1938 LaSalle Production - GM Heritage Center

placing these short engines well in the rear of the fan.
On a longer V-12 it is impossible to avoid reduction of
fan efficiency. On the Sixteen, however, half of the
, -j- ENGINES RESTRICT FAN AIR
New Sixteen
"Typical Twelve
complete fan diameter is entirely unblocked and the
upper portion of the radiator is unrestricted.
SIXTEEN ENGINE
CONSTRUCTION
Enbloc Design
The extremely compact Sixteen engine permits spacious
bodies on the 141 inch wheelbase. Bodies are equal or
larger in all dimensions than those on the previous V-16
despite a thirteen inch reduction in wheelbase. The
compact engine is largely due to one-piece unit design.
It is a great tribute to Cadillac's foundry practice
that sixteen cylinders with long water jackets, side
valves and ports and a nine bearing crankcase can be
successfully produced in a single casting. The Cadillac
and LaSalle V-8's have proved that the greater rigidity
of enbloc design increases smoothness and that service
maintenance is reduced because of the fewer number of '
joint surfaces subject to leakage or gasket troubles.
The enbloc engine is an important factor in weight
reduction. The new 431 cubic inch Sixteen is lighter
than the former 368 cubic inch V-12 with its light
aluminum crankcase.
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