I have a 1962 Cadillac with a X-Frame Body and would like to see if anyone has any pointers on converting to a Chevy 350 Small Block Engine?
I'm pretty sure the 62 tranny uses a different bellhousing bolt pattern than the BOP pattern on the Caddy 500. Even the 64-66 Caddy TH400s used a unique bolt pattern and do not interchange with any other GM motors.curtis73 said:good point; about the same cost when you consider its mostly a bolt-in and waay more torque, plus you won't have to change trannys. I just sold a running 500 for $50
You will feel the loss of torque big time. But the only real problem which is simple to fix is the engine to bellhousing bolt pattern. Adapters can be had.62cadillac said:I have a 1962 Cadillac with a X-Frame Body and would like to see if anyone has any pointers on converting to a Chevy 350 Small Block Engine?
Don't bet on it. The 62 trans uses a different bolt pattern than the later model BOP transmissions. Adapters are NOT readily available.oldbogie said:But the only real problem which is simple to fix is the engine to bellhousing bolt pattern. Adapters can be had.
adaptors can be made for anything. there are company's that will make them custom. my friend had 1 done by a guy ( 1 man company ) in Washingtonjoe_padavano said:Don't bet on it. The 62 trans uses a different bolt pattern than the later model BOP transmissions. Adapters are NOT readily available.
Agreed, but responses to this thread had implied that a 500 would bolt up to the 62 trans or that you could use a BOP-to-Chebby adapter available from Summit to install the SBC. Most seem to be unaware that the 62 Caddy trans and engine used a unique bellhousing bolt pattern.matt167 said:adaptors can be made for anything. there are company's that will make them custom. my friend had 1 done by a guy ( 1 man company ) in Washington
Thanks for making me realize how ancient I've become. When first reading the thread, I couldn't understand all this talk about not being able to mate a Chev engine to a Hydro-Matic. I knew that B&M made an adapter, I could see it in my minds eye. So I went to the B&M site but couldn't find a reference. When I got home, I pulled the old B&M catalog off my bookshelf and looked it up and sure enough, just as I remembered, there it was! So I plugged into the web at home and fed it the B&M part number, nothin'. So I went back to the catalog thinking I messed up the part number. At that point I realized the musty, tattered, brown paged catalog was 45 years old.joe_padavano said:Don't bet on it. The 62 trans uses a different bolt pattern than the later model BOP transmissions. Adapters are NOT readily available.
Yeah, getting old is a ******, but it sure beats the alternative... :thumbup:oldbogie said:Thanks for making me realize how ancient I've become.
Great, just great! Now it has tear stains to go with its aged pages.
Bogie
If you want something to work on for cheap a 62 Cad might not be it, even with a chevy motor. In my opinion you are just ruining a good old car putting a cheap engine in it. Good running cad engines can be had for cheap. I have had 425/th400s given to me just to haul them off. A caddy deservs a caddy engine.62cadillac said:well my main concern was to find something that anybody can work on for cheap. I've already purchased a 350 Chevy Engine and 350 Turbo Trans to do the swap. I'm not trying to build a Race Car or anything, just a Daily Driver that I can depend on.