Cadillac Models & History 1973

For 1973, there were five models:

1973 Cadillac Coupe deVille

I. D. DATA

1973 Cadillac Sedan deVille

The serial number system and locations were the same as the previous year with the sixth symbol changed to “3” to indicate model year.
Calais were numbered 6C(__)R3Q 100001 to 350000
DeVilles: 6D(__)R3Q 100001 to 350000 or 6D4(__)R3E 3500001 to 400000
Eldorados: 6L(__)S3Q 400001 to 450000
Broughams: 6B69R30 100001 to 350000
Seventy-Fives 6F(__)R3Q 100001 to 350000.
The new Body Style Number codes were used on both serial number tags and vehicle data plates.

SPECIFICATIONS

FLUID CAPACITIES

Engine V8 472cc (7.7L) V8 500cc (8.2L)
Crankcase 4 qt 5 qt
Crankcase with new filter 5 or 6 qt 6 qt
AutomaticTransmission 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 21.8 qt 21.8 qt

GASOLINE ENGINE TUNE-UP SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code R S
Engine type V8-472cc(7.7L) V8-500cc(8.2L)
Fuel delivery 4 bbl 4 bbl
Manufacturer Cadillac Cadillac
Original Spark plug R46N R46N
Gap 0.035 in. 0.035 in
Distributor Point Dwell 30° 30°
Distributor Point Gap 0.016″ 0.016″
Ignition timing (BTDC)
Intake valve opens (BTDC) 34 34
Fuel pump pressure 5¼ – 6½ psi 5¼ – 6½ psi
Idle speed 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 220@4000 235@3800
Torque 365@2400 385@2400
Bore x Stoke 4.300 x 4.060 4.300 x 4.304
Compression Ratio 8.5:1 8.5:1
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 0.0003 – 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 0.008 – 0.016 0.008 – 0.016

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 160 lb @ 1.50 in. 168 lb @ 1.50 in.
Spring Installed Height 11516 in. (1.671875″) 11516 in. (1.9375″)
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Intake 0.0010 – 0.0027 0.0010 – 0.0027
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Exhaust 0.0012 – 0.0027 0.0012 – 0.0027
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 7046881 (4MV) 7047331 (4MV) 7047332 (4MV)
Float Level 19/64 in 14 in. 23/64 in
Air Valve Spring 1/2 turn 1/2 turn 1/2 turn
Pump Rod 1132 in. 1132 in. 1132 in.
Primary Vacuum Break 0.205 in 0.200 in 0.205 in
Choke Rod 0.090 in 0.090 in 0.090 in
Choke Unloader 0.015 in 0.015 in 0.015 in
Fast Idle Speed 1925 rpm 1925 rpm 1925 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 38°N – 38°P 38°P – 38°N
Camber LH wheel Pref.
Camber RH wheel Range 38°N – 38°P 1/8°P – 5/8°N
Camber RH wheel Pref. ¼°N
Toe-In 0″ 18 in. – 14 in.
Steering Axis Inclination 11°

HISTORICAL NOTES

1973 Cadillac Notes

  • Dealer introductions were held September 21, 1972.
  • Model year production hit a record 304,839 Cadillacs.
  • The five millionth Cadillac, a blue Sedan DeVille, was built June 27, 1973.
  • A Cotillion white Eldorado convertible paced the Indy 500 with Jim Rathman driving.
  • Robert D. Lund became general manager.
  • Robert J. Templin was chief engineer
  • Stanley Wilen was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
  • F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager
  • Cadillac production figures
Calais8,073 (increased 298)
Sedan de Ville103,394 (increased 3,863)
Coupe de Ville112,849 (increased 17,569)
Eldorado51,451 (increased 11,377)
Series 6024,800 (increased 4,050)
Series 754,272 (decreased 105)

1973 Automotive Notes

  • After being phased out in the late 1960’s, vent windows appear as an extra-cost option
  • All engines get an EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide
  • All new cars must have a 5-mph front “crash” bumpers and 2½-mph rear bumpers.
  • Cars built after January 1 must incorporate side beams in the doors
  • Hardtop (i.e., no center pillar) cars are being phased out
  • Horsepower and torque figures are lower again
  • More than 72% of new cars have air conditioning.
  • The OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil embargo on Oct. 19 leads to fuel shortages, long lines at the pumps, and price hikes. It lasted for five months
  • US Federal law bans odometer “roll-back” and force dealers to disclose mileage before selling a used car
  • GM news:
    • Edward N. Cole was president of GM
    • Richard C. Gerstenberg was chairman of the board at GM
    • Rebodied mid-size lines feature “Colonnade” hardtops with fixed center pillars
    • GM experiments with a device that requires the driver to pass a sobriety test before the car will start
    • Chevrolet surpasses Ford by almost 230,000 units
    • 1000 Impalas get air bags
    • Chevelle and Monte Carlo coupes get swing-out bucket seats
    • Last year for Chevelle 454 V-8, SS option departs
    • Camaro SS label and big-block engines are gone, but Type LT (Luxury Touring) remains
    • Hatchback versions of the Nova, Ventura, Omega, and Apollo appear
    • Pontiac introduces Grand Am based on the Le Mans but with the luxury of the Grand Prix and performance of the Trans Am
    • Firebird Trans Am retains the 455-cid V8 (7.4 litre) and sports a large hood-mounted wing decal which some called the “Chicken”
    • Oldsmobile retains third spot followed by Pontiac and Plymouth
    • Oldsmobile introduces the Omega compact, a re-badged Nova
    • Buick introduces the Apollo compact, a re-badged Nova
    • Buick names its mid-size model “Century”
  • Ford news:
    • Again, Ford sells another half-million Pintos
    • Last year for the Cougar
  • Chrysler news:
    • Plymouth drops from fourth place to fifth after Pontiac
    • Electronic ignition is standard on all Chrysler engines
    • Dart Demon is renamed Sport because of objection to devil logo
    • Dodge “Convertriple” and Plymouth “Space Duster” feature fold-down rear seat
  • AMC news:
    • Hornet gets a sporty hatchback coupe with optional 304 V-8
    • Gremlin offers a “Levi’s” option where the interior fabric resembles that of blue jeans with red piping
  • Other makes news:
    • Beginning in 1970, the Series II Excalibur was a hand-built “neoclassic” evolved from Brooks Steven’ original Studebaker-based 1965-69 design.
    • All Excaliburs had GM chassis and 350-cid (5.7 litre)(later had big-block 454 Corvette (7.4 litre)) V-8s
    • Only 72 two-seat Roadsters and 270 four-seat Phaetons were built through 1974
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1973


1. General Motors5,548,154
2. Ford2,964,358
3. Chrysler1,798,684
4. AMC392,105
5. Others1,128


  • Top model year production for 1973
Chevrolet2,579,509
Ford2,349,815
Oldsmobile922,771
Pontiac919,870
Plymouth882,196
Buick821,165
Apollo32,793
Century298,468
LeSabre197,281
Centurion44,976
Estate Wagon12,282
Electra 225177,772
Riviera34,080
Dodge665,536
Mercury486,470
AMC392,105
Javelin27,536
Cadillac304,839
Calais8,073
DeVille216,243
Eldorado51,451
Fleetwood Brougham24,800
Series Seventy-Five4,272
Chrysler234,223
Lincoln128,073
Imperial16,729
Checker900
Excalibur122
Avanti II106
Alfa-Romeo204,902
U.S. Alfa-Romeo sales2,595
Aston-Martin250