1938 lasalle V8 engine question

[Easy Snyder]

I have a 1938 Cadillac Lasalle with a V8 that my father restored. He is no longer here to answer questions. How do I know what engine is in it. I need to know as I need to drop the oil pan and clean it and need to get a new pan gasket, and will need many replacement parts in the future, most likely. I recently joined the club and forum. Have been reading and cannot believe how helpful the posts are. Thanks in advance for the help.
Easy Snyder, member number 29493.
Neil Snyder, Loveland, Colorado.

[tozerco]

Neil,

Show us ya engine number stamped into the flat, machined area at the back (firewall end) of the left hand (driver side) cylinder bank above the flywheel housing and we can tell you what engine you have in there. Might need to do a bit of cleaning up and use a good light - the old style numbers are easy to confuse ("3"s for "8"s etc.)

There are plenty of suppliers for the parts you have mentioned.

[Easy Snyder]

Thank you for the help. The engine number is 2271041. I will try to attach a few photos.

[Steve Passmore]

Welcome Neil. You have the correct 1938 La Salle engine in there. Its the standard 322 cubic inch motor sharing many things with flatheads right through to 1948. Cadillac used the 346ci block throughout this era but the La Salle 322 block only lasted until 1940. Most all gaskets will be the same.

[Easy Snyder]

Thank you Steve. I also noticed while checking the engine serial number, the engine serial number is the same as the vehicle Id number. Was that the way it was done back then?

[Tom Boehm]

Hello Neil, That means that car has the original factory installed engine. That's the way it was done back then.

[Easy Snyder]

Thank you for the help, it means a lot
Neil