James Shao
PCS Life Member
Does this hold true for all of the 365s or just the '58s?
Barrett Jackson 1956 Hearse
- Thread starter Darryl Thompson
- Start date
John Burchfield
PCS Life Member
One of my favorite cars at the Milwaukee meet last summer was Dan Brintlinger's white '56 Meteor Cadillac limousine style end loader. I didn't know he had that car and it is stunning. If I remember correctly it has the burgundy mohair interior that Joaquim mentioned. As those of us who've been to some national or chapter meets know, seeing a car you've never seen before is one of the highlights!
John ED Renstrom
PCS Member
it holds true for any car not maintained. each of the changes had there problems. after all, if they ran for ever how could they get you to buy a new one. the parts problem is hit or miss on any car over 10 years old. it's at this point they stop stocking parts. if you stop to think just about the fuel pump . how long has it been since they stop putting mechanical fuel pumps on a car? then think about buying a electric one for a early 90's. and putting it on in a parking lot. the truth is you go threw everything rebuild it or replace it and you will have reliable transportation for 50-60 thousand miles. before age and miles start catching up to the components whether you swap the drive train or not.
were things catch most of us is the it's still working don't mess with it rebuild.
most of us do that and age and miles on a necessary component will catch up to it. If John and Patty can drive there 38 LaSally on trips over thousand miles one way then a nicely restored 58 can do it to.
now we are not saying that a new power train won't be better, new style heating and air condition more comfortable. 4 wheel disk brakes wouldn't stop faster. power widows rather then cranks easer to operate, radial tires ride smoother then bias. then the base clear paints got so much more shine that lacquer. it's just the stock verse modified argument and it goes round and round. anything done nicely is worth the effort. but then once again everyone interprets nicely differently. interesting thing is a man will get about the same money and effort into it doing it either way. either way done correctly will produce a reliable dependable car. that is for the live of the components. the part I love about cars is they all brake.
The 365 was trouble from the get-go. Cadillac dealers replaced many of these motors under warranty for their customers, along with cylinder heads on motors that could still be salvaged. An older friend had a Cadillac dealership back in the day, and the mere mention of a 365, or the 1980's HT4100, will make him spit on the ground, followed by some choice words.
The same fellow also stated that as the 365 cars went out of warranty, many would be traded back to him with dead engines, for which of course he gave near nothing in trade in value. These cars were then repaired with 390 engines, which were somewhat plentiful in salvage yards and re-sold to others looking to buy a good used Cadillac. The 390 upgrade was posted on the windshield of these cars as a selling point, and it was!
Cadillac was not alone in having a dud engine.. the first Packard V8 which came out in 1955 , was notorious for losing oil pressure due to cavitation of the oil pump. The problem was evidently corrected for 1956, but it was too late for Packard.
Having attended numerous car shows, the one thing I have seen is that very few cars with the 365 retain their original engines.. many have been upgraded to the 390, and oftentimes, their owners are oblivious to that respect.
The same fellow also stated that as the 365 cars went out of warranty, many would be traded back to him with dead engines, for which of course he gave near nothing in trade in value. These cars were then repaired with 390 engines, which were somewhat plentiful in salvage yards and re-sold to others looking to buy a good used Cadillac. The 390 upgrade was posted on the windshield of these cars as a selling point, and it was!
Cadillac was not alone in having a dud engine.. the first Packard V8 which came out in 1955 , was notorious for losing oil pressure due to cavitation of the oil pump. The problem was evidently corrected for 1956, but it was too late for Packard.
Having attended numerous car shows, the one thing I have seen is that very few cars with the 365 retain their original engines.. many have been upgraded to the 390, and oftentimes, their owners are oblivious to that respect.
John Royark JR
PCS Member
As Ed said, its all in how you take care of them. You mentioned the 4.1, in my experience Ive found them to be great engines and would buy another in a heartbeat. My 82 Eureka RWD had well over 200,000 (Cant remember anymore but think it was about 300,000), when I drove it to the junk yard because the body was falling apart, drove like new. I bought my 85 Superior FWD 14 years ago with 73,000 miles on the 4.1, it now has 194,000 and still runs like it did when new. The only engine thing Ive ever had to do was a new water pump and alternator.
I don't have any experience with the 365 so cant comment on that. I do know there is times I wish my 49 S&S still had the original engine in it, but it was gone long before I got the car. If it was in there and ran I wouldn't think of changing it, and I drive my cars all the time.
I don't have any experience with the 365 so cant comment on that. I do know there is times I wish my 49 S&S still had the original engine in it, but it was gone long before I got the car. If it was in there and ran I wouldn't think of changing it, and I drive my cars all the time.