Body; General Description; Service Information - Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information

9
BODY
General Description
T w o different types of body construction are
used i n the bodies of 37-series Cadillac and LaSalle
cars. Series 37-50 and 60 cars have a " U n i - s t e e l "
Fisher body. Series 37-65 cars have a composite
Fisher body. T h e remainder of the series have
composite Fleetwood bodies. Turret tops are
used on all closed body styles, excepting F o r m a l
Sedans and T o w n Cars, which have steel tops
covered w i t h leather.
T h e body shell construction used in the four-
door sedans of both the " U n i - s t e e l " bodies and the
composite bodies is illustrated in Plate 1. E a c h
body type has been carefully designed, reinforced,
insulated and sound-proofed to meet the individual
requirements of the car upon which it is used.
DOORS A N D WINDOWS
T h e front doors on all 3 7-series bodies are hinged
at the windshield pillar. T h e rear doors are
hinged at the rear body pillar on all series, except-
ing Fleetwood Convertible Sedans and some V-16
body styles, which have the rear doors hinged at
the center pillar.
T h e all-metal doors used on the series 37-50 and
60 cars, illustrated i n Plate 5, are similar in
appearance to the composite type doors, Plate 6,
used on the other 37-series cars. T h e principal
differences are in the basic construction, which is
shown in the illustrations, and in the heavier
weight of the composite type door.
A l l 37-series bodies have the I. C . V . no-draft
ventilating system, which provides pivoting glass
panels in all front doors, and in the rear quarter
windows of 5 and 7-passenger sedans, excepting
series 37-50 and 60, and in the rear doors of
F o r m a l Sedans and T o w n Cars. T h e ventilating
panels are controlled b y handles conveniently
located just below the window. O n series 37-50
and 60 bodies, the rear quarter no-draft ventilating
panels have been replaced by swinging windows
as shown i n Plate 5 F i g . 15.
One-piece steel garnish mouldings and finish
panels are used on series 37-50 and 60 bodies.
Steel garnish mouldings w i t h wood finish panels
to match are used on series 37-65 bodies. A l l -
wood garnish mouldings and finish panels are
used on the Fleetwood bodies.
L O C K S AND K E Y S
T h e interior door locks on all 37-series cars,
except the V-16, have a press button type lock
mechanism which consists of a rod extending
from a knob at the window garnish moulding
down to a pawl i n the door lock, as shown i n
Plate 5. T h e interior door locks on the V - 1 6 have
a pawl lever or trip button which protrudes
inside the door. Pushing the press button down
or tripping the pawl lever up locks the door in
the respective types of construction.
Single-bitted keys are used on all 37-series cars.
T h e right front door and the spare wheel lock on
cars equipped w i t h exposed spare tires or separate
tire compartments have lock cylinders operated
by the octagonal-handled ignition key. See Plate
3, F i g . 6. The instrument board compartment
lock, the trunk compartment lock, and the rear
deck lock on Coupe body styles have lock c y l i n -
ders operated by the round-handled key.
As a protection against unauthorized persons
securing keys, the key numbers do not appear
either on the keys or on the face of the locks.
These numbers are stamped on small metal slugs
fastened i n the keys, and can be knocked out of
the handles, after an appropriate record has been
made, so that duplicate keys can be ordered by
number if the keys should be lost or stolen.
B C D Y T Y P E S A N D S T Y L E N U M B E R S
A selection of thirty-two regular body styles,
aside from the custom built jobs for the Cadillac
V-16, are available on the 37-series line of Cadillac
and LaSalle Cars. Commercial chassis are also
available in series 37-50, 60 and 75 cars. A list
of regular body types and style numbers is given
on page 22.
Service Information
Detailed information on major body service
operations, including sheet metal work, body
frame repairs, etc., is issued b y the Fisher B o d y
Service D i v i s i o n through the medium of body
service manuals and bulletins, which are available
to all A u t h o r i z e d Distributors and Dealers.
T h e following information on body service
pertains o n l y to those operations that should be
understood b y every automobile service man and
performed in every service station.