yep....that's exactly why I have a brand new short block and no heads. FYI.....you can do what I did and buy a running 61-62 Caddy 390. Drops right in....more power and full flow oil filtration.
I've been in your shoes, bro. Albeit not with your specific engines, but a similar situation with a completely obliterated Y Block. Bite the bullet and repair the engine that the car is set up for, or convert to a cheaper, more readily available mill. I'm going to tell you from personal experience that it will be much cheaper in the long run to fix what you have. The issue is that a complete swap of drivetrains will nickel and dime you to the point that it would have simply been cheaper to fix the engine you have. Not to mention take less time, which is also valuable. Let's think about this situation for a second with a cool head, and not consider the cool factor the Caddy has that the SBC doesn't (it's true, but let's think objectively for a moment). Physically mounting the SBC is only the first item on a laundry list of issues that will need to be dealt with to make the car run reliably. First, obviously, you'll have to fit the SBC in there. This will require some custom mounts, or installing some universal crossmember, all the while praying that the SBC's oil pan and starter do not interfere with the Cadillac frame, suspension and steering. I will ***ume your 331 is mated to a functioning stock Hydramatic. That will not be staying if you swap to the SBC, and now you'll have to swap transmissions as well. That will include the fabrication of some new trans crossmember, as well, and there will be more praying there will be no interference with an x-frame. Chances are the overall length of the SBC/TH350,TH400 or 700R4 is not going to be the same length as the 331/Hydro combo, so now you'll need to get the driveshaft shortened (cheap), or get a new custom made driveshaft because it's now too short (expensive). Either way, you'll need new U-joints to convert the caddy shaft to a newer style yoke. Want to shift that trans? Gonna need to figure that out, too, since the Caddy has a different shift pattern than the more modern TH350 or TH400. Under the hood you'll still need to figure out throttle linkage, new exhaust, etc... Got power steering in that Caddy? I bet you do. Is a modern power steering pump going to put out the same pressure as the stock Caddy pump, or is the newer pump going to blow the seals out of your steering box? The list goes on and on. See my point? Sure it may **** spending all that money on the Cadillac mill again. But it's remove, rebuild, re***emble. Done. When I blew up my Y block, I decided I wanted to get rid of the engine family completely. I wanted more cubes, and wanted a strong reliable setup, so I chose the 383 Chrysler and a 727 Torqueflight. It took me 2 years to engineer all the issues out, and for what I spent, I could have built 2 brand new Y Blocks. Sure the end result was great, but it was a real h***le and real expensive to get there. Sometimes the cheap route ends up being the more expensive route. Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish.
Yikes. Im rebuilding a 1950 61 series with a 331 for my wedding in May. Sure makes me uneasy. I figured the 331 was a basic engine that wouldnt be too big a deal to rebuild. Check ebay. Ive occasionally seen 331's for sale to rebuild if you have to get rid of yours entirely. I hope that comment about them being known for cracked heads isnt true because mine runs hot too. I have rust in the system though and it needs to be flushed well.
It appears to me that Don may be the father of more than one daughter that he has gone though the trials and tribulations of having a wedding for. As for the engine swap Moonman929 I'd go along with the advi*****t to make it as bolt in and able to remove later as possible. Also if you don't have a complete running 350 and working trans that you drove in the donor rig I'd bag it and borrow or rent a car or find a limo service that has a vintage limo. I think you will find that the sbc looks a bit lost in the room that the 331 had but no one needs look under the hood anyhow. still think like Don and some of the others that you will end up with a car half finished and an upset bride because you were busy with the car when she had things for you to do.
My uncle loved those engines. 331, 365, 390. Always praised them up. I dunno' **** about them, can't lie there. All I know is he had a 331 in his 56 Ford for quite some time.....then pulled it out to put in his 38 Ford......same engine from Cad' to Ford to Ford....built only once at Cadillac. Ran like a top for thirty years at least, with nothing needed other than an oil pump and pan gasket. I believe that was just for good measure and not out of necessity. He was the guy for Cadillac swaps in his area, up until the 70's. I guess anything can happen, but I wasn't aware of head issues either. 38 still has the caddy, just a different owner.
I plan on rebuilding my 331 down the road. I got a 1986 chevy 350 with a turbo 400 trans givin to me from my buddy. it ran good . he took it out of his truck hes gonna put a diesel in it, I have it in the caddy as we speak, just spot welded in some mounts tonight...
I know the "get the car finished for the wedding" head ache. I can't even buy a couch for the place me and my wife moved into but if you start a kick starter deal I'm in for $100 to help you out. Pm me if you decide to go this route. Having the y block swapped in my 1954 merc to get it running on my wedding day was important to me. I was late to the rehearsal dinner cuz I was setting the points... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
KICK*** !! Good for you man. That's damn good to hear. You know you will have to post the happy ending, happy wedding photo here. Good luck man.
[QUOkidcampbell71, post: 10600439, member: 197955"]KICK*** !! Good for you man. That's damn good to hear. You know you will have to post the happy ending, happy wedding photo here. Good luck man.[/QUOTE] Hey alls I have to do is try right?! Lol if it don't get done then so be it..... if not, I can drive my paps 1966 mustang convertiblE
Like he said the car in not the main item, it's all about the bride. Put the car away for a while. Borrow a farm truck or tractor.
There is a guy near me here in md that has dozens of those cars for sale and parting out. Maybe you could get a running used motor from him for the time being. He is really reasonable on prices Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
[Q="orangeamcs, post: 10600684, member: 34800"]There is a guy near me here in md that has dozens of those cars for sale and parting out. Maybe you could get a running used motor from him for the time being. He is really reasonable on prices Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App![/QUOTE] Do you have a phone number for this guy??
When you get the SBC in there you could order up these: http://www.yourcovers.com/valve_covers_11107.php and confuse the troops.
Sorry to hear about this. Get the SBC in and have a great wedding!! BTW, I kinda know what you are up against --> We are trying to finish my nephew's 1961 Bel Air for HIS wedding. When is it, you ask? October 4th ;-) We drove it for the first time in 5 years this past weekend. Hopefully, it heads to the upholstery shop this week. Good luck.
Hey thanks! The only thing that doesnt work In the caddy is the fan on the sbc. I have to take the fan off and put a pusher electric fan on the front of the radiator. Other than that so fsr so good
Lol....you know....with the moniker mooman929....and knowing the comments about the tractors....part of me figured you would process the replies....then fire up the torch, and welder....and have it driving before the week is out. Some of the best fabricators aren't dreamers.....they are the ones that plow the north forty. I dunno' how many times I would watch my grandfather do so much, with so little. It's the "have to" mentality speaking....for sure. Good for you sir.
Here is a quick weld up job on some brackets I made. Wasn't that hard.....plus it aloud me to still use my caddy rubber mounts on the frame which I could still use if I ever put the 331 back in
Not pretty but now that I have a rough pattern of I had to do it again in could make somethin a little more attractive lol
Sometimes, pondering how hard its going to be, worrying about how much of a ****ed up job it will be, contemplating how long it will take to get done is actually way worse than doing it. Then there's them other times ..
Got the motor In and mounted. Driveshaft is being made at the moment. Not enough room between radiator fan and pulley so put on a 16" electric pusher fan in the front with 1600 cfm. Hoping it'll be enougj air movement crossing my fingers and had to ad an electric fuel pump and swap put the distributor to an old hei. Plus just added my radiator Cooler. Bought an aftermarket cooling setup and mounted that in front of my pusher fan. Got two weeks left to try to fire her up. My grandfather wrote me a check for new whitewalls just incase its ready by wedding time
I just got 4 coker L78-15 4" whitewalls through summit for about 688 i think it was. Free shipping too so check them out. Cheapest online I found
[QUOT="txturbo, post: 10621424, member: 95678"]I can't believe a 350 is longer than a 331.[/QUOTE] Well It was a tight squeeze I moved ot ahead about a good inch because the ****** dipstick wouldn't allow room for the battery box. Then with the clutch fan, it sticks out too far ahead
The Jalopy Journal
