Cadillac Moels & History 1985
Front-wheel drive now became the rule at Cadillac, as in nearly all other makes. Two grand old names, DeVille and Fleetwood, made the switch this year. All Cadillacs except the subcompact Cimarron (and carryover rear-drive Brougham) now carried a transverse-mounted, fuel-injected 4.1 liter V-8 engine with die-cast aluminum-block. Two safety improvements arrived this year: anti-lacerative windshield glass (with inner layer of two-part plastic) on Seville’s Elegante, plus a high-mount stop lamp on all DeVilles and Fleetwoods. That stop lamp would become required on all cars for 1986.
V.I.N. NUMBERS
- Cadillacs again had a 17-symbol Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), stamped on a metal tag attached to the upper left surface of the cowl, visible through the windshield. Coding changed to reflect the new front-drive models.
- The first character is a “1” to indicate the manufacturing country (U.S.A.)
- The second character is a “G” for General Motors
- The third is a “6” for Cadillac Division
- Character four is the car line (GM body):
- “J” = Cimarron
- “K” = Seville
- “C” = Deville/Fleetwood
- “D” = Brougham
- “E” = Eldorado
- Character five indicates series:
- “G” = Cimarron
- “S” = Seville
- “D” = DeVille
- “B” = Fleetwood
- “H” = Fleetwood limousine
- “W” = Fleetwood Brougham (rear drive)
- “L” = Eldorado
- Digits six and seven indicate body type:
- “47” = 2-dr. coupe
- “69” = 4-dr. sedan
- “23” = eight passenger limousine
- “33” = formal limousine
- “57” = Eldorado coupe
- “67” = Eldorado convertible
- Next is the engine code:
- “P” = L4-121 TBI
- “W” = V6-173 FI
- “8” = V8-249 DFI
- “T” = V6-262 diesel
- “N” = V8-350 diesel
- The next symbol is a check digit.
- Symbol ten indicates model year (“F” = 1985)
- Next is a code for assembly plant:
- “9” = Detroit
- “E” = Linden, NJ
- “J” = Janesville, WI.
- Finally comes a six-digit production sequence number
- starting with 000001 for Detroit built cars
- 400001 for Janesville
- 600001 for Linden (E-body)
- 800001 for Linden (K-body)
- An identifying number is also on the engine, and a set of codes on a body number plate.
SPECIFICATIONS
FLUID CAPACITIES
| Engine |
V8 250cc (4.1L) |
V8 350cc (5.7L) Diesel |
| Crankcase |
4 qt |
6 qt |
| Crankcase with new filter |
5 qt |
7 |
| AutomaticTransmission after draining |
10 pt |
10 pt |
| Drive Axle |
3.5 or 3.2 pt |
3.5 or 3.2 |
| Fuel tank |
24.5 or 20.3 gal(US) |
26 or 22.8 gal(US) |
| Cooling with heater |
11 qt |
23.7 or 18.4 qt |
| Cooling with A/C |
11 qt |
23.7 or 18.4 qt |
| Heavy duty Cooling |
NA |
NA |
GASOLINE ENGINE TUNE-UP SPECS
| Engine V.I.N Code |
8 |
| Engine type |
V8-250cc (4.1L) |
| Fuel delivery |
DFI |
| Manufacturer |
Cadillac |
| Original Spark plug |
R42CLTS6 |
| Gap |
0.060 in. |
| Distributor |
Electronic |
| Ignition timing (BTDC) |
See underhood sticker |
| Intake valve opens (BTDC) |
See underhood sticker |
| Fuel pump pressure |
12 – 14 |
| Idle speed |
See underhood sticker |
ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR SPECS
| Part # |
1102921 |
1101040 |
1101046 |
1101050 |
1101091 |
| Field current @ 12 V |
4 – 4.5 |
4 – 4.5 |
4 – 4.5 |
4 – 4.5 |
4 – 4.5 |
| Output |
63 amps |
70 amps |
80 amps |
100 amps |
100 amps |
| Regulator |
Solid state |
Solid state |
Solid state |
Solid state |
Solid state |
| Volts @ 75° |
13.8 – 14.8 |
13.8 – 14.8 |
13.8 – 14.8 |
13.8 – 14.8 |
13.8 – 14.8 |
BATTERY AND STARTER SPECS
| Engine |
V8-250cc (4.1L) |
V8-350cc (5.7L)Diesel |
| Battery Ampere Hour Capacity |
540 amps cold cranking power @ 0°F |
| Battery Volts |
12 |
12 |
| Battery Terminal Grounded |
Neg. |
Neg. |
| Starter, Lock Test, Amps |
Not Recommended |
| Starter, Lock Test, Volts |
| Starter, Lock Test, Torque |
| Starter, No-Lead Test, Amps |
65 – 95 |
40 – 140 |
| Starter, No-Lead Test, Volts |
9 |
9 |
| Starter, No-Lead Test, RPM |
7000 – 10500 |
8000 – 13000 |
| Starter, Brush Spring Tension |
35 oz. min. |
35 oz. min. |
GENERAL ENGINE SPECS
| Engine V.I.N Code |
8 |
N |
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) |
| Manufacturer |
Cadillac |
Oldsmobile |
| Fuel delivery |
DFI |
Diesel |
| Horsepower |
[email protected] |
[email protected] |
| Torque |
[email protected] |
[email protected] |
| Bore x Stoke |
3.465 x 3.307 |
4.057 x 3.385 |
| Compression Ratio |
8.5:1 (9:1 with Swirl Cylinder Heads) |
| Oil pressure |
30 psi |
40 psi |
CRANKSHAFT SPECS
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) Diesel |
| Main Brg Journal Dia. |
2.640 |
2.9993 – 3.0003 |
| Main Brg Oil Clearance |
0.0004 – 0.0027 |
0.0005 – 0.0021 (No. 5: 0.0015 – 0.0031) |
| Shaft End-play |
0.001 – 0.007 |
0.004 – 0.014 |
| Thrust on No. |
3 |
3 |
CONNECTING ROD SPECS
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) Diesel |
| Journal Dia. |
2.052 – 2.054 |
2.1238 – 2.1248 |
| Oil Clearance |
0.0005 – 0.0028 |
0.0005 – 0.0026 |
| Side Clearance |
0.008 – 0.020 |
0.006 – 0.020 |
PISTON AND RING SPECS
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) Diesel |
| Piston-Bore Clearance |
0.0008 |
0.0035 – 0.0045 |
| Ring Side Clearance: Top Compression |
0.0016 – 0.0037 |
0.005 – 0.007 |
| Ring Side Clearance: Bottom Compression |
0.0016 – 0.0037 |
0.003 – 0.005 |
| Ring Side Clearance: Oil Control |
None (side sealing) |
0.001 – 0.005 |
| Ring Gap: Top Compression |
0.015 – 0.025 |
0.019 – 0.027 |
| Ring Gap: Bottom Compression |
0.015 – 0.025 |
0.013 – 0.021 |
| Ring Gap: Oil Control |
0.010 – 0.050 |
0.015 – 0.055 |
VALVE SPECS
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) Diesel |
| Seat Angle |
45° |
45°(intake); 31° (exhaust) |
| Face Angle |
44° |
44°(intake); 30° (exhaust) |
| Spring Test Pressure |
167 lb @ 1.34″ |
210 lb @ 1.22″ |
| Spring Installed Height |
1-43/64″ |
1-43/64″ |
| Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Intake |
0.0010 – 0.0030 |
0.0010 – 0.0027 |
| Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Exhaust |
0.0010 – 0.0030 |
0.0015 – 0.0032 |
| Stem Diameter: Intake |
0.3413 – 0.3420 |
0.3425 – 0.3432 |
| Stem Diameter: Exhaust |
0.3411 – 0.3418 |
0.3420 – 0.3427 |
TORQUE SPECS
| Engine type |
V8-250cc(4.1L) |
V8-350cc(5.7L) Diesel |
| Cyl. Head Bolts |
90 ft.lb |
130 ft. lb |
| Rod Brg Bolts |
20 ft.lb |
42 ft. lb |
| Main Brg Bolts |
85 ft.lb |
120 ft. lb |
| Crankshaft Damper or Pulley Bolt |
Press fit |
200 – 310 ft. lb |
| Flywheel to Crankshaft Bolts |
20 ft.lb |
60 ft. lb |
| Intake Manifold |
18 – 22 ft.lb |
40 ft. lb |
| Exhaust Manifold |
20 ft.lb |
25 ft. lb |
CARBURETOR SPECS
| Carb ID |
7056232 (M4ME) |
7056230 (M4ME) |
7056530 (M4ME) |
| Float Level |
13/32 in |
13/32 in |
7/16 in |
| Air Valve Spring |
3/8 turn |
3/8 turn |
3/8 turn |
| Pump Rod |
3/8 in |
3/8 in |
9/32 in |
| Primary Vacuum Break |
0.160 in |
0.160 in |
0.160 in |
| Secondary Vacuum Break |
0.160in |
0.160in |
0.160 in |
| Choke Rod |
0.080 in |
0.080 in |
0.080 in |
| Choke Unloader |
0.230 in |
0.230 in |
0.230 in |
| Fast Idle Speed |
1400 rpm |
1400 rpm |
1400 rpm |
WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECS
| Feature |
Eldorado |
Full size |
Seville |
| Caster Range |
2°P – 2½°P |
3½°P – 4½°P |
2°P – 2½°P |
| Caster Pref. |
2°P |
4°P |
2°P |
| Camber LH wheel Range |
0° to ½°P |
3/32°P to 57/64°P |
0° to ½°P |
| Camber LH wheel Pref. |
0° |
½° |
0° |
| Camber RH wheel Range |
0° to ½°P |
3/32°P to 57/64°P |
0° to ½°P |
| Camber RH wheel Pref. |
0° |
½° |
0° |
| Toe-In |
0 to ½”P |
1⁄8 in. |
0 to ½P |
| Steering Axis Inclination |
11° |
10-19/32° |
11° |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1985 Cadillac Notes
- Fleetwood and DeVille were introduced April 5, 1984; Eldorado and Seville, October 2, 1984; Cimarron, November 8. 1984.
- John O. Grettenberger was general manager
- Edward H. Mertz was chief engineer for part of the year
- Warren D. Hirschfield became chief engineer
- Wayne Kady was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
- L. B. Pryor was general sales manager
- Model year production: 394,840 (including 45,330 early ’85 front-drive DeVille/Fleetwoods).
- That total included 11,968 V-6 engines and 1,088 diesels.
- Calendar year production: 322,765.
- Calendar year sales by U.S. dealers: 298,762 for a 3.6 percent market share.
- Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 310,942 (not including 46,356 front-drive DeVille/Fleetwoods sold as early 1985s). The delayed arrival of the new front-drive DeVille/Fleetwood was due to shortages of the Type 440 four-speed automatic transaxle, produced at GM’s Hydra-matic Division.
- Production had been delayed for six months.
- For that reason, both rear-drive and front-drive DeVilles were offered to the public at the same time for a while during 1984.
- A strike at GM of Canada affected supplies to over 30 General Motors plants in the U.S., including Cadillac’s.
- Cadillac production figures
Cimarron19,890 (decreased 2,008) Fleetwood/de Ville series231,706 (increased 40,196) Eldorado76,401 (decreased 1,405) Seville39,755 (decreased 242) Series 75405 (decreased 1,434)
1985 Automotive Notes
- GM news:
- Ford news:
- Chrysler news:
- AMC news:
- Other makes news:
- Top American Automobile Corporations for 1985
1. General Motors4,490,883 2. Ford1,735,782 3. Chrysler1,315,326 4. AMC150,189 5. OthersN/A
- Top model year production for 1985
Chevrolet1,418,098 Oldsmobile1,165,649 Ford1,149,427 Buick1,002,906 Skyhawk82,516 Skylark93,157 Somerset Regal86,071 Century261,235 Regal124,546 LeSabre149,487 Electra149,276 Riviera65,305 Pontiac519,390 Dodge500,835 Chrysler420,780 Mercury419,869 Plymouth393,711 Cadillac384,840 Cimarron19,890 Seville39,755 DeVille & Fleetwood140,866 Eldorado76,401 Fleetwood Brougham55,450 Fleetwood Limousine405 Lincoln166,486 AMC150,189 Encore58,525 Alliance91,664 Eagle 3016,190 AvantiN/A
Keyword: Cadillac History 1985
