Hey all...just wanting some imput on a car I may purchase. It is a 1949 Pontiac with a 500 caddy and turbo 400...just wondering how people's luck with 500s in hot rods have been. My only one is a sbc cookie cutter. I liek the car and the price, except for the color which can always be changed at any monetary moment. thanks again for any imput
These are great, well built motor's. TORQUE monster even in the big car's. Stock, they do not rev. high. Keep it below 4600 rpm and if it has not been beat, will last a long time.Want more info, I'll email a site that has many part's and info.
I do not know if it has been beat yet. I have not driven it, but maybe tomorrow. I know that they are torque monsters. You can email that site ifn you wanna thanks Jim
I've had two cadillacs with the 472. They are basically the same as a 500. They both ran great and were very smooth. They are heavy engines, but their abundance of torque kinda balances that out. aftermarket stuff is hard to come by. Edelbrock makes an intake. Also check this place out. Maximum Torque Specialties
The 500 caddy is a great motor.Lighter and more torque than a BBC.Like you said a Turbo 400 bolts right on. Perfect to put in early P.U.Better gas milage than BBC. If you swap out the stock intake (and headers)for an aftermarket you`ll get a hugh H.P. boost. The stock intake sit very low on the motor(fuel route is up hill)This was done to accomadate the low hood on the El Dos. These motors are easy to find and are cheap. Also love the `49-`62 vintage,had a `59 in my `34 (sold) and have a `54 in my RPU,both cool running and trouble free. Good Luck...JR PS..Down here in Fla. all the Rednecks run the 500 in their air boats.(ie:Everglades Taxis )
You mention that they are heavy engines. I think you will find that they quite light for their size. I don't have any figures but there are some Cadillac sites as well as suppliers you can get the information from. I always thought it would be fun to put one in a light weight older pickup where the engine was enclosed and give some of the HOT DOGS a run for their money on the expressway. Frank
My freind Howard ran a relatively stock 500 Caddy and T400 in his Model A coupe for about 10 years. It was very reliable and a real torque monster. He put over 100,000 miles on it and almost never lost a race. They are quite powerful even in stock form and they are pretty light weight when compared to other engines with similar displacement. Howard was able to shave 70 lbs off by installing an aluminum intake. Plus, when properly dressed up, they are pretty good looking engines. The only reason the Caddy came out of Howard's Model A was to make room for a blown early Olds motor and a La Salle*******.
I've read a few different statements on the web that cad 500's are about 75lbs heavier than a SBC. Like said, change to the eldebrock aluminum intake, and they break almost even. There's also aluminum heads for them now. I used to have two of the*****ers, but was never able to afford to put them in anything. I did good on the deals, got a 500 from a 76 Eldo for the tow fee ($140) that was near new, and snagged a 500 from a 76 sedan for $100 that still had the hatch marks in the bores. Both are sitting in my parents yard back in WV..
I've done a little research on the 500 and to get a HP boost you get some of the later 425ci heads and flow the runners. Apparently, the smaller chamber will boost the compression. They are getting harder to find around here under $400. Hey Mojo what part of WVa, I have kin up there that could "liberate" that burden from your folks
[ QUOTE ] later 425ci heads and flow the runners. Apparently, the smaller chamber will boost the compression. They are getting harder to find around here under $400. [/ QUOTE ] damnnnnnnn i'm lucky then cause i just bought a 77 caddy w/86,000 just for the 425/400turbo set up for my burb & I got it for $250 but then the kid did find it for my through on of his teachers at school who dad didnt want it anymore....joe
Didn't Street Rodder do one of their long term engine buildup series on this type engine? And I am pretty sure Hot Rod had some good tech on them a few years ago when they built that low-budget Chevette.....
[ QUOTE ] You mention that they are heavy engines. Frank [/ QUOTE ] I stand corrected. They are 600 lbs. ,so yeah they are light for any 400+ cu.in. engine. Small blocks are around 400 lbs. and ford 460s are 740.
Thanks for the info guys. I sitll need to speak to my financier but I drove by the car today. Atleast it has not been sold yet.
Grady, you and I've hung on the fence together at BTT50's We were there when "Lord of the Dance" kissed the concrete too....you know I wouldn't steer ya wrong. A 472/500 caddy will put a big fat smile all over your face. Even in stock form, they'll lay ya back in the seat if you can get traction. And already sitting in a 49 Poncho???? What the***** are you waiting for, bro? Jump now! We gotta guy here in Omaha with a straight, black, subframed 50 Poncho fastback with a 500 caddy... It's nothin short of spectacular but I'm a little predjudiced in favor of Ponchos anyway...get it before I came up there and buy it for myself.
Yeah, Rocky, I knew you would approve. It is turquoise though..gotta talk to the bank tomorrow... I did drive past it today, and it has not sold yet. gonna call the guy tonight
Greaaaaaat motors...got one right now in my 51 Studebaker...run one in a fivty seven chebby pk up...and we have two of them end to end in a twin engine dragster...most fun for the buck out there...when they hook up the car stands still and the world turns!!!!!
Is there any interest in an early Cadillac engine that has an adaptor on it for a Ford transmission? It has the long motor housing on the back of the block like an early Flathead. Does anybody want this? Should I try to score on it?
My 27 had a 472.It was great!I now have a 500-400 combo in my 51 chevy.I havn't driven it yet,but,I think I will be happy.
My 48 F-1 had a 472 in when I bought it and it ran well. It threw a rod and I swapped in a 425ci Caddy a year ago. I notice little difference as the 425 still has loads of torque and is lighter than the 472.
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