1938 LaSalle Production - GM Heritage Center

20
Cadillac-LaSalle Preliminary Service Information
Removal of the battery for V-8 cars is accomplished
in the following manner:
After disconnecting the leads, remove the
through bolt at the outer edge of the battery
carrier. This is accessible from under the right
front fender.
Raise the battery enough to unhook clamps
which extend into frame side bar, and pull battery
and carrier straight out from frame until hooks
clear, and then lower to floor.
The shunt wound, air-cooled generators previously
used are continued without change on the
corresponding 38-series cars. The 38-50, 60 and 65
generator is voltage regulated, whereas the 38-75
and 90 generator has both current and voltage
regulation. An entirely new type of generator
drive, described on page 13, is used on 38-90.
The starting motor used on 38-series V-8's, is
the same as that used on the 37-series. A new
6-pole starting motor is used on 38-90. It is
mounted on the right side of the engine just ahead
of the flywheel, and it drives the pinion directly
instead of through reduction gears as formerly
used. The solenoid-operated mechanical shift for
the starter pinion is used unchanged on all 38-
series.
The vibrator trumpet type horns used on 37-
series V-8's are used on all 38-series cars, but are
mounted in a new location. The horns are installed
vertically, trumpet down, just behind the
radiator grille, which must be removed to service
the horns. The horn operating relay is located on
the L. F. fender dust shield. The horns are
mounted on laminated springs to avoid the transmission
of vibrations to the car body.
Changes in the wiring harness on all 38-series
cars will simplify service operations. The harness
passes through a large grommet in the dash, so
arranged that the entire end of the harness may be
pushed through the opening from either side.
Wires and connectors for radio and heater are included
in the harness at assembly to facilitate
installation of these accessories. In other respects
the chassis wiring is substantially the same.
Although headlamps of new design and appearance
are used on all 38-series cars, the headlighting
system is itself unchanged. The system comprises
the familiar "city," "passing," and "driving"
beams, with hand and foot switches and an
indicator to show which beam (except the "parking"
position) is in use. Both headlamps contain
a 32-32 candle power bulb; otherwise bulb recommendations
are unchanged.
As prefocued bulbs are used, aiming is the only
adjustment required by the headlamps. The very
secure mounting of the headlamps minimizes the
need for re-aiming, although a recheck of the
beam patterns is recommended every time new
headlamp bulbs are installed. The beam patterns
are exactly the same as for the 37-series*headlamps,
although the headlamp centers are'lower
as indicated in the diagram in Fig. 19.
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Fig. 19.
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32½" ALL SERIES
GROUND LINE
Location of headlamp aiming centers
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Beam patterns should be checked only when
the headlamp doors are in place. Up-and-down
correction is made by means of a spring-loaded
adjusting screw accessible through a hole in thc
bottom of each lamp. Sideways correction is
made by an adjusting screw located on the inner
side of each lamp body and accessible after removal
of the spring-retained cap. (See Fig. 20.)
The instrument panels of all the 38-series cars
are of the same general design and construction,
differing from each other only in color and decoration.
The structural portion is integral with the
body and the visible portion is assembled to it.
The group of instruments at the left includes the
usual dials surrounding a large speedometer, the
entire cluster being mounted in a die casting. The
instruments are of the same construction as
formerly.
The center panel includes the clock, a large ash
receiver, and a built-in radio grille, as well as the
Fig. 20 Headlamp adjusting screws (all 38-series)