331 Cad in a '53 Chevy??

Is it possible? Anyone out there running one in theirs? Did a search and can't seem to find much. That might be tellin' me something tight there. I cant bring myself to stick an SBC in there, but id like to have 8 cylinders.

 

If you want to be different, go with a old GMC six with a blower. Or, and I have only seen this done a few times, go with a Buick straight 8. It's a bit of work but boy does
it look wild.

 

some day I hope to be cool enough to join the I hate smallblock Chevies club.

 

Got nothing against SBCs...just seen them over and over.

 

Back in the late 60's I saw a 53 chev wagon with a 331 Hemi installed, but you find it easier to use something like a Nailhead if the Cad looks tight.
Or, go with the Cad and make it work.

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a caddy mill in a 53' would be a nice change of pace. i say go for it. im going with a BBC in my 41' chevy coupe. had other mills in mind but i got deal after deal after deal on BBC parts that i couldnt resist.

 

I have a 365 Eldorado engine that I have been setting aside for my '54. Never got around to putting it between the rails but I seen in the newest Hot Rod Deluxe I think a '55 with a Caddy motor so I would think it's possible. I am a long ways away from trying it out but if for some reason it's not going to work like I thought, I am heading straight for the 327's and a 4 speed.

 

Of course it will work Fab your motormounts and ****** xmember and mount cut as needed and there it is.

 

I have a BBC in my '50 so there is no reason that it would not work. I am looking to replace it with a smaller GM motor.

 

The main thing that raises my eyebrow is the steering. But if a BBC fits, then i dont see why not. If that clears i figure yes, fab up some motor mounts, trans mount, and its done. Ive got an opportunity to pick one up from a buddy, but didnt want to if it was something that just wouldn't work. Thanks for your input guys.

 

I think a newer inline 5 Vortec motor would be cool in one. Theres a bad*** Nova Ive seen with one in it with a turbo. Anyhting will go anywhere with enough money & work. Id be wary of how nose heavy it would be but Caddys are close to small blocks in weight so Ive heard

 

You will probably have some steering clearance problems. But you would have them with any V8. The Cad. has the starter on the right side so that shouldn't be a problem.
Remember you can offset the engine to the right a couple or three inches. I had to do it to put a sbc in my 48 Plymouth with stock steering box.

 

Mine is also clipped, I ***ume that would have solved any steering issues.

I am going to redo mine from scratch with a new stock frame. I will do a MII and a small motor


I would love to use one of those I5s. SoCal Speed Shop had A Colorado with one and they put a super charger on it. The I6 should be a decent fit also.

 

had an Olds 303 in my 49 Chevy highschool car....biggest problem was the LH starter...had to lengthen the pitman arm for clearance under starter...if Cad is on RH no problem there...2nd interference was the exhaust had to take an ugly 90* right out of the manifolds to clear the frame....worked OK tho' for years.....DO IT...love the early Cad/Olds V8s TORQUERS

 

Now I have a 1953 Belair Hardtop on its guts, straight 6 with tri power fenton headers 1948 Caddy tail lights grafted, and I have always said if I was to put a V8 into it, it would be a 331 Caddy Motor...I like the 6 in it a lot and have no intention changing it, the sound of the twin pipes cracks house windows and scares little dogs and looks cool and drives very well...But I do like the thought of a Caddy 331 in it to....

 

It'll be interesting to see how this works out: The largest '53 GM engine in the smallest '53 GM car. Sort of like an early musclecar that could have been, or a factory Chevy V8 test mule of that era.

 

Keep hoping.

 

in my old -49, somebody around Florida had stuck down a 403 olds between the rails. not the prettiest work ive seen but it worked wery well.

 

yes it will, got one in my dads 50, slight exhaust /steering prob on drivers side, but nothing serious.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484865&highlight=55+331+caddy

 

I have seen a Cadi motor in a 54 Chevy. It can be done and will look sweet. I am going to run a 331 in my 41 Ford......love those mills.

 

Ditto back when I was growing up and hanging out at a garage the guys there never asked if it can be done they just did it. Willie the Welder Feyh made his own arc welder it had no heat setings just on and off. He built more hot rods, shortened driveshafts and narrowed rears than anyone I know.
I agree with rustpipes.

Pat

 

not only possible but a very good choice, I've had several cars with 331's and they were all reliable, fast and got 20 mpg or better except my 5200 lb 53 coupe deville with dual quads only got 17 highway mpg
My 48 plymouth 4 door got 24 mpg with the air blowing cold,
as far as fitting

 

I have a 49-54 chev p***enger car front suspension in my 54 GMC with a 331 cad. no pan clearence problems. I'm running a different steering box (a s****ed ford box that was in my junk pile) that gave me an opportunity to build my first set of custom headers

 

I wonder the sanity of people who contemplate spending 5000 to do a 1500 job (installing the Cad engine rather than a sbc) but if it were me and mine I'd be looking for a Buick nailhead rather than a Caddy. Just as much or more power, they were done back in the day and they fit better.

Do yourself a favor though and measure that 331 Cad in every direction twice and then measure the engine compartment of the 53 closely to see just how many issues you are going to have on the install. I'm pretty sure you will have to cut most of the two inner body supports away along with redoing quite a bit of other things.
I'm not saying don't do it, just make sure it will work before trying to stuff ten lbs of iron in a five pound bag. I don't want to see another story of a hacked up car up for sale because the owner gave up on it because he tried to put something in a place it didn't want to go in.

Somewhere on the net there is a engine dimension chart that gives pretty detailed measurements for most of the engines that might be popular for a swap.
I found the chart but it doesn't have info on that engine.
http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html

Maybe Noname can send you all of the pertinent measurements and a couple photos of an engine on a stand so that you can see what you have to deal with if you don't already have the engine. Usually on that model of Chevy the steering is the big issue and then the two inner front body mounts which most often end up getting cut away in engine swaps.

 

I had a 331 Caddy in a 60 GMC..the "Jimmillac"

 

I hope that the $5k you mention includes a full rebuild.

If building hot rods was simply about taking the easy way out or going the cheapest route then we would all have original drivetrain, not something a bit different that we actually like...

Yes, the sbc is popular; yes, they are everywhere; yes, they are cheap; no, they are not unique or interesting anymore.


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I have a couple old features where it was done, remember, in a fight for more cubes guys shoehorned many OHV V8s into the pre55 cars.

 

"hope that the $5k you mention includes a full rebuild.

If building hot rods was simply about taking the easy way out or going the cheapest route then we would all have original drivetrain, not something a bit different that we actually like...

Yes, the sbc is popular; yes, they are everywhere; yes, they are cheap; no, they are not unique or interesting anymore."
Well said!

 

My only recommendation would be to use a 59-62 390, same engine design but more cubes! you can tell everyone its a 331 if you want..lol..

 

inline 5 vortec in a 53 chevy???????????? you have got to be kidding me!!
i wont even go back into my rant why sbc's rule! the caddy will fit...