1932 Cadillac V16 scale model

[Alex D.]

The water tube and exhaust are so close you can't fit a pencil between them, and there is no heat shield there. The tube also passes through the crankcase to supply water to the other bank. I would think there would be a better way but who am I to question the engineers at Cadillac. They had it figured out.

Looks fantastic Roger!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks Alex! According to your statement, my pictures are not too bad! As I don't have a lot of experience with the cars/engine from that time, I suppose that it was their best possible solution.

[Roger Zimmermann]

With the exhaust manifolds done, I had two possible paths to continue: the carbs or the intake manifolds. I choose the later possibility. The intake parts should be less complex to do; I will see...For the moment, I did the distribution boxes which are sitting on top of the center exhaust manifolds.
I did a small error when I did the holes for the attaching screws: they are a tad too much towards the exterior. Because of that, I could not do the countersunk holes large enough to allow the regular brass bolts I have, their heads are rather large. The stainless bolts have the ideal heads, but are way too short. Therefore, I silver soldered a threaded shaft (cut from screws) to the stainless steel bolts. Another alternative: mill the brass heads at the same dimensions than the stainless steel ones. Making the bolts longer was quicker done, this is why I choose this solution.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Even if the intake manifold is simpler than the exhaust one, it took some time to complete the RH side. Now, I just have to do the other side!

[veesixteen]

(Off topic): Gita, my sister Yvette and I were invited to lunch last week by Roger and Christine at their summer home in southern France (my younger sister happens to be a close neighbor). It was lovely to NOT "talk shop" with Roger, for once. We have been buddies since he started to restore his first Cadillac (a 1956 "Sedan de Ville"). The photos were taken in Chambésy, Switzerland, circa 1983 (Gita and I had just acquired a 1959 Coupe de Ville from Portland, OR).

[veesixteen]

(Replaced duplicate photo)

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks Yann for those old pictures! Ah! souvenirs, souvenirs! Yes, we had a good time when you came to our vacation's house with Gita and Yvette (Yann's sister). I met the first time Yvette when I was invited to the GN in 2012. Since that time we are in contact and as she moved recently from Paris to the South of France, we are seeing us on a regular basis.
Of course, one part of our intensive discussion was devoted to the issue between Yann and the CLC, issue affecting distressingly Yann. What a shame.

The construction of the model resumed slowly after our return from France; the second intake manifold is done. I will now try to replicate the carburators, the "fun" will begin!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Due to other tasks, the progress is slow on the scale model. I'm doing now the throttle bodies; the one pictured is not yet ready. There are some important details to add...

[Roger Zimmermann]

This is what I intend to replicate. Wish me luck!

[dadscad]

Holy Mackerel!.....Quite a challenge. Although, with your skill and eye for detail,  I have no doubt that you will get-er-done.

Thanks for sharing your project!

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I don't think there is much need to wish you luck, seeing everything you have done in the past, but you will really be pushing the envelope with these, BUT, you will get them done.

AND, they WILL be beautiful.

Bruce.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks for the support! I will probably have to make short cuts because some elements are so tiny at my scale. I have to begin with the lower part of the carbs because they will be used as a guide to attach a part or two at the throttle body.

[Roger Zimmermann]

The next parts I did are the air intakes which are attached to the throttle body with two screws. That is way not finished, the float chambers must be attached to the air intakes.
As it can happens, I did a major error with the first set of air intakes. The diameter was too large, more than 1/2 mm. I wondered why I has so few space for the screws at the flange...Obviously, I took the dimension from another similar part. Silver soldered parts can be separated to save some elements, but in this case, I preferred to redo all elements because all was too much concentered.

[Roger Zimmermann]

The next job was to do the float bowl; each one is constituted with 5 elements silver soldered. By looking at the drawings/pictures, both elements are not at the same level, therefore I had to make a tool allowing me to screw both elements on the tool for final soldering.
Both pictures are showing one assembled carb and the other one on the tool as well as both carbs.
There are still numerous small details which will be either silver or soft soldered.

[Roger Zimmermann]

The main body from both carbs are ready. Some cleaning finishing will be necessary before paint. Now, I can continue the throttle bodies as the main bodies will be a guide to attach what's still missing on the throttle bodies.
Of course, I still will have to fabricate the external elements like metering pin, inlet etc.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Finally, I could finish the "casting" from both carbs. As I wrote earlier, some minute details were skipped. One of the most difficult element to be added to the throttle bodies was the accelerator pump castings. Thanks to the main carb on which the position of the accelerator pump was well located, I could do a fixture with a long screw giving the location in the space for that small "casting". This is the first picture.
As the accelerator pump casting was threaded, it could be vertically located at the right place. Then, it was a matter to do a spacer, adjust it at the proper dimension and silver soldering it on the throttle body.
Now I can do the various element which will be screwed on the carbs.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Carbs making is not very exciting. Plus the sale of one of my cars (related in the section "cars for sale") was a real "distraction" for more than one month. Anyway, I did some small additions like the accelerator pump, which is in my case just a rod as well as other small details you could maybe catch on the attached pictures. The float's cover is attached by fake screws.
I still have to make the butterfly shaft and levers.

[Mike Baillargeon #15848]

Sweet mother of all that is holy!!.....WoW !  Just WoW!

Mike

[carguyblack]

My thoughts exactly! I can't see to even find my keys anymore these days and when I do find them, I can't pick them up. And then to think to creating this exact miniature out of nothing all by hand and mind is incomprehensible. Amazing ability! Thank you for sharing it with us all. Roger
Chuck

[Lexi]

I can't find my keys either? Isn't it awful Chuck? Great work Roger! Clay/Lexi