472 Cadillac engine?

[Dylan86]

a 472 big block out of a 1969 cadillac coupe deville. Anyone heard good or bad things or dealt with these blocks? i might be buying one to build for my 86 c10? any thoughts or opinions?

[Metalshapes]

It is basically the same thing as the 500 caddy, heads, exterior componets will interchange. Be careful, if you put 472 heads on a 500 it yields somewhere in the neighborhood of 12.5 - 1 compression. Moving on, great engine, good availability of aftermarket parts and it is a torque monster, just think about what it came in.

[dieseldawg142]

these motors ARE torque monsters (check out the torque curve to 3000 rpm), & weigh a little more than a small block. my dad's friend has a '72 blaze with a 472, incredible seamless power.
http://www.500cid.com/ Maximum Torque Specialties
my dad,s friend says their the guru,s of caddy motors

[russgt]

A guy that I work with has a 472 cadi in a 79 Z28. It runs pretty good.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

It is a great motor the torque is awesome stock, and only get better with bolt-ons. Throw in a modern cam, and they will just about hang with many diesels when towing.

I have seen them used in a few trucks, but you need the lowest gears to make the package work its best.

In my C20 with 32" tires a fresh 350 with 3.73 gears, and no overdrive is a nice combo.

On a 472/500 Cad I would look for a Dana 61 with 3.07 gears, and it would probably still light up the tires.

[mrolds88]

One other thing that you need to know. The RWD oil pan won't work on your truck. Swap an Eldorado pan and you will be good to go. They are torque monsters, just don't over rev them.

[Low84]

It's been a good engine to me thus far. Not really a gas saver but it gets me better gas mileage on this with the hydraulics and spokes than my stock 6.0 2500hd.

My father in law has a 500 in his Caddy and that has been a good engine as well as far as I know

[manimal]

Longhornman had a 500 in his 69 longhorn. I have not seen him here in a VERY long time. Also there was a 60-66 at Brother's Show and Shine that had a caddy in it. Was pretty cool!

[rcrahn]

My next door neighbor has a friend with a Caddy engine in his squarebody. I saw it breifly and heard it run. It is sic.... A torque monster is right...

[Low84]

^^ That is a clean truck! What wheels are those?

[Hertzdaddy]

I have a 500 in my Jimmy 2wd. Love it. Its been modded a bit and puts out around 500hp and 600tq. I'm using the oil pan from the later 425 rwd cars, commonly referred to as the mid sump. It fits fine and can be had for less than the Eldon pan.
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[hatzie]

A fellow I worked with in LA had a 472 in a 77 GMC K20. Got mid teens for fuel mileage with a Rochester quadrabogger... I never asked how he fitted the SM465 to that motor. It's a BOP bellhousing pattern but I bet it was fun to source the flywheel.
He said it towed a 28' Airstream everywhere and it ran up the Grapevine towing it like it didn't have anything in tow.

You'll need a rear sump Eldorado oil pan. If you have 2wd drop it in with a Caddy TH200R4 and mod the driveshaft.

Damn nice to have the distributor up front like my 383 Polara.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Low84

It's been a good engine to me thus far. Not really a gas saver but it gets me better gas mileage on this with the hydraulics and spokes than my stock 6.0 2500hd.

My father in law has a 500 in his Caddy and that has been a good engine as well as far as I know

That's gorgeous.

[gmachinz]

The only issue the 472/500 motors had is in the oiling system-the wide main bearings soak up a lot of heat and tend to score a bit by the time you get to 60K and up.....but, a quality overhaul using Clevite Tri-Metal bearings will help a lot-I would recommend lightening up the stock crank while at the machine shop and paying extra for balancing the rotating assembly to +/- 3 grams.....that'll help ensure the heavy rotating assembly won't tear up the bearings much.....obviously synthetic oil wasn't a luxury those old Caddy motors originally could have taken advantage of but they can now-that too will help extend its life. For the record, in 1970 the 500 motors were rated the highest in stock form-375 HP and 500 FT!
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[Ziegelsteinfaust]

What about adding some room in the pan for a few more quarts.

When I do up my truck engine in my c20 no matter how wild to basic. I will mod the stock pan for about 3-4 extra quarts.

[74 stepside]

Heres a 500 ci caddy in a 61 C10 that was at Brothers show. I love it, because its different.

[gmachinz]

Nice....that's a gorgeous engine bay! 500/472 Caddy motors are definitely sexy lookin!
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[Dylan86]

Thanks! do you know if i am going to need to bulk up the frame at all, or cooling system? what about engine mounts? any other mods that need to be done to go from a 350 small block?

[2ndstoryslam]

Your 3-4 core radiator should do. Frame is fine, remember its weight is a little more than a SBC. An Edelbrock intake will add mucho to the scene, and lighten the weight as well.

[manimal]

Originally Posted by Hertzdaddy

I have a 500 in my Jimmy 2wd. Love it. Its been modded a bit and puts out around 500hp and 600tq. I'm using the oil pan from the later 425 rwd cars, commonly referred to as the mid sump. It fits fine and can be had for less than the Eldon pan.
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got some pics? I would like to see the frame area near the exhaust manifolds....Did you have to clearance the frame at all?

[manimal]

Originally Posted by 74 stepside

Heres a 500 ci caddy in a 61 C10 that was at Brothers show. I love it, because its different.

That's the one I mentioned earlier! Thanks Matt!

[1981Sturgis]

500 Cadillac Start-up.avi - YouTube

500 Cad in my Crew cab

[Hertzdaddy]

Originally Posted by manimal

got some pics? I would like to see the frame area near the exhaust manifolds....Did you have to clearance the frame at all?

Here ya go.



No clearancing is necessary with manifolds. Some slight clearancing was necessary with BBC truck headers modified for the Caddy engine.

A typical installation like mine involves moving the frame mounts forward to match up with Caddy 425 engine mounts from '77 era rwd cars. That gives plenty of room to route the exhaust from the manifolds (or headers) down. Frame mounts have to be cut to clear the steering center link rod and a new hole drilled in the crossmember to attach the frame mounts (just one is used).

Another method leaves the frame mounts in place and uses a 1/4" spacer plate to extend forward to Eldorado stud-style mounts. Either method works fine.

[Hertzdaddy]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

What about adding some room in the pan for a few more quarts.

When I do up my truck engine in my c20 no matter how wild to basic. I will mod the stock pan for about 3-4 extra quarts.

Some more oil won't hurt but that's not really the problem. The design uses up most of the oil before it hits all of the bearings. Go hear for a lengthy discussion http://www.cadillacpower.com/forum/v...5265&start=140

[Dylan86]

Picked her up today! cant wait to build her pretty and go threw tires like i will gas!