Cadillac 500 with manual trans

Hi to all,
I am in the process of getting together parts for next project which is a'40s pickup with a Caddy 500 motor which I want to run with a manual transmission. I guess I need some type of H.D. truck box to handle the torque, with the shifter as near to the bellhousing as poss. for in-cab clearances. I just don't know what to use, and with what bellhousing. I don't really want anything that has a 'granny' 1st gear which would be useless in this application, want at least 4 pref. 5 forward gears. I've looked on numerous websites and just got confused as I don't know what I'm looking at.
Any ideas? please help.
thanks in advance

Well, since Cads never were hooked to a stick, there won't be a pilot bearing hole in the crankshaft. A machinist will be able to bore one if you take him the shaft. I believe the Cad shares the B-O-P bellhousing pattern, but not 100% sure. If so, any Muncie will work, but that's a heck of a lot of torque for any automotive tranny to absorb. A Nash or somethjing similar might be the way to go.

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Originally posted by R Pope
Well, since Cads never were hooked to a stick, there won't be a pilot bearing hole in the crankshaft. A machinist will be able to bore one if you take him the shaft. I believe the Cad shares the B-O-P bellhousing pattern, but not 100% sure. If so, any Muncie will work, but that's a heck of a lot of torque for any automotive tranny to absorb. A Nash or somethjing similar might be the way to go.

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Hi and thanks for your reply. yes Cads are the BOP bolt pattern for bellhousing and am aware of the pilot bearing hole requirement. I've been told to look for a tranny out of a BB siverado or similar which will handle the torque. Been offered a tranny from a c30 but think the ratios would be wrong. Muncie boxes from what I've seen have external linkage arrangement with the stick near the back of the box which in a '40s vehicle puts the stick right in the bench seat which i want to retain. What do mean by using a Nash? Nash gearbox?

Doug Nash, it's a brand. I think he uses Borg-Warner T10 based cases for his designs.

so is the tranny from the c 30 a 5 spd or 4 spd . my dads 65 c 30 has a updated 5 spd tranny and it shifts really good very tight with the long shifter it has . i always thought that in a hd application for a rod it would work really good.shorten the shifter etc.
i depends what you want as i thought the really low 1st gear could be offset with a low speed rear end.
i am learning that my caddy t bucket could use a lower than a 3,55 rear rear with a 400 tranny. i could have a 3.00 to one or less and it would work fine.
the tranny will be pretty big in the cab though.
i have a running flathead 8 with the straight cut double clutch 4 spd truck tranny , it howls in every gear but 4th. not what one would to get throught he gears really fast.

Hi canadianal, It's a 5 speed told from an early 90s c30. Not been to look at it yet as it is about 150mls from me so wanted to be sure it was worth the trip by checking with a few people first. I like the long shifter and it's in the right place, I'm having a new floor fabricated anyway so that will be done after drivetrain has been fitted and therefore shaped to fit.Again, been told and read on various Caddy websites that these engines work best and live longer with tall gears numerically 3.00 or less.As you know they are not really a 'revvy' engine and their torque figures do the job. Wish there was a Caddy section on the engine forum but I guess not mainstream enough to get much interest. Must admit I've never run one in a hotrod before but luvit for all the good points it has as I'm sure you do.
Thanks for your reply

If you have not already been there, you need to visit www.500cid.com. The folks there and on the forum will be able to answer most of your questions.

Pat

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