldsmobile on their 1940 models."
you guys rock!! a wealth of knowledge,....thank you oh caddy-flatty gurus!! Now I just have to get my *** over there come next thursday!! He's a total fruit, but hopefully I can talk him into taking $100-150 for it, especially if it will turn!! my wife just asked me,... "...and what are you gonna do with this??..." hey its a cool engine,...that's all you need to know!!! HA!! Jason
I think Olds started in '38, and there are LOTS of '41 Caddys out there with hydromatic, the first year for Cad.
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