472 BUILDS,COMBOS,PREFERENCES,PRO’S & CONS DO’S & DONT’S

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Down under Deville

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What vehicle(s) do you drive?
1968 Coupe Deville
Hey everyone

Topic is more then likely mentioned before, wasn’t able to narrow the search as 472 and engine is basically in majority of topics on here

I’ve got a 1968 CDV running a 472 being in Australia we are extremely limited for Cadillac motor knowledge let alone engine builders that know the ins and outs of them

I’m just after as much information as possible from combos you run in your car to popular/reliable brands, people’s personal preferences and what not to do etc

Inc exhaust setups and total HP/TORQUE

The car is used as a weekend cruiser with the family but that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t pack a punch maintaining reliability

Greatly appreciate any help
Thank you
Marc
 
With the high curb weight and intended use of a 68 CDV family cruiser, you want to keep it simple.

First and foremost, make sure the timing chain is fresh because the factory one is nylon and those flakes can plug up your oiling system. If the cylinders need bored, I would consider dropping the compression to the later soap dish pistons to avoid octane problems with the squashed peanut 10.25:1s. Things like upsizing the valves are not really going to apply or be beneficial in your weight and rpm range.

I would give the Cad Company a call on selecting a camshaft and springs appropriate to your use if you intend something different than stock, but actually the factory one is not that bad. The Edelbrock Performer intake manifold is ok or simply the stock one with a 1" carburetor spacer, a gasket match, a good dual exhaust, and make sure the carburetor is tuned to your combination.

There should be no reliability issues with the stock connecting rods and crank in a family cruiser. Reliability issues occur with the factory rocker arms especially above 4500 rpm. https://cad500parts.com/rocker-systems/ Hardened valve seats are not needed because the high nickel iron is of excellent quality.





https://www.hotrod.com/features/anchors-aweigh-august-1989-982-1428-65-1/

https://www.hotrod.com/features/four-grand-cadoo-982-1655-112-1/

https://www.hotrod.com/magazines/hot-rod/issue/571068/ July 2000 scroll to Page 88

https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/hrdp-0804-541-big-block-cadillac-v8/
 
Last edited:
The video: The 472 - More than OK

This video caught my atttention for some reason. I thought I had seen all of Cad Company's videos. There are a lot of engine dyno videos online for the 500 and 472, and from them I put together a chart and attached it. Just wanted to compare the ideas and builds.

These are all pump gas (or so claimed in the videos), and most are 10:1, though one is the low compression stock 8:5. Sorry that info is not in the chart but it was not always stated or shown in the videos. Sorry there are no links to youtube videos for the curves in the chart either. There are enough examples to be interesting. Courtney's video "The 472 - More than OK" has really got my attention because of the broad torque range.

I have to be satisfied with 87 octane sometimes, so have been looking more at the 8.5:1 setups and also trying to learn how a 10:1 engine can run on 87-93 octane -this would be computer and fuel injection territory? and what else I don't know, still learning. I know my 2005 Odyssey is 10:1 and runs great on 87 octane. But the goal here is learning about builds.
 

Attachments

LeadRat said:
The video: The 472 - More than OK

This video caught my atttention for some reason. I thought I had seen all of Cad Company's videos. There are a lot of engine dyno videos online for the 500 and 472, and from them I put together a chart and attached it. Just wanted to compare the ideas and builds.

These are all pump gas (or so claimed in the videos), and most are 10:1, though one is the low compression stock 8:5. Sorry that info is not in the chart but it was not always stated or shown in the videos. Sorry there are no links to youtube videos for the curves in the chart either. There are enough examples to be interesting. Courtney's video "The 472 - More than OK" has really got my attention because of the broad torque range.

I have to be satisfied with 87 octane sometimes, so have been looking more at the 8.5:1 setups and also trying to learn how a 10:1 engine can run on 87-93 octane -this would be computer and fuel injection territory? and what else I don't know, still learning. I know my 2005 Odyssey is 10:1 and runs great on 87 octane. But the goal here is learning about builds.
Click to expand...

Nice chart, thanks!

If you go EFI, you may want to take the time to block the heat riser in the intake manifold (if using the stock intake or the Performer). Here is a video by our Uncle Tony explaining why:

 
I am seriously considering EFI if it can provide better flexibility for fuel. Thank you for this video, I think his channel is a place for me to learn a while.
 
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