1:12 1932 Cadillac V-16 frame and engine

[happyfreddy]

Roger , I think in original the blades are adjustable to keep the engine in best thermo conditions.
In this case at original car some adjustment like bowden cable must be seen.

so far You again have done good work

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks Freddy!
Your question will be answered below...
The past few days, I did the 15 blades for the shutter. I had to crate a special tool to have the more or less same profile at each blade.
In between, I decided to made the blade adjustable. For those not familiar with those old cars, the radiator has a thermostat actuating a lever connected to the blades, opening or closing them depending of the water temperature. I don't know if that system was very reliable because each blade has three pivots which cannot be lubed unless the radiator surround was removed. Maybe some lubrication was possible through the holes from the grille...
Once the blades were done, I have to solder a flange at each end, which is the easy job. I began with the flanges from the bottom as the ones from the top have a different shape.
How to drill the flanges to have some precision? Again, a new tool was constructed. It's a 3-parts tool: two parts are maintaining the blade in the same way; the third part is on top with a hole to guide the drill bit. That third part is attached with screws and pins to have hopefully the hole at the same place. The strange set-up was needed because I cannot drill a hole by resting on the blade
The next task is to do the flanges at the other end and modify the special tool.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Always interesting!

I can't zoom in to see better, is there a rolled edge to the fins? -or is that a small tube?

I do see the folded edge.

[Roger Zimmermann]

The original blades or fins have a rolled edge; I could not replicate it. So the first operation to do the fins was to bend over some brass, then put it into the tool to bend the other side. Finally I had to trim the "rear" of the blade. The material is 0.1 mm thick.
If you have difficulties to understand my explanation, I can do a drawing...

[MODEL A MODEL]

No that's not necessary. Question though, are the slats activated by a thermostat, or is it actually the preasure in the radiator moving a lever mechanism? I think I have seen both, but I can't remember on which cars.

[Roger Zimmermann]

If you would read again my message 1023, you will see that it was activated with a thermostat!

[happyfreddy]

Driving a mechanism with a thermostat is for me totally new - special that this was made in that years.
On the other side I have doubt of enough force from that thermostat mechanism

Perhaps You mean water pressure instead of temperature sensor Roger ??
In this case there is more force for working then via temperature

[Roger Zimmermann]

Well, Freddy, I just wrote what the shop manual is saying. Have a look at the shop's page...

[MODEL A MODEL]

Yes, look at the unequal lengths of the lever, bellcrank, it "amplifies" the growth or contraction of the thermostat.

I believe this was common, but as I mentioned, I had heard of other ways in which this was done. I just can't remember who.

The slats could also be operated manually on some makes.

[JunkGTZ]

Fascinating mechanism. Manual operation of the slats would have been desirable in cold climates and my guess is mostly found on trucks. You see that in trucks that have partially covered radiators in winter and further, an operator would be more active in monitoring the engine operation and mechanically inclined to some degree, whereas a car owner might be more passive - a sort of "ignorance is bliss" kind of thing. However, large Cadillacs of the period might have been chauffeur driven and one would expect that a driver in that case would be as the truck driver would be - one who pays attention.

Regarding the "ignorance is bliss" kind of mentality; I've seen several Youtube videos of mechanics talking about people who have owned a hybrids not paying attention to the maintenance of the gasoline engine side of the vehicle and paying a heavy price for it, but that also happens with a lot of people nowadays who simply turn the key and drive and never even check their oil. One of my sons trashed an engine in his car from not checking or changing the oil...despite the fact that I taught him the Automotive Merit Badge in Boy Scouts!

[Roger Zimmermann]

In fact, I don't know (and did not searched) if this system was widely used on cars. All Cadillac and La Salle models from that time had that, not only the most expensive. The task to monitor the water temperature can be tedious and as the cars could be also driven by the owner, like a roadster this complicated device was used.
In my youth, it was frequent to see during the winter a car with a cardboard on the grille. Obviously to keep the engine warm, but I'm not sure if that method was used when the thermostat was defective...
During my job as a district service manager, I had to reject a warranty claim from a rather recent vehicle which was driven without looking at the oil...

[Roger Zimmermann]

I'm glad all 15 blades are finished without major accident. Then, it was time to assemble the whole package. I soldered pins on top of the shutter frame; on the bottom, I did a bar with the needed pins. The assembly requires steady hands and it can be done without too much drama. The lower bar with the pins is jamming lightly when installed, therefore no gluing or soldering is needed. I will have to ad retainers to the actuating bar on top because it disengages very easily from the blades; this will be done after final painting.
Due to minute dimension differences, the blades are not opening or closing as much as I expected, but this is really a minor detail. The actuating rod coming from the thermostat is still missing. Of course, I will not do the thermostat; however, there is a cover to hide it, it's not yet done.
I will do now the radiator's surround which allows the radiator to be firmly attached to the frame.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Hello Roger.

Very nice work!

Any guess on how many parts to all of this? My guess is that you created as many parts for your radiator as are in an average model car?

Is there a mascot on the radiator cap?

I've forgotten if there was a common figure to Cadillacs.

Ford model A's are often seen with the after-market Quail. Duesenbergs had an Art Deco Angel? Pierce Arrows had of course an Archer, Rolls Royce Winged Spirit of Ecstasy. And many custom mascots were available.

I did just now search online for this image of a 1930 Cadillac mascot.



That would be "Swoopy"

[Roger Zimmermann]

There are 4 distinct parts for each blade, but I don't have the total for the whole assembly. Effectively, the radiator is a monster. And not yet ready!
There is a mascot on the radiator cap. It can be seen on my answer 1001, but I'm showing a better picture of it.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Looks like a swan. (stylized)

I have never seen that badge before. Could that be a custom badge? I am not an expert on badging!

Artistic license with a twist of Swiss?