Rubber Seals

[Tpicks55]

I''m getting the car ready for paint.  Should I remove all doors and trunk seals so it can all be painted or should I leave the original seals on until it's painted and then replace. 75 Eldo Convertible.   thanks Tony

[59-in-pieces]

Tony,
I'm not a 75 Eldo guy - handsome car though - but painting is such a pricey job, I would strip the car to maximize the quality of the job, and allow for complete paint prep - that is a huge car.

Is one of the options that the painter will mask the trim etc to keep the cost down, if so let him mask the rubber.
However, if a car gets masked, it just never comes out as maybe you would want it.

Or, are you looking for a top notch finished product, and therefore more expensive.
I would then - if you have the time and skill - suggest that you strip the car of its trim, rubber, etc. to keep the costs down.

From my experience, stripping the car of trim and rubber results in a much better finished professional look.
I have always stripped my cars naked before paint.

IMHO
Have fun,
Steve B.

[Tpicks55]

Hi Steve and thanks for the reply.  I want a  very good paint job so I have almost all the trim off already.  I was wondering if it would be better with the rubber off so it makes sense.  Yes this is a BIG car I think I could land a helicopter on the hood alone lol.  Thanks again!

[dochawk]

Yes this is a BIG car I think I could land a helicopter on the hood alone lol.

I've been told that the 71/72 Eldorado hood is the longest ever shipped by Cadillac.

Leading me to wonder:  why would it have changed between '71 and '78?  (realizing that landing a helicopter was enough, and that noone was landing planes? )

hawk

[TJ Hopland]

There were changes across the line in 73 for the impact bumpers.  They kinda shuffled the whole structure and layout of the front to accommodate that including changing the engine and trans mounts.   I suppose it was part of that process that maybe lost a couple inches of hood.    They do list the 72 as 223 inches long and the 73 an 222.   Suddenly I feel small, maybe I need a set of longhorns to gain that inch back? 

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

That's funny TJ.

My wife asked me on our first date over 40 years ago when I picked
her up in my '73 Eldorado:

"Where are the horns?"  She still tells that story.

Mike

[dochawk]

I am *regularly* asked about horns on mine when it goes anywhere . . .

[Bobby B]

Steve is 100% correct. I wouldn't even think of masking rubber seals, even if you were going to replace them. I'm surprised that the paint shop would even entertain that idea. That might be protocol at Maaco or Earl Scheib though.....
                            Bobby