Cadillac engine knowledge

The basic 472 and the later 500 engines both use a standardized Buick/Pontiac/Olds/Cadillac bellhousing pattern, so a Turbo 400 automatic will bolt right up to the back of the block as long as the proper Cadillac flexplate and torque converter are used. The Turbo 425 front-drive automatic transaxle also fits these engines as used in the Eldorado, although a special dual-sump oil pan and pickup are used with these transmissions due to the required halfshaft clearance. Any rear-wheel drive engine can be converted to front-drive and vice versa if the proper oil pan and pickup are used, although 2 of the main cap bolts must be removed and swapped to mount the pickup's bracket. Another good thing about these engines using a Turbo 400 transmission is that a B/P/O/C patterned case can be stuffed with the Chevy 4x4 tailshaft and associated hardware for use in an off-road truck. The engine weight is approximately 600 pounds fully dressed and splits the difference between small and big block Chevy, so suspension modifications are not usually necessary. Transfer case choice for a 4x4 should be a 205, as fitted to some mid/late '70's Chevy 1 ton trucks. The 205 is a strong gear-driven transfer case and holds up nicely to the big Caddy's torque output.

The basic 472 and the later 500 engines both use a standardized Buick/Pontiac/Olds/Cadillac bellhousing pattern, so a Turbo 400 automatic will bolt right up to the back of the block as long as the proper Cadillac flexplate and torque converter are used. The Turbo 425 front-drive automatic transaxle also fits these engines as used in the Eldorado, although a special dual-sump oil pan and pickup are used with these transmissions due to the required halfshaft clearance. Any rear-wheel drive engine can be converted to front-drive and vice versa if the proper oil pan and pickup are used, although 2 of the main cap bolts must be removed and swapped to mount the pickup's bracket. Another good thing about these engines using a Turbo 400 transmission is that a B/P/O/C patterned case can be stuffed with the Chevy 4x4 tailshaft and associated hardware for use in an off-road truck. The engine weight is approximately 600 pounds fully dressed and splits the difference between small and big block Chevy, so suspension modifications are not usually necessary. Transfer case choice for a 4x4 should be a 205, as fitted to some mid/late '70's Chevy 1 ton trucks. The 205 is a strong gear-driven transfer case and holds up nicely to the big Caddy's torque output.

There are different oil pumps for the big Cadillac engines. One faces forward from the block at a 45 degree angle downward. The next faces downward 45 degrees and points right toward the bottom of the crankshaft pulley. There is another that I have not seen that has been described as pointing more outward than the first one I described. These can all be interchanged, but make very sure to properly clean the oilpump and block mating surfaces and always use a new oil pump gasket. The correct gaskets will be from major gasket manufacturers, and should be only something like 0.005" thick if I remember correctly. An oil pump gasket that is too thick will cause more oil to bypass the pump gears and allow more end play of those gears too, something you do not want.

There are different oil pumps for the big Cadillac engines. One faces forward from the block at a 45 degree angle downward. The next faces downward 45 degrees and points right toward the bottom of the crankshaft pulley. There is another that I have not seen that has been described as pointing more outward than the first one I described. These can all be interchanged, but make very sure to properly clean the oilpump and block mating surfaces and always use a new oil pump gasket. The correct gaskets will be from major gasket manufacturers, and should be only something like 0.005" thick if I remember correctly. An oil pump gasket that is too thick will cause more oil to bypass the pump gears and allow more end play of those gears too, something you do not want.