Engine numbers, and valve lifters for 1949-57 Cadillac

[Bret Scott (CLC 21765)]

Hi, all-

Last Saturday I sent my 57 coupe to a mechanic for an engine rebuild.  The car had been sitting in a dry garage unused for more than 2 decades, and aside from a little sludge and failing rings, everything fortunately seems to be in pretty good shape.

To be on the safe side, the mechanic has recommended that I replace the lifters.  In 1957, it appears that there was a change made to the design of the pushrods and lifters used since 1949, resulting in a mid-year break in parts.  According to the master parts list, engines built after 043297 use the newer design.

In order to get the right replacement parts, Id like to confirm that I am using the right engine number.  There are 2 numbers on the block, a 10-digit number and a 7-digit number.  My assumption is that the last 6 digits of the 10-digit number is the engine number... am I correct?

Also, has anyone ordered valve lifters for 49 - early 57 cars?  While I have found them at Kanters, I cant seem to find any other online source that might give me a part number so that the mechanic can order them locally.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,

Bret
57 Coupe
68 Eldorado

[Michael]

Hi,
Yes, Unfortunately have more experience with this than I ever wished I would have. I had to have my engine re-done 3 times, doubling the cost of the re-build because we kept getting the wrong lifters. The lifters for 57 and up slightly longer, but barely noticable, which if not caught will cause you to bend the push rods, and in my case the rocker shaft arm as well. Like I said, I had my engine re-built, put back together, started it up, it didnt sound right right away, shut it down, started checking things and found that we had bent all the push rods and both new rocker arm shafts. I too had ordered the parts from Kanter. Found another set, locally this time, didnt pay close enough attention, did the same thing again. finally on the 3rd time we got it right, but what a head ache, and boy was it expensive in the end. I have a 56 coupe, as well as a 58 coupe. We ended up pulling both motors apart, and found that the lifters are ever so slightly longer in the 58, and the push rods were shorter. I ordered 3 different sets of lifters from Kanter, at 3 different times, and all 3 sets were different looking, but functioned properly. I cant help you with your engine numbers, but my advive to you is to have your mechanic measure the WORKING LENGTH of the lifters, that is the inside of were the push rod sits, fully compressed, and compare the new lifters with the original lifters, and for gods sake dont through anything out untill you get it running again.
Hope this helps,
Michael