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1970sCadillacYear In Review
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Cadillac History 1974

Cadillac Models & History 1974

or 1974, there were five models:

1974 Cadillac Coupe deville

I. D. DATA

  • The serial number system and locations were the same as the previous year with sixth symbol changed to a “4” to indicate 1974 model year.
  • Calais were numbered 6C4( )R4Q 100001 and up
  • DeVilles 6D5( )R4( ) 10D001 and up
  • Eldorados 6L()S4Q( ) 400001 and up
  • Broughams 6B69R4Q 100001 and up
  • Seventy-Five 6F()R4Q100001 to 350000

ENGINE

Description Standard Engine Eldorado Engine
Engine type V-8 Overhead valves. Cast iron block V-8 Overhead valves
Main bearings Five Five
Valve lifters Hydraulic Hydraulic
Displacement 472 cubic inches (7.7 litres) 500 cubic inches (8.2 litres)
Bore and stroke 4.300 x 4.060 inches
(109 x 103mm)		 4.300 x 4.304
(109 x 109.3 mm)
Compression ratio 8.25:1 8.25:1
Brake horsepower (net SAE) 205 @ 4400 rpm 210 @ 3600 rpm
Torque 365 ft. lbs @ 2400 rpm 380 ft. lbs. @ 2000 rpm
Oil pressure 35 psi 35 psi
Carburetor Rochester four-barrel Quadrajet Model 4MV

SPECIFICATIONS

FLUID CAPACITIES

Engine V8 472cc (7.7L) V8 500cc (8.2L)
Crankcase 4 qt 5 qt
Crankcase with new filter 5 qt 6 qt
Automatic Transmission after draining 8 pt 11.9 pt
Drive Axle 5 pt 4 pt
Fuel tank 27.5 gal(US) 27.5 gal(US)
Cooling with heater 21.3 qt 21.3 qt
Cooling with A/C 21.3 qt 21.3 qt
Heavy duty Cooling 23.8 qt 21.8 qt

GASOLINE ENGINE TUNE-UP SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code R S S
Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Fuel delivery 4 bbl 4 bbl 4 bbl
Manufacturer Cadillac Cadillac Cadillac
Original Spark plug R45NS R45NS R45NS
Gap 0.035 in. 0.035 in 0.035 in
Distributor Point Dwell 30° 30° Electronic
Distributor Point Gap 0.016″ 0.016″ Electronic
Ignition timing (BTDC) 10° 10° 10°
Intake valve opens (BTDC) 21 21 21
Fuel pump pressure 5¼ to 6½ psi 5¼ to 6½ psi 5¼ to 6½ psi
Idle speed 600/400 rpm 600/400 rpm 600/400 rpm

ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR SPECS

Part # 1100940 1100937 1101015 1117144
Field current @ 12 V 4.0 – 4.5 4.0 – 4.5 4.0 – 4.5 4.0 – 4.5
Output 42 amps 63 amps 80 amps 145 amps
Regulator Field-Relay: Air Gap Solid State Solid State Solid State Solid State
Regulator Field-Relay: Point Gap
Regulator Field-Relay: Volts to Close
Regulator Air Gap
Regulator Point Gap
Regulator Volts @ 75° 13.8 – 14.8 13.5 – 14.4 13.8 – 14.8 13.5 – 14.4

BATTERY AND STARTER SPECS

Engine V8-472cc (7.7L) V8-500cc (8.2L)
Battery Ampere Hour Capacity 74 74
Battery Volts 12 12
Battery Terminal Grounded Neg. Neg.
Starter, Lock Test, Amps Not Recommended Not Recommended
Starter, Lock Test, Volts
Starter, Lock Test, Torque
Starter, No-Lead Test, Amps 65 – 95 65 – 95
Starter, No-Lead Test, Volts 9 9
Starter, No-Lead Test, RPM 7000 – 10500 7000 – 10500
Starter, Brush Spring Tension 35 oz. min. 35 oz. min.

GENERAL ENGINE SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code R S
Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Manufacturer Cadillac Cadillac
Fuel delivery 4 bbl 4 bbl
Horsepower [email protected] [email protected]
Torque [email protected] [email protected]
Bore x Stoke 4.300 x 4.060 4.300 x 4.304
Compression Ratio 8.25:1 8.25:1
Oil pressure 35 psi 35 psi

CRANKSHAFT SPECS

Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Main Brg Journal Dia. 3.250 3.250
Main Brg Oil Clearance 0.0013 – 0.0026 0.0003 – 0.0026
Shaft End-play 0.002 – 0.012 0.002 – 0.012
Thrust on No. 3 3

CONNECTING ROD SPECS

Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Journal Dia. 2.5000 2.5000
Oil Clearance 0.0005 – 0.0028 0.0005 – 0.0028
Side Clearance 0.011 – 0.021 0.011 – 0.021

PISTON AND RING SPECS

Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Piston-Bore Clearance 0.0006 – 0.0010 0.0006 – 0.0010
Ring Side Clearance: Top Compression 0.0017 – 0.0040 0.0017 – 0.0040
Ring Side Clearance: Bottom Compression 0.0017 – 0.0040 0.0017 – 0.0040
Ring Side Clearance: Oil Control None (side sealing) None (side sealing)
Ring Gap: Top Compression 0.013 – 0.025 0.013 – 0.025
Ring Gap: Bottom Compression 0.013 – 0.025 0.013 – 0.025
Ring Gap: Oil Control 0.015 – 0.055 0.015 – 0.055

VALVE SPECS

Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Seat Angle 45° 44°
Face Angle 45° 44°
Spring Test Pressure 168 lb @ 1.50 in. 168 lb @ 1.50 in.
Spring Installed Height 115⁄16 in. 115⁄16 in.
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Intake 0.0010 – 0.0027 0.0010 – 0.0027
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Exhaust 0.0016 – 0.0027 0.0012 – 0.0029
Stem Diameter: Intake 0.3420 0.3418
Stem Diameter: Exhaust 0.3418 0.3416

TORQUE SPECS

Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Cyl. Head Bolts 115 ft.lb 115 ft. lb
Rod Brg Bolts 40 ft.lb 40 ft. lb
Main Brg Bolts 90 ft.lb 90 ft. lb
Crankshaft Damper or Pulley Bolt Press fit Press fit
Flywheel to Crankshaft Bolts 75 ft.lb 75 ft. lb
Intake Manifold 30 ft.lb 30 ft. lb
Exhaust Manifold 35 ft.lb 35 ft. lb

CARBURETOR SPECS

Carb ID 7044230 (4MV) 7044232 (4MV) 7044530 (4MV) 7044532 (4MV) 7044234 (4MV) 7044235 (4MV) 7044233 (4MV)
Float Level 1⁄4 in. 23/64 in 1⁄4 in. 23/64 in 1⁄4 in. 23/64 in 19/64 in
Air Valve Spring 3/8 turn 1/2 turn 3/8 turn 1/2 turn 7/16 turn 9/16 turn 3/8 turn
Pump Rod 1⁄4 in. 1⁄4 in. 1⁄4 in. 1⁄4 in. 11⁄32 in. 11⁄32 in. 11⁄32 in.
Primary Vacuum Break 0.185 in 0.200 in 0.185 in 0.200 in 0.185 in 0.200 in 0.185 in
Choke Rod 0.110 in 0.110 in 0.110 in 0.110 in 0.110 in 0.110 in 0.110 in
Choke Unloader 0.312 in 0.312 in 0.312 in 0.312 in 0.312 in 0.312 in 0.312 in
Fast Idle Speed 1400 rpm 1400 rpm 1400 rpm 1400 rpm 1400 rpm 1400 rpm 1400 rpm

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECS

Feature Eldorado Full size
Caster Range ½°N – 1½°N 1½°N – ½°N
Caster Pref. 1°N 1°N
Camber LH wheel Range 3⁄8°N – 3⁄8°P 3⁄8°P – 3⁄8°N
Camber LH wheel Pref. 0° 0°
Camber RH wheel Range 3⁄8°N – 3⁄8°P 1/8°P – 5/8°N
Camber RH wheel Pref. 0° ¼°N
Toe-In 0″ 1⁄8 in. – 1⁄4 in.
Steering Axis Inclination 11° 6°

HISTORICAL NOTES

1974 Cadillac Notes

  • Model introductions took place on September 16, 1973.
  • Model year production hit 242,330 cars.
  • All U.S. auto sales were off this season, as a side affect of the Arab oil embargo.
  • Because of this, Cadillac’s lower production level was still sufficient to pull down a greater market share.
  • Robert D. Lund was general manager until November
  • Edward C. Kennard became general manager in November
  • Robert J. Templin was chief engineer
  • Stanley Wilen was chief designer (Cadillac Studio) until September
  • Wayne Kady became chief designer (Cadillac Studio) in September
  • F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager
  • Cadillac production figures
Calais6,883 (decreased 1,190)
Sedan de Ville60,419 (decreased 42,975)
Coupe de Ville112,201 (decreased 648)
Eldorado40,412 (decreased 11,039)
Series 6018,250 (decreased 6,550)
Series 754,165 (decreased 107)

1974 Automotive Notes


  • Lower US traffic fatalities are credited to the national 55-mph speed limit, but others attribute it to the reduction in available fuel and high prices
  • OPEC oil embargo ends March 18
  • All cars are required to have energy absorbing bumpers front and rear
  • US federal government wants an interlock that prevents a car from being started until the seatbelts are fastened. Public objection forces the cancelling of the idea.
  • More emission controls are introduced and fuel consumption ratings increase.
  • GM news:
    • Edward N. Cole was president of GM until October when Elliott M. Estes took over
    • Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM until December when Thomas A. Murphy took over
    • Chevrolet continues to outsell Ford by over 154,000 units
    • Oldsmobile and Pontiac drop to fourth and fifth place respectively
    • Firebird and some other models get fiberglass reinforced plastic noses
    • The Vega plant in Ohio had a two-month strike
    • Buick buys back the old tooling it sold to AMC in 1968 so it can again build the 231-cid V-6 (3.8 litre)
    • Laguna Type S-3 replaces Chevelle SS
    • Camaro Z28 is temporarily dropped at the end of the year and replaced by the Rally Sport option
    • Corvette gets the last big-block and LT-1 engines, yet sales increase by 23%
  • Ford news:
    • Mustang II subcompact specialty car linked to the Pinto is a disappointment to previous Mustang owners
    • Mustang II gets new overhead-cam 2.3 liter four cylinder built to metric measurements
    • Gran Torino Elite hardtop coupe introduced to match Chevy’s Monte Carlo
    • Cougar XR-7 now on Montego platform
  • Chrysler news:
    • Full-size cars are not selling during the oil embargo so Dodge offers rebates on the Monaco
    • Plymouth rises from fifth place to third based on the sale of its compacts
    • Imperials get four-wheel disc brakes standard on its new 124-inch wheelbase chassis
    • Last Dodge Challenger until the next century
    • Dodge discontinues the Polara series. Full-size cars are simply Monaco
    • Last of Barracuda
  • AMC news:
    • AMC sells back to Buick the tooling for the V-6
    • Last year for Ambassador and Javelin
    • Matador has a new fastback coupe, but sales are poor for AMC
  • Other makes news:
    • Checker builds its last station wagon
    • Ed Cole retires from GM but joins Checker
    • CitiCar, a 2-passenger, Cycolac-body, is best selling electric car
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1974


1. General Motors4,232,472
2. Ford2,677,751
3. Chrysler1,349,421
4. AMC731,798
5. Others1,191


  • Top model year production for 1974
Chevrolet2,333,839
Ford2,179,791
Plymouth739,894
Oldsmobile581,195
Pontiac580,045
Buick495,063
Apollo56,709
Century190,607
LeSabre113,792
Estate Wagon14,412
Electra 22599,414
Riviera20,129
Dodge477,728
AMC431,798
Gremlin131,905
Hornet145,258
Javelin29,536
Matador99,922
Ambassador Brougham24,971
Mercury403,977
Cadillac242,330
Calais6,883
DeVille172,620
Eldorado40,412
Fleetwood Brougham18,250
Series Seventy-Five4,165
Chrysler117,373
Lincoln93,983
Imperial14,426
Checker950
Avanti II123
Excalibur118