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
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 |
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 |
-- |
HISTORICAL NOTES
1988 Cadillac Notes
- Cadillac's share of the U.S. car market was 2.52 percent
- John O. Grettenberger continued to serve as its general manager
- Its chief engineer was Robert Dorn
- Cadillac production figures
Allante2,569 (decreased 794)
Cimarron6,454 (decreased 8,107)
Fleetwood/de Ville series205,643 (increased 22,659)
Eldorado33,210 (increased 15,435)
Seville22,968 (increased 4,390)