1939 LaSalle Opera Coupe Under Seat Heating System Question

[Aeroman (Juan Ramirez)]

Hi, I am interested in purchasing an under seat heating system for my 1939 LaSalle Coupe.  He told me it was removed from a 1940 LaSalle.  Would this fit my 1939 LaSalle?  Thanks.

[Mike Simmons 938]

Juan- To my knowledge, Cadillac didn't offer such a system in 1939, so yours would have to be a truly custom installation. I don't see the dash switch assembly in your picture either, so you'll have to find one of those (they are a 1940-only item).
Anything is possible if you wish to go to the trouble. At a minimum, check to see if your firewall holes match the pipes on your new defroster core.Then you will have to cut  two large holes under your front seat for the two other fan-core combinations. Lastly, if you wish to use the fresh air intake, you will have to drill about three 1 or 1 1/2 inch holes in your cowl to attach it.   All in all, a lot of work.
Good luck. Mike Simmons

[Aeroman (Juan Ramirez)]

Juan- To my knowledge, Cadillac didn't offer such a system in 1939, so yours would have to be a truly custom installation. I don't see the dash switch assembly in your picture either, so you'll have to find one of those (they are a 1940-only item).
Anything is possible if you wish to go to the trouble. At a minimum, check to see if your firewall holes match the pipes on your new defroster core.Then you will have to cut  two large holes under your front seat for the two other fan-core combinations. Lastly, if you wish to use the fresh air intake, you will have to drill about three 1 or 1 1/2 inch holes in your cowl to attach it.   All in all, a lot of work.
Good luck. Mike Simmons

Thanks Mike!  I did see another '39 LaSalle with the side cowl intake and assumed this one was the same:

Note the side cowl intake:

[Doug Houston #2257]

The side cowl intake was used with the firewall mounted recirculating heaters in 1939 (and I believe in 1940. The floor pans in 1940 were the first ones for underseat heaters. Cadilac had a heater opening on each side, starting in 1940, as did Buick. I have a '41 Oldsmobile, with underseat heater opening on passenger side only, and a '41 Chevrolet, with guide holes for drilling/cutting, for the underseat heater.

They all did it differently.

Oh, and the heater on the side where the exhaust system passes, has a different motor mount, with a semi-cylidrical cover over it.

[Aeroman (Juan Ramirez)]

So, in a nutshell, this heater system pictured above will not fit/work for a 1939 LaSalle coupe, right?

[tony m]

My God those are beautiful cars in the previous picture........no wonder I never brought my old car to events.

Tony M.

[Aeroman (Juan Ramirez)]

and this might be a long shot but where on the Cadillac heater is the part number located at?