76 eldorado convertible rebuild

[MaR]

Looking great so far!

[Leary75]

Still waiting on the engine, but took the time to get my living room painted.   Major points scored with my wife which will buy me a lot of car time 

Bruce, you were right, and the crankshaft is slightly bent, about .060 off.   The shop that is doing the grinding has a straightener.  Basically they told me they will either get it straight or it will snap, so fingers crossed.   Should find out this week.  Rock auto has a remanufactured one if all else fails. 

Also needed 2 connecting rods on 7 & 8.   

Should get back to the heads this weekend, and hopefully can get the engine back soon.   

-Brian

[Leary75]

Well, the crank did snap, so I ended up having to get a new one.  Good news is that rock auto had one in stock and it came with bearings. 

Had some time last weekend to clean and reassemble the heads with my new springs from cad company.  Excited to start putting things back together. 

Question... what do people like for engine paint.  Deciding between KBS motor coaster and Eastwood engine enamel.  Suggestions?

Thanks, Brian

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Brian,

Sorry to hear that the Crank actually broke, as Cast cranks usually do that, whereas a steel crank will straighten.

At least it didn't break whilst spinning.   That could have caused more "terminal" damage to everything else.

Bruce.

[Leary75]

Quick update, I get the engine block back tomorrow!   Been busy painting accessories, and reading the engine bay.   Will be back soon with lots of pics of the engine assembly. 

Tonight I rebuilt the power steering pump while on a conference call.  Very simple, elegant design.   

Thanks, Brian

[Leary75]

So, it’s been a while.  Finally got the engine completely rebuilt and back in the car.  The engine building process was tedious but fun, and I took the opportunity to clean up all the accessory pulleys and brackets.   Here is a before and after of the engine when it blew and back in the car. 

[Leary75]

Here are a few pics of the engine assembly itself.  Block is bored to 0.030 over.  I have a mild rev cam from cad company, a flowkooler water pump and a blueprinted, high flow oil pump.  I also got a new intake manifold from a carbureted car, as the air flow channels on the old efi intake were more constricted, and not really made for air/fuel mix. 

My middle son was very into the engine build.  He has a cameo in a couple of the pics.  By getting the block machined only and doing the build up myself, the total cost was under 3k for the full build, so I am really happy with the whole thing. 

Thanks, Brian

[Leary75]

And finally all back in the car and ready to cruise.   Did the first oil change after the cam break in yesterday, and got the exhaust installed today.   Purrs like a kitten (a kitten with a ton of torque) 

Enjoy!
-Brian

[DeVille68]

nice! 

Best regards,
Nicolas

[hornetball]

Looks good.   

[MaR]

It's coming along nicely!

[Leary75]

Thanks everyone, engine is breaking in nicely, and running smoothly.   I am on to the next project, fixing the climate control.  I have a diagnostic book from Cadillac Tim, and I am going to troubleshoot this weekend.   Also it is back in the 60’s up here so should have some decent cruising weather for the next week!

Need to get the heat pumping if I want to take any winter drives.   (I am the crazy guy in a parka driving a convertible on a sunny 30 degree day)

[MaR]

Thanks everyone, engine is breaking in nicely, and running smoothly.   I am on to the next project, fixing the climate control.  I have a diagnostic book from Cadillac Tim, and I am going to troubleshoot this weekend.   Also it is back in the 60’s up here so should have some decent cruising weather for the next week!

Need to get the heat pumping if I want to take any winter drives.   (I am the crazy guy in a parka driving a convertible on a sunny 30 degree day)

I just got the heat working in my '74 for the exact same thing!

[James Landi]

The late James Gandolfini of "The Sopranos" fame had a very used 68 Cadillac convertible that he drove during the winter with the top down.  According to family members, it was his prized possession.

[Leary75]

It’s been a while since I did much on the caddy.  Was able to drive in right up to January, but then we go a lot of snow, and the salt that comes with it.  Not wanting to re-re do my floors anytime soon, she has been tucked away in the garage. 

Well we are back into the 50’s, so I thought I would tackle my next little project on the car, the steering wheel.   It is in real rough shape.  I have a bit of the seat leather leftover, so I have decided to have it leather wrapped instead of restoring the original.  I have removed it, and will be filling the major voids with epoxy, and smoothing it back down.   I am having the shop that did my seats do the stitching on the leather so I am hoping it comes out pretty sweet.   

Couple of before pics for your viewing pleasure.  Going to take the opportunity to re-paint the rear cover and the column neck too.  Also may polish the shifter and cruise shafts. 

-Brian

[James Landi]

Ahhh the sounds of progress, and with a couple of days of "mock spring."  Can convertible weather be close at hand, and with the covid crisis coming to end, driving that beautiful car around town will get more than just "thumbs up"--- perhaps a standing ovation!  Thanks for posting on your progress.  Makes many of us happy,   James

[Leary75]

Hahaha.  Thanks James.  I am really enjoying bringing this beautiful machine back to some of its former glory.   Made a little progress today, cleaned and primed the collar, and the wheel spokes. Will be painting the rear cover tomorrow while it

[dennisspeaks]

WOW that was quite the undertaking, kudos.  Hopefully someone will get the dimensions of the tank when they take it off and send them tone of the manufacturers to see what they can do for us Eldorado owners or see if they match up with Toranado tanks.

[Leary75]

Been a while since I updated.  I did get the steering wheel re-wrapped.  I feel like the stitching could be better, but overall I am happy I did it.  It took a while, and in the meantime, I also replaced the front right wheel bearing, and the driver side door pins.   Door sag was eliminated, and the car drives a bit safer with the new bearing. 

Finally, I replaced the transmission pan gasket.   Now I can take the drip pan off the floor of the garage 😆

Lots of driving lately, I love floating around I this bad boy.  I even let my son take it to school one day...   just one. 

Happy driving!
Brian

[James Landi]

My Dad bought me a '61 CAdillac convertible for me when I was a sophomore in college in 1965.   I never had a desire to own another brand of car ever since!  Happy day,  James