Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: Renato on April 24, 2013, 02:16:41 PM

Title: Is it true?
Post by: Renato on April 24, 2013, 02:16:41 PM
I read somewhere the 50's Cadillac has airplane engine. It means the steel engine block, and parts the same quality as they used for airplanes. It it true?
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: KD on April 24, 2013, 02:58:33 PM
My Auburn has a lycoming engine in it.
I also had a PA-14 (Piper 4 place ) Airplane that uses the lycoming engines
Ken D
CLC#26801
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Philippe M. Ruel on April 24, 2013, 03:24:49 PM
Cadillac automotive engines were cast iron until the Northstar in the 1990s. Most aircraft engine blocks are aluminum alloy. What you heard sounds like an urban legend.


Cadillac flathead automotive 346 ci engines - that is, up to 1948 - were used in light tanks during WWII with few modifications.

During the same period, Cadillac has produced mechanical parts for Allison V-12 engines, used on Lockheed P-38s or Curtiss P-40s aircrafts. But never manufactured aircraft engine blocks or complete engines.


Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Renato on April 24, 2013, 03:30:01 PM
Thank you the correct answer.
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Louis Smith on April 24, 2013, 04:22:53 PM
I believe only Oldsmobile had aerodynamic engines with their rocket 88 and rocket 98 engines.

Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on April 24, 2013, 05:25:10 PM
Quote from: Philippe M. Ruel on April 24, 2013, 03:24:49 PM
Cadillac automotive engines were cast iron until the Northstar in the 1990s.

Just a clarification: Cadillac engines were cast iron until the HT 4100 in 1982 volume models.

The Cadillac cast iron 368 remained in production until the 1984 model year in the Limousine & Commercial Chassis models only. The Limousine had the 368  V-8-6-4 DFI; the 368 4bbl version was used in Commercial Chassis. 
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: wrench on April 24, 2013, 11:39:01 PM
They did use 2 Buick 425 'Wildcat' engines to start the SR-71...
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: cadillacmike68 on April 25, 2013, 05:25:01 AM
And Packard built the Rolls Royce Merlin under license for the P-51 C & D models. That engine kicked the sh!t out of the Allison engines (used in the original P-51 B models) every which way.
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Walter Youshock on April 25, 2013, 09:09:02 AM
I do seem to recall Cadillac touting their engine machining tolerances were of "aircraft quality".  Can't recall if it was in an ad or some other promotional piece.
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621 on April 25, 2013, 04:48:51 PM
Quote from: Walter Youshock on April 25, 2013, 09:09:02 AM
I do seem to recall Cadillac touting their engine machining tolerances were of "aircraft quality".  Can't recall if it was in an ad or some other promotional piece.

That was mentioned in Pride in the Possession.
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: RyanBurman on April 26, 2013, 06:42:29 AM
I always thought that the Cadillac tank engines were neat due to the exhaust coming out on top of the head instead of the bottom. Saw one in a hot rod and it looked pretty cool with the really swoopy headers the guy built.
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Walter Youshock on April 26, 2013, 09:32:10 AM
Yep--"Pride in the Possession"  where "only the (industrial) diamond dresses the wheel" to machine "precision Cadillac engine parts". 
Title: Re: Is it true?
Post by: Louis Smith on April 26, 2013, 11:18:48 AM
Quote from: Walter Youshock on April 26, 2013, 09:32:10 AM
Yep--"Pride in the Possession"  where "only the (industrial) diamond dresses the wheel" to machine "precision Cadillac engine parts".

Ah, so this is what "Pride in the Possession"  means!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnV-9527s4g