Cadillac Models & History 1988

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: [email protected]; exhaust: [email protected] 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 1132 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.
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.
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)

1988 Automotive Notes

  • GM news:
  • Ford news:
  • Chrysler news:
  • AMC news:
  • Other makes news:
  • Top American Automobile Corporations for 1988


1. General Motors3,181,657
2. Ford2,011,007
3. Chrysler1,104,002
4. Others150


  • Top model year production for 1988
Ford1,331,489
Chevrolet1,236,316
Pontiac680,714
Oldsmobile535,015
Dodge489,645
Buick458,768
Skyhawk29,134
Skylark54,792
Century113,258
Reatta4,708
Regal129,997
LeSabre136,040
Estate Wagon9,624
LeSabre Wagon3,723
Electra Wagon5,901
Electra92,513
Riviera8,625
Plymouth336,070
Mercury298,859
Lincoln280,659
Chrysler278,287
Cadillac270,844
Allante2,569
Cimarron6,454
Seville22,968
DeVille & Fleetwood152,513
Eldorado17,775
Fleetwood Brougham53,130
Avanti150
Acura128,238