So I need your best guess| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

DCharger68 Reader
8/26/14 9:39 p.m.

I'm trying to get a decent weight estimate on my next project. I picked up a Cadillac 500 at a swap meet a couple weeks ago and I want to put it in a first gen (62-65) Chevy II. Here's kind of what I'm wanting to do:

First gen Nova, TH400, Cadillac 500, Ford 9", fiberglass hood, Mustang 2 front suspension, stripped interior with roll cage.

I think it should land me around 2800 pounds, but I would like someone else's guess as well.

DCharger68 Reader
8/26/14 10:16 p.m.

Just for the record, I have everything except the Nova, the hood, and the cage laying around.

Kenny_McCormic PowerDork
8/26/14 10:19 p.m.

IIRC 500" Cadillac is around the same weight as a all iron SBC, perhaps a touch lighter with the huge intake replaced with an aluminum one.

Do you know what year the 500 is?

DCharger68 Reader
8/26/14 10:21 p.m.

It came out of a 75 El Dorado if I read the numbers right

Kenny_McCormic PowerDork
8/26/14 10:57 p.m.

Smog era then, though desmogged with an intake and good exhaust its still probably a near 300HP 400 some odd ft/lb engine. Should move a Nova quite well with a TH400 and a stock converter to make best use of the low end torque. With the 8.5:1 compression it will probably take light boost quite well....

iceracer PowerDork
8/27/14 9:40 a.m.

Doesn't the "500" weigh about a ton ?

Kenny_McCormic PowerDork
8/27/14 3:20 p.m.

In reply to iceracer:

I'm reading ~573 lbs fully assembled with water pump, alternator, and aluminum intake. Bare block is only 210, this was a high tech engine in its time.

DCharger68 Reader
8/29/14 3:53 p.m.

So looking at that my guess at around 2800 pounds is close?

tjbell Reader
8/29/14 3:57 p.m.

Random noob question about the caddy 500. Is it in any way shape or form similar to the bbc454?

Kenny_McCormic PowerDork
8/29/14 5:23 p.m.

2800 is probably close, the 283 models were around 2900-3000 stock from a quick google.

In reply to tjbell:

Other than the quadrajet on top, no. Back then all the GM divisions had their own engine designs, Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Cadillac share a bell pattern(different from the Chevy V8 pattern), that's it.

tjbell Reader
8/29/14 9:41 p.m.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

interesting thanks!

Kenny_McCormic PowerDork
8/30/14 1:37 a.m.

Also, if you want to drop more weight and beef up the front end so it will land a wheelie well, ditch the IFS all together and put a stick axle under there.