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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 864 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 864 | in a stovebolt?
Would be a interesting combo.... | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | With enough fab work it would go in. They make gobs of torque and I have seen a number of them put in '73 up pickups. It would be a major undertaking to do it. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 177 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 177 | i would be thinking about the steering | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 | Hy 1958GMCnut, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "anything will fit in anything, how much money do you have?" | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,066 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,066 | I would also be thinking about stopping.
Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes
1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes
2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans
1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 |
To begin your journey ….. (assuming the front clip is off)
I'd get the stock FRAME side engine mounts from a 71-76 Caddy (not Eldo).
Then bolt on the engine mounts to the motor. Attach the frame mounts to the
engine mounts. Then dangle the whole Caddy assembly in the frame nice and slow
to see if it's close to fitting. I bet some fab work to the frame or the frame side mounts will get you in there pretty darn close.
With the timing cover and HEI up front on a Caddy … you'd be surprised how close you can get it to the firewall & leave room for the Radiator/fan, etc. This also puts the greater percentage of the engine weight behind the centerline of the front axle for optimal weight distribution.
I put a 455 Buick in my AD panel and it fits great…even with a column shifter.
I'm guessing you'll figure it out … great choice for a motor!
and, yes … discs are a must. The Caddy weighs about 650-700 fully dressed up.
mike
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | 1975-1976 caddy 500 was only rated for 190 hp.
1970 caddy 500 was rated for 400 hp.
If you are using a stock motor, it would be better to use the earlier motor. If you are building one, there are Stage I kits that will make 500 hp with 550 lb/ft torque.
If the stovebolt in question is a 1958 gmc, I would reccomend the 1959-1960 Pontiac 389, as they will bolt in to a GMC chassis with no fabrication. Use a stroker crank from Butler performance and you can make 447 or more cubic inches. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,903 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,903 | I have a 500 Caddy that I had in mind to put into a 56 GMC. I bought the whole car just for the engine. It was a very low miler with lots of parking lot scrapes which made it worthless as a car. It would smoke the tires on the big old boat it was born in. The project is not on the top of my to do list, but the measurements I took when I pulled the motor out of the car, it wouldn't be too hard to fit. I had thought of having the crank drilled for a pilot bearing. If I ever make the swap, I will probably leave the TH400 on it and make it fit. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Yes, the 500 would easily fit in most of these old Stovebolts. I have a 455 Buick in my '46 GMC, and my dad has a 454 in his '52 Chevy. Both are on S-10 frames which makes it easier, but both have plenty of room to fit those engines. Here's a link to engine dimensions: ENGINE DIMENSIONS CLICK HERE | | |
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