In my garage I finally unearthed the 1941 Cadillac flathead V8 and 3-speed standard transmission which is not presently mounted on the bellhousing. These two items belong to my 41 Cadillac that has a later CAD engine and automatic transmission in it. So I'm wondering... what is the difference between the LaSalle transmission (that is so popular still) and my 1941 Cadillac three speed standard transmission? I had a 1940 LaSalle that I sold a few years ago but I never took the time to check this question out. The last two or three years of the LaSalle used the Cadillac V8 engine and I would ***ume the transmission would be likewise. Thank you in advance for sharing any knowledge on this question.
LaSalle was just a lower priced version of the Cadillac, pretty sure they used the same transmission. I know they did in the '30s. Friend in college had a '36 Ford 3 window coupe with a '30s Cad-LaSalle trans. His was the floor shift version. I think he told me it came out of a '37, but I'm reaching way back in the memory bank. Not sure what year Cad/Lasalle changed from floor shift to column shift. Probably no later than '40. Your '41 trans would be side shifter for column shift but probably the same guts as the floor shift version my friend had.
OK, the 37 is a one year only with the shifter stick coming out the top of case. 38 and later (through 53)? were your typical side shift with 2 levers. Also, through the years the side shift models came with various length tail shaft housings and output shafts as well. I'd call them long, longer and longest. A few models used a conventional slip yoke but don't seem to find many of these. Most had a fixed as in bolted flange on output shaft. These required a slip joint built in the drive shaft. Also on these same transmissions, some had the tapped holes for the rear mount in line front to rear ans some had them left to right. All 37 and later share the identical bell housing bolt pattern as well as with 1950 Olds. The 50 Olds trans. is essentially the same as the 38 and later Lasalles but has a much-much shorter tail shaft. Before you ask, the 37 Cad and the 50 Olds are very desirable. However the others are worth more as parts due to the bulk and weight. The shipping costs pretty much eats up the value of these. There are some other internal differences unique to the 37 models only. Eddie
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