See other engines in this family
Cadillac L37 specs: 279 ci (4.6L) 8-cylinder, 3.661 x 3.307 in (93 x 84 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 290-300 hp, 1993–2005. Used in the Cadillac Eldorado. DOHC.
The Cadillac Northstar (L37) is oversquare — the 3.6614" bore exceeds the 3.3071" stroke by 10.7% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.3071" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,250 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 34.9 ci (571 cc).
It is one of 6 engines in the Northstar family, sitting between the 266.7 ci and 281 ci members. 13 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 290 to 300 hp across 1993–2005.
| Displacement | 279 ci / 4.6 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.6614" |
| Stroke | 3.3071" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 10–10.3:1 (published figures vary) |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.107 |
| Block material | aluminum |
|---|---|
| Head material | aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 290–300 hp |
| Years | 1993–2005 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | L37 net | 295 @ 6000 | 290 lb-ft @ 4400 | — |
| 1994 | L37 net | 295 | — | — |
| 1995 | L37 net | 300 * | — | — |
| 1998 | L37 net | 300 * | 295 lb-ft * | — |
| 2002 | L37 net | 300 @ 6000 * | 295 lb-ft @ 4400 * | — |
Factory specification sheet. * Not yet cross-verified.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.107 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,307 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 34.9 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 295 hp | L37 |
| 1994 | 295 hp | L37 |
| 1995 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 1996 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 1997 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 1998 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 1999 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2000 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2001 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2002 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2003 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2004 | 300 hp | L37 |
| 2005 | 290 hp | L37 |
3 factory vehicles, 1993–2005. Each year opens that model's engine table.