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TorqueList Garage Reference Series

Volume 1 · Cadillac

Engine
Reference Catalog

Factory specifications, architecture, key variants, engineering notes, racing history and the stories that made Cadillac's most important engines matter.

Technical reference•Historical context•Builder notes•Print ready

Edition 1.0 · September 2026 · Published

Public preview · first 3 engine profiles unlocked

15

Detailed engine profiles

10/15

Commercially cleared photos

35

Source references

V1

7 engine families

Publication notice

Independent TorqueList reference

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© 2026 TorqueList. Original editorial text, compilation, selection, organization, layout, and TorqueList-created graphics are protected by copyright. Underlying facts, specifications, and manufacturer-identifying terms remain the property or factual subject matter of their respective owners.

Accuracy

Specifications can vary by model year, application, option code, market, and production revision. Verify critical service, purchasing, racing, and installation information against the exact factory documentation for the specific vehicle or engine before relying on it.

Media policy

Third-party photographs appear only when their commercial-use basis is recorded. Creator, source, and license information is retained with each approved image. Engines without an approved third-party photograph use TorqueList-owned original technical artwork.

Contents

Cadillac Engine Reference — Volume 1

Profiles are organized by engine family and pull from the same published TorqueList Engine Library used by the web experience.

L-Head Cadillac V8

1 profiles
Cadillac 346 Flathead V81936–1948
346 ci

Early OHV Cadillac V8

3 profiles
Cadillac 331 OHV V81949–1955
331 ci
Cadillac 365 V81956–1958
365 ci
Cadillac 390 V8 — 1959–19621959–1962
390 ci

Second-Generation Cadillac OHV V8

2 profiles
Cadillac 390 V8 — 1963 Redesign1963
390 ci
Cadillac 429 V81964–1967
429 ci

472/500 Cadillac V8

4 profiles
Cadillac 472 V81968–1974 core 472 production era
472 ci
Cadillac 500 V81970–1976
500 ci
Cadillac 425 V81977–1979
425 ci
Cadillac 368 / V8-6-41980–1984 family era; V8-6-4 passenger-car focus 1981
368 ci

High Technology OHV V8

3 profiles
Cadillac HT4100 4.1L V81982–1987 core passenger-car production
249 ci
Cadillac 4.5L OHV V81988–1990
273 ci
Cadillac 4.9L OHV V81991–1995
300 ci

Northstar DOHC V8

1 profiles
Cadillac 4.6L Northstar V81993–2011
279 ci

Blackwing Twin-Turbo V8

1 profiles
Cadillac 4.2L Blackwing Twin-Turbo V82019–2020 model-year applications
256 ci
15/15 profiles include reference sources.
Every engine has artwork; rights-cleared real photos replace TorqueList original technical art as they are approved.
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01

TorqueList Technical Reference

L-Head Cadillac V8

Full web profile

Cadillac 346 Flathead V8

The long-stroke prewar Cadillac V8 that powered the division through World War II and into 1948.

TorqueList Original Technical Art

Cadillac 346 Flathead V8

V8 · N/A

5.7L
★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

The 346 was Cadillac's mature prewar flathead V8 and powered a broad range of luxury cars as well as wartime military applications before the revolutionary 331 OHV engine replaced it.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree L-head flathead V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Side-valve L-head with hydraulic lifters in later/common production form
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Carbureted
Main bearings
3

The 346 used a traditional 90-degree L-head V8 layout with a 3.50-inch bore and very long 4.50-inch stroke. Heavy cast-iron construction and side-valve breathing favored quiet low-speed torque and smooth luxury-car operation over high-rpm power.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Cadillac Series 60Cadillac Series 61Cadillac Series 62Cadillac Series 75Cadillac wartime military powertrain applications

Strengths

  • Excellent low-speed torque
  • Smooth hydraulic-lifter operation
  • Major prewar Cadillac heritage

Watch-outs

  • Flathead airflow limits compression and performance
  • Very long 4.50-inch stroke
  • Heavy compared with the 1949 OHV replacement

Common upgrades

  • Period-correct carburetor restoration
  • Electronic ignition conversion
  • Cooling-system restoration

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

346 cu in / 5.7 L with 3.50 x 4.50-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree flathead V8 with cast-iron block and heads.

03

Hydraulic lifters appeared in later/common production form.

04

Used across prewar and immediate postwar Cadillac models and in wartime military applications.

History & context

The story behind the engine

The 346 represents the final mature form of Cadillac's flathead V8 tradition. It powered the brand through the late prewar years, wartime service, and the first postwar cars before the revolutionary 331 arrived.

Legacy

The 346 closed Cadillac's flathead era and set the stage for the much lighter 331 OHV V8.

Verification

Reference sources

Hemmings — 1941 Cadillac Series 62 engine details

historical reference

GM Heritage — 1941 Cadillac vehicle information kit

manufacturer specification

Classic Car Database — 1941 Cadillac 346 specifications

historical spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

02

TorqueList Technical Reference

Early OHV Cadillac V8

Full web profile

Cadillac 331 OHV V8

The compact high-compression OHV V8 that transformed Cadillac engineering in 1949.

Cadillac 331 OHV V8 engine

Cadillac 331 OHV V8 enginePhoto: Mr.choppers — CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons · source · license

★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

Cadillac's 1949 331 used an oversquare bore/stroke layout, five main bearings and modern overhead valves, cutting major weight and size compared with the old flathead while opening the door to higher compression and power.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree OHV V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Pushrod OHV with hydraulic lifters
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Carbureted
Main bearings
5

The 331 replaced Cadillac's flathead with a compact oversquare OHV V8 using a 3.8125-inch bore, 3.625-inch stroke, five main bearings, and hydraulic lifters. The architecture was lighter and better suited to rising compression ratios and higher engine speeds.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Cadillac Series 61Cadillac Series 62Cadillac Series 75Cadillac Coupe de VilleKurtis and early hot-rod/sports-car swaps

Strengths

  • Compact for its era
  • Oversquare bore/stroke geometry
  • Five-main-bearing bottom end
  • Huge historical importance

Watch-outs

  • Early intake and accessory systems are period-specific
  • Original performance parts are increasingly collectible

Common upgrades

  • Multiple-carb period induction
  • Modern ignition hidden in stock distributor
  • Improved cooling and sealing

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

331 cu in / 5.4 L with 3.8125 x 3.625-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree OHV V8 with cast-iron block and heads.

03

Five-main-bearing bottom end with hydraulic lifters.

04

Introduced at 160 hp; documented 1950 torque was 312 lb-ft.

History & context

The story behind the engine

Cadillac's 1949 331 was one of the engines that changed postwar American performance. It was smaller and lighter than the flathead it replaced and showed how powerful the new generation of overhead-valve V8s could become.

Legacy

The 331 established the architecture that evolved through Cadillac's 365 and first-generation 390.

Verification

Reference sources

Hemmings — Cadillac 331 OHV design

technical history

Hemmings — Ed Cole and the Cadillac OHV V8

historical reference

GM Heritage — 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, 331 V8

manufacturer history

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

03

TorqueList Technical Reference

Early OHV Cadillac V8

Full web profile

Cadillac 365 V8

The 4.00-inch-bore evolution of Cadillac's early OHV V8 and the engine behind late-1950s Eldorado performance.

Cadillac 365 V8 engine

Cadillac 365 V8 enginePhoto: Vic Brincat — CC BY 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons · source · license

★

Why it matters

Key takeaway

Cadillac retained the 331's stroke but increased bore to four inches, creating 365 cubic inches and giving Eldorado models factory dual-quad performance during the horsepower race.

Engineering

Technical specification

Architecture
90-degree OHV V8
Block
Cast iron
Cylinder heads
Cast iron
Valvetrain
Pushrod OHV with hydraulic lifters
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Fuel delivery
Four-barrel carburetion; dual four-barrels on selected Eldorado versions

The 365 retained the 331's 3.625-inch stroke but increased bore to 4.00 inches. Higher compression and four-barrel or dual-four-barrel induction let Cadillac push output much higher without changing the basic first-generation OHV architecture.

Factory fitment

Notable applications

Cadillac Series 62Cadillac Coupe de VilleCadillac Sedan de VilleCadillac EldoradoCadillac Series 75

Strengths

  • Large 4.00-inch bore
  • Strong torque and luxury-car performance
  • Factory dual-quad heritage

Watch-outs

  • Original dual-quad hardware is rare
  • High-compression restorations require modern-fuel planning

Common upgrades

  • Dual-quad restoration
  • Modern ignition
  • Cooling-system improvements

Builder notes

Engineering notes worth knowing

01

365 cu in / 6.0 L with 4.00 x 3.625-inch bore and stroke.

02

90-degree OHV V8 with hydraulic lifters.

03

1956 factory output reached 285 hp standard and 305 hp in dual-quad Eldorado form.

04

Used across mainstream Cadillac and Eldorado models.

History & context

The story behind the engine

The 365 arrived as Cadillac joined the 1950s horsepower race. The bigger bore and available dual-quad induction gave the Eldorado genuine performance credentials without sacrificing the smoothness expected from the brand.

Legacy

The 365 was the immediate bridge between the original 331 and the 390 that followed.

Verification

Reference sources

Hemmings — 1956 Cadillac 365 details

historical reference

Hemmings — 1956 Cadillac View Master / 365

historical reference

GM Heritage — 1956 Cadillac detailed engine specifications

manufacturer specification

Over-Drive Magazine — 1956 Cadillac 365 specifications

historical spec

TorqueList independent reference · Not an OEM publication or endorsement. Original TorqueList editorial and layout rights reserved.

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All-manufacturer workshop tools

Cadillac Workshop Companion

Builder utilities and edition 2.0 reference sections. Calculations use your entered measurements; empty or unverified interchange, machining, power and torque data are never represented as confirmed specifications.

Public preview: workshop reference content remains limited until this volume is unlocked. The compression calculator is a general educational utility.

Engine geometry & static compression

Starting values are examples only, not specifications for any engine. Use measured dimensions. Dish and valve relief add clearance volume; dome subtracts it. Deck means piston below deck at top dead center. Calculations are for one cylinder except total displacement.

Geometry
Compression inputs

Static compression

9.63:1

Displacement

349.8 ci

Displacement

5.733 L

Mean piston speed

3,480 ft/min

Rod-to-stroke ratio

1.638

Clearance volume

83.02 cc / cyl

Static compression = (swept + clearance) ÷ clearance. Mean piston speed = 2 × stroke (feet) × RPM. These calculations do not predict fuel octane, dynamic compression, safe RPM, engine strength, horsepower, or whether a combination will clear mechanically.

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Attribution record

Image & License Credits

Only photographs recorded as approved for commercial use appear in this edition. TorqueList does not claim ownership of third-party photographs; all fallback technical artwork is TorqueList-created original material.

Cadillac 331 OHV V8

Mr.choppers — CC BY-SA 3.0 — via Wikimedia Commons

CC BY-SA 3.0

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1950_Allard_K2,_Cadillac_331_engine_(Greenwich_2021).jpg

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Layout adaptations of this photograph remain subject to the same indicated CC BY-SA license.

Cadillac 365 V8

Vic Brincat — CC BY 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons

CC BY 2.0

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:020807_017_(83147674).jpg

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

TorqueList is an independent automotive reference publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or authorized by Cadillac, General Motors, or any other vehicle or engine manufacturer.