1936 Cadillac Model 60

[mwiedmer]

I am working on a 1936 Model 60 Cadillac.  I would appreciate any drivetrain advice, particularly what, if any, other engines will bolt in (1937-1940 LaSalle?) and what transmissions will interchange.  Thank you.

Mike

[Doug Houston]

The '36 engines were quite different from the later models in several ways. The mounting to the chassis was very different.  If byou can rebuild the '36 engine, it might be a lot easier than to try to adapt the frame to a later engine. The later cars had engine mounts on the frame, under the vee of the block, and the '36 hasn't. The other engine mount on later years was on the tail housing of the transmission.

[mwiedmer]

Doug,

Thank you for your response.  I tried replying earlier, but I not sure I was successful.

Do you know if a '37 transmission will bolt up in a '36 frame?

Mike

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

Hi, I MAY have a '36 60 transmission. I would need the tracing for the front of the transmission, and some pictures if you have any. But, if you could send a full sized tracing from the bell housing, VIA snail mail, I could see if it matches up. Or, I could send you a tracing. I have one lying around my desk somewhere. If you are a Club member, I am in the Directory (IN) and you can call me. I am on EDT and usually up for the 11 PM news. Also retired, so I can be reached during the day. If not a club member, click on my name, and I will get the email and can give you my phone # that way.

[william_b_noble]

a 37 trans will not work on 36.  engines are very different too.

[Steve Passmore]

I have a 1936 70 series with a 1947 engine, (fitted many years ago) and it bolts right up with the original trans and only a little amount of metal being removed from the block webbing to allow the starter position adjustment, therefor there should be no reason that it will not work in reverse if you can keep the earlier bell housing and construct a gearbox cross member, however you do need the flywheel of the later engine. As Doug states the mounts are different but you can easily adapt the later mounts to the side rails by attaching brackets, in effect you end up with 5 engine mounts if you keep the earlier gearbox.
On a side note Cadillac kept the same chassis front cross member on through 38 as all my cars have the 36 engine mount positions in the front redundant.

[william_b_noble]

the series 70 may be different - my recollection is that the tail of the transmission is drastically different, but then again my car is a 60.  When I got it, I had to take a cutting torch to remove the metal brackets a prior owner had welded to the frame to use a 37 engine. - yes the 37 engine will fit, and is widely available (at the time) as a surplus tank engine, however it is not original and if you want original you must use an engine with those cast front facing L shaped motor mounts that are famous for breaking in half

[Steve Passmore]

Sorry William, the 37 engine is nothing like a tank engine, my 37 engine has more similarities to the 36 engine apart from the motor mounts and has a mass of differences to my 41 and 47 engine which is basically the war time design.
I should mention that my 36 has a 62 series engine but retains the 70 / 80 series transmit ion so anything should be possible using 60 or 62 series parts.
. I can understand a lot of purist readers will cringe at this information but Mike was asking, and if it keeps another car on the road I'm all for that. Have you seen a plenty-full supply of 36 engines lately?
By the way Bill, I just checked out your web site and loved it, mind if I use some of the sarcasms?

[william_b_noble]

thanks, feel free to use the sarcasms, feel free to link to content you find helpful.

I guess my memory fails - when I was rebuilding my car, the engine in the frame was a 37, after much searching I got a 36 engine shipped to me and rebuilt that, I guess what I am remembering is getting valve lifters from the tank engine from Egge Machine Co, and I think I used the 37 rods but the 36 crank, it's been a long while since I did that part of the rebuild.

By the way, for those who care, since I am now working on the hood, the hood inside, and the hood louvers inside is body color, but the 4 bars that link the hood louver segments together is originally black, and the spring copper anti rattle springs are unpainted.  I am sure of this because there is no way my car was previously painted.