Swapping in a drivetrain not designed to be in there would put you in the poor house.
I would get an older car (like your dads) that's exempt as far as emissions, and then you can run whatever you want in it.
My current daily driver is a '29 Ford sedan with 60's vintage small block V8 and 4 spd manual trans.
No emissions inspections, no seat belts, and has the "250" air conditioning system. (roll down 2 windows and go 50 MPH)
The windshield tilts open at the bottom to let air in.
Lol. A crate engine just means it's new and came shipped in a crate. Like any engine swap, matching components must be used. So it depends on what you chose to put into your Cadillac. It could require swapping lots of other parts, or only a few. Being successful requires research and asking questions or paying someone else to do it all for you..
Swaping engines on old vehicles are easy. They were simple and crude. There is not as much need to try to figure electrical systems and wire in things like digital guages, etc etc. When you try this engine swap on a newer vehicle it gets a little more tricky since everything is controlled by a computer inside the car. If this computer doesn't function properly with the motor, then you could have problems with charging systems, guages, radio, a/c, etc. Also, as mentioned, rear wheel drives are easier to swap aftermarket engines into than front when drive cars. Anything can be done, but at some point you have to ask is it worth the cost.
Would rebuilding the engine if it craps out be more beneficial I'm just trying to restore it but i was considering swapping the engine. I just thought it was crazy that something as old as 1937 would be able to be swapped with a brand new 350 v8
So my dad bought a Chevy Fleetline 1937 i think is the year. Anyway the guy who he bought it from ended up taking out the inline 6 and put in a 350 v8. Now i don't know too much about cars but how does this work my dad kinda explained it but he only confused me more. He said it was a crate engine and that he had to weld new motor mounts on the frame so the crate would be accepted by the frame. How does this work. Im asking what work would be involved in switching a cars engine to a more powerful engine if the engine fits. Would transmission, axels, front end and rear end have to be swapped? Im thinking about doing this with my 1992 Cadillac Sedan Deville. Im wanting to make this car look original except with a beast engine. Please someone explain this to me. My dad really sucks at explaining things haha. Thank you :)
