I have two engine choices.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
I have two engine choices.
First, the motor I have been planning, and started earlier this year.
1973 SBC 400 +.020
Coated pistons
LT1 roller retro-fit
ZZ4 cam
1988 heads w/ steam holes
Man / Carb
1992 Z28 serp system
Second, the motor I can buy as is and do who knows what to.
1968 Cadillac 500
Any votes?
1973 SBC 400 +.020
Coated pistons
LT1 roller retro-fit
ZZ4 cam
1988 heads w/ steam holes
Man / Carb
1992 Z28 serp system
Second, the motor I can buy as is and do who knows what to.
1968 Cadillac 500
Any votes?
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Aug 16, 2006 at 04:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
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From: Norfolk VA
Everyone has their opinion. It sounds to me like you would like to put the 500ci engine between those sexy curves of the vette. If that is what you wish to do then do so. I think you will have to get the accessory brackets and stiffer front springs. Others will chime in. This would be the first time I have heard of someone willing to put in a 500ci engine. If I remember the 500ci Cadillac engine is still the largest production engine ever put in an american passenger car.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Oldguard 7
Everyone has their opinion. It sounds to me like you would like to put the 500ci engine between those sexy curves of the vette. If that is what you wish to do then do so. I think you will have to get the accessory brackets and stiffer front springs. Others will chime in. This would be the first time I have heard of someone willing to put in a 500ci engine. If I remember the 500ci Cadillac engine is still the largest production engine ever put in an american passenger car.
Unless the new Viper is considered a passenger car, then it has the biggest, a V10, at 8.3 liters. What is that, 501?
Yeah, I would love the idea of a 500 under the hood, but to be honest it would be like doing everything over again. I spent a year researching parts and ordering everything. The ONLY thing I don't have needed for my 404 is a new crank, and I just haven't dropped the money down yet.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Aug 16, 2006 at 04:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Oldguard 7
Largest V8 engine.
Either way, I know I'll still buy the 500. It's $250, and I get to pull it from a running car and keep anything attached.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
First, the motor I have been planning, and started earlier this year.
1973 SBC 400 +.020
Coated pistons
1973 SBC 400 +.020
Coated pistons
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by jackson
4.145" (+.020") piston choices are limited ... limited compression height choices limits rod length choices. Most +20 choices are either stock OE replacement type (cheap) or rather expensive true race type ... few choices in between. Install the 40X but snag the 500 too ... someday it'll be (literally) a ton of fun. Some of the local circle track racers (jalopy class approaching demo derby) did real well w/ 500. The jalopy 472 & 500 hearses were a hoot!
Yeah, the pistons were not that hard to find, but I ended up getting Speed Pro coated skirt pistons. I also ordered the correct ring set for them. I'm re-using the stock rods and pins.
Sound like good choices? I do already have them.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Carmichael CA
Get the 400. The cadillac engine is based on the 472 block and not the 454 block...I worked on those before...the engine mounts are different for one thing. You would have to do a lot of work to make a cadillac 500 work in a vette...engine mounts...transmission bell housing...all the accessories. If you want a big block option then stick with the 454's...there's a lot of them out there and they bolt right in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
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From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Yeah, the pistons were not that hard to find, but I ended up getting Speed Pro coated skirt pistons. I also ordered the correct ring set for them. I'm re-using the stock rods and pins. Sound like good choices? I do already have them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
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From: Butler Pa
I always wanted to put a 500 Caddy motor in something. Not my vette, but maybe mid 70's Camaro. Back when I worked in a machine shop, I went as far as machining a set of heads and making adapter plates to use BBC valves, rocker arms and studs. The valve train on the 500's are one of the weak links in the motor.
About 20 years ago,I remember reading an article about someone running a 500 in a drag car. He was fairly successful. The only problem he was having was occasionally breaking a crank, but he was spinning it pretty fast.
BTW, if you're buying a '68 motor it's not a 500, it's a 472. The 472 has a 4.060" stroke compared to the 500 which has a 4.304" stroke. 500's were not made until 1970, and then only used in Eldorados until 1975 and 76 when it was used in all full size Cadillacs.
The best 500 to get would be a 1970 from an Eldorado. It has 10-1 compression and makes 400 hp @ 4400 rpm and, here's the best part, 550 lbs torque at 3000 rpm.
I vote for the Caddy!
About 20 years ago,I remember reading an article about someone running a 500 in a drag car. He was fairly successful. The only problem he was having was occasionally breaking a crank, but he was spinning it pretty fast.
BTW, if you're buying a '68 motor it's not a 500, it's a 472. The 472 has a 4.060" stroke compared to the 500 which has a 4.304" stroke. 500's were not made until 1970, and then only used in Eldorados until 1975 and 76 when it was used in all full size Cadillacs.
The best 500 to get would be a 1970 from an Eldorado. It has 10-1 compression and makes 400 hp @ 4400 rpm and, here's the best part, 550 lbs torque at 3000 rpm.
I vote for the Caddy!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by jackson
Just a guess ... you've got either H601 dished or H400 flat? ... either SP are good pistons ... common & cheap. But I would not have used those very short 400 stock length rods (5.565"). I'd have used a longer rod ... at minimum a 350 rod (5.7") ... that calls different pistons ... H615 dished or H616 flat ... both of those available +.020". I recently sold a new but shopworn set of 4.145"/ 5.7" rod hyper flat Badgers for about $60 ... glad to get shed of 'em.
Good advice, I'll look into changing the rods, and getting more new pistons...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by bashcraft
BTW, if you're buying a '68 motor it's not a 500, it's a 472. The 472 has a 4.060" stroke compared to the 500 which has a 4.304" stroke. 500's were not made until 1970, and then only used in Eldorados until 1975 and 76 when it was used in all full size Cadillacs.
Actually, and sorry for the double post, the 500 is not the original motor in the Caddy. I remember him saying it was a '70 or '71. At this point I do not know what it's from though.
Team Owner
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I really don't think that a 472 or 500 caddy motor would fit. They are @ 2-3 inchs longer than a big block chevy because of the bore spacing. It makes a big block chevy motor look small.
I know this because at one time i had a 500 caddy, injected 509 stroker BBC, and a stroker injected 392 Hemi all sitting side by side in my garage These were all nastalga drag racing motors
I know this because at one time i had a 500 caddy, injected 509 stroker BBC, and a stroker injected 392 Hemi all sitting side by side in my garage These were all nastalga drag racing motors
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Team Owner
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by gkull
i had a 500 caddy, injected 509 stroker BBC, and a stroker injected 392 Hemi all sitting side by side in my garage
Got any pics? I just got hard.
Team Owner
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I'd have to dig to find 15+ year old pictures of when we used to compete in the Jr. fuel class of nastalga Drag racing. We usually just used methanol for fuel, but we did try as much as 40% nitromethane for a few races at Bakersfield.
This is a 9000 rpm hillborn alki injected super Comp dragster with my daughter telling me all about it.
The second picture is my old 61 two four barrel Vette with the Hilborn injection unit off the 509 ci BBC on the chair. The green in the lower right is my 79 Vette fender
This is a 9000 rpm hillborn alki injected super Comp dragster with my daughter telling me all about it.
The second picture is my old 61 two four barrel Vette with the Hilborn injection unit off the 509 ci BBC on the chair. The green in the lower right is my 79 Vette fender
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by gkull
The second picture is my old 61 two four barrel Vette with the Hilborn injection unit off the 509 ci BBC on the chair. The green in the lower right is my 79 Vette fender
Looks like my garage. Cramped and full of cool old parts.
