Cadillac history 1938

1938 CADILLAC 16-Cylinder

The Cadillac Series 90 for 1938 was essentially a Series 75 with a V-16 engine. Even though the wheelbase was thirteen inches shorter, the bodies were equal or larger in all dimensions than previous Cadillac V-16's. This was accomplished by fitting the nearly flat engine low in the frame and partially behind the line of the firewall. V-16's were distinguished from the counterpart V-8's by a coarser pitch eggcrate grille, fender lamps, and streamlined louvers on the hood side panels and all fender skirts.

The new V-16 engine was of L-head, short stroke square design, cast-en-bloc, with 135 degree Vee. With each block in running balance, the engine was basically a twin-eight. Dual accessories included carburetors, oil bath air cleaners, manifolds, distributors, coils, fuel pumps, and water pumps. The fuel pumps were interconnected so that either one could supply both carburetors if needed. Only the left hand distributor contained breaker arms; the two arms being electrically independent but operated by a single eight-lobe cam. The right hand unit acted only to distribute the high tension voltage to the spark plugs in the right bank. A cross pipe connected both exhaust manifolds and fed into a single down-pipe at the left. The generator was placed low in the Vee and was driven by an internal rubber ring in the fan hub acting on a driven wheel on the generator shaft. This arrangement allowed for fan speeds less than engine speed and generator speeds nearly twice engine speed - it lasted only one year.

I. D. DATA

Serial numbers were on frame side bar, just ahead of the steering gear.
Starting: Same as engine number.
Ending: Same as engine number.
Engine numbers were on upper rear left hand corner of left cylinder block, parallel with cylinder head.
Starting Engine Number: 5270001.
Ending: 5270315.

Fleetwood Series 39-96 141 in. Wheelbase
Style Number	Style	Seating	Price	Weight
38-9057	Coupe	2	5335	4915
38-9057-8	Coupe	5	5440	5015
38-9067	Convertible Coupe	2	5440	4905
38-9019	Sedan	5	5135	5105
38-9019-F	Imperial Sedan	5	5215	5165
38-9059	Formal Sedan	5	6050	5105
38-9039	Town Sedan	5	5695	5140
38-9029	Convertible Sedan	5	6000	5350
38-9023	Sedan	7	5265	5185
38-9033	Imperial Sedan	7	5420	5345
38-9033-F	Formal Sedan	7	6050	5345
38-9053	Town Car	7	7170	5415

ENGINE

135 degree Vee
L-Head
Sixteen Cylinders
Cast iron block
Bore & Stroke: 3-1/4 in. x 3-1/4 in.
Displacement: 431 cu. in.
Compression Ratio: 7:1
Brake Horsepower: 185 @ 3600 rpm
SAE/Taxable Horsepower: 67.6
Main bearings: Nine
Valve lifters: Hydraulic
Carburetor: Carter WDO 407s(L) - 408s(R)

CHASSIS

Wheelbase: 141 in.
Overall length: 200-5/8 in.
Front Tread: 60-1/2 in.
Rear Tread: 62-1/2 in.
Tires: 7.5O x l6

TECHNICAL

Selective synchro manual transmission.
Speeds: 3 Forward, 1 Reverse
Left Hand Drive; Gearshift on column; handbrake at left
Single disc clutch.
Shaft drive, Hotchkiss.
Semifloating rear axle.
Hypoid gears.
Overall Ratio: 4.31:1.
Hydraulic brakes on four wheels.
Disc wheels.
Wheel size: 16 in.

OPTIONS

Radio: $95.00
Heater: $26.50-42.50
Seat covers: $7.50 per seat
Spotlight: $18.50
Automatic battery filler: $7.50
Flexible steering wheel: $15.00
Fog lights: $17.50 pair

HISTORICAL

Introduced: October, 1937.
Model year sales and production: 315
The general manager was Nicholas Dreystadt

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May 11, 2000; March 8/03