The 8.2L Cadillac 500 Was The Last Of The Old Big Blocks

In the history of the automotive world, Cadillac has always been different and known to bring extraordinary stuff. As a luxury automaker and a trendsetter, it always delivered some “first-ever’s” on the market. Cadillac was the first one to introduce a mass-produced V8 and then the first OHV V8, both setting new standards. The reputation as the “Standard of the World” had been received for a reason.

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- Credits -
“1958 Cadillac Vintage Commercial” by Wild About Wheels

“1962 Cadillac Pride in the Possession” by Mike’s Vintage Workshop

“1960 CADILLAC POV DRIVING” by Saul Clissold

“1933 Cadillac V16, series 452 Engine in white metal” by Brooklin Models

“1932 CADILLAC 370B V12 SEDAN ENGINE START VIDEO” by JFM Car Collection

“1915 Cadillac Starting” by 3D Hurricanes

“Pertronix electronic ignition on Cadillac 365 195” by Arjan Massar

“An Introduction to the Cadillac 390 Engine Block” by Caddy Daddy

“Cadillac V8 429 engine after full rebuild” by BRR GARAGE

“1969 Cadillac Coupe Deville dual exhaust sound 472ci” by Sand Troopers Films

“500-INCH CADDILAC NITROUS HITS-THE OTHER TORQUE MONSTER” by Richard Holdener

“Cadillac 472 startup” by Virgo Nou

“1968 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham 472 ci.V8 auto. Drive by. No gunshots!!!” by pongtubepete

“7.7 liter Cadillac 1969 472ci” by Sand Troopers Films

“Inspecting The Internals Of A Cadillac 500 - Formula Sunshine: Part IV” by Formula Sunshine

“Cadillac eldorado 500 big block build” by DCR Car club

“Cadillac Eldorado 8.2 v8” by 85konio

“1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (Gold on Gold)” by Chrome Reflections MotorCars

“500ci cadillac cruzing wit the cutouts open” by iilovepepsii3

“1970 Cadillac Eldorado 500ci V8 Turbo 400 Automatic FWD AC PS PB Power Windows/Sunroof 70-6500C” by Street Dreams

“Cadillac DeVille 7.7 V8 280kW Engine” by Martin DZ

“Disassembling My Cadillac 500 Cylinder Heads - Formula Sunshine: Part VI” by Formula Sunshine

“1967 Eldorado with 1970 Cadillac 500 engine” by cadillackeeper

“1975 Cadillac Coupe DeVille - RARE FUEL INJECTION - VERY LOW MILES - SUPER CLEAN -” by North Shore Classic Cars Dealership

“1968 CADILLAC CALAIS COUPE 472 V8” by THEKINGSCOMING

“Riding back seat 1970 Cadillac Sedan Deville gold on gold, absolutely flawless car.” by The Like button

[The_R-n-I_Guy]

I just love the low rpm torque of big American V8s. Especially the big blocks. You don't need to rev high when you can pull a stump out of the ground going uphill. In 3rd gear

[briandavis]

My parents had a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado with the 500 V8 in it, and it was bulletproof as far as powetrain. My grandparents drove Lincolns exclusively and the 460 was smooth, quiet and powerful as well. For my money, the best of the GM big blocks was the Pontiac 455. Overall, the Chrysler 440 was probably the hardest to beat. Ford's 460 definitely held its own well.

[FliesFLL]

My mom had a Bimini beige '77 Coupe de Ville with the 7.0 liter/425 cubic inch version of this engine. It couldn't get out of it's own way with only 180 hp on tap!

By the way "Bimini beige" looks pink in bright sunlight; I used to hide behind the C pillar when I rode in that car so that none of the other kids would see me in it...

Great video!

[Terraceview]

All the people saying it could make XYZ power but heads suck etc... they were made to have huge torque at very low (1500-3000) rpm. To make them "fast" defeats the purpose. I much prefer one of these beasts than any new whiny turbo engine. It's basically a truck engine in a very big car, awesome!

[litreho]

The Cadillac 472/500 cu in engine displacement was reduced to 425 cu in in 1977, displacement was reduced again in 1980 to 368 cu in. These smaller displacement engines were of the same engine family as the original 472. The last real big block Cadillac was the 1984 Fleetwood Limousin with 368 cu in engine...

[andyharman]

If GM had pushed the displacement of the Caddy big block to their usual limit, it could have grown to 600 cubic inches.

[automatedelectronics]

The Cadillac "Big Block " continued until 1984 in commercial and factory limosine service. The engine was reduced to 6L in 1980.

[jfkastner]

A 1975 Eldorado convertible 500 cui was the first Cadillac I ever rode in, unforgettable sound & comfort ... the front seats swiveled a bit sideways to make rear entry easier

[nojunkwork]

At my engine shop, we did a lot of conversions of GM pickups and Suburbans from the 6.2 diesel to the 500-inch Cadillac engine.

[aussiebloke]

If memory serves, I believe it was Cadillac who first used the pedal layout we all know now, with the clutch on the left, brake in the middle, and throttle on the right. Before that, pedals were like switches - in whatever order manufacturers decided to position them (a common layout before this was to have the throttle in the middle and the brake on the right.) Not sure exactly why other manufacturers copied this layout, but it soon became ubiquitous.

[upsidedowndog]

A friend of mine inhereted an early 70s Caddy with a huge engine. It was fun watching him burn off the tires going down the expressway at 70mph!

[richardschwarz]

Most reliable airboat engine is the 472\500, built 4 and once together, I have never had a mechanical problem. Direct drive the propeller, change the intake to an aluminum edelbrock, shorty headers. Side note. The 472\500 caddy is 50-75 lbs lighter than a Chevrolet 454, 100lbs lighter than a Ford 460 or Chrysler Corp 440..

[DaveBegotka]

Great vid! i had several 500ci's over the years....one in a CJ Jeep....lol....

[nitzubishi]

The engine family featured here was sold well into the 1980s albeit with far less displacement. The 8-6-4 engine was a big block and a sad ending to a once mighty piece of automotive history

[davidleary]

I remember back in about 84 getting my little 66 Baracuda 273 absolutely spanked by a big 4 door Cadillac that sounded like a vacuum cleaner. My freinds moms car

[Shaneosaurus_Rex]

Cadillac was also the first car manufacturer to have the pedals in the current layout; clutch on the left, brake in the middle, and throttle on the right.

[danhuttinger]

My wife and I had a 1975 coup divile with the 500 ENGINE great engine no problems at all smooth and powerful.

[danp]

I like the heavy full sized car's. That's how an American car should be. But as time goes on styles change and it's easier to just add a supercharger or turbo in a smaller platform. GM did bring that engine back in the 3/4 & 1 ton trucks for people that need towing capacity, but didn't want a diesel engine.

[samuelcoelho]

Very Well, this video! Rich in details!

[davidgrisez]

The 1960s and early 1970s was a different era long before fuel economy requirements. That was the time when an automobile manufacturer wanted more power and torque, they did not do 4 valves a cylinder and no overhead cams and no turbochargers or superchargers. Instead for more power and torque automobile manufacturers such as Cadillac used a huge displacement, gasoline thirsty V8 engine. And this V8 engine powered a large, heavy, land yacht car that gave a quiet, smooth and comfortable ride. Those days are long gone.