1969 Cadillac history

1969 Cadillac

Cadillac built a record 266,798 cars for calendar 1969, enough to grab ninth place in the industry rankings. For the model year, though, it was still 11th at a little over 223,000, up some 3000 units from '68.

Eldorado was much the same as before, except that headlights were no longer hidden behind flip-up grille panels. Standards were restyled fore and aft, the major change being a return to horizontal headlamps. Parking lights wrapped around the front fenders and flanked a taller grille, still prominently vee'd. A somewhat unpopular change was the elimination of front vent windows. Per Washington edict, no-cost equipment now included front headrests, energy-absorbing steering column, pushbutton seatbelt buckles, ignition-key warning buzzer, and anti-theft steering column/transmission lock. Prices ran from just above $5400 for a Calais to well over $10,000 for the 75 limousine.

Though hardly the innovator it had been in years past (the Eldorado notwithstanding), Cadillac made all the right moves during the Sixties. Offering its renowned combination of luxury, performance, and style, the company managed to defend its title as "Standard of the World" -- or at least of America. While its return to more conservative styling actually lagged behind the rest of the industry, it seems only proper that the company responsible for giving birth to the tailfin should also be the last to abandon it.

I. D. NUMBERS

Vehicle identification numbers were stamped on the top of the instrument panel this year and were visible through the windshield
The original engine serial number was the same as the vehicle identification number
The first symbol was a number "6" to indicate "Cadillac"
The second and third symbol represented the series code number
- "82" for Calais
- "83" for DeVille
- "93" for Eldorado
- "80" for Fleetwood 60 Special
- "81" for Fleetwood 60 Brougham
- "97" for Fleetwood 75 Limousine
- "98" for Commercial chassis
The fourth and fifth symbol represented the Fisher Body Division Code
- 23 = 4-dr luxury sedan
- 33 = 4-dr limo sedan
- 47 = 2-dr hardtop coupe
- 49 = 4-dr hardtop sedan
- 67 = 2-dr convertible
- 69 = 4-dr sedan
- 90 = commerical chassis
The sixth symbol was a number "9" for 1969 model year
The seventh symbol was a letter to represent the assembly plant
- Q = Detroit, Michigan
- E = Linden, New Jersey
The next six numbers beginning with 100001 at each assembly plant was the sequential serial number

SPECIFICATIONS

FLUID CAPACITIES

ENGINE	V8 472cc (7.7L)
Crankcase	4 or 5 qt
Crankcase with new filter	5 or 6 qt
AutomaticTransmission after draining	25 or 26 pt
Drive Axle	5 or 4.5 pt
Fuel tank	26 gal(US)
Cooling with heater	21 qt
Cooling with A/C	21 qt
Heavy duty Cooling	25 qt

GASOLINE ENGINE TUNE-UP SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code	NA
Engine type	V8-472cc(7.7L)
Fuel delivery	4 bbl
Manufacturer	Cadillac
Original Spark plug	44N
Gap	0.035 in.
Distributor Point dwell	30°
Distributor Point gap	0.016 in.
Ignition timing (BTDC)	5°
Intake valve opens (BTDC)	18°
Fuel pump pressure	5¾ psi
Idle speed	550 rpm

ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR SPECS

Part #	1100696	1100694	1100742
Field current @ 12 V	2.2 - 2.6	2.2 - 2.6	2.2 - 2.6
Output	42 amps	55 amps	63 amps	130 amps
Regulator Field-Relay: Air Gap	0.015 in.	0.015 in.	0.015 in.	Transistor-Type
Regulator Field-Relay: Point Gap	0.030 in.	0.030 in.	0.030 in.
Regulator Field-Relay: Volts to Close	1.5 - 3.2	1.5 - 3.2	1.5 - 3.2
Regulator Air Gap	0.060 in.	0.060 in.	0.060 in.
Regulator Point Gap	0.014 in.	0.014 in.	0.014 in.
Regulator Volts @ 75°	13.5 - 14.4	13.5 - 14.4	13.5 - 14.4	13.5 - 14.4

BATTERY AND STARTER SPECS

Engine	V8-472cc (7.7L)
Battery Ampere Hour Capacity	74
Battery Volts	12
Battery Terminal Grounded	Neg.
Starter, Lock Test, Amps	Not Recommended
Starter, Lock Test, Volts
Starter, Lock Test, Torque
Starter, No-Lead Test, Amps	70 - 99
Starter, No-Lead Test, Volts	9
Starter, No-Lead Test, RPM	7800
Starter, Brush Spring Tension	35 oz. min.

GENERAL ENGINE SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code
Engine type	V8-472cc(7.7L)
Manufacturer	Cadillac
Fuel delivery	4 bbl
Horsepower	375@4400
Torque	525@3000
Bore x Stoke	4.300 in. x 4.060 in.
Compression Ratio	10.5:1
Oil pressure	33 psi

CRANKSHAFT SPECS

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

CONNECTING ROD SPECS

Engine type	V8-472cc(7.7L)
Journal Dia.	2.5000 in.
Oil Clearance	0.0005 in. - 0.0028 in.
Side Clearance	0.008 in. - 0.016 in.

PISTON AND RING SPECS

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

VALVE SPECS

Engine type	V8-472cc(7.7L)
Seat Angle	45°
Face Angle	45°
Spring Test Pressure	160 lb @ 1.50 in.
Spring Installed Height	1¹⁵⁄₁₆ in. (1.671875 in.)
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Intake	0.0005 in. - 0.0025 in.
Stem-to-Guide Clearance: Exhaust	0.0010 in. - 0.0025 in.
Stem Diameter: Intake	0.3415 in. - 0.3425 in.
Stem Diameter: Exhaust	0.3415 in. - 0.3420 in.

TORQUE SPECS

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

CARBURETOR SPECS

Carb ID	7016932 (4MV)	7016930 (4MV)
Float Level	¹¹⁄₃₂ in.	¹⁄₄ in.
Pump Rod	¹¹⁄₃₂ in.	¹¹⁄₃₂ in.
Choke Unloader	0.300 in	0.300 in
Fast Idle Speed	1925 rpm	1925 rpm

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECS

Feature	Eldorado	Full size
Caster Range	1½°N - 2½°N	1½°N - ½°N
Caster Pref.	2°N	1°N
Camber LH wheel Range	³⁄₈°N - ³⁄₈°P	³⁄₈°N - ³⁄₈°P
Camber LH wheel Pref.	0°	0°
Camber RH wheel Range	³⁄₈°N - ³⁄₈°P	³⁄₈°N - ³⁄₈°P
Camber RH wheel Pref.	0°	0°
Toe-In	0 - ¹⁄₈ in.	¹⁄₈ in. - ¹⁄₄ in.
Steering Axis Inclination	11°	6°

HISTORICAL NOTES

1969 Cadillac Notes

Dealer introduction for 1969 Cadillacs and Eldorados was held September 26, 1968.
Production of the Eldorado body for 1969 was transferred from the Fleetwood plant in Detroit to the Fisher Body plant in Euclid, Ohio.
Cadillac enjoyed its fifth consecutive record sales year and built over 250,000 units for the first time in company history. (Calendar year figures).
Strikes again affected the 1969 model run and production of cars built to 1969 specifications peaked at 223,267 units, of which 199,934 were regular Cadillacs.
Total production fell 2.9 percent over the 1968 model run.
Cadillac features a sealed cooling system with an overflow tank
Calvin J. Werner was general manager until July
George R. Elges became general manager in July
Carl A. Rasmussen was chief engineer
Stanley Wilen was chief designer (Cadillac Studio)
F. T. Hopkins was general sales manager

Cadillac production figures

Calais	...	12,425	... decreased 5,765
Sedan de Ville	...	80,848	... decreased 1,664
Coupe de Ville	...	65,755	... increased 1,820
de Ville convertible	...	16,445	... decreased 1,580
Eldorado	...	23,333	... decreased 1,195
Series 60	...	19,845	... increased 1,245
Series 75	...	4,586	... increased 373

1969 Automotive Notes

Mercury introduces Marauder
Pontiac introduces Grand Prix
AMC introduces SC/Rambler
Pontiac introduces Firebird Trans Am
Dodge introduces Charger Daytona
Mercury introduces Cyclone Spoiler and Cyclone CJ
Ford introduces the Maverick and Torino Cobra
Mustang adds Mach 1 fastback, Boss 302 and Boss 429
Last year for Rambler American which is called just "Rambler"
Last year for Corvair
U.S. government requires front head rests on new cars
Warranty set to 1-year/12,000 miles for the entire car and 5/40,00 for the drivetrain
GM introduces "tell-tale" odometers to reveal tampering
Federal "Truth-in-Lending" law requires auto dealers to state costs, terms, and conditions in a uniform manner
The Tunderbird and Continental offers optional rear-wheel skid-control braking system actuated by a miniature computer
Chrysler and Ford follow GM's lead and adopt concealed wipers
Safety door beams installed on most GM cars
Dodge introduces a grille-mounted Super-Lite
Pontiac's Grand Prix's radio antenna is imbedded in the windshield
Chevrolet offers Liquid Tire Chain which sprays blended resin on tires to boost traction
Corvette features headlight washers like some European cars
Chrysler wagons feature rear located roof-mounted air spoilers
Avanti II and Checker use the Chevrolet 350-cid V-8
Full-size Fords ride on 121-inch wheelbase
Full-size Mercurys ride on 124-inch wheelbase
Pontiac adds "The Judge" to the GTO lineup
Stutz Motor Car Co., of America introduces Bearcat replica
Edward N. Cole was president of GM
James M. Roche was chairman of the board at GM
Top model year production for 1969