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Old September 3rd, 2020, 05:32 PM
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Engine ID

Good morning all from Australia. I was hoping someone could help me identify an engine that a friend off mine has commissioned to tidy up but here their lies a few problems. It is a very odd ball car in Australia with probably only a hand full without the original engine. It is a 1983 Cadillac Eldorado which is supposed to have the HT 4100 aluminium block engine in it which it hasn't. All cast iron on this one and after hours looking at stuff on the internet i'm tipping it's an Olds engine but I would love someone with expertise to confirm this is the fact. I'm heading out there today to mess around with a fuel issue it's having and really need to know what it is figuring it may need a fuel pump. Whilst I'm out there I will check out some off the casting numbers and ID number if I can find it. Number should be stamped on the front top left hand side? Any help would be great.
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Old September 3rd, 2020, 05:52 PM
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Looks like an Olds engine, mid to late '70's. 10 bolts on the valve covers? 307 (early '80's) or 350 (late '70's)?

Last edited by Yellowstatue; September 3rd, 2020 at 05:57 PM. Reason: More stuff.
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Old September 3rd, 2020, 05:55 PM
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Does the VIN indicate that the car came from the factory with the 4100? That's obviously an Olds motor. Find the block casting number above the water pump and the VIN derivative stamped on the driver side of the block behind the alternator to figure out the exact displacement and year.

Casting number:




VIN derivative:




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Old September 3rd, 2020, 06:05 PM
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Great thanks guys, heading out there now so will take a close look at the numbers and get some more photos. Joe yes the Caddy VIN specifies that it should have the 4100 in it. I'm tipping the Olds transplant was a fairly common swap as the 4100 engine hasn't got the best reputation?
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Old September 3rd, 2020, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Croll
Great thanks guys, heading out there now so will take a close look at the numbers and get some more photos. Joe yes the Caddy VIN specifies that it should have the 4100 in it. I'm tipping the Olds transplant was a fairly common swap as the 4100 engine hasn't got the best reputation?
I have zero experience with the 4100. In any case, the Eldo frame is the same as that of the Olds Toronado, so the engine is a bolt-in. In fact, the Olds 350 diesel was a factory option in that car, and it's externally identical to the Olds gas engine.
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Old September 3rd, 2020, 09:23 PM
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All 1983 Cadillac's had either the 4100 Cadillac ( 4.1 litre V 8 motor) or a 4.1 litre Buick V6 .Or the infamous 5.7 litre diesel except the limousine that used the 368ci. V8-6-4. There were no gas Olds engines in any 1983 Cadillac , Someone pulled the original engine and sunk that Olds engine in there. It's not a factory install.
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Old September 4th, 2020, 12:07 AM
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Back from doing a little spanner work on the engine, only pulled the fuel pump off today and checked out some numbers. See if you guys can enlighten me on the attatched photos with numbers. Unfortunately the stamped number has been removed which probably isn't a good signal..bugger.

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Old September 4th, 2020, 12:09 AM
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Nice work Ancient Iron thanks, I've been stumped on this for a while engine swap had me real baffled!
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Old September 4th, 2020, 12:57 AM
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3161 = 1981-'84 307 cu.in.
5A heads same application

Last edited by hurst68olds; September 4th, 2020 at 01:00 AM.
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Old September 4th, 2020, 05:08 AM
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Originally Posted by hurst68olds
3161 = 1981-'84 307 cu.in.
5A heads same application
^^^THIS. I was going to guess 307 just based on the original photo. Note that it has a non-computer carb, so apparently an export version (yeah, I realize where the OP is located). Probably taken from a similar vintage Toro. If you search parts for an 83-ish Toronado, you'll be fine. Is your distributor also non-computerized? The easy way to tell is to see if there is a vacuum advance cannister or not. The computerized distributors get their advance from the ECU, so there is no vac advance can.
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Old September 6th, 2020, 08:21 PM
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Many thanks Joe this has been a great help. Yes I have vac advance on the engine, non computerized. Picked up a fuel pump and the Olds 307 is purring like a kitten.
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