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Holy Caddy batman! Bought me a 500ci monster!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Dynaflash_8, Dec 16, 2010.

  1. Dynaflash_8
    Joined: Sep 24, 2008
    Posts: 3,048

    Dynaflash_8
    Member
    from Auburn WA

    So i just picked up a Pre-EPA 1970 caddy 500. To be honest, i dont know a single thing about these monsters. Came from a 50k car that was parked in the late 70s. Turns over nice and the inside is clean as a whisle.

    So hambers, i ask one simple question of you

    Can anybody school me on this thing?


    Marty
     
  2. Italianrich
    Joined: Aug 9, 2010
    Posts: 52

    Italianrich
    Member

    torque monster!! gear it right to use that fat *** bottom end and mid range....
     
  3. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,977

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I've got one that is going in my 71 GMC pretty soon and as rough as the engine init is running right now it may be sooner than I had planned. I'm looking at having a tow rig that will go over the p***es in this state at highway speeds with the trailer on behind it rather than geared down and running 40mph with the engine wound out as happens now.
     
  4. Hotrodhell35
    Joined: Oct 30, 2010
    Posts: 440

    Hotrodhell35
    Member

    Ive got a 76 eldo with the 500. At 65 mph, you can put your foot in it and itll put you in the back seat! Torque MONSTER!
     
  5. lostforawhile
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,159

    lostforawhile
    Member

  6. roughneck424
    Joined: Jan 10, 2009
    Posts: 1,082

    roughneck424
    Member

  7. tourque.. and as my friend swears.. MPG monsters, as long as ya get an OD transmission and keep your foot out of it for the most part.
     
  8. LabRat
    Joined: Jan 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,551

    LabRat
    Member

    Auburn .... Lock your gas tanks and chain your tyre pile ....

    Dynaflash has a Big Block !! :eek:

    Spose it was goin to happen sooner or later .... :rolleyes:

    So .... What is it going in ????
     
  9. kadillackid
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 638

    kadillackid
    Member

  10. resqd37Zep
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,215

    resqd37Zep
    Member
    from Nor Cal

    Get a copy of last months Hot Rod magazine. Great article about a new top end kit for the 500. Cadillac performance Parts and Maximum Torque Specialiest are a great source information as well .
     
  11. bluice68
    Joined: Oct 23, 2010
    Posts: 13

    bluice68
    Member
    from New Mexico

    What are your plane? tow rig? They make good hot street and drag motors too. I'm currently building one for a customer to go in his 1966 Coupe DeVille. Check out www.cad500parts.com They are right here in my town and have pioneered many of the performance goodies that the other two vendors in the nation sell. Great info on these motors as well. Enjoy that engine!!
     
  12. THE_DUDE
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,601

    THE_DUDE
    Member

    put it in the hole, blow it up, repeat.... Story of yer life
     
  13. Put one in an old Suburban. Fantastic motor. Tons-O-torque.
    The only problem was at first I thought the gas gauge was a tach because every time I put my foot in it..... it moved.
    Very thirst ******.
     
  14. carmanspd
    Joined: Jul 26, 2008
    Posts: 28

    carmanspd
    Member
    from Spokane

    I swapped the "smaller" 472 into my '70 3/4 ton Chevy. It would honestly bark the tires at 35MPH. The sweet part is that most swaps into GM's with these motors can be done with all GM parts. Thing would tow a house if you could get it on a trailer!
     
  15. Dynaflash_8
    Joined: Sep 24, 2008
    Posts: 3,048

    Dynaflash_8
    Member
    from Auburn WA

    well i was thinkin at first maybe my 47' plymouth sedan, but probably not.

    Its most likely going in my super secret project i dont actully own yet. All ill say is that its from 1929 and a roadster of some sort. :D:D:D
     
  16. I have read a ton of stuff on these engines and being thirsty is not what I have been lead to believe.:eek:
     
  17. Dynaflash_8
    Joined: Sep 24, 2008
    Posts: 3,048

    Dynaflash_8
    Member
    from Auburn WA

    i hear tell its all how you drive.
     
  18. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,790

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC

    A simple search for Cadillac 500 or Cadillac 472 will get you plenty of info.
     
  19. sakelley22
    Joined: Aug 1, 2010
    Posts: 102

    sakelley22
    Member
    from Easley SC

    I have one in a 27 touring car I put a comp cam in it got the edlebrock carb and intake, pertronix distributor and headers..... its a beast in my 1800 lb car
     
  20. Oh dear lord - buy a stout rear end and cheap (plentiful) rear tires. You really are bent on hurtling thru life at ludicrous speed... just so long as you don't go plaid, you should be alright. ;-) I wanna see this beast!
     
  21. langy
    Joined: Apr 27, 2006
    Posts: 5,730

    langy
    Member Emeritus

    Nice score the early engines are the most powerful, I'm using a +60 thou 500 myself, very under rated engine.


     
  22. nailhead terry
    Joined: Mar 23, 2008
    Posts: 1,460

    nailhead terry
    Member

    Keep it under 5000 rpm with stock rockers an rods I built some caddys with offset ground cranks and 440 rods 400 chrysler pistons punched out quite a bit put one in studeabaker lark with ******* bars 9 inch rear with 300 gears. It would burn tires past he 60 foot mark at the track and still run low12s I put slicks on it and launched the drive shaft and pinion in second gear !! When I finaly got a new chunk it ran 11:50s and I drove it for 5 years and rarely opened the hood the beast was painted olds green and had a 350 air cleaner fun car the most money I had in it was machine work. Now you can buy all kinds of stuff for them comp has some nice cams for them mine had a chet herbert regrind and ford fe rockers on home built shafts . GO BIG OR GO HOME!! :D
     
  23. 1970 was the first year for the 500 and the last year for High compression motors. I have a 1970 500. I think it has the most potential of any 500.....but can't help thinking the 71 and later would be better with the low octane unleaded gas. I've run other 10 1/2 compression motors and got by.

    I do not know if the 70 and earlier motors have the hardened valve seats. I also have a set of 68 eldo 472 heads and don't know if the are different than the 500?
     
  24. KrisKustomPaint
    Joined: Apr 20, 2007
    Posts: 1,107

    KrisKustomPaint
    Member

    Which heads do you have?
     
  25. Nice find Marty...

    If it came from a rear wheel drive 1970 it's a 472, as the front drive Eldorados were the only '70 to get a 500. No slouch at all, though. The 472's are a little "snappier" due to 1/4" less stroke than the 500.

    There are a lot of guys on here that will bash 'em, but I LOVE the 472 in my '60 F-100.

    A few MUST's for putting one together.

    **Stock valve springs float around 4,000 rpms
    **Stock rockers are ****. Shaft mounted rollers are pricey but worth it.
    **Big valves make a huge difference! If yours is a '70, it's the only year that the 950 heads were used. No A.I.R. ports, closed chambers, and mine swallowed 2.19/1.88 valves like they were made for it...

    Do a search, but take everything with a grain of salt. A lot of ******** artists with little REAL experience with the engines.

    I like dealing with Maximum Torque Specialties the most, but the Cad Company and Potter Automotive have great stuff also. They are the primary sources for anything aftermarket.

    MTS:

    http://www.mtscadparts.net/servlet/StoreFront

    I like talking to Marty Lane at MTS. He'll return your emails within a couple days. It's important to tell him what your goals are, and he'll give you great info and advice. his email is:

    marty@500cid.com

    Cad Company:

    http://cad500parts.com/index.htm

    Potter Automotive:

    http://www.cadillacperformanceparts.com/index.php
     
  26. silentpoet
    Joined: Sep 27, 2009
    Posts: 206

    silentpoet
    Member
    from NWA

    I have been lead to believe the heads can take modern gas even if the heads aren't equipped with hardened valve seats. I believe the weak spot on the earlier heads was oiling at higher rpm.

    I would like to find either a eldorado convertible or a later coupe deville and stick a blower on one, or even some sort of turbo setup. But right now my budget is pretty slim, I am building up a 1968 sedan deville. It has the higher compression 472. Just got to fix the fuel delivery issue it has right now. Thinking about putting on a holley carb if I can find the right size within my budget.
     
  27. KrisKustomPaint
    Joined: Apr 20, 2007
    Posts: 1,107

    KrisKustomPaint
    Member

    I scored a bare set of 950 heads for free! Keep your eyes open lots of good stuff to be had for these motors.
     
  28. How much interchangability is there with the later 425 version, what did they change when they downsized the motor? I had a chance to pick one of those up a while back for cheap and never did, and probably should have. Seems like the earliest TBI systems could be had on those before they stopped making them.
     
  29. BulldawgMusclecars
    Joined: Jul 15, 2010
    Posts: 508

    BulldawgMusclecars
    Member

    It was a Bosch system, and I'm pretty sure it was port injection, not throttle body. Its an ****og system, too, which is a pain. Lots of good info here:

    http://www.cadillacpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7280&p=78436
     
  30. Looks like 80-81 could be had with a different EFI than the Bosch, but my Cadillac book isn't clear on what sort of system it is beyond "digital" -
     

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