Got Cadillac Power?

[Hoosier CC/20]

Hey Guys,

New Guy here!! Well, sort of. Joined the forum in 2011 got REAL busy with the job but now have time to check in and (hopefully) contribute.

I have a '71 "Custom Camper/20" AKA a Camper Special. Originally equipped with BB 402 and THM 400, 3.54 Dana 60. Medium Olive with a white cab roof. I call him Frank--short for Frankenstein. You know, big, ugly, green, different heart (I know "Young Frankenstein" got a brain-anyways)

CURRENTLY, Frank has a complete "lift-out" 1976 Cadillac 500 engine. The swap was not that hard, had to fab some motor mounts, relocate some wiring. The upper and lower radiator hoses are stock '76 Cad. Ran the fuel line across the from the passenger side to the driver's side. Great power, not so great fuel mileage about 9-10 in the city. Thinking about a NV4500 to replace the THM400.

So...I'm wondering if anybody else has the same sickness I do and has stuffed a Caddy engine into their '67-'72?

Show it off with some pics

[yuccales]

Good swap! Just wondering, did you use a short or long tailshaft on the trans? One or two piece driveshaft?

[Hoosier CC/20]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Good swap! Just wondering, did you use a short or long tailshaft on the trans? One or two piece driveshaft?

Thanks!

I used a short/correct tail shaft from another ('72 C20) THM 400. Had the Caddy trans rebuilt at the time of the swap as I was uncertain of its condition. Got an extra deep pan, external B & M cooler, a torque convertor for towing.

The driveshaft is the original two piece. The goal was to put the transmission, etc back in the same place so as to keep all of the original hardware. It even has stock cooler lines to the radiator.

Talk to ya,

Hoosier CC/20

[jjzepplin]

Nice. Did you keep the A/C?

[Hoosier CC/20]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Nice. Did you keep the A/C?

Thanks.

Well... sort of.... Most of it is there. It needs the lines from the compressor to the receiver/dryer and the firewall unit. Other than that, it is intact.

At this point, I would likely need to replace the compressor, receiver/dryer (Accumulator?) and maybe the expansion valve to get it to work correctly. It seems to me that no matter what size passenger compartment you had in the '70s, the hardware was all the same. If that's the case, the A/C would spit ice cubes at you in no time

[jjzepplin]

Welcome to the board! And that is one fine retro fit. Looks factory. Bet that baby pulls hard. I think a 4l80 would be a nice addition to 500 cubes...

[mikecaddy500]

Sweet! my 500 is ready to go into my 68.

[69chevy lwb]

I had a 472 in my 68 for a bit but never got to drive it

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

I ran a 390 over a year in mine, when she started smoking I just couldn't make myself stuff that much money into a rebuild. It's great to watch peoples reactions when the hood goes up!

[steveb64]

Not the right year you asked about, but close, my '64.

[trac209]

I would luv a cad engine,back in the day guys were swapping them into g body gm's and running 12s with the stock engine.

[cypressbog]

Absent board member Longhorn Man had one in his Longhorn.

[mikecaddy500]

have one in a 84 el camino too

[ptc]

Got one in a boat!!!! 1951 Bristol

[wbc409]

I would research the cost. You could look into a gear vendors setup also. You would have to shorten the drive shaft if you installed one. They make 2 different versions. A stand alone, and one that bolts onto the back of your existing transmission. If you're going to pull trailers regularly get the deeper sump.