1938 LaSalle thermostat

[jos1270]

Hey there guys. I am looking for a 1938 water thermostat. If there is anyone out there that has one or where I can get one. Please let me know. I don't want to rig it or anything like that to make it work better. I will appreciate it a whole lot. And thanks in advance.

[Steve Passmore]

The only place I know is "All cads" in NV, but you will need real deep pockets

[jos1270]

How deep of pockets do i need? 

[Steve Passmore]

Last price I saw there was   $350!

[jos1270]

  wow thats crazy! im gona have to do something different, i guess. or dish out the money. thanks for the info.

[Steve Passmore]

Yes, Ed C gives nothing away.
I did a repair to my 37 thermostat some while back with limited success.  I found a bellows thermostat of 2" diameter, completely dismantled my own and the new one and soldered it all back together. I have no idea what the other bellows came from, wish I did.
The 2" is undersized and needed a spring assistance to open the shutters but was plenty strong enough to close the them.
I now have the same problem with my 36 but I also have the neck and flange that the thermostat bolts to on the radiator corroded away, so I'm having it blanked off and will rig up some sort of cable operation.

Any one recognize this type of thermostat?

[gary griffin]

Try Eddie Jones  at 612 558 2629, he operates a old Cadillac salvage yard and knows a lot and if he can't help you he may know who can. His prices are fair and he has been a real resource for me as I restore my 1942 Cadillac

[jos1270]

I have a problem. My car does not have the shutters anymore. And didnt realy want to get them. is there a way just to put a thermostat like what is used today? And if so, how can it be done since it has two hoses going into the radiator?

[Steve Passmore]

41 was the last time Cadillac had two separate hoses going into the radiator so I presume your car is before that date. There is no way to introduce a thermostat into this system unless you change the radiator. In 41 Cadillac joined those hoses together and had a thermostat where they attached to the rad.   You could have your radiator adapted to the later design?

[jos1270]

What if i was to put a thermostat in each hose? Something like what old tractors used inside the upper radiator hose? Whould that be a bad idea? Would it mess something up? I dont see how it could but i just wanted to hear some opinions.

[Steve Passmore]

It would have to be a small thermostat to get onto those hoses, and would they when open give you a clear flow for the water?
You could I suppose have a pair of housings made that would fit into the hoses, up the size of them  at that point and take a regular size thermostat,   anythings possible with enough imagination and cash!

[jos1270]

Thank you very much for the info and your time. I have the imagination but not money. so ima hve to make it work myself. But i just wanted to make sure i wouldnt mess something up. But thank you ones again.