I think there are some tricks to making a 472/500 wake up. I mean REALLY wake up. This is actually one of the better V8's of the era but most were neutered pretty good.
I think there are some tricks to making a 472/500 wake up. I mean REALLY wake up. This is actually one of the better V8's of the era but most were neutered pretty good.
J.A. Ackley said:
proof that four tires fit in the trunk.
Were the tires pre-ordered? I ask because I can't imagine that there is a retail tire shop in the world that just happens to have 1974 Eldorado fitting white walls on hand. You know, expecting that a customer will come in any day now looking for exactly that.
I am very happy that you stayed with white walls. They are so befitting of a chariot like this.
In reply to John Welsh :
Yes, Coker Tires preordered through Summit. Most of the parts are available within a day or so at local shops. One shop was eager to help us out because Vinny Boombox had an 85 Eldorado.
One more wash. It probably could use another one, but we're getting there. Man, so much car to wash and clean.
My proudest moment? Parking it in the garage because it's a beast to fit.
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
That looks nice. Don't make me get back into Caddies.
Nicole and I are back in the truck headed off to the next adventure, but snagged this final photo of JA on our way out:
Good luck, JA, and I hope you have fun with your freshly rehabilitated Cadillac!
Lookin' GOOD.
So cool
In reply to Tom Suddard :
You know it's a fun time when you lose a hubcap. Thanks, Tom, for picking that back up and for your help bringing the car back on the road. Thanks everyone for your support!
Before I head off and return in a few months - in the winter - I'm going to do a few more odds and ends things.
First lighting. It's got absolutely abysmal light from an old-fashioned incandescent 25-watt bulb.
Upgrade to an LED bulb, save energy AND get a heck of a lot more lighting.
mice seem to love this car as much as I do. So ... let's see if this keeps them at bay. The two on the right will be around the garage. I'm going to try to what's on the left in the trunk and atop the plastic floor mat in the cabin. They smell great, too - like toothpaste.
J.A. Ackley said:Upgrade to an LED bulb, save energy AND get a heck of a lot more lighting.
Have modern led replacements managed to get the focus of the light corect? The early days of these were horrible and blinding to on coming traffic. I may be getting a German 2 seater from the early 80s soon and this is an upgrade I want to learn more about. The answer in the past was to order the euro conversion headlights from flying Miata I did it on a couple 944s with great success.
In reply to dean1484 :
Actually, the LED is for the garage light. I'd like to keep the Caddy as original as possible. I don't plan on driving it at night, so I'm only concerned about the headlights functioning for inspection.
Who cares about the convertible hair - it's been fun driving this around town. Compliments are a plenty with my neighbors, ranging from fellow Cadillac enthusiasts to a guy in a Prius (which is the antithesis of a Cadillac).
Checked all the fluids, just to be safe, (all was fine) and it ran like a champ.
Okay, it's time to park it for a bit and get ready for my next adventure - testing the new Nissan Z NISMO. What a contrast that will be.
I'll be back around Christmas, so I put some Sta-Bil in, just in case a blizzard hits and I'm unable to drive it.
Next items on the agenda when I return:
- oil change (a good idea after sitting so long, even with an oil change this time)
- inspection, because the state requires it (horn doesn't work, so it'll need some work in this department)
- wheel replacement as one is bent (and the hubcap flew off to prove it)
Thanks everyone for the support (and once again Tom for his help). Seeing my mom smile when she saw the car made it worth it.
Great project and write-up!
That Caddy is perfect for any homecoming parade!
Here's the recap of this adventure on Classic Motorsports: https://classicmotorsports.com/forum/classic-cars/reviving-a-car-after-a-decade/258892/page1/
Merry Christmas, said the Caddy! Started it up and coolant came gushing out. I'm hoping it's a hose or a loose cap by the amount that came out (it was running like a champ). Don't worry - it did not touch the electrical cord (and it's been picked up). Since the car must go back in a garage (Mom's orders), going to go back to playing with this on Tuesday when I have access with someone with a bigger garage.
Oop. I guess the Cadillac is mad you left it alone for a few months.
The garage didn't freeze, did it? That's full of antifreeze, but sudden catastrophic coolant loss is sometimes a bad freeze plug.
A 401 CJ said:I think there are some tricks to making a 472/500 wake up. I mean REALLY wake up. This is actually one of the better V8's of the era but most were neutered pretty good.
Step 1: Edelbrock intake. They still make them. The factory intake actually sits lower than the intake ports. The air has to go down into the plenum, then back up to make a sharp turn into the port.
Step 2: Enjoy. You can make a pretty easy and cheap 400 hp, but I think you'll find that you don't need it. You're making mountains of torque and it peaks at around 1800-2000. I actually did a lower stall converter behind mine, and used 3.08 gears, only because I couldn't find 2.74s. It's the exact opposite of what you have to do with something like a 350 where you cam it up and then have to add rear gears and a 6 speed transmission. These things need less gear and fewer ratios. That's the beauty of them.
For a good time, take a close look at your harmonic balancer. It isn't. It's a chunk of cast iron. The low RPMs these things run in, Caddy determined it doesn't need one.
The last one I built, I did a smaller than stock cam, fully ported exhaust, and mildly ported intake. I was basically trying to make diesel kind of numbers. It was all over by 4500 rpms, but with 3.08s and a Powerglide, I was still roasting 285mm rubber. The only dyno I had access to couldn't hold the torque, so I know it was pushing 600 lb-ft.
Don't mix early (hi compression) and late (low compression) shortblocks with heads. The high compression version used tiny chanbers and a dished piston. The low comp version used massive chambers and a flat-top. Mixing and matching will get you either 7:1 or 13:1.
Aftermarket pistons are pricey. Stock pistons are cast, so if you're upping the ante over about 375-400 hp, you'll either want to be very careful, or pony up for some custom forgings.
If you want headers, you can buy laser-cut caddy flanges and BBC headers. Cut the BBC flanges off and weld on the caddy flange. Bore spacing is close enough that they'll fit.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:A 401 CJ said:I think there are some tricks to making a 472/500 wake up. I mean REALLY wake up. This is actually one of the better V8's of the era but most were neutered pretty good.
Step 1: Edelbrock intake. They still make them. The factory intake actually sits lower than the intake ports. The air has to go down into the plenum, then back up to make a sharp turn into the port.
Step 2: Enjoy. You can make a pretty easy and cheap 400 hp, but I think you'll find that you don't need it. You're making mountains of torque and it peaks at around 1800-2000. I actually did a lower stall converter behind mine, and used 3.08 gears, only because I couldn't find 2.74s. It's the exact opposite of what you have to do with something like a 350 where you cam it up and then have to add rear gears and a 6 speed transmission. These things need less gear and fewer ratios. That's the beauty of them.
For a good time, take a close look at your harmonic balancer. It isn't. It's a chunk of cast iron. The low RPMs these things run in, Caddy determined it doesn't need one.
The last one I built, I did a smaller than stock cam, fully ported exhaust, and mildly ported intake. I was basically trying to make diesel kind of numbers. It was all over by 4500 rpms, but with 3.08s and a Powerglide, I was still roasting 285mm rubber. The only dyno I had access to couldn't hold the torque, so I know it was pushing 600 lb-ft.
Don't mix early (hi compression) and late (low compression) shortblocks with heads. The high compression version used tiny chanbers and a dished piston. The low comp version used massive chambers and a flat-top. Mixing and matching will get you either 7:1 or 13:1.
Aftermarket pistons are pricey. Stock pistons are cast, so if you're upping the ante over about 375-400 hp, you'll either want to be very careful, or pony up for some custom forgings.
If you want headers, you can buy laser-cut caddy flanges and BBC headers. Cut the BBC flanges off and weld on the caddy flange. Bore spacing is close enough that they'll fit.
I wonder if that edelbrock intake will fit under that hood. I'm guessing it probably won't. I know some folks figured out in the '90s that these made fantastic tow engines swapping them into square body Chevrolets. I can tell you that a bone stock late '60s 472 in a mid '70s 4X2 truck (4000 lbs tops) with a 3.42 gear is astonishing. You'll start to wonder why they even bothered with the 454 - esp. when you come to realize how much lighter this engine is.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
It likely will fit, but the question becomes - can you get a thin enough air cleaner to clear and still make enough flow to satisfy 8.2L of joy. I was able to in a 66 Bonneville, but I had the benefit of putting the engine where I wanted it
If you go EFI it's easier, but don't ever sell that Qjet. That's 800 CFM of street domination right there.
I had one in a square body dually. Even with 3.73s and a hungry TH400, it could get 18mpg empty (with a lot of primary mods to the Qjet) and the TORQUES. Towed 10k like a dream.
A 401 CJ said:I think there are some tricks to making a 472/500 wake up. I mean REALLY wake up. This is actually one of the better V8's of the era but most were neutered pretty good.
Do you *want* to wake them up though? Make a bunch more power to blow the 70 profile tires off the front of a land yacht? I'd just save that money for plenty of gasoline and the roulette table on a Vegas trip. 
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