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1938 Cadillac - LaSalle

Started by Huffstutler, August 26, 2010, 07:42:33 PM

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Huffstutler

Mark (markl)  was good enough to send me scans of his 1937 shop manual so...

We know this...  the 1934-1935 frame is the same and taken from the 1933 Buick design.  The 1936-1937 frame is the same.  The 1939-1940 is the same so that leaves 1938...

How does this fit in?  Is is a 1937 or a 1939 frame design?   Does anyone have scans of it for us to tell or even a page from the 1938 sales brochure that shows the frame sketch for the 75 series as well as 60 series??

Thanks!
Eric Huffstutler

Warren Rauch

A  look at frame part numbers from these years shows that nearly every series and year was different , plus right and left hand drive differences. I do have the shop manuals for 1936, 1938-42, and will send you photo copies of what I have.  (The 38 supplement is water stained and may not copy well)
What other makes and years do you need? Warren

Huffstutler

#2
Thanks Warren.  There are variances I am sure between models within series or series themselves.  1938 seems to be an odd duck possibly?  I know in the 1950s there were a lot of one-year design frames and Buick was notorious for them as well as many styles.  Not so much so as with Cadillac - LaSalle.

I will send you an email with the cars I seek if that is fine but as for the 1938, I will post the findings here and also share with Mark and others to solve the puzzle  ;)

Mark's 1937 is seen below in only 15% of original size for post here so you can get an idea of the frame style.  The dimensions are on a different page not posted here.
Eric Huffstutler

Huffstutler

#3
OK... here we go.  Brad I. was kind enough to scan all of the manuals from 1936-1942 for me and we now have a more "basic" answer to the puzzle about the 1938 frame.  

From what I know right now, the 1934-1935 frame is identical and one style for all models.  It was borrowed from the 1933 Buick.

For 1936, the series 50 and 60 frame was added but different in design than the following 1937 model.  The Series 70, 75, 80, and 85 frame was the same between 1936-1937 except for a few body and running board mount bracket location changes and the front edge of the siderails by the front bumper were longer and a radiator mount added.  Basic welded frame is the same between years.

In 1937 there was 2 style frames, one for the 50 and 60 series and one for the 65 and 70 series as seen in the above earlier attachment provided by Mark.

For 1938, there was a bit of a curve thrown in with a 3rd style frame.  The frame for the 50 and 60 series stayed the same except for a minor front bumper area change.  The frame for the 65 and 70 series stayed the same except the addition of new motor mount members on the side rails.  There was a new 60S series frame added for 1938.

In 1939 the series 50 and 61 frame was changed / new and the 60S stayed the same as did the 75 and 90 series.  

For 1940, there was only one basic frame design for all series and that was the 60S series frame from 1938-1939

For 1941, there was still only one frame design but completely changed once more and carried over until 1947.

So, answering the question is the 1938 frame a 1937 or a 1939 wasn't so cut and dry.  But a short answer would be the two basic frames from 1938 were 1937 carryovers with some minor changes with a new 3rd one added.

Eric
Eric Huffstutler