Cadillac engine knowledge
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When bolting these engines into most any application, use the stock-type Cadillac Eldorado engine mounts, oil pan, and associated pickup tube and fabricate a set of 3/8-1/2 inch plates to be bolted to the crossmember, the big Cad has the mount bolts roughly 5 inches ahead of where the Chevy mounts are when using the stock rear Turbo 400 transmission mount. For a 4x4 truck, the engine usually fits well with crossmember and framerail notches to clear the oil pump, if the truck originally ran a Turbo 350 transmission the crossmember goes back about 3 inches, and custom driveshafts will need to be made up to fit, these should run the large 1 ton U-joints for longest life. | When bolting these engines into most any application, use the stock-type Cadillac Eldorado engine mounts, oil pan, and associated pickup tube and fabricate a set of 3/8-1/2 inch plates to be bolted to the crossmember, the big Cad has the mount bolts roughly 5 inches ahead of where the Chevy mounts are when using the stock rear Turbo 400 transmission mount. For a 4x4 truck, the engine usually fits well with crossmember and framerail notches to clear the oil pump, if the truck originally ran a Turbo 350 transmission the crossmember goes back about 3 inches, and custom driveshafts will need to be made up to fit, these should run the large 1 ton U-joints for longest life. | ||
| − | 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, and there is another that I have not seen that has been described as point more outward than the first one I described. | + | 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, and there is another that I have not seen that has been described as point 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 .050 thick if I remember correctly. An oil pump gasket that is too thick will cause more oil to bypass the pump gear's, and allow more end play of those gears too, something you do not want. |
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In cars, the clearance problems are usually at the front crossmember, the exhaust manifold at the driver's side, and possibly the airbox on the firewall, though this can be dimpled with fibreglass or sheetmetal if necessary. Streetrods usually have sufficient room to drop the big Cad in, the fit is tight like with a big Chevy but the only change required will be in motor mount placement. Most all vehicles requiring a rear-sump oil pan and pickup can use the Eldorado pan and pickup tube, or a mid-sump pan and pickup as found on the smaller 368-425 Cadillac engines of '77-'79 vintage. Stock exhaust manifolds may be used, or aftermarket block-hugger style headers can be sourced from Sanderson. In most cases where a big Chevy header can be used, the Chevy flanges can be removed and Cad flanges can be made up quite easily, the primary tubes may need a bit of tweaking to line up with the ports with this method. Remember that the front and rear drive exhaust manifolds are different for the driver's side, this may help in routing the exhaust if it looks like a tight fit on that side. | In cars, the clearance problems are usually at the front crossmember, the exhaust manifold at the driver's side, and possibly the airbox on the firewall, though this can be dimpled with fibreglass or sheetmetal if necessary. Streetrods usually have sufficient room to drop the big Cad in, the fit is tight like with a big Chevy but the only change required will be in motor mount placement. Most all vehicles requiring a rear-sump oil pan and pickup can use the Eldorado pan and pickup tube, or a mid-sump pan and pickup as found on the smaller 368-425 Cadillac engines of '77-'79 vintage. Stock exhaust manifolds may be used, or aftermarket block-hugger style headers can be sourced from Sanderson. In most cases where a big Chevy header can be used, the Chevy flanges can be removed and Cad flanges can be made up quite easily, the primary tubes may need a bit of tweaking to line up with the ports with this method. Remember that the front and rear drive exhaust manifolds are different for the driver's side, this may help in routing the exhaust if it looks like a tight fit on that side. | ||
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