1988 Cadillac history

The 1988 Cadillac line featured a new 4.5 liter V-8 for the Seville, Eldorado, Fleetwood and de Ville models. The Eldorado was extensively redesigned and detail changes were evident in the Allanté, Brougham, and Cimarron. The acceleration of Cadillacs with the new V-8 was better than any comparable Cadillac of the last decade. The Allanté offered a new analog instrument option as well as new colors. The Seville was given a new front end look and was available with anti-lock brakes. It also had improved fuel economy.

The Eldorado's sheet metal, except for the roof, was all new. Both the Fleetwood Sixty Special and D'Elegance models had added standard equipment features The best selling of all Cadillac's models, the deVille coupe and sedan, also had their standard equipment list extended. The traditional Brougham sedan was changed only in minor details while the Cimarron, in its last year of production, had its list of standard features expanded.

V.I.N. DATA

The 1988 Cadillac 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. The code was as follows:

the first digit, "1," represented the manufacturing country (United States)
the second, "G," represented General Motors
the third, "6," represented Cadillac
the fourth was the car line, GM body, as follows:
- C-DeVille and Fleetwood
- D-Brougham
- E-Eldorado
- J-Cimarron
- K-Seville
- V-Allanté
The fifth symbol was the series identification:
- G-Cimarron
- D-de Ville
- B-Fleetwood
- S-Fleetwood Sixty Special
- W-Brougham
- L-Eldorado
- S-Seville
- R-Allanté
Digits six and seven represent the body style:
- 47-two-door coupe
- 69-four-door sedan
- 57-Eldorado coupe
- 69-Seville four-door sedan
- 67-Allanté
The eighth digit identifies the engine:
- "P" - L4-121
- "Y" - 307 cu in. (5.0 liter) V-8
- "8" - 273 cu. in (4.5 liter) V-8
The ninth digit is a check digit
The tenth digit represents the year where "J" means 1988
The eleventh digit is the assembly plant
The last six digits represent the production sequence
- Cimarron: 500001 and up
- Seville: 800001 and up
- DeVille, Fleetwood, and Sixty Special: 200001 and up
- Eldorado: 600001 and up
- Brougham: 700001 and up
- Allanté: 100001 and up

STYLE

SPECIFICATIONS

FLUID CAPACITIES

Engine	V8 273cc (4.5L)	V8 307cc (5.0L)
Crankcase	5 qt	4 qt
Crankcase with new filter	5 qt	5
AutomaticTransmission after draining	13 pt	10.6 pt
Drive Axle	NA	4.25 pt
Fuel tank	18.8 gal(US)	25.0 gal(US)
Cooling with heater	12.1 qt	15.2 qt
Cooling with A/C	12.1 qt	15.2 qt
Heavy duty Cooling	NA	NA

GASOLINE ENGINE TUNE-UP SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code	5	Y
Engine type	V8-273cc (4.5L)	V8-307cc (5.0L)
Fuel delivery	DFI	4 bbl
Manufacturer	Cadillac	Oldsmobile
Original Spark plug	R44LTS6	FR3LS6
Gap	0.060 in.	0.060 in.
Distributor	Electronic	Electronic
Ignition timing (BTDC)	See underhood sticker	See underhood sticker
Intake valve opens (BTDC)	See underhood sticker	See underhood sticker
Fuel pump pressure	12-14	5½-6½
Idle speed	See underhood sticker	See underhood sticker

ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR SPECS

Part #	1101296	1101302	1101304
Field current @ 12 V	4-4.5	4-4.5	4-4.5
Output	120 amps	94 amps	94 amps
Regulator	Solid state	Solid state	Solid state
Volts @ 75°	13.8-14.8	13.8-14.8	13.8-14.8

GENERAL ENGINE SPECS

Engine V.I.N Code	5	Y
Engine type	V8-273cc(4.5L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Manufacturer	Cadillac	Oldsmobile
Fuel delivery	DFI	4 bbl
Horsepower	155@4200	140@3200
Torque	240@2800	255@2000
Bore x Stoke	3.622 x 3.307	3.800 x 3.385
Compression Ratio	9.1:1	7.9:1
Oil pressure	37 psi@1500 RPM	30-45 psi@1500 RPM

CRANKSHAFT SPECS

Engine type	V8-273cc(4.5L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Main Brg Journal Dia.	2.6776-2.6786	2.4988-2.4998 (No. 2, 3, 4, 5: 2.4985-2.4995)
Main Brg Oil Clearance	0.0016-0.0039 (No. 1: 0.0008-0.0031")	0.0005-0.0021
Shaft End-play	0.010-0.070	0.0035-0.0135
Thrust on No.	3	3

CONNECTING ROD SPECS

Engine type	V8-273cc(4.5L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Journal Dia.	2.052-2.054	2.1238-2.1248
Oil Clearance	0.0005-0.0028	0.0004-0.0033
Side Clearance	0.008-0.020	0.006-0.020

PISTON AND RING SPECS

Engine type	V8-273cc(4.5L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Piston-Bore Clearance	0.0008	0.00075-0.00175
Ring Side Clearance: Top Compression	0.0016-0.0037	0.0018-0.0038
Ring Side Clearance: Bottom Compression	0.0016-0.0037	0.0018-0.0038
Ring Side Clearance: Oil Control	None (side sealing)	0.001-0.005
Ring Gap: Top Compression	0.015-0.024	0.009-0.019
Ring Gap: Bottom Compression	0.015-0.024	0.009-0.019
Ring Gap: Oil Control	0.010-0.050	0.015-0.055

VALVE SPECS

Engine type	V8-273cc(4.5L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Seat Angle	45°	45°(exhaust 31°)
Face Angle	44°	44°(exhaust 30°)
Spring Test Pressure	intake: 212@1.28; exhaust: 216@1.28	187 lb @ 1.27
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	0.3410-0.3420	0.3425-0.3437
Stem Diameter: Exhaust	0.3410-0.3420	0.3420-0.3427

TORQUE SPECS

Engine type	V8-273cc(4.1L)	V8-307cc(5.0L)
Cyl. Head Bolts	90 ft.lb	130 ft. lb
Rod Brg Bolts	22 ft.lb	18 ft. lb (Plus rotate 70°)
Main Brg Bolts	85 ft.lb	80 ft. lb (Rear main: 120)
Crankshaft Damper or Pulley Bolt	Press fit	200-310 ft. lb
Flywheel to Crankshaft Bolts	70 ft.lb	60 ft. lb
Intake Manifold		40 ft. lb
Exhaust Manifold	18 ft.lb	25 ft. lb

CARBURETOR SPECS

Carb ID	17086008 (E4MC)	17086008 (E4MC)
Float Level	¹¹⁄₃₂ in.	14/32 in
Air Valve Spring	1/2 turn	1/2 turn
Pump Rod	fixed	fixed
Primary Vacuum Break	0.142 in/25°	0.142 in/25°
Secondary Vacuum Break	0.278 in/43°	0.278 in/43°
Choke Rod	14°	14°
Choke Unloader	0.220 in/35°	0.220 in/35°
Fast Idle Speed	See underhood decal

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECS

Feature	Eldorado	Full size	Seville
Caster Range	1-5/16°P to 3-5/16°P	2°P-4°P	1½°P-3½°P
Caster Pref.	2-5/16°P	3°P	2½°P
Camber LH wheel Range	13/16°N to 13/16°P	½°N to ½°P	½°N to ½°P
Camber LH wheel Pref.	0°	0°	0°
Camber RH wheel Range	13/16°N to 13/16°P	½°N to ½°P	½°N to ½°P
Camber RH wheel Pref.	0°	0°	0°
Toe-In	3/32 in to 3/32 out	3/32 in to 3/32 out	3/32 in to 3/32 out
Steering Axis Inclination	--	10-19/32	--

Make	Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
Cimarron	6J	G69	4-door Sedan	$16071	2756 lb	6454
DeVille	6C	D47	2-door Coupe	$23049	3437 lb	152,513
DeVille	6C	D69	4-door Sedan	$23404	3397 lb
Fleetwood D'Elegance	6C	B69	4-door Sedan	$28024	3463 lb
Fleetwood Sixty Special	6C	S69	4-door Sedan	$34750	3547 lb
Brougham	6D	W69	4-door Sedan	$23846	4156 lb	53,130
Eldorado	6E	L57	2-door Coupe	$24891	3399 lb.	33,210
Seville	6K	S69	4-door Sedan	$27627	3449 lb.	22,968
Allanté	6V	R67	2-door Convertible	$56533	3489 lb	2569

Allante	...	2,569	... decreased 794
Cimarron	...	6,454	... decreased 8,107
Fleetwood/de Ville series	...	205,643	... increased 22,659
Eldorado	...	33,210	... increased 15,435
Seville	...	22,968	... increased 4,390