Front wheel drive Cad truck - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bnoon · 01-22-2015, 10:25 AM

I saw this at a gas stop a few weeks ago when we went on a snowmobiling trip. I asked a group of guys if it belonged to anyone and this older gentleman stands up and says it's his. I asked to take a look at it and he said sure... turns out, it's a Caddy 500 engine on a front wheel drive Eldorado front frame section grafted to the rear truck frame section at the rear cab area. Eldorado front suspension/steering/etc. Interior was a mix of Caddy and truck, power Caddy seats and matching steering wheel, custom console... Had some 20" wheels on all but the driver's front (he had a flat the day before). The guy said it's been done about 20-25 years ago by some car shop in N.E. Iowa and it took him several years to talk them out of it. He owns a body shop and he's redoing a few things to refresh it. I believe he said 4 or so inch chop top... Very clean old custom!!! I especially love the Caddy crest emblems on the cab corner trim!!!

Keith Seymore · 01-22-2015, 10:46 AM

Wow!

Don't see one of those every day...

(lol)

K

**MikeB** · 01-22-2015, 11:09 AM

That's gotta be a great truck engine. I see where gross torque was as much as 550 lb/ft @ 3000 rpm!

I also like the color and old skool wheels.

bnoon · 01-22-2015, 11:45 AM

The only wheel you can really see is the old Buick wheel on the driver's front. That was his temporary spare. The rest of the wheels that you can't see I believe were Budnik's 5 spokes.

...and yes, the Cad 500 and 472 engines were TQ monsters. He said it can smoke the front tires for blocks at a time!!!

**MikeB** · 01-22-2015, 12:02 PM

I kinda like 15s myself, but I'm an old guy.

bnoon · 01-22-2015, 03:46 PM

I like 20's as long as they're tasteful and not too blingy.

<-- old guy too.

77 350 Shorty Wide · 01-22-2015, 04:24 PM

If he takes 4" more off the top, it will have a slit for a front window. Frankly I've never been to keen on chopping the tops on these trucks, seems like the top just doesn't look right front to back.
But to each his own and I do appreciate the work involved in doing it.

God Bless, Terry

slotard · 01-22-2015, 05:04 PM

FWD truck? That's interesting, and not really in a good way (IMO). Not saying it was poorly done, just misguided... why not stay RWD?

y5mgisi · 01-22-2015, 06:52 PM

Kinda cool. THere is a ford ranger on local CL that has a FWD caddy 500 motor/trans mounted in the bed. So its a rear engine ranger!

01-22-2015, 10:25 AM	#1
bnoon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,250	Front wheel drive Cad truck I saw this at a gas stop a few weeks ago when we went on a snowmobiling trip. I asked a group of guys if it belonged to anyone and this older gentleman stands up and says it's his. I asked to take a look at it and he said sure... turns out, it's a Caddy 500 engine on a front wheel drive Eldorado front frame section grafted to the rear truck frame section at the rear cab area. Eldorado front suspension/steering/etc. Interior was a mix of Caddy and truck, power Caddy seats and matching steering wheel, custom console... Had some 20" wheels on all but the driver's front (he had a flat the day before). The guy said it's been done about 20-25 years ago by some car shop in N.E. Iowa and it took him several years to talk them out of it. He owns a body shop and he's redoing a few things to refresh it. I believe he said 4 or so inch chop top... Very clean old custom!!! I especially love the Caddy crest emblems on the cab corner trim!!! Attached Images __________________ - 1981 Sierra 454, NV4500 swap - 2006 Z06, 25k miles - 1973 Nova - Project CarNova Virus on Youtube

01-22-2015, 10:46 AM	#2
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,177	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck Wow! Don't see one of those every day... (lol) K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

01-22-2015, 11:09 AM	#3
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,464	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck That's gotta be a great truck engine. I see where gross torque was as much as 550 lb/ft @ 3000 rpm! I also like the color and old skool wheels. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

01-22-2015, 11:45 AM	#4
bnoon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,250	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck The only wheel you can really see is the old Buick wheel on the driver's front. That was his temporary spare. The rest of the wheels that you can't see I believe were Budnik's 5 spokes. ...and yes, the Cad 500 and 472 engines were TQ monsters. He said it can smoke the front tires for blocks at a time!!! __________________ - 1981 Sierra 454, NV4500 swap - 2006 Z06, 25k miles - 1973 Nova - Project CarNova Virus on Youtube

01-22-2015, 12:02 PM	#5
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,464	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck I kinda like 15s myself, but I'm an old guy. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then!

01-22-2015, 03:46 PM	#6
bnoon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,250	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck I like 20's as long as they're tasteful and not too blingy. <-- old guy too. __________________ - 1981 Sierra 454, NV4500 swap - 2006 Z06, 25k miles - 1973 Nova - Project CarNova Virus on Youtube

01-22-2015, 04:24 PM	#7
77 350 Shorty Wide Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Yakima, WA Posts: 325	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck If he takes 4" more off the top, it will have a slit for a front window. Frankly I've never been to keen on chopping the tops on these trucks, seems like the top just doesn't look right front to back. But to each his own and I do appreciate the work involved in doing it. God Bless, Terry

01-22-2015, 05:04 PM	#8
slotard Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 877	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck FWD truck? That's interesting, and not really in a good way (IMO). Not saying it was poorly done, just misguided... why not stay RWD? __________________ 1973 C20, 350/350

01-22-2015, 06:52 PM	#9
y5mgisi Second Chance Program Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,642	Re: Front wheel drive Cad truck Kinda cool. THere is a ford ranger on local CL that has a FWD caddy 500 motor/trans mounted in the bed. So its a rear engine ranger! __________________ 90 Chevy Suburban 2500 5.3 swap/th400/np241/14bltSF/10blt. 77 C20 crew cab Silverado. 396/th400. In work.



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