Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: George Miller on January 19, 2005, 09:33:20 PM

Title: 1946 Engine serial numbers
Post by: George Miller on January 19, 2005, 09:33:20 PM
I looked at a 1946 model 61 2 door sedan today.  The engine looks correct, but the serial number does not does not match the vehicle VIN (the engine serial number is 6 digits beginning with a 4, and is enclosed by 2 vertical brackets.  Do these cars have matching serial engine and body serial numbers?  If not, is there any way to validate if the car has its original engine and transmission?

Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: 1946 Engine serial numbers
Post by: Bill Ingler CLC 7799 on January 20, 2005, 09:02:05 AM
Hi George-   When the 46-61 left the factory both the vin serial number(frame) and the engine serial number were the same and for the 46-61 consisted of 7 numbers. The block of serial numbers assigned to the 46-61 vin(frame) and engine were 5400001 to 5403001. Over the years engines have been changed in cars and WW2 produced a lot of surplus tank engines which have found their way into some of these cars. I am not familiar with the numbering of the tank engine so maybe someone else will comment on the numbering of the engine you found on the 46. The serial number for the 42-47 engine can be found on the right side of the engine block above and just behind the water pump. The vin number(frame) for the car registration is on the top of the frame about half way between the right engine mount and the firewall. I have never heard of matching numbers to a transmission.