Projects first (and second) firing of Cadillac flathead with videos

responded to an ad for a free 1940 Cadillac engine here on the HAMB.
went up to North Seattle and met John Walker at his shop and loaded it up.
it had a little green coolant in it and no obvious cracks, oil looked nice and clean, hoping it didn't just mean all the crap settled to the bottom.. plugs looked nice and clean too, like they were replaced and then it just sat for years.
I took the starter apart and cleaned it all up, nice in there too. cleaned up the distributor, put a better cap on and spun it on the machine,
stuck it in the motor and put some plug wires on it I had laying around.
spent yesterday running down parts, got a fresh rebuilt fuel pump and a couple belts and spent a few hours scraping who knows how many decades of gunk off it
and put it back together.

today a hooked up a battery and spun it, it fired almost immediately.
I was able to find a carburetor kit for it and should have a radiator I can hook up
so next is to set it in the engine test stand and try to make it behave a little better.
but I do think it may be a runner..

 

That's cool as hell man good job. Big thanks to the hamb member for a free engine. Keep it in the family is a good way to go.

 

Dontcha like it when a plan comes together...That raw sound of power always reminds me of a connection to wartime aviation. Thats a beauty...thanks for the musical interlude...

Do I detect a future project wrapped around this new acquisition @Paul ?



Its a 34 caddy mill but yours could fill the bill nicely...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=20276
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That is Flat out cool. Good job picking up the motor and saving it form the scrapper.

 

That's awesome!
What is the displacement on a Cadillac Flathead?

 

I think it's a 346

 

Man that is cool as hell! congratulations!!!

 

So glad the resident engine man, added another to the vault. I love your garage Paul. Right on.

 

Very cool!

 

That's amazing and a pure clinic on gas, spark & ignition. Thanks for posting it. Now I want one.

 

A good feeling, innit?

 

Sounds just like the WWII tanks, wonder why, that's what was in the early Tank's, in the 50 there were a lot of new surplus ones around, packed in containers in the scrap yard.

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. More of these Cad engines should be used for Hot Rods.

 

Bad ass. Good
Old pure hotrodding there.
Man that thing didn't even smoke!
You have yourself a good engine there. Congrats.


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Very cool, I had a feeling it was a good one. Nice to have Hagens near you.

 

What a score[emoji41]


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Very cool. I love old engines.

 

Congrats - never know unless you try

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That is fantastic!!
I saw that thread about the free Caddy engine and was very jealous that I was so far away. I never expected to see the engine up and running so soon. Good for you!!

Thanks for sharing that with us and I'm glad that the Caddy engine lives on. A big round of frosty beverages to you and to the donor!!
Bobby

 

Thanks again John.
Yes Hagen's is nice to have nearby, they seam to be building up their inventory again, it was a little thin after the fire for a while there..
How many parts stores are there where you can walk in and they have a fuel pump for a '40 Cadillac on the shelf?
Another great place is Williams Oil Filter Service in Tacoma, they must have every belt and hose ever made in there, and several old guys behind the counter that know their stuff.
Tacoma Clutch is another great source, I guess I'll be paying them a visit soon too.

 

Good job. on both of you. I bought a 38 La Salle that sat for a lot of years . Bought a manual for it. It said when they sit the lifters go dry and will be noisy for a minute or two. Mine was like they were swapping holes til I let it run. Then the engine was quiet as a church mouse.

 

great save Paul! Sounds wicked, what are your plans for this one????

 

My buddy has one in his roadster.




Congratulations on the engine, you are gonna love it.

-Abone.

 

So far the plan is to continue cleaning it up and tuning it and bolt a transmission to it.
Beyond that? Who knows

 

Does the early 37 lasalle bolt up to the later engines??

 

Early LaSalle gear boxes will bolt up but you need to drill a hole in the bell housing for the shift rod to slide into or you will not be able to shift into low gear. You will see it when you look at the front of the gear box.
Frank

 

Then you will need to seal that hole off, there will be gear oil working it's way in and onto the clutch without it.
I fastened a sheet metal plate and jb welded and screwed it in place inside the bell on my last one. That was before I read of drilling it oversize and pushing a frost plug in.
I think I have enough parts to put together another '37 otherwise it will just get a side shift.

 

Correct Paul ,

 

Let me add this to the fray. Got to love a caddy powered roadster.



@Paul that's one sweet sounding old motor.

 

test run number two
rebuilt the carburetor and set timing by ear.

I've only run it for a minute or two at a time, just enough to get warm.
still needs some fine tuning of course but it seems to be running better every time.