Hey everyone, I found this 1947 Cadillack on craigslist and really its just a parts car. I'm wanting to build a T Bucket and my question are. The flathead V8 thats in it. Do they make good hot rod motors? I'm a mopar guy and know nothing about Cadillacks. Also what motor size would it be? Also does anyone know what the trans would be? The rear that would be under this car, would it be a good rear to use on the Bucket? The steering colum that is on it with the wheel would it be to much for a bucket? Tell me what you guys think of using this car as a parts car and what parts that are there that I might not be seeing that I could use for the bucket build. http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/3826293641.html
Talk about making a normally easy build into a time and money consuming bitch! I've built three T buckets in my shop over the years and I would NEVER use a donor car like that caddy for the drivetrain. You would have huge expenses getting that cad flatty to decent running condition,same for the trans. especialy if its an automatic of some sort. I would guess the rear would be to wide too. Doesn't that car have a torque tube set up? It would be another hassle to deal with. If you can't tell already I don't know much about a Caddy of that vintage but I can tell you a T is a nice "entry level" hot rod. Many first time rod builders choose to build a T as their first build. And again from my experience its a good choice, but I would recomend you stick with more commonly used components. You will save alot of time and money that way. And be out cruising much sooner with less hassle. Hey good luck! Normal Norman
Size is a 346 cuin. They used these in tanks in WW2. That Caddy in the ad is a series 62 sedan. Drum brakes all around. $500 is a heck of a deal if it has a title. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Thanks Normal Norman the Flathead V8 had me and I just kind of thought what else can I use. This is my first hot rod build I've done a lot of muscle cars and know a lot about Mopars, as far as number crunching goes. Slik thanks on the info and the car has no title. I may go look at it and see if the motor will turn over freely. I like the looks of a Flathead V8 but I dont want to get crazy stupied money in a car and not enjoy it. I may just go with the 383 and 727 motor I found.
Nothing from that car would be good for a T bucket, that is a $500 parts car for someone looking for caddy parts. The flathead is a heavy mother and you would not want it in a T bucket. I had almost the exact car that I used as a parts car for my model 61. I also have a T bucket project in between other projects.
Thanks and do you have a build thread on the bucket? I thought by now I would talk myself out of building a Bucket but the more I think about it the more I'm dead set on building one.
Ummm, respectfully, NO! The Caddy is a very easy engine to get running, and VERY easy to get to make HP. That engine made 150 HP, and 260 ft/lbs torque from the factory. 3 speed trannies are cheap-$100-$200 all day long. These make great engines, lots of HP, and not everyone has one. JMHO.
Although I went with a 390 in my '46, the '47 348 is supposed to be a good motor. In a light car, it should go really great. Due to the fact the exhaust exits on top of the motor, you could make some really neat headers for an open hood car. If you get the car, let me know, I could use a few parts off it.
They were a good motor in their day but almost never used in a hot rod. Today a few are being built as novelties by people with plenty of money, skills and tools. One of the worst choices for a T bucket. Any small block OHV V8 would be better, easier and cheaper.
Look up Ak Miller- he ran a lot of Caddy flatheads, and won a lot of money from the Ford guys. IMHO, it would make a great T bucket/hotrod engine. CoronetRTguy, look at these threads. Granted, mine is a race engine, so it's hard to compare it to the others, but it will run with most SBC's all day long. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=572828&highlight=caddy+flathead http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=674729&highlight=caddy+flathead http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787452&highlight=caddy+flathead http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496866&highlight=caddy+flathead http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=332457&highlight=caddilac+flathead Good luck, and have fun!
Instead of wasting time here asking if $500 is a good deal for a complete '47 Cadillac, you should be on your way with a trailer to go get it right now. Which is what I would be doing, if it weren't quite so far away. That's a scream'n deal, right there. Brian
The car has no title, its more of parts car and I'm not wasting time, asking question before doing something saves time and you learn a lot in the process. The VA laws are tough to get a title and I'm sure this car as a lot of rott. I just wanted the motor, maybe the trans and rear and whatever else I could use for the T bucket project.
What 38 FLATTIE said!!!!!!! I would love to have one in my '30 sedan but went with a easy to find Y block. The motors do weigh about 900 lbs. you can get some of the weight off withafter market heads etc... Of course I am biased, I have a '37 Cadillac with that flat head so I like them.
Where is a good place to look for after market parts for the motor? There is just something about a look of a Flathead V8 out in front of you and really I think this would make or break the T Bucket for looks. My opinion is it would make the car stand out from others. My goal for the Bucket's budget is 5-8K maybe even 10K. When I build this it will be my last build and I want to enjoy the car and going to shows. I even challenged Hot Rod Magazine to a build off and I'm ready to challenge Rod & Custom since they are just using what Hot Rod did for their build. I was ignored by Hot Rod.
Stock replacement parts can be had from Kanter and Egge. Check out www.flatcaddy.com for some custom parts. The biggest key to getting HP out of these is a good cam with solid lifters, bigger carbs, and a good port and polish job. That really wakes these old Caddy flatheads up!
Thanks I will check that link out and also thanks for the heads up on how to gain some power. I dont think I want a big big horse power motor but would like options. I would have bought the 47 Ford truck with the Flathead V8 in it but it wont fit in my house garage and leaving a car or truck set out here that doesn't run is a big problem. If I do go and get this Caddy I would pull the parts off that are good, save them for someone else and sell off what I dont use or need and then send the shell off. If the car had a title it would sell but there are a lot of guys in my area that are taking cars and building "Rat Rods" out of using new car/truck frames with the vin# that are going to run into some problems and it is problems I do not want. If the motor is 900lbs what does a normal Bucket weigh?
Just talked to the guy and the motor turns by hand freely. The car is an auto with drums and it's all original. The body is rough on it and it is really just a parts car. It has sat in a barn for the last 7-10 years. He lost his storage for his collection (28 cars) so he has sold them all off and this is really the last one he is selling. He is standing firm on price and will deliver it to me if I want it. So if anyone needs parts just let me know because if I get it I'm going to try and save as much of the car that is worth saving.
If the car has rear skirts I would be interested in them, they are not right for my car but are close enough that I could section them and make a working pair.
CoronetRTguy, it may be more than you'd want to mess with, but have you thought of cutting this car down into a roadster ala the specials that were built in the '50s? Section it several inches, shorten it at least a foot, maybe Darrin-style cut down doors, roadster style cowl with a DuVall style windshield, go Summers-style extending the front fenders to the rears, maybe a boattail made from some other hood... like I said, a lot of work but you'd have something pretty slick, and you could keep the Caddy drivetrain. This is a quick chop I bashed together to give the proportions (my apologies to the owner of the real car):
That would be awesome! I really like that. Did you photo shop the car or is that a really done car? I dig it but it's beyond my metal skills and really skills period. Oh wanted to add if my dad could see better (legally blind) this would not be a problem for him. He still has the skill set to do the work just not the eye site. If we still had it body shop I would look at taking something like that on and trying to learn from him as we went but I think it is beyond me right now.
Will do RussK. PM a list of what you need to me and I will see about them. Anyone if you need parts let me know and I will check them out for you. If I don't buy it maybe I can talk the guy into parting it.
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