P.S. the 700R4 is an overdrive, and the 2-3 spread on the 4-speed hydro's suck. And they cost a sh!tload to build, if you can find someone who knows how to put one together... The 390's may be a bit spendy to build, but it's in the car, and running. If it feels sluggish, it may be that it's a big f*cking car that's underpowered by today's standards. The 368/425/472/500 family of engines isn't exactly a cheap date at the machine shop either, and for the trouble, I think spending the money on dressing up the stock Cad engine in your '60 is money better spent... Also, the overdrive tranny you want behind the 500 is the 200R4, which already has the BOP bell housing pattern, which saves the adapter, and they are plenty strong for mild engines. There are also adapters for there use behind a 390. BRT
A 390 in an Eldorado , at a concours event is money well spent. But when faced with going into metro-areas, countrysides, etc. , where I have no acquaintances tends to make me want to go with a combination that I can count on--reliability, support(o'riellys,napa, or with a gun to my head, autozone) and nameplate to nameplate. Someday I would like to do the stretch between Vegas and LA in this car. I also intend to drive out there to do it......someday I have a 62 series Caddy, it is not a showstopper. I wish to make it nicer, again someday, but for now it moves and does it well. Also it shares a few parts with other GM pieces that are easily found. Try to find a 390 fuel pump on a short notice these days! If people here can drop a small block chevy in a duece, I can drop a Caddy in a Caddy! Furthermore, there are still a few 472-500 donor cars out there for the cheap. .........there I sat, looking at a beat up, rusted out '73 sedan deville, with a killer motor for $300. And a solid, fairly straight '60 2drhdtp with an engine that used a quart of oil every 20 miles. I thought, put good motor in good car, gggrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I actually agree but based on all of the comments, it seems that you knew a bit more about what you were getting into. This guy sounds like he has has a running/driving '60 that is, in his opinion, sluggish. The 500 in my avatar '60 came from a $300 DeVille also, and was the cheapest way to go big reliably on the cheap. In this situation, I think he could find himself with a non-running project and overwhelmed by the amount of work actually required. His first post indicated that he thought it might be a "bolt-in"? I just think he may get more than he bargained for... I have NO issue with swapping in a bigger/better engine, just for the record... BRT
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