1969 Cadillac Big Block 472

[TexasProjectTrader.com]

Hey,

I have been looking for a new project car. I'm going with a big block no matter what car I choose. So, I thought I'd start with the heart of the beast. I found a 1969 Cadillac Couple DeVille, the guy only wants $500 for it. I could really care less about the car its self. But, it does have a running caddy Big Block 472. From what I can find the 472 was rated at 365 HP @ 4400 rpm & 525 ft. lbs. of torque @ 3,000 rpm, with a 10.5:1 compression ratio. I read in 1970 GM changed the crankshaft to get a 500 cid, making 400HP & 550 ft. lbs. Being 26 I wasn't alive in its day, & had never heard of them before. I was wondering what kind of reputation theses engines had back in the day.


It seems there's a lot of these cars out there. Considering you'd be hard pressed to find an original, running 1969 big block Camaro, Chevelle, El Camino or Impala for $500 bucks! Caddys have always been expense and were ususally a "grandma car". Most of them were very well maintain & can still be found in good shape today.

Has anyone had any experience with the 472 or 500. That's just so much displacement! Is it the heads that are holding it back? It seems that with just a little work, you're talking about LS6 type numbers. It would be awesome in a Chevelle, let alone a Camaro or Nova!


Thanks,
Justin
TexasProjectTrader.com

[b-man]

The stock valvetrain is only good to about 4500 RPMs in a Cad V8, they have slider fulcrum rocker arms. Nothing that money can't fix though, but rocker arms and other Cad-specific performance parts aren't inexpensive.

http://www.cadillacperformanceparts.com/

Cylinder heads are a weak point somewhat, but a good porting job wakes 'em right up.

High nickel content in the block so it's likely you'll tear it down and find little to no ridge in the cylinders.

The weight of the Cad 472/500 is comparable to an all-iron small-block Chevy after you replace the Cad intake with an aluminum one. They're a very lightweight big block engine, not even close to the weight of the Chevy big block. Quote in bold from the Potter Automotive website linked above: Keep in mind also that it weighs only 65 lbs more than a small block to boot!(That's before we start it on a diet and add aluminum parts!) Edelbrock makes a nice intake for these engines, there's not a lot of aftermarket intakes for these engines.

They're torque monsters, even a bone-stock 500 would be a great engine to run around with as long as you realize that you can't and don't need to rev it up to make power. Gear it up, these engines will pull some tall gears that most guys wouldn't even consider using for high performance.

[67 ls1 vert]

lots of power but they were very heavy engines. Not know for high RPM's either. Cruiser engines. Built with a lot of TQ to get the big cars moving. and about 8 mpg.

[hdesign]

I've got a 500 out of a 76 Eldorado sitting in my garage right now. Bought it out of a junkyard car for $150. It was going in my Nova until I sold it with the car. Awesome, awesome, awesome engine. I'll definitely be doing a swap in the future. Here's some links for BB Cad stuff:

http://www.cadillacpower.com/forum/
http://www.500cid.com/
http://www.mtscadparts.net/servlet/the-241/Big-Inch-Cadillac-Book./Detail
http://www.cad500parts.com/

Good luck and let us know how the project goes.

[Restomod]

And IIRC they are light, with an aluminum intake they are close to a SBC in weight.

Heck if the Cadi is in good shape buld it!!! Like the Slo Touring thread!

[64ford520]

A friend of mine put a 500 in a 85 blazer. It was stock and got 10mpg. Same as the 305 but he never had to down shift.

[78 Type-LT]

And IIRC they are light, with an aluminum intake they are close to a SBC in weight.

Heck if the Cadi is in good shape buld it!!! Like the Slo Touring thread!
Word

[PT_79_TA_461]

popular hotrodding Nov 09 issue has a little info on a new combo by Cadillacperformancepart.com, new intake,heads. all the rotating parts...about 4k.... 700hp not to mention the Cad 500 is 75 lbs lighter then the Chev 454 block....

[Jake616]

Like Hdesign posted, MTS and 500cid.com offer some great parts! I got alot of my parts to rebuild my Cadillac 429 engine from my 1965 Cadillac from Kanter and spent alot. I believe $1600 for jsut the rebuild kit alone. The 472/500 are cheaper than that luckily and easier to find. Out to be a fun project! Good luck!

[tones2SS]

I've got a 500 out of a 76 Eldorado sitting in my garage right now. Bought it out of a junkyard car for $150. It was going in my Nova until I sold it with the car. Awesome, awesome, awesome engine. I'll definitely be doing a swap in the future. Here's some links for BB Cad stuff:

http://www.cadillacpower.com/forum/
http://www.500cid.com/
http://www.mtscadparts.net/servlet/the-241/Big-Inch-Cadillac-Book./Detail
http://www.cad500parts.com/

Good luck and let us know how the project goes.

Hey Ben, what's up bud?
Is the engine that is going into the Camaro or are you doing LSx based?