346 flathead lifters 41-48???

[kkarrer]

Hello!
     I'm giving my lifters a cleaning and check and found that two of them didn't have springs on the ends.  This concerned me until the fellow at Terrill Machine told me that Cadillac switched the lifter style in '48 to a lifter that didn't incorporate the spring at the end.  I'd never heard that one, but those guys know their stuff.  There are only two that are different (48's) in my engine and I'm wondering if I should just switch them out with new ones from Terrill so that all of them are the same (41) type?  Any information on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227D coupe

[Steve Passmore]

You learn something new every day, I v never seen them without springs, that would have to have been one year only.  I dismantled a 48 engine years back and they all had springs?  Id replace them all.

[kkarrer]

Steve,
      Yes, I just confirmed with Terrill Machine that there was a lifter body change in late 1948 and that there were no springs at the tops of those lifters.  They do apparently interchange, but I'm going to replace the two that were in there as you suggest.
Thanks,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227D coupe

[harry s]

Ken,
     As Terrill confirmed there was a change made during 48. My 48 is a late model and has the "unit" type lifters. I had a complete set of NOS unit lifters and put them in a 39 LaSalle rebuild a few years ago. They worked fine. It is probably a good idea to go one way or the other.  Here's a picture from the 48 shop manual.     Harry

[Bob Schuman]

Ken,
My 41 has a late 48 engine, and in 1979 while doing a valve job I replaced the later style lifters with the earlier style(that's all I could find), keeping the same lifter bodies that ride on the cam. After about 40000 miles since then, they work fine. What I did is the reverse of Harry's change. I believe there was a Cadillac bulletin that said such a change is not advisable. Incidentally, Cadillac issued postwar bulletins stating that war surplus military engines were not suitable for passenger cars. I guess all the guys using those engines in their cars better look for replacements. Cadillac also issued a bulletin stating the 1952 power steering system was not adaptable to earlier cars. Gee, my 51 coupe with a 52 power steering system seems fine to me.
Bob Schuman,CLC#254

[harry s]

Bob, I remember at the time reading in the MCBP book their recommendation to service the 48 engines with the type lifter they were originally fitted with. The set of unit lifters I had included the bodies also. Most of the bodies in the LaSalle had minor to serious scoring on the bottoms. At that time plunger bodies were in short supply. I think Terrell makes them now for about $25 each. The LaSalle rebuild was about 6 years ago and has gone about 10K with no problems or noise. Maybe it is time to uncross fingers.     Harry

[kkarrer]

Harry, Steve, and Bob,
     I ordered a complete set of the lifter tops and a couple of additional lifter bodies to match the ones for '41.  My guess is that the rebuilder knew the 48's would fit and had 2 of the originals that needed to be replaced and just happened to have a couple of the late '48's.  I can usually get parts from Terrill in a day, so I should have this back together by the weekend.  I'm going to wait for help because that intake manifold is a bear to deal with by yourself and I'll need someone to turn the engine by hand...I managed to drop one of those brass fittings for the oil line and I know that it landed on the pan below the counterweights and above the oil pan, but I can't quite see it and can't go fishing for it since it's not magnetic.  Let me know if you have suggestions for that.  Also, if someone needs these two late 1948 lifters (complete).  I'll send them out.  They appear to be in good shape and I've run them through my ultrasonic cleaner.
Thanks,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227 D coupe

[harry s]

Ken,  I don't know what to tell you about an easy way to fish out the brass fitting. It is almost certainly on the splash pan. Maybe if all the lifters are removed you will be able to spot it. That ultra sonic parts washer sounds like a really neat piece of equipment and a real time saver. What size do you have and how do you like it?    Harry

[kkarrer]

Harry,
      I'm going to get a buddy to turn the engine by hand while I get in there with a flash light and try to spot it.  Dumb stunt on my part.  As to the ultra sonic.  It's about 6x6x6 and has a heating element as well.  Like a bead blaster, they're never big enough, but I've done carb bodies and parts in it and stuff like these lifter parts.  To do the lifter block you have to put in one end and then the other, but it seemed to do the trick.  I think you can get something similar at Harbor Freight and I know they can be had on-line.  In this case I used some parts cleaner from an auto parts house, but I've used brake cleaner that comes in a plastic jug and some of that orange and some of the purple degreasers.  It all works pretty well.  Hey let me know if you ever come up with a back up light for my 41...the cyclops type.
Thanks,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227D coupe

[38FLATTIE]

FYI, there are 3 different lifter styles for the '37-'48 Cadillac/ Lasalle

1937-41, 42-early 48, with the difference being the valve body length, and the late '48's.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Buddy,
Per the 1942 MPB you are incorrect. The first series of lifters start at 1936 to 1940, then the second series 1941 to early 1948.
HTH, Bob

[harry s]

The ultra sonic cleaner sounds a real time saver and more pleasureable way to clean parts. A lot better than the stiff bristle brush with solvent. Those original '41 backup lights are really getting hard to find. I need one also for my '41 67 series.

[kkarrer]

Harry,
    Do you or anyone else reading this have some really good close ups of the carb. linkage?  Something's off with mine now and it could be that when I pulled the trans. and ran a strap under the pan that the strap sagged too much and let the linkage get jammed up top against the firewall.  I need to see both sides...the linkage on the driver's side where the throttle is and the linkage on the passenger side where it pivots near the distributor.  Mine's bumping on the distributor oiler for some reason and just has some torque on it that shouldn't be there.
Thanks,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227D coupe

[Paul Phillips]

Ken
I have a lot of pictures of the linkage on my car before I took it apart and will be glad to send to you. I can't remember if I have your direct email - please pm me with that and I wil try to help.

Paul

[kkarrer]

Thanks Paul...it's   
kkarrer@austin.rr.com

Ken Karrer 1941 6227D coupe

[38FLATTIE]

Buddy,
Per the 1942 MPB you are incorrect. The first series of lifters start at 1936 to 1940, then the second series 1941 to early 1948.
HTH, Bob

Bob, you are correct. I was going with my somewhat suspect memory, pointing out that there are 3 different lifters. Thank you for correcting me-I always thought the break was in 1942.

[Paul Phillips]

Ken
Did you get what you need on the linkage from the emailed photos?  I may be separating the engine & tranny next week, so want to take any extra shots you need before then.

Paul

[kkarrer]

Yes Paul.  Thanks very much.  The linkage was hung up because I hadn't straightened out the motor as the tranny was still out.  I'm trying out some GM gasket maker sealant between the flywheel and the crank on this hydramatic as soon as the new torus gasket comes in.  Is your car an automatic?
Thanks again,
Ken Karrer 1941 6227 D coupe

[Paul Phillips]

Ken
Yes, my 41 started life as an automatic car, but now has a 47 engine with a 49 hydramatic.  Not much good from a numbers matching view, but a definite improvement over the original bits.

Paul