It's 500 cubes, so why do I hear 502 so often?

[colinlikens]

Is it just me?  Or have others heard people describe the 500 cid V8 as a "502"?  If I have the right bore & stroke info (4.3 x 4.304) it comes out to exactly 500 cubic inches.  But none the less I have on multiple occasions heard people familiar with cars call it a 502.  It happened again this past Monday.

Anyone else had this experience?  Or does anyone have a theory why this might occur?

Thanks.

Colin

[Dan LeBlanc]

Chevrolet has a 502 crate engine.  Those not in the know likely assume it's the same engine.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Same reason folks call the 368 a "big block". Sounds good.  Some "confusion" comes from the 8.2 Litre tags on the Eldos which would if true work out to a bit north of 504 cubic inches, but calling the motors anything other than 500 cubic inches (unless modifications have been done) is just pure ignorance of the motor's specs.
Greg Surfas

[Dan LeBlanc]

It's likely the same reason why when I tell folks I have a 390 in my Fleetwood, folks think I have a Ford engine in there.  As soon as they say Ford, I roll my eyes and walk away.   

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

If we're talking the 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine as used in the 70's --- it's
official name is the "501 Engine".  Don't ask me what the logic is, but that's
what's on the sticker on the radiator support shroud of my original 1973 Eldo.

Mike

[35-709]

My '73 Caribou (Coupe de ville) has a "501" 472 engine.    501 is the engine series. 
Today's auto uninformed may think that Cadillac was using a Chevrolet engine back then as is so often found today and believe it is a 502 Chevy engine.

[signart]

I get the 501 from bro inlaw all the time. Also that the Caddy 501 weighs about 200 lbs more than a BBC.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Actually, the 472/500 Cadillac engine weighs in less than the BBC.

Cadillac 500  595 Lbs.

BB Chevrolet  685 Lbs

Bruce.

[TJ Hopland]

I like how 'those people' don't seem to be able to read the 'fine print'.    In every case just under the 501,502, 504? it says 472 cuin or 500 cuin or 425 cuin. 

[J. Skelly]

At least one of my Eldorados has or had  '501' somewhere on the emissions/tune up label.  I've heard a few people refer to it as a 501.  I don't remember a '502' except for the Chevy crate engine.  It's like people referring to Buick's 401 engine by the torque rating that was on the air cleaner, typically 445.  As I recall, a litre/liter is about 61 cubic inches, so 8.2 comes out to 500.2 cubic inches.     

[Thule]

i also for a long time thought it was 502,  the sticker in my 73 says type 501-500cub