Pre-war (up to 1942) Hood spring confusion.

[914Driver]

Morning all,

I recently purchased a 1940 LaSalle Series 52 which had no hood springs.  Yeah, that's a heavy hood. I looked a Hemmings, Bring a Trailer and here to see what they looked like, they were all like the Cadillacs'.  Two vertically standing springs at the top of the firewall and attached to the hood.  OK, I looked around.

My car has no attachment bracket on the firewall or threaded holes where it may go, the hood had no bracketry or holes either.  Huh.  My hinges have a 1/6" diameter hole at the elongated bottom and there are small "louvers" at the top of the frame, about a foot forward of the firewall & frame junction; I assumed a spring connects these two, pulling up the hood.

Other than trim level, I didn't see much difference between a Series 50 & a 52, I can't imagine reengineering a working system for one type of car.

Thoughts, suggestions?  Anything is more than I have now.

Thanks, Dan

[Tom Boehm]

I can clear up some of your question. The series 1940 series 50 and 52 Lasalles use two completely different Fisher GM bodies. Although the front end styling is the same, no sheet metal is interchangeable. The difference is most obvious at the rear profile. GM/Fisher had three basic bodies that all divisions used. Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Lasalle used the Fisher "B" body of 1939/1940 for their base models. This was older styling and more conservative. B,O,P,L, and Cadillac series 62 used the Fisher "C" body of 1940 for their fancier models. This body was more streamlined and modern.

The gist of all this for you is the 1940 Lasalle series 52 and the 1940 Cadillac series 62 used the same Fisher "C" body. Therefore the hood spring hardware will be the same.

My car is a 1940 Lasalle 50 series. I can post a picture of the hood springs but I don't know if they are the same as a 52 series. My quick research was inconclusive. Hopefully someone on this forum will know or have a 52 series they can post a picture of.

[harry s]

I just checked the MPL and the hood springs for Series 50 & 52 are different. It shows '40 Series 52, 62 & 72 as being the same. No pictures though.
Harry

[harry s]

Here is a pictures of a '40 Cad Series 62. If you look close you can see the spring on the driver side. So it looks like your car would have a spring on each side. With any luck the attaching hardware will be there with just the springs missing.
I couldn't get the picture to post. Here is the link to the site:
https://www.schmitt.com/inventory/ds-1940-cadillac-series-62-coupe/#photos_section
Harry

[Tom Boehm]

Your car should look like the Cadillac in the previous post by Harry s. My 50 series is different so I won't post a picture.

[Tom Boehm]

Here is another under hood view of a 1940 Lasalle 52 series.

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1758485/1940-lasalle-52-for-sale-in-morgantown-pennsylvania-19543

[914Driver]

Wow!  Thanks guys.  Guess I have shopping to do.  But that's so much easier when you know what to look for!

BTW; the stock 322 block had a badly done repair to it, no good at all.  It was rebuilt, but the guy didn't gap the rings, just pulled them out of the bag and lubed 'em up.  Engine froze in <100 miles. 

I'm putting a 346 in now.  If you need any 322 bits, shoot me a message.

Dan

[LaSalle5019]

You could always bore your 322 to a 346 if you wanted to rebuild that engine.

[914Driver]

Can anyone verify these really are LaSalle or Caddy Series 62 or 72 springs.  The seller has no clue.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

These are not 1940 62 or 52 series springs.  Not sure what they are but not 40-52, 62.

[914Driver]

Rats!   Thank you.