1938 cadillac Lasalle

[DAVID E]

I have a 1938 Cadillac LaSalle
having a couple problems as I just bough this car.  The first thing it is very hard to start , as it cranks slow, replaced the 6 volt battery, Than once it gets a a little quicker Have to pour gas into the carburetor, I don't see any time of choke on this car, after runs it runs good, but shut it off the same problem all over again.
Anyone has and suggestions?

[tturley]

I have a 1940 lasalle that was the same way. I replaced the battery cables with welding cable, made sure every connection was clean and tight, ran ground cables from the firewall to engine and frame to starter and installed new battery.
It starts instantly now.

[ebuliavac]

The accelerator pump in your carburetor may not be working.  I fixed this problem with my 1940 Cadillac when I rebuilt the carburetor.  Gook luck!

Ed Buliavac

[tripwire]

Tom,
What size (gauge) welding cable did you use?  I'm sure other folks would be interested as well.

WParo in VT

[gary griffin]

I use double 2-00 welding cable because I have a lot of it laying around as welding was part of my business.

My 1940 LaSalle has automatic choke, look at the exhaust manifold and if there is a tubing from the manifold to the carburetor that is the "Choke stove) which automatically chokes the vehicle. I am not sure of the first years for automatic choke?

Hard starting can be numerous things. Sitting too long is one of them. I use a vacuum cleaner pressure end of the hose in the gas tank fill tube with a rag loosely around it to push the gas into the carburetor. Be careful not to over-pressure the gas tank.

[DAVID E]

after it runs for any time period short or long, at cranks slow and have to prime with fuel

[Dan LeBlanc]

Your 38 LaSalle  (yes, just LaSalle, not Cadillac LaSalle - that would be akin to a Buick Oldsmobile) should have an automatic choke. I agree with the other posters here that it should always start immediately.

I recently drove a friend's 38 LaSalle and even after sitting for a week or two, after one or two pumps of the accelerator, starts almost immediately after hitting the starter button.

[tturley]

I believe the cable I used is 1.0. My 40 Lasalle also has an auto choke and I believe you pump the gas one time to set it.

[tturley]

I know some have installed a fiber insulator under the carb to minimize carb tempeture that they say helps hot starts.
If you get the battery and grounds right I bet it will spin fast enough to start when hot

[DAVID E]

I checked out the battery and found it was a fleet farm battery, not sure that it is even the correct battery for, I replaced cables, but starter gets hot quick,

[tturley]

Did you replace with 1 or 2
Did you ground everything?

[Tom Boehm]

Hello David, I have a 1940 Lasalle. When I bought a battery for mine it was a type 2    6 volt. Some tractors may use that battery also. It is important to get all the connections clean. This includes the battery pole clamps, where the positive cable(or braided copper strap) attaches to the frame, where the negative cable attaches to the starter, and the braided copper strap jumper between the frame and the engine block. I used a dremel tool with a grinding bit to clean off the paint and rust where two surfaces bolt together. I put dielectric grease on the two surfaces to keep them from rusting or tarnishing again. This alone may improve the situation. Then try a thicker negative cable between the battery and the starter. This will maximize the voltage to the starter.

[DAVID E]

thanks!
I replaced both cables , heavy ground cable, clean the paint off the surface for better ground. and replaced the battery, It started great, But shut it off the starter just dont have enough to engaged. But once I leave it for a short time starts right up

[DAVID E]

I was wondering if anyone knows what the electrical lay out is supposed for this 1938 LaSalle? As most cars in the 30's I thought was positive ground. This car has the positive cable from the battery to the starter. The Negative cable from the battery to the frame and than to the engine.

[Steve Passmore]

It should be positive ground but many have been changed over the years usually accompanied by a 12 volt conversion.

[harvey b]

Another way that you can tell if it is positive ground or not,is by the ends on the cables themselves, the positive end is bigger then the negative end,It has always been like that.but since you have changed yours,you may have to look at your old ones and see if they are like that,these cars will run if you hook them up "backwards",not well but they will run.If it was my car i would look at the timing to see if it is set to the right spot,i had the same problem with my 37,it would start great when cold,but would be hard to start when it warmed up,moved the timing a bit,starts great now,even when i stall it sometimes.Harvey