Cadillac engine knowledge

The basic 472 and the later 500 engines both use a Buick/Pontiac/Olds/Cadillac (BOPC) bell housing bolt pattern, so a TH400 automatic will bolt right up to the back of the block as long as the proper Cadillac flexplate and torque converter are used. The TH425 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 half shaft clearance. Any RWD engine can be converted to FWD and vice versa if the proper oil pan and pickup are used, although two of the main cap bolts must be removed and swapped for studs with standoffs to mount the pickup bracket. Another good thing about these engines using a TH400 transmission is that a BOPC patterned case can be assembled 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 NP205, as fitted to some mid/late 1970's Chevy 1 ton trucks. The NP205 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 Buick/Pontiac/Olds/Cadillac (BOPC) bell housing bolt pattern, so a TH400 automatic will bolt right up to the back of the block as long as the proper Cadillac flexplate and torque converter are used. The TH425 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 half shaft clearance. Any RWD engine can be converted to FWD and vice versa if the proper oil pan and pickup are used, although two of the main cap bolts must be removed and swapped for studs with standoffs to mount the pickup bracket. Another good thing about these engines using a TH400 transmission is that a BOPC patterned case can be assembled 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 NP205, as fitted to some mid/late 1970's Chevy 1 ton trucks. The NP205 is a strong gear-driven transfer case and holds up nicely to the big Caddy's torque output.

The 700R4/4L60/4L80E can be a good transmission to use on the Cadillac 472 and 500, due to the fact that you can run 4.11 gears and not over rev the engine with the over drive 4th gear.  

The 700R4/4L60/4L80E can be a good transmission to use on the Cadillac 472 and 500, due to the fact that you can run 4.11 gears and not over rev the engine with the over drive 4th gear.