Can we talk flatheads? Cadillac that is

I am trying to look forward a year or so to my hot rod project. I was thinking a Caddy flathead would be cool. Why does no one run them. Whats there weakness? Whats available? Speed parts? I know they used them in Sherman tanks. Seems like if they could move a heavy *** tank around my Dodge touring car would be no problem. Does anyone make ****** adaptors?
Like I said its still at least a year away I'm just trying to find out the down low right now. I also looking at 348's but I think a Caddy would be extra F'ing cool
Thanks
Tiny

 

the omly really important thing to know about using the cadillac flathead is to secure the chain tightly so it doesn't come loose and let your boat drift away...

 

HAHA
Thats funny ****!!!!
Do you write your own jokes?

 

Tiny;
You can't be to far off base. Find issue #9 DeLuxe Mag. and go to page 35 bottom right. His name is Colin don't know much more about him. I do know he has done the complete car on his own. He drives the **** out of it! He lives up here in washhington. I know people that know him but can't contact him direct. Just seen him Sat. at a local rod run. If you want I'll track him down for you.
The Wizzard

 

Bendtsen’s Transmission Center Inc. 763 767 4480

13603 Johnson St NE, Ham Lake, MN.

bob@transmissionadapters.com
this guy can help

 

I've seen a few guys using them....saw a ratty A-tub at Americruise or last year's BTT50's [a memory is a terrible thing to waste] with west-coast license plates on it and a flathead caddy engine in it...appeared to have come all the way from out west to get here...
My own personal experience is having a 47 caddy series 62 sedan for a year or 2 as a daily driver. Mine had the requesite flathead caddy with 150 hp and the 4 speed hydro ******. The car came with a 2 barrel carby but it's performance was impressive for a stocker. I'd owned a buncha ford flatheads and one merc flathead with headers and 4 barrel in a light '50 ford tudor. The caddy woulda kicked it's *** bad! And the caddy was prolly a 4000 lb 4 door.
Mine performed as was expected of a cadillac....effortlessly. My only ***** with the engine/****** or the entire car for that matter was the ****y 6 volt electrical system when it got below about 20 degrees....car wouldn't start... hadda coast it to anything faster than 12 MPH and drop the shift lever into low...no problem.
The caddy only makes 150 hp but it makes gobs of torque...gotta be fun in a light car. Not much speed equiptment for them and what is available was made way "back when" and is EXPENSIVE if you can find it.

 

I have actually been wondering about these myself.

 

I have a friend that has a '41 cad engine. It is supposed to be good shape,low milage. Came from a generals car at Ft. Sam. Inside stored, covered and complete. I will check or give number if anyone interested. Don't know a price but reasonable I'm sure.

 

Go to Iceberg's post on the Ash Bash just above this one and the first picture is of Colins tub I was talking about.

 

There is one in a 34 roadster in the sacramento area. Its in HOP UP 5. Saw it at BP and a few other shows and swap meets. The thing is very cool with it edmonds head and intake and 49? merc. carbs. To bad thay dont show the motor in HOP UP.

Isnt there someone from hop up on here. Got a nice pic of the cad. F/H?

 

I'm a OHV Caddy fan myself,but the Cad flatheads run great,they look cool as hell in a hot rod... I've worked on some stockers before.they're tough SOB's I had an Edmunds dual intake for one at one time and my buddy hada Eddie Meyers dual..

 

Yeah I know Colins car I got ****ty drunk with him at Paso last year. He is a hell of a nice guy and the car is awsome. Thats what got me thinking. He cruised from Washington to Paso no problem and four people in the car. A motor designed for 4000lbs car would probably cruise great in a 1500lbs touring. What ****** does he run though. Do they make an adaptor to say a Muncie 4spd. How much did that Edmunds go for? Find out about the motor in Texas please

 

How big is the hydromatic? Remember its a 20's car not a 40's Cad

 

probably 7 out of 10 flat cadillacs will have a hydra-matic on the back,which is a damn fine trans (ask rocky if you don't believe me) the others will have the 3-speed they shared with LaSalle,i would use either of those before i shelled out a bunch of money for an adaptor.there was a guy around here that had an edmunds dual intake and a pair of finned alum.heads i'll see if i have his number somewhere...

 

For a nice set of Edmunds heads and a 2 carb intake, expect to shell out $1500 to $2500. they are not easy to find, but they do pop up every so often in hemmings. a friend of mine in wash. state got the whole works over a year ago, but was the high end price, but got carbs, starters and xtra stuff with it.

 

I went to look at the remains of a 29 model A that the body was going on a Cad Flatty powered rod. The guy lives in Ft.Worth and seemed to be connected on the thing but was paying someone else to build it. I am going to check out a couple next week when I get to the Black Hills. I know there was one in my brother in law's boneyard and I know a vetrenary in Belle Fourche that has a whole running car that probably wouldn't be too hard to get. I think it is a 42 or 46.

 

Here are some pic's of that 34 roadster...

 

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What's up with the angle on that intake?
Was it made for a boat application?

 

I've been searching for info on the cadillac sidevalves for quite some time.Thanks for the vaulable info guys.

 

Got a buddy round here that has a '38 Caddy Fladdy. He's quite knowledgable when it comes to orphan motors like this. I'll check with him tomorrow see what I can learn us all.