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[gerald ros]

as a new member to the clc i recently received my window decal and am now puzzled.  what is the meaning of the top three numbers on the badge (i was able to figure out the lower numbers thanks to their positioning relative to the "v")?
left out in lousiana,
j ross

[Jeff Hansen, #4225]

Gerald,

The "1" represents the one-cylinder engine that powered the first Cadillacs 100 years ago.  The "4" represents the four-cylinder engine that powered Cadillacs through the early 1910s.  Finally, the "8" represents the straight 8-cylinder engine that powered LaSalles in the mid 1930s.

Hope this is helpful.

Jeff

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

Welcome to the Cadillac LaSalle Club!

The numbers in the Club logo reflect cylinder configurations used on Cadillac and LaSalle automobiles.  The top three numbers are 1, 4 and 8, without the V.  Early Cadillacs used one-cylinder and four-cylinder engines, and some LaSalles used straight-8 engines (hence, the "8" without the "V").  The logo was designed for the Club years ago by the late Dave Holls, who was the chief of design at General Motors and a renowned automotive stylist.  

In recent years some Club members have pointed out that Cadillac now offers 6-cylinder engines, and have suggested changing the logo accordingly.  The Board has opted to leave the logo alone out of respect for the beautiful symmetry of the present design and the man who created it.

Richard

[gerald ross]

thanks for the replies.  i didnt know that the earliest automobiles were powered by one cylinder engines, though that was the standard back then...right?
j ross

[Johnny]

[In recent years some Club members have pointed out that Cadillac now offers 6-cylinder engines, and have suggested changing the logo accordingly. The Board has opted to leave the logo alone out of respect for the beautiful symmetry of the present design and the man who created it.]

I would also add that the cylinder numbers on the logo, denote the engines that were strictly "Cadillac", and not "corporate" engines that GM started putting in their cars, I would guess around the late 70s.  Cadillac got its reputation by producing in the beginning of its history, the most powerful and reliable engines in  the industry.  Matched with its cutting edge introduction of luxury options, combined to give Cadillac its prestigious reputation.

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Richard,

Dont forget the 4 cylinder engines that were used in the Cimmarons, or should we forget those?

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[Richard Sills - CLC #936]

Bruce,

Coincidentally they were already covered by our logo.  And, if future cars should revert back to a one-cylinder engine, were ready for that one as well!

Richard

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Richard,

Yes, I was aware of that, but thankfully, Cadillac will never go to using one of the Automotive 5 Cylinder motors that are available.   They are using everyone elses.

And, what about the 4/6/8 motor of the late 70s.   When it is running in 6 cylinder mode.

Bruce,
The Tassie Deville(le),
60 CDV

[Johnny]

Should we throw in the diesel engines also?

[Rusty Shepherd]

And the HT4100 could be done in red as a warning. "Ive just inherited my Aunt Blanches beautiful 82 Coupe de Ville and Im hearing all kinds of awful things about the engine...is it really that bad?"

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Rusty,

It is a beautiful motor to work on, as you will be doing a lot of work on it if it goes the way of all the other HT4100s mentioned in the CLC Message Board Forums for the past dozen or so years.

The reason the HT4100 Register was begun was to assist owners to vent their frustrations I think.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV.

P.S.   But, there has to be some good ones around.

[David #19063]

Well, before they add the 6, they would have to add the 12 and the 16, eh?

LOL!

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Nope, theyre already on it.

[David #19063]

Rusty, thanks for letting me know.

David

[Andrew Zizolfo CLC#5011]

Rusty,
If your Aunt Blanche took care of it, you will more than likely get a good engine. I had a beautiful 82 Coupe DeVille (HT4100) that I drove 157,000 miles without a bit of trouble. When I last heard - it was still running fine. Flush the cooling system, use the "horse pills" and change the oil faithfully. Youre going to love that car.
Andy

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

Okay, they are not mentioned and all of you may know why so I will take the bait. How do the V-12 and V-16 engines relate?
Many thanks.
Ty

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

To answer your question, Ty, Ill quote from Maurice Hendrys Cadillac bible, "Cadillac, Standard of the World, The Complete Seventy-Year History" (first edition):
"On July 30, 1930, L. P. (Fisher) told a group of distributors in Detroit that yet another model was on the way--a V-12!....
Its engine was a sixteen less four cylinders, with 3 1/8 bore, distributor, crankshaft, camshaft, and induction and exhaust systems for twelve cylinders the only changes.  This gave a 370 cubic-inch displacement, 135 bhp at 3,400 rpm (later raised to 150) and 283 lb/ft (torque) at 1,200.  This V-12 was very compact, with crankshft length just under thirty-six inches.  Although this was eight inches longer than the V-8, there was room in the eights engine compartment for the V-12, and it used the same 140-inch chassis.  Although not as fast as the V-16, it soon gained a reputation for its ability to rev high in complete smoothness, and was a fine performer.  Its top speed was not high (eighty mph for the seven-passenger sedan with standard axle), but cruising speeds of sixty to seventy miles an hour were completely quiet and turbine-like."

[T.L. (Ty) Stinson]

Rusty: Thank you. You have given me another reason to be very happy that I purchased the 37 8519. The car was stored for over six years and I had made arrangements to hear the V-12 run first. The owner took 20 minutes to install a 6-volt battery drain the fuel line and add fresh regular gas. Wish I had recorded the sound of that engine like someone did. The engine sounds very powerful for a 150 hp and runs what I believe to be very smooth. The engine has over 96,000 miles on it and I wonder how much longer before it will need rebuilding and if that can be done. I can tell that there are new head gaskets installed but dont know why or what was done. The engine just purrs....beautiful. I do hear some very minor noise but dont know if this is just characteristic. Many thanks. Ty

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Ty, Good to hear you got your Twelve running...and purring. Of course, there are many things in an engine that can cause noise, but since yours is very minor and since the engine had not been run in a long time, it may well disappear with further running. With 96,000 miles, it may be a candidate for rebuilding if its never been done and shows symptoms like knock, low compression, and smoking. Those engines (like most, if not all,of that era)used much more oil than any built in the last several decades. In Mr. Hendrys book, there is the story of a long trip made in one of the early V-16s. It began at 17,000 miles and three men (including the service manager for Don Lee,Cadillacs legendary California distributor/multi-outlet dealer) drove it 10,000 miles in twenty-four days. "Their normal cruising speed had been 60-65 MPH, their overall gas mileage was 8 1/2 MPG with oil consumption of 150 miles per quart measured over the 10,000 miles" and I would guess that the V-12s used about the same or maybe a little less than the V-16s. CLC members are rebuilding OHV Twelves and Sixteens regularly and the Technical Advisor for your car can help you with procedure and in obtaining necessary parts.  Good luck...you got a good buy on a rare, special Cadillac.