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overlander63 · 03-28-2015, 06:53 PM

i remember those being built on a Suburban chassis. If so, it would pretty much have the towing capacity of a 1977 Suburban 15, 2wd. Front disc, rear drum, small gas tank for low speed around town driving.

TCwheels · 03-28-2015, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowmover

That's a 1977. Downsized from 1976.

Slowmover, that was my first thought as well, especially given the taillight config. But I do believe it's a 76, based on the nose design. 74,75,76 had the same nose with slight variation in bumpers - basically a slightly stretched version of the 71,72,73 But you're correct about the 77 being downsized from the last of the big Caddies.

slowmover · 03-29-2015, 04:32 AM

Its a '77. Family owned those cars in those years. Dad used his '76 as his TV to pull his '75 Silver Streak from late 1975 to mid-1987. 194,000 miles at sale. Next owner towed with it past 240k.

Yours may have been built in 1976, but it is assuredly a 1977. And it is the V8-425 engine.

His Sedan De Ville featured the optional 3.21 rear axle. We added better shocks, MOOG Cargo Coils and ADDCO rear antiroll bar.

Usually saw 7-8 mpg in the 55-mph era.

dznf0g · 03-29-2015, 05:28 AM

He says it has the 500 commonly used in the Eldorado. I don't doubt that the hearse and armor prep package had the 500.
I drove a 91 armored caddie at the proving grounds built with the 502/502 crate motor. We built quite a few of those. Most went to the Middle East.

r carl · 03-29-2015, 05:32 AM

If it has the 500 engine it was built in 1976.

dznf0g · 03-29-2015, 05:57 AM

Not necessarily. These specialty packages use all sorts of non-regular production components.

overlander63 · 03-29-2015, 06:01 AM

Popping the hood should tell you what engine it has. The 425 looks very different from the 500.
Not only that, there should be an emissions tag there with engine size and official model year listed. It should either be on the top of the radiator support or air cleaner housing.

dznf0g · 03-29-2015, 06:26 AM

The 8th digit of the VIN will tell you too

r carl · 03-29-2015, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Not necessarily. These specialty packages use all sorts of non-regular production components.

1977 body on a 1976 frame?

dznf0g · 03-29-2015, 06:56 AM

Probably a suburban 2500 or 2500 pick up stretched frame

dznf0g · 03-29-2015, 07:21 AM

But maybe not. Hearses aren't as heavy as armored limos.

m.hony · 03-29-2015, 08:03 AM

Definitely the 1977 body style- slightly down-sized and more squared off- 1976 down were longer and more rounded contours-

FreshAir · 03-29-2015, 08:19 AM

We tow with a '71 Buick Centurion (conv.) or a '69 Olds Ninety Eight. Both have their versions of 455 cid engines. The Olds is touted as the most powerful ever built. The last built with NO reducing the 10.5 compression for the looming emission regulations. The '71 Buick has the beginnings of emission prep with just 8.5 compression. HOWEVER, the Buick engines were design with more torque by a shorter stroke than the Olds 455. The Olds pulls great but when we tow up the mountains the Buick does not 'hesitate' like the Olds. But the 'overhang'.... the long distance between the rear axle and rear bumper plus a long shank to allow the center bumper license plate to permit access to the gas filler that's behind the plate! I have to use the 1000 lb WDH bars as tight as possible. Our Airstream is a '66 Trade Wind....a light weight at 4100 lbs dry. From towing this for 9 years I can say that both old cars can tow heavier trailers. BUT, I agree that the new 'trucks' are much more efficient to tow with.

Neil

wkerfoot · 03-29-2015, 09:22 AM

More efficient that is true, my 2014 Durango is that, but the old cars are more fun to tow with. Nothing gets the looks and waves like a vintage Airstream and vintage tow vehicle.

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

We tow with a '71 Buick Centurion (conv.) or a '69 Olds Ninety Eight. Both have their versions of 455 cid engines. The Olds is touted as the most powerful ever built. The last built with NO reducing the 10.5 compression for the looming emission regulations. The '71 Buick has the beginnings of emission prep with just 8.5 compression. HOWEVER, the Buick engines were design with more torque by a shorter stroke than the Olds 455. The Olds pulls great but when we tow up the mountains the Buick does not 'hesitate' like the Olds. But the 'overhang'.... the long distance between the rear axle and rear bumper plus a long shank to allow the center bumper license plate to permit access to the gas filler that's behind the plate! I have to use the 1000 lb WDH bars as tight as possible. Our Airstream is a '66 Trade Wind....a light weight at 4100 lbs dry. From towing this for 9 years I can say that both old cars can tow heavier trailers. BUT, I agree that the new 'trucks' are much more efficient to tow with.

Neil

RogueArtist · 03-30-2015, 07:16 AM

Thanks for all the great information. That's awesome. Slowmover is correct. I was wrong about the year and engine. I used a VIN decoder and it is a '77 with a 425.

Digit Usage VIN Decoded
1 Mfgr 6 Cadillac
2 Model Z Commercial
3-4 Body 90 Commercial
5 Engine S V8 425-4v 180hp L33
6 Year 7 1977
7 Plant 0 Unknown!
8-13 Sequential Serial # 246040 246040

r carl · 03-30-2015, 07:23 AM

What year is on the registration? Why did you think it was a 1976?

KJRitchie · 03-30-2015, 07:54 AM

Creepy

RogueArtist · 03-30-2015, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r carl

What year is on the registration? Why did you think it was a 1976?

I said 76 because it was supposedly a 500 CI engine and those came in the 76, not the 77. I assumed the owner told me the wrong year. As of Sunday I am the owner and finding out the correct info. We know the people we bought it from so I don't think they meant to mislead, he just wasn't that familiar with it I guess. They barely used it, which was one reason they were selling it. Pretty low mileage. 62K miles on it.

RogueArtist · 04-02-2015, 06:18 AM

Well the transmission has gone out on the hearse two days after purchase. Good thing I got a great deal on it.

overlander63 · 04-02-2015, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogueArtist

Well the transmission has gone out on the hearse two days after purchase. Good thing I got a great deal on it.

That is one of the hazards of putting a little-used vehicle back on the road. When I have put previously-stored vehicles back in service, I usually had to replace belts, hoses, water and fuel pumps, master and wheel cylinders, and brake calipers.