Hot Rods 303 Olds OR 331 Caddy ???

Hi HC.Know what you mean about the bankroll.Its like what the Missus said the other day"We`re so poor that we can`t even pay attention".
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Going with a 331 Caddy Looking for something different . And I found a good deal on a Caddy. Thanks for all the comments once again !!

 

Why go with common stuff like Olds/Cad when you could have a '55-56 Packard V8? The best are the '56 374", but even a 320" or 352" will run heads up and have a cool factor which can't be beat. Here's one in Carl Schmidli's roadster.







jack vines

 

raddycack all the way

 

On the Caddy,no need for adj pushrods or adj rockers UNLESS you have solid lifters OR a reground camshaft

 

I'm a Caddy guy, but you really can't go wrong either way. If there are any specific speed parts you're looking for either way send me a PM.

 

2002 bought a 1955 331 cad eng w/48000 orig miles on ebay $500.01. found 3x2 intake 2005, flywheel 2003, trans adapt at LA rdst sho 2008, t-85 od trans 2010, 3 stromberg carbs last week, new valy and valv cvrs 2010. 34 rdst working on it now, sometimes takes a while to find the parts you want. start looking while you are young.

 

Not arguing with the Olds/Cad expert, but the GM figures are:


1955 331" Cad - Maximum Torque 345 Lbs.Ft. @ RPM @ 2800 RPM
1955 324" Olds - Maximum Torque 340 Lbs.Ft. @ RPM 2400 RPM


So it appears in stock trim they make almost the same torque, but the Olds does it at 400 RPMs lower.


What else makes the Olds make more power easier?


jack vines

 

You don't build one of these every day, (or most of us don't) an it is not going to be cheap, so cost on the engines should not be a factor..
Both engines are cool, but this Ol" 68 year old votes Caddy all the way...
Good luck, and keep us in the loop.
Cheers......

 

Back in the day our club had four Olds powered coupes and one Cad We liked the Olds best

 

Picked up a 54 331 Caddy yesterday.............................

 

congrats.

Here the 331 That I put in my 34. Don't even think I am gonna paint it.

 

^ I wonder if that passenger side exhaust flange will clear the 32 firewall?


I was talking with your engine builder today, and I thought he said your manifolds were center dumps??

Edit; if your manifold looks like that, I wonder if you could use 2 left side manifolds, if the lefts are center dump.

 

^^^ the manifold didn't clear my 34 firewall. Solution is to get a drivers side and place on pass side. The collector is pointing the wrong way, but that gives you more room to get the exhaust around the starter.

Those above are 1950 manifolds, later years may be different.

 

Frank, Pretty sure they are center dumps. Only had the engine for 30 mins before Dave got it lol

 

I guess I am partial , but I would go with an OLDS. Ran a few years back , never blew one up , Can't say that for any other motor I had, from Flattys to Hemis-- 'nother thing I love about them is their sound -- got a real distintive exhaust note -- you can tell it's an Olds a mile away!

 

Cool.
I'll be following your build, since I'm putting a 54 331 in my 34 Chevy. Hope to start on the engine sometime next spring/early summer.

 

Dropped my motor off to Dave50 yesterday to see what I really have inside it

 

Thats one beautiful car! Very nice

 

Great lookin car AND motor

 

I had an Olds. in my 37 before I switched to a Caddy. The Olds was a lot heavier and bigger than the Caddy. I had alot more room under the hood and the car handled better and was faster.

 

Beautimous! What is that intake on the Cad? So much bling I couldn't make out what was under there.

jack vines

 

I like the throttle linkage arm,very simple.

 

Olds is the cheapest to rebuild, 49-56 engine, ,Pontiac rod bearings Chev. lifters,late Olds timing chain. Lots of nos .super wild cams around buy one and it reground for street use,

 

I always lean toward the Olds! But I am somewhat biased!

 

cheap like a chevy

 

I would love to run a Caddy one day but I also want an Olds. It doesn't help that I know where a running Caddy 331 is in town that might be for sale..