if it werent for these simple and instant-minded people i wouldnt have made the score that i did today. I have been seeing a 1956 cadillac sitting on a used car lot for a few months now. when i drove by the other day i noticed that the hood was off so it piqued my interest. I snooped around and noticed that they have been doing some engine work... upon further investigation i found that they were in the middle of making an engine swap for the ol' "tried and true" 350/350 combo. the original 365 and hydramatic trans were sitting in a pile of other bunk engines. there was nobody around to talk to so i stopped by there on my way home from work today. I went in there with my game face on ready to haggle over the old engine but to my surprise these nice gentlemen gave it up without a fight... FOR FREE!!!!!! they said that it even runs and seemed quite happy that i was there to take it off of their hands. one phone call and a buddy was on his way with the pick-up. those are the HEAVIEST damn engines i have ever lifted. i think they are made of lead. so... my hats off to the fine gents with no class or respect for a beautiful classic. I couldnt have done it without you.
. . . and for saving them the trouble of completing the swap, what might they have taken for the rest of the car?
GREAT SCORE.................But they still have the caddy.Try another drive-by you never know!!!! that swap is a lot of work
haha i asked what their plans were for the car and they simply "wanted something cool to drive around in." I cant blame them for keeping the car but the time and energy that they would be putting into that swap could have gone towards fixing up the "running engine." i just dont get the "350 swap" that so many people like to do... it kind of seems like cheating in a way. to each their own.
I have a 55 331 and Hydramatic with 120,000 original miles that was free after a 350/350 swap, also have another 55 331 that came with My $340 54 GMC with 83,000 original miles adapted to the truck 4 speed. and a 54 Lincoln with Hydramatic that is a great runner that was replaced with a 350/350. Free is a very good price. just like you I just say "thanks glad I could help"
I have a buddy with a 56 caddy, and he was complaining about how expensive the parts are for that year, I guess because elvis made it so famous. His water pump went out and it was like $250 + to replace it, plus it was hard to find. I guess it makes sense if you want a daily driver/reliable cruiser. I would probably do the swap, but keep that engine for a hot rod.
Sounds like a good deal for all parties involved. I don't understand the "no class" part, but I wasn't there. We're they rude or something because you wanted it?
There is a reason for the SB Chevy thing. 525 pounds with a cheap and easy 350HP or... 780 pounds with maybe 200HP. Not to mention the tranny issues and high cost and scarcity of parts for the Caddie. Yeah, SBC's are boring but there is reason behind the choice.
I thinks it just economic's on most peoples minds. Its $1200 just for the parts to overhaul one. Then for the SBC, it's $200. Same thing for the transmission. I'm not saying it's right, but at least they want to keep the car on the road instead of crushing it. Don't forget, iron is $180 a ton!
like said above i think the swap is smart for daily driving on the side of parts cost, and keep the rare engine for a very unique ride. good score
good score! congrats from one Cad fan to another. like yourself, i don't understand the 350/350 swap either, kind of a cop-out if you ask me. a 500 Cadillac is about 50 lbs. heavier than a 350.
Im finishing a small block in my 52 caddy tomorrow. It was the cost of fixing the stuck 331 caddi to much . Its going to be my daily driver. The caddi motor was over 2 grand to fix . So far i have 700 in the car and its almost done . I had the stuff laying around and the car was going to the junk yard so i bought it from the guy just for the hell of it .You have to remember its better then it getting junked
Thats what hot rodding is all about. Their have been guys swapping engines since forever. Why is it acceptable to put a nail valve buick in a ford Pk because the buick is more reliable than the flathead. But it is no class to swap in a 350 350 chev that will be reliable and have more power? I say to each his own. I would think that it is classy of them to give you the old engineOldWolf
I went with the 500 for my swap. still catching shit from those too lazy to even try. Do sometimes wonder about the sbc swap. Won't happen now, mileage just as good.
I don't care if that car is powered by a squirrell in a tumbler cage, get it running! Make it sensible to run cross country. Power in numbers will help keep this thing of ours alive.
Isn't it amazing what you can drag home? The heavier it is the lower the $$ price. It's good to have pals with trucks and strong backs though! Perhaps I understand the "no class" comment - these folks did not appreciate what they had in the classic Caddie?
Wow. So, some people give you an engine and trans for free, that runs, that you want, and you call them names and say THEY have no class. Out of all the people on here that could use that it sucks you got it, not someone who can just be appreciative.
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