Well... I am starting to get another change in plans...

Here is the deal... 8 months I will be moving to FL and living in an apartment, then a few months after that, starting tech school... all this means, anything more then regular maintenace on my carsI will not be able to do (and most definitly not an engine build up)

I had bought the 85% complete NorthStar to rebuild and everything... but... between that enigne being alot more difficult then a "normal" enigne to rebuild... and I don't even have a car to put it in, I have decided against it... for now...

but now, I have the urge to build up a 500 for my '79... again, since that is what I really wanted to do form the start... but for a few reasons.... more easy, and cheaper... I actually have a car to put it in... I really want a nice winter project (as it is now, I have none) and really, if I don't do this now... it would be atleast 4-5 years before I would even look about doing an engine swap... so if I atleast get an engine, rebuild it... do some mild performance work and get it in, then when I am in FL, and even while in the apartment, I could do basic mods and bolt on stuff to the car....

My question is... There is a guy... kinda local, has a warehouse with alot of old engines... 2 of them are 472/500's.... don't know the years... they are complete from carb to oil pan, but have been sitting in the warehouse for atleast 16 years now... he said they would have to be rebuilt.... he wanted $100 each for them.... but I don't know what they are, or the year or anything, other then they are a 472 or a 500

THEN.... at the local junkyard, there is still a '76 Coupe DeVille there... the engine is in that minus air cleaner.... the car was hit pretty good on the right quarter panel, then was side-swept on the left side... so the engine was running at the time... I don't recall the millage.... Monday I am going to go over there, and just ask how muych they would want for the engine, and to also pull it form the car.... atleast I know though, it IS a 500... although loaded with emmisions, but if I go thru the engine, that will be easy to take care of.... and I wonder what they would charge for it... maybe $250 to pull it and the cost of the engine? I dunno.. this yard has higher prices then other yards too... but, that car is a few steps from the crusher anyway... so I am going to go Monday and ask....

... but between these 2 engines... which is the better choice? the first is alot cheaper, but I am taking a big gamble as to what they even are, and their shape... whereas the second one is in the car, most likly running and in good shape at that... but more money.... also, without an air cleaner, could that damage the engine at all? there is a hood, and it is closed, and always has been (the hood springs are gone.. damn hood must weigh 200lbs) or would the missing air cleaner not really be a big deal?

If I did this, I would also sell my NorthStar... to clear out room, and get money... and I really have no use for it... but I really would like to do this... I have the engine stand and everything ready, since I was prepared to rebuild the NorthStar....and if the engine checks out, I will replace all gaskets, timing chain etc... but I will leave the bottom end alone... do some headwork, valve job, modify the intake manifold, put a mild cam in it, rebuild the carb etc... I think all that, and some other things, plus the fact it is a 500... will really make my '79 DeVille move....

So what does everyone think? I am fully up to it.. and I really do what to do this for the reasons mentioned... but which choice should I go with for the engine? (right now I am leaning toward the junkyard '76... just gotta stop by and see what they want for it... has been there a while now) and do you think I would have a hard time selling my NorthStar?

Whats everyones opinions? :)

If the junkyard doesn't guarantee the engine to run and you don't hear it run, consider it a core. Buying a used engine is always a gamble.....you might get a good runner, you might get scrap.
Checking the casting numbers of the heads and block and also measuring the piston stroke can give you a pretty good idea as to what kind of engines are in the warehouse and about what years they are.
Why not just work with the 425 (cam, intake mod, head work etc.) until you have the money to do a 472/500 right? Even just a cam change should make a big difference.
You should still think about buying a 472/500 now though. They are getting harder to find and are only going to go up in price.

Building a Caddy engine? Forget it, they're boat anchors. Build yourself a small block chevy, that is where it's at. Or if you want to be even cooler, stick in a turboed honda motor. Vtek power. :histeric:

Hey if you've got the time and a bit of money... do it. Try the junkyard one. If it running that's a start. If its not I'm not sure it would be any better than the warehouse ones. You've seen what kwikcad500 has done with his 79 coupe, if you needed any more inspiration that would be it.

I was going to work witht he 425... I have a 472 intake manifold ready to be modified, and the carb needs to be rebuilt, I was gonna get a mild cam and a nice true dual exhaust... that would be a nice start...

but the engine is in the car, and it is staying there.... so I would be limited to work I can do while it is in the car, and without a garage, it really isn't a winter project :)

But that did bring up a good point that I never thought of.... I could see if the 500 in that '76 runs... after all, it is already in the car... I know they drain all the fluids... so I could get 5 quarts of regular oil, it should have an oil filter on it.... and I could bring a battery.... I am sure someone there would help me out too, if I say that if it runs good, and the price is in my range, I'll buy it.... I would be looking for black smoke... because I do not want to have to put new rings... as I want to leave the bottom end stock for now...

being that there is no air cleaner on it... is that bad though? also, if we try and run it without the air cleaner... will that be bad too?

If it dosn't work out... I'll just stick witht he 425... but, form what I hear a 472/500 makes a good amount of power more then the 425... but... my 425 is a low millage (for the age) engine, runs great... and in the car.... I'll have to see...

Look down the carb to make sure nothing got in there. Running it without the air cleaner won't hurt it as long as nothing gets down the carb.
Black smoke usually means the engine is running rich.....gray/blue smoke is oil smoke.

Sorry, I ment to say blue smoke....

my friend was behind me when I was driving the '79, he said when I hit the gas (we were messing around) there was black smoke coming form the exhaust... but, I know that has to do with the carb, and since the enigne was cold at that time, it was even worse....

I guess my question now then... is mod my 425 or try to get that 500?

I mentioend before the benifits of keeping the 425... also to say "it has the origanal engine" and my start up cost is $0.... since I already have it....

... but if I start doing work.. well, custom exhaust would bolt up to the new enigne, that isn't a problem.... but if I get a cam for my 425, when I go to build up a 500... I will not be able to use the same cam, right? but then again, if I do modifiy the 425, by the time I get around to building up a 500, I would probably want a new cam....

I am really going all over with this now... because I am starting to think about keeping the 425 again... do the 472 intake manifold mods, rebuild the carb, nice exhaust setup and the cam... that shoudl really make a difference... but the engine will still have 8.2:1 compression... and then I gotta pull the heads and really get into it... not sure if I would want to do that on an enigne I would be replacing in the future... I'll have to see....

... then again, as it is stock, my engine has alot of power... after it has been running about an hour... because of the carb problem... so even solving the worst parts of the engine (cam, restrictive intake/exhaust) should make it that much better..... plus... if I did modify the 425, i will keep my NorthStar... not to build it up, but just to have it... for a future project...

Well, I'll still take a trip to the junkyard... but what is everyone else' *new* opinions?

Be wary of white smoke too, cracked blocks arent fun.

eh... as I think about it more... reality is setting in...

...in 8 months, I will be moving, in 11 months I will be starting tech school... I will be needing all the money I can get, won't have the space or time to do most of the stuff I want to.... even if I do something here, it'll still take a big chunk of money...

... so I think I'll just stick with the 425 and do the performance mods to it... nothing crazy, but just something to have fun with.... seems like my best option...

what year N* was that that you had again? I may be interested in the crank...if you're willing to part with it

it is a 1993/1994 L37..... complete, not ran much.... I don't want to part it out tho... plus the crank is already in the block....