Hello all,
I am usually found on the 73 to 87 chevy pickup board but i stumbled across a gem and was wondering if i shold look into it or if i would be wasteing my time. The car is a 2 door 1969 cadilac model ?????? devile? Any ways she has the big old 472 ci bb motor and the th400 auto trans with rear gears? The guy has 70,000 original on her and is willing to let her go for 400$ of coursse there is a catch...... He was driving down the road and that big old 472 ate a freaze plug. Thus one of the cylanders lost oil and broke a ring which scored it. He has since torn her down honned her out and bought a piston and ring set. he also has cleaned and repainted some of the motor parts. Now the body is straight and clean and the interior is in nice shape for the age. Is it worth it? Also i priced out the gasket set from sumit and it seemed affordible. What would you guys ad gals say?
I was thinking of maybe adding some headers and a edilbrok carb because i have never had luck with Q jets. In addition, A nice 3 inch dual exhaust some window tinting and some cragers would wrap itt up nice i think or some other stabndered size classic wheel. i am not into the big 20's or the ricey stuff. i am into the old hot rod style. What do yall think? if this is the wrong form were do i post ?

Thanks
Ian
here are some pics
that is my 84 c10

If you did the motor in the C 10 and that's the photo that's showing and . .
you can get that Cadillac for $400.00 and do likewise to the 472,
GO FOR IT!

I'm past the age of getting into such fun but drool over the possibilities. Looks like that Cad could be brought back to something real sharp.

$400 bucks is a good price but I'm not buying his explanation on the engine work. usualy freeze out plugs have water behnd them there are a few that block off oil passages. But, I can't see starving one piston of oil. But regardless if the body is straight and the under cariage isn't rusty, you might be on to something. If your handy ( which it looks like you are) I would say buy it. Why do you need gaskets he didn't finish assembling it yet?

He's feeding you a line about the freeze plug. When freeze plugs go, they don't do anything to the oil pressure, they just let the coolant out in a hurry. You may also want to pay attention to the block for coolant passages corosion, when one freeze plug goes, it's an excellent indicator the others are right behind it, and that the cooling system was not properly maintained. However, if the vehicle is rust-free, the body alone with a good interior is worth more than $400. Who knows, you may have great luck with the engine too, $400 is too cheap to pass up. Buy this '69, she needs a loving owner and a new home. And some hubcaps.

thanks for the input guys. i might have been mistaken with the oil thing it might have just overheated. She looks pretty nice and he did take her to auto shows and suck before the engine prob. he is a mechanic who ran ot of time with it. the block is not back together but he tells me all parts are acounted for and labled. i am going for abetter inspection later this weeek and with any luck.......

Thanks for the replys and the input. any ideas on what you all would do to it?

thanks
ian

But it! But IMO, the best looking thing you could do is keep the original appearance, get some new original hub caps, and a set of skirts, that would be sooo clean, if it was near me I'd buy it.

I just wanted to chime in and agree with whats already been said.

Freeze out plugs usually have nothing to do with oil. They either rust out or get pushed out by ice, which is the purpose of a freeze out plug. Hence the name FREEZE OUT.

If you're handy with engines, which you appear to be, then it's not a big deal, even if you end up doing the whole engine.

I'd buy it if I were looking for another project.

well thanks for the comments guys but most of the stuff on that small block 400 was bolt on the like the carb the headers the intake ect...... I have never attempted a big block. I did help rebuild a 360 out of a amc in shop class along with many ford 300(slant six). I think this would be fun fun project for my Father and i to learn on .

Thanks

well i am going to try to look at it on saturday. once talked with him more he was under the impression that i did not know sqaut and was just wanting a 400 dollar car (can't blame him) HE said that the freaze plug had infact rusted out and that was it. I have tlked it over with him alittle more and sounds like a very solid 69. Any tips for things i should look at very close? rust/ rot sounds to be minimum. What do yall think i should offer on it if it infact checks out?

Thanks
84 400

Never pay asking price, I always say. Offer him $250. My son can't believe it when I offer much lower than asking and actually get it. What more can the guy say or do besides "No"!

ha ha yeah thanks for the tip. Car seems to be in really nice shape i don't think he would take 250 cause another guy is coming to look at it on sunday. What do you think i should start at?

Thanks

Ok, ok, maybe $250 is a little unreasonable! But start at $300 and feel it out. If you really want it(I know I would), see what happens from there. How badly does he want to get rid of it? For a car in that shape, it kinda surprizes me he's only asking $400 in the first place. Parts alone are more than that, especially parted out. You may end up paying the $400.

But, oooohhhh, the possibilities.......!

well remember that the car does not have the motor in it. Also it is low miles and has only had 3 owners including him. I would prob pay his asking price i don't know. I will try by lowballing and see what happens another interested party is comming to see it on sunday so if i want it i gotta move! Also i am not sure if he would go lower cause he has this other guy
Any areas i should look out for? lower front fenders?
thanks

$400 for a solid vehicle, no motor? I'd be on it. Where's this thing at? Damn, my girl just glared at me. Says no projects.

Well guys i am still "shell shocked" i got a call from the guy telling me another person bought the 69. He said it to me late friday night and i was gonna go looking at it on saturday. Man What the................... He tld me it was some one with the same car too so i am guessing they are gonna part it. I fell like i got stabbed in the back
dang really liked that one
ian