Thread: 331 Cadillac for the Model A

Tweet

I have a chance to pick up a 331 Cadillac motor from a buddy. Most of the fab work is winding down on the van and I am starting to think about the '31 Tudor I have waiting in the wings. This would be a traditional style build and I think the Caddy motor would fill the bill for a cool powerplant.
What do you all think? I have been looking at prices for rebuild kits on eBay and they aren't out of line. Anyone know what kind of speed parts and old hotrod stuff is available for these?
Thanks
Mark

I would do it. Don't know why.

boy some guys forget who builds engines ? want to see one ????

It would certainly be unique, Mark!!!! IMO anything would be better then another A Bone with an SBC!!!!!!

The intakes for 331, 365 and 390s interchange and there are dual quad and tri-power units out there. Not sure what they go for now days.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

boy some guys forget who builds engines ? want to see one ????

Oh no, we haven't forgotten.... I was hoping you would see this and chime in. If you have ANY input on this I am all ears.
Thanks guys, I did a bit of looking on eBay and found some stuff. mostly rebuild kits going anywhere from $600 to $1600. A 2 x 4 intake was listed at 475.
I thought this would be a dare to be different motor for the A and like the looks of it, even stock. I will be pursueing it, hopefully with Pat's help.
Mark

I think my only concern would be the weight and physical size - but after seeing several 392 Chrysler hemi engines in A's .... do it!!!

i rebuilt the caddy heads and did work on intakes and ex logs. most all parts can be had or can be made like pistons like forged. but cast will work fine. cam can be sent in for a regrind . valves and valve springs are not a big deal .i know a guy that has a old hot rod caddy engine he pulled it out of his A pickup.he has had this pickup for over 50 years . so the engine has all the old race parts on it and in it about 5 miles from my shop he called it the noisy toy

Hey Pat, yea, I think I am going to look into this 331 a little more. Can you pull together some prices to rebuild one? Nothing fancy, just something that will make the A scoot and sound good doing it.
I would be interested in looking at the 331 your friend has. You know what happened the last time we did a "road trip"... Maybe I'll drive this time.

Originally Posted by astroracer

Hey Pat, yea, I think I am going to look into this 331 a little more. Can you pull together some prices to rebuild one? Nothing fancy, just something that will make the A scoot and sound good doing it.
I would be interested in looking at the 331 your friend has. You know what happened the last time we did a "road trip"... Maybe I'll drive this time.

hell yes do not let any one tell you your a cheap date i was thinking i was doing good till i seen the other bill for the court hearing i can drive i just have to keep my big mouth shut and not so much of the little peddlei have to call mike see when he is around and if he moved that big chunk of iron to the back shop . i can work up a price on a master kit with regrind on your cam ? or a isky should have one thats what your looking for ?? far as labor have to see what it needs .i can give you the run down on each machine step if needed . long block build up would be by the hour .l be fair with you just need to see if she is hurt and what it will need

It's not a 331 but I just finished and dyno'd my 507" Cadillac, going into a f/glass with steel fenders '32 Victoria. This was built for reliability and streetability so it's an 8.7 compression, we dyno'd it on 89 oct. and it was a true torque monster. Made 535 torque @ 4300 and 466 hp @5000. If you go to Cadillac Forum there are a bunch of Cad guys that hot rod the hell out of them. Most are the 472/500 engines but they also have an early engine section....lots of good reading.

Contact these guys before you buy any parts. I'm bettin' they have tons of speed equipment for the 331 Caddy.
Belmont's Rod & Custom

I haven't done anything, engine wise, on the A but I have been picking away at the frame design and getting the body modeled in UG.
This is where I am at right now. Body is about 50% complete and I have a frame design bubbled up to look at proportions. I stretched the rear wheel base about 18" and have a couple of ideas for the back to cover the tires.

I am contemplating an underslung chassis design with a full cage. Using 1 5/8 OD DOM and building it to fit inside the body lines.

A top view of the chassis shows the shape will mimick the body lines.

This is just looking on my part, any input? Thoughts? I will probably do a typical 4bar in the back, possibly cantilevering the coil-overs horizontally, cross-car. The front will probably be a single transverse leaf spring with a 4 bar also.
Mark

You must be about done with the Astro figuring on the next project

Originally Posted by cffisher

You must be about done with the Astro figuring on the next project

Hey Charlie,
No, the Astro is far from finished... The major design work is done though and getting the A started keeps me busy when I am not out in the shop.

I have gotten most of the major frame and rear suspension designs bubbled up. It's been to damn cold to work in the shop, even with heat!
The frame is about 90% right now.

From the right rear. You can see the tank and battery sitting inside the frame

Another from the bottom with the rear suspension turned on.

I know this is kind of odd, but stretching the wheel base opens up a lot of room inside the body. I will probably scratch build the "rear" section out of sheet metal.

It looks just like a three window from directly behind.
Yes? No?
Mark
I am waiting for it to warm up a bit so I can go get some pics and dimensions for the Caddy engine.