Caddy 500
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
Why bother? 427/454 will blow the doors right off ya.
The install....you will have to fabricate motor mounts, and what about the tranny? What are you going to use? It will cost you more in the long run than to go out and pick up a BB, that will drop right in and bolt up.
The install....you will have to fabricate motor mounts, and what about the tranny? What are you going to use? It will cost you more in the long run than to go out and pick up a BB, that will drop right in and bolt up.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
Those motors are heavy and wide, maybe 2 to 3 inches wider than the BB chevy. So space is going to be a concern. You'll need BOP style turbo 350/400 trans to bolt to it, and engine interenals are not only rare but very expensive.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,410
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
I've heard of people doing this with Chevelles and pickups, but not Corvettes. The caddy motors actually aren't all that bad. They don't weigh that much more than a chevy small block (50lbs I think), they're very stout, and they're cheap because no one wants them. In stock form they're very gutless, but there are performance parts available. Check here for more information.
http://www.500cid.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cadill...e_Association/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vintage_Cadillac/
http://www.500cid.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cadill...e_Association/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vintage_Cadillac/
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Re: Caddy 500 (The_Dude)
I have a friend that is building a caddy motor for his 84 camaro. The Cadmaro is what the car has been refered to.
He has some damn expensive adj rocker arms, forged pistons and he is buying a super charger for it.
They are light for their displacement, they do make perf parts (expensive). DOn't know much about installing into a Vette though.
He has some damn expensive adj rocker arms, forged pistons and he is buying a super charger for it.
They are light for their displacement, they do make perf parts (expensive). DOn't know much about installing into a Vette though.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,453
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Re: Caddy 500 (flood)
The Caddy 500ci is a great torque motor, bit have a LOOOONG stroke which means it will take longer to rav than a 454 and especially a 427. You're Beter off with a 427 or 454. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
The 500 would require a TH-400 with "ears". None of the Caddy versions of the TH-400 would be short enough to fit, so you would have to get 2 TH-400's (one with a short tailshaft), and have them combined into Franken-tranny. Then, even if you could get it to fit, parts would cost you a fortune. A friend of mine is trying to find parts for a Caddy 429, and a rebuild kit costs more than I paid for my crate engine. :eek:
I suggest the GMPP 502. That's the amount of cubes you want, for way less trouble and $$$.
Just my $0.02
I suggest the GMPP 502. That's the amount of cubes you want, for way less trouble and $$$.
Just my $0.02
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Caddy 500 (GDaina)
I would have to agree with GDaina. I don't even want to think about how much parts are going to be for that Caddi 500. It just seems like it would be a lot easier to build a big block chevy motor than to try something of this nature.
Actually my buddies dad is thinking about doing this to his '68 Chevelle. I'm trying to talk him out of it, but he seems to have his mind set on it. One things for sure, the Caddi motor will sure put out gobs of torque....but so can a properly setup 454.
Actually my buddies dad is thinking about doing this to his '68 Chevelle. I'm trying to talk him out of it, but he seems to have his mind set on it. One things for sure, the Caddi motor will sure put out gobs of torque....but so can a properly setup 454.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Re: Caddy 500 (bence13_33)
hmmm, alright. I didn't know the parts would be that expensive for it. The only reason I brought it up in the first place is because I've already got the caddy engine in the shed, and I don't have a 502. heh.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Re: Caddy 500 (442olds)
I've heard (rumor, no proof) that buick 455 from about 70 thru 76 actually weighs less than SMALL block chevy & was available as perf verion w/ stage 1 option. I think buick 455 b&s in neighborhood of 4.31 bore x 3.86 stroke. B:S ratio not so different from some bbc. Is it truly so light ... dunno?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,410
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
hmmm, alright. I didn't know the parts would be that expensive for it. The only reason I brought it up in the first place is because I've already got the caddy engine in the shed, and I don't have a 502. heh.
The problem will be moving the motor mounts (farther forward) and adapting the transmission. Corvettes definitely have limited space under the hood and in the trans tunnel. Unless you're really good at fabrication, you may as well just buy a chevy crate motor.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
I could see you doing it just because "It ain't never been done before" and you would get a torque monster for a couple grand. But, you would probably still get beat by BB's and built up small blocks..... It would be cool to see that thing in a C3 though, so go for it!!!
Bob :cool:
Bob :cool:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Caddy 500 (Enkil)
HEHE, there is the guy known as 'airboat Willie' up in Mont Co. Md. he does the maintanance on the countie's airboat they use for fire/rescue work on the Potomac River....an old friend used to dive the river there pulling up bodies from beneath the falls....well anyway, airboat Willie, Charlie is his real name has this ~27' aluminum jon boat type airboat with a 500+++ caddy based engine putting out something silly like 670 some odd HP....and a 4 bladed airboat prob behind...good for 100 some odd MPH.......at any rate, that boat has made it out on to the snow covered highways....at 3-4 am.....blasting through downtown and commercial highways with wide open headers.....
cops didn't even bother to try catching him....they knew who he was, went to his house and waited for him to 'announce' his return.....
yup, 500 ci caddy engines are cool, deep skirted, and industructible...and built right can make some serious dependable power....
GENE
cops didn't even bother to try catching him....they knew who he was, went to his house and waited for him to 'announce' his return.....
yup, 500 ci caddy engines are cool, deep skirted, and industructible...and built right can make some serious dependable power....
GENE
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: phoenix az
Re: Caddy 500 (mrvette)
indestructable is right! I understand they have steel cranks and rods factory installed. People that build these things say they are torque gods. Whether or not it would fit in a vette's narrow engine bay is another thing all together.
