Thread: Caddy Engine?

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Hey everyone how have you guys been? I was wondering If any one has rebuilt a caddy 390, out of what I believe is a 1960....... And if you have, was wondering if they make performance parts for it? What kind of horses are these motors good for? Want are the pros and cons?

Thanks in advace,
Harmon

Please, Im sorry if you guys are mad at me for any thing ...... Im just looking for some advice........ You guys are the smartest people I know .....Help me please.........I even used smilies........

Thanks
Harmon

It isn't that at all Harmon. I just think because this engine is out of the mainstream, we don't really have any info to give to you. I know there are companies who specialize in Caddys but I can't remember their names now. I got parts for my Olds engines from Egge Machine, and they seem to have stuff for most of these oddball engines.

Sometimes we just don't have answers to give someone, and this is one of those cases.


Don

PS: As for pros and cons, Pro is that they are good, tough engines and make good torque. Cons are that parts are not as available as for a Chevy or Ford, and you are going to pay through the nose. I have about $ 4000.00 in parts rebuilding my 394 Olds, and it is a relatively mild engine. I could have built two Chevies for that money.

Don,

Thank you for aleast some insight..........But I just thought that someone has had to of messed with the 390 caddy at some point in time...... I can find go fast parts for the 472/500, but nothing for the 390....... I guess Ill hang my head and do the ol 350/350...lol........ Im trying to find something a lil different for my 39 ford..........Hows about some ideas for a mill....

Harmon

Don't turn your back on the 390, they were very powerful, smooth engines in their day. Just don't expect it to be a high winder, they make their torque down low. But torque wins races, so it can still move a street rod really well, and you will probably never hurt it.


Don

Are they reliable at all? I was thinking building it with and Decent cam, newer four barrel carb, sheetmetal intake, vertex mag or some sort of newer ingnition, porting, and studibaker adj rockers or adj push rods. Ive heard that if you cut the crank down for small chevy rods, and have a set of rods made that are 6.2" you can make it a stroker motor.... Put some bigger valves in the heads, and that about sums it up............ would 10.5 compression be to much for a street motor? And would I benefit from a supercharger or turbo on such a low rpm torqe monster?

Thanks
Harmon

Sorry Im a pain, Im just excited to find a new animal to play with...lol

Check out this forum: http://www.cadillacpower.com/forum/

There are a couple of other Caddy sites out there, too, but I don't have them bookmarked.

Thanks......

10.5 is what i consider the edge line of a street motor most the time.... still kinda depends on the motor, some street motors came as 11:1..... but a super or turbo would eliminate the 10.5:1 comp.... you really wouldn't want more than 9:1 and thats with a solid motor..... if you plan on a modified intake though, you'll have to run a paxton style blower that sits off to the side like any other accessory but you'll probably have to make your own bracketry unless by the off chance paxton makes a bracket that'll fit your application..... other than that i dont really have much experience with caddie motors except for the 500 i had in my packard

Thanks for the info... Im just kickin it around, just for something diferent.. I dont want to put a ton of money into something that turn out to be a pig....

i would think they would be in the power range of the old buick nail head for a guess, that 390 had to move a pretty big car.

yep... they're a great engine i know that much... but probably most your power is going to just be made from good machine work and a peppier cam.... you might be able to find a few nic nacs here and there for power adding but you probably wont find too much

Would you guys have any suggestions on cam profiles? Im not sure what the wrist pin height is on it, but the bore is 4" and the stroke is 3.875... If I could run liter pistons, and get the crank cut and balanced....Im not sure where I can get rods made at 6.2"... The stock compression is 10.5... The stock hp is 325@4800rpm and the stock torque is 430@3100rpm... Not to bad for a stocker.... If any one has any more ideas to make a 390 a runner let me know...

Thanks again,
Harmon