what for engine is this??

internal combustion

 

I say it's a Cadillac 368 judging by the TBI. From wiki

368 and V8-6-4
In 1980 the 425 was replaced with the L61, which was the same basic 472 family engine de-bored to 3.80 in (96.5 mm) but retaining the 472 and 425 engines' 4.06" stroke for a total displacement of 368 cu in (6 L). The reduction in displacement was largely an effort to meet CAFE requirements for fuel economy. Throttle-body fuel injection was now standard except for Commercial Ch***is for he**** and ambulance builders.
Cadillac referred to this new TBI (throttle body injection) fuel system as Digital Fuel Injection (DFI); this particular induction system was later adopted by other GM divisions, except on Oldsmobile V8s, and was used well into the 1990s on GM trucks.
Power output dropped to 145 hp (108 kW) at 3600 rpm and torque to 270 lb·ft (366 N·m) at 2000 rpm in DEFI forms as used on the front wheel drive Seville and Eldorado but 150 hp (110 kW) on the 4-barrel Quadrajet-equipped RWD models. This engine was standard on all Cadillacs except the redesigned Seville, in which it was optional

 

I really don't care.... do you?

 

Definitely is a Cadillac. I have an injected 500 out of a 1976 Fleetwood. The 1977's were 425" and looked the same. The 368's in later years looked the same as well and only exteral difference I can think of is the 500 had a cast iron intake and the 368 is aluminum. I just remebered my 500 and the 472's used fuel rail and injectors for each cylinder.

 

Now if it was a V8-6-4 motor would it have individual injectors instead of the two injectors in the throttle body,I never seen one but how would the fuel be shut off to the cylinders if it only had the injectors in the throttle body.

 

The V8-6-4 left the intake valve closed when it wasn't firing. No intake charge, no fuel.

 

What's the casting date code, May 8 1981 or May 1 1978?

The 425 was available with TBI as early as 1977, believe it or not. In fact this Caddy book shows the 500 available with it in 1976. So just going by that it could be any of those engines. 1978 would make it a 425. Thinwall block, but it wouldn't be a bad motor, especially with that TBI system.

My book says the car's VIN should be stamped on the "rear upper portion of the cylinder block, behind the intake manifold" but it should have 13 or 17 symbols. Yours could differ if built for export, which would explain the 9 symbols above.

Edit: I only read the basic descriptions, not the details on the EFI Cadillac offered, just ***uming it was TBI all the way through.

 

25km - OK, lucky for you then...you could pick up a bargain if its what you really want...

 

it used a solenoid to 'drop' the cylinders. it ****ed balls when it got some miles on 'em, mine was crusty as hell and pretty much inoperable, that's why i switched it out to a regular rocker arm and valve cover setup.

the problem that they supposedly had was that, if the intake valve didn't seat properly, it could **** in enough fuel to 'hydraulic' that cylinder and bend a rod. i don't remember if the intake was the only one that would be operated by the solenoid, because the exhaust valve opening should clear out the cylinder.

if you just want a v8 of some sort, it'll be fine, once you figure out a carbureted intake manifold...