38 caddy V16 tune up part numbers wanted?

[harvey b]

hello all, looking for some part numbers for a 38 V16 motor,it is in a 38-9033 car,we were able to get it to run this fall,seems to run OK,but needs a tune up,looking for the part #s for the dist caps,points,condensers?.also are any of the parts the same as the v8 motors of that year,that would make them easier to find?any help greatly appreciated.  thanks Harvey

[Rusty Shepherd CLC6397]

Harvey,
I would suggest buying the Cadillac & La Salle Club's Authenticity Manual for the 1938-1940 V-16 cars which was compiled a few years ago by a group of CLC members who are very knowledgeable about those cars and have owned one or more of them. This book gives parts availability, sources, and equivalent parts (for example, air cleaners from straight-eight Pontiacs through 1954 can be used on your car).  If you are a CLC member (and if you're not, you definitely should be), you will be able to correspond with Terry Wenger and Brad Ipsen who are club technical advisors for the late Sixteens.  Both of these men are walking encyclopedias on those cars and have restored their cars to showroom condition.

[Philippe M. Ruel]

Collector's auto supply website contains a Delco Remy catalog with ignition parts #s from 1922 on, including all Cadillac V8, V12 or V16.
Only points may be a problem, rotor and condenser are the same with Cadillac flathead V8s and many other auto brands, GM or not.

http://www.collectorsautosupply.com/DELCO.PDF

I remember reading that late Cadillac V16s were two Pontiac L8s bolted on a common crankcase at a 135° angle - is it a legend ?

[Terry Wenger CLC #1800]

Rusty, Philippe and Harvey:

Yes, all the tuneup information as well as parts for brakes, suspension, body parts and tips all can be found in the '38-'40 V-16 Authenticity Manual. We included all that information in it.

Ignition Points Delco DR 18232
Distributor Cap Delco DR 196
Rotor Delco DR142

Spark Plugs AC Delco, R45 or R 46, Autolite 295.

The '38 -'40 V-16 engine is definitely not two Pontiac L-head blocks on one crankcase. It is all cast in one block and was the "state of the art" in engine casting at that time.

Terry

Terry