346 choke stove.

[gary griffin]

Does anybody have the diagram for the tube from the carburetor  to the choke stove? What is the material and is there a fitting on the end of it. What is the size of the tubing?

[Steve Passmore]

Thats steel pipe Gary and theres no fitting on the stove end, it just sits in the little hole.  The way it gets there can be different for different years according to the manifolds and carburetors. I even have a manifold with it on the opposite side!. The hole in the choke fitting will determine the pipe size, usually 1/8"?

[gary griffin]

E-mail is garygriffin@Q.com  . (I had Quest phone service at the time)

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Gary,

FYI, the original steel pipe was insulated with asbestos to make sure all the heat got to the choke. So when you get the new one get the insulation from the hot rod guys to keep the heat in.

My opinion

The Johnny

[Jay Friedman]

The following information is from the Class 13 1948-1949 Authenticity Manual.

The 1948 automatic choke heater pipe is a ¼ inch in diameter and is covered with a woven fiber insulating tubing to retain exhaust heat. 

The automatic choke stove connection is in the middle of the right side exhaust manifold and connects through the heater pipe directly to the automatic choke assembly on the carburetor. 

Due to three different carburetors being used during the 1948 model year, the pipe may enter through either the left or right side of the carburetor. 

The heater pipe insulation is white / beige in color (not black or dark grey as in some other model years). 

[joeceretti]

Here is a photo of my choke heat stove. I have ordered, but have yet to pick up, the heat shielding I purchased from the local hot rod store. It seems to me that heat retention through shielding is important as well as keeping the line length as short as practically possible.

[gary griffin]

Hi Joe,

  Very interesting, I went to the garage to look for the choke stove on my 194o  LaSalle and did not find it, after I saw your picture I went out again and looked on the Left side and there it is.   I have always seen them on the right side. There are protrusions in the right side manifold on the right side,  Possibly the side depended on the carburetor to be used.

[joeceretti]

Yes, the choke stove can be on either side. Mine should actually be on the other side.

Some manifolds have only bosses cast into them, for screws, to mount the choke stove like I have. Others have a more substantial series of winding passageways cast into them and on that you install a flat plate. I am not sure about which years have which. I do have a manifold with these passageways cast into them. I just don't have a photo to post of it. It's at my garage with a bunch of my other parts. I can get a picture if needed.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

and on the 1937 & 1938 with the original Stromberg Carburetor it had an electric choke so not tube.

The Johnny

[joeceretti]

A good friend offered me a correct Stromberg carb for my car. I am not sure what I would do about my exhaust manifolds though. I don't have the correct manifolds. I would like to return this to the way it should be. I'll have to think on this some more. It runs so good now I am not in a hurry to change it. I will eventually I suppose as I would like to get as close to original as possible.

[Bill Ingler #7799]

Hi Joe & Gary: To answer a question you Joe had on what were the years for the two different style choke stoves used on the 346 engine. If the page below from the Master Parts Book is correct and I assume I am reading the page correctly, it appears that the type of choke stove that you Joe now have on your engine was used on the RIGHT exhaust manifold from 1937 through 1942 with the exception of the 38-65,38-75,39-75 and 40-75. From a change in the part number for the right exhaust manifold, the new type choke stove, pictured of my 47 engine below, appears that this type was used on the right exhaust manifold 1946 thru 1948. The same part number(142 2747)shown for the LEFT exhaust manifold was used from 1936 thru 1948 with the exception of the same series of cars as the right exhaust manifold.

       It has been several years since I sold my 41 and so my question to anyone would be- were all left manifolds cast with raised bosses which could be tapped to accept the choke stove? I guess another question would be- Why the choke stove on the left exhaust manifold?  Was it because of the location of the choke entrance on that particular carburetor ?     Bill

[joeceretti]

I have a set of manifolds off of a 47, with the more complicated cast in passages, and a set off of a 38 LaSalle in bad condition. I can get the correct carb, as stated in a previous post. I don't want to swap anything out unless I can find the correct manifolds from a 38 60S in good condition. I'm not holding my breath on that. Maybe eventually.

My goal is to 1) keep the car driveable at all times 2) restore it. These are constantly conflicting. I have so far achieved number 1.

[gary griffin]

 Art, 

   Yes I got the e-mail, thank you.  This is about the same as my 1940 LaSalle, my 1942 Cadillac has it on the other side.

   I also got  a message from Sue P. informing me that the Michigan Classic Car Club is selling new ones on their website and also I found theirs on eBay but eBay only had the Stainless steel while the club site had both. Although not authentic I purchased the stainless steel version and maybe I will purchase the steel version and let it rust a few years and keep it handy in case I am in  show a being judged for authenticity.  Until then I will enjoy the non rusting item on my newly porcelainized manifold.

   Thank everyone for the assistance and advice.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

Bill,

I think this is one instance where you cannot count on the MPL for authenticity.  If a manifold would work it would replace a part number that was now obsolete.  Extra bosses on the exhaust manifolds are common and Cadillac would not worry about it.  The reason for the 38, 39 , 40-75 right side being different is the exhaust pipe connected on the cross manifold on those car exiting out the left side of the car.  The right side was then a mirror image of the typical left side of all years and did not include the exhaust pipe connection..

[Steve Passmore]

       It has been several years since I sold my 41 and so my question to anyone would be- were all left manifolds cast with raised bosses which could be tapped to accept the choke stove?
[/quote]


I can confirm the 41 does have raised bosses on the left side, coincidently so does my 38.