Recent posts

#1

General Discussion / Re: At home tire/wheel balanci...

Last post by marty55cdv - Today at 01:49:43 PM

  Back in the day (35 years ago) I used a static Bubble balancer to balance the occasional 74 super beetle with front struts to get rid of 50 + mph hour shaking. Spin balancers didn't seem to help, technology has improved for sure but the bubble balancer was new technology once too.   

#2

Restoration Corner / Re: Carl 61 Fleetwood Phyllis

Last post by David King (kz78hy) - Today at 01:48:05 PM

Rubber the Right Way has 10 to 15 percent off sales a few times a year and I would bet the 4th of July would be a time for the next one.  I get emails when they happen and will forward to you the next time it shows up.

#3

Technical / Authenticity / Re: How to restore 55 Series 7...

Last post by Lexi - Today at 12:29:37 PM

If you need information on the dash itself prior to removal, let me know. I got a spare rear dash out of a '56 S75 which aside from the decorative star pattern and clock, are the same I believe. I could get some close up shots of the reverse side for you. Attached is a reported rear S75 dash from a '55. Clay/Lexi

#4

General Discussion / Re: 1959 Eldorado Hubacp Clock

Last post by D. Mailan - Today at 12:27:16 PM

Here are some photos

#5

General Discussion / 1959 Eldorado Hubacp Clock

Last post by D. Mailan - Today at 12:25:58 PM

Hi everyone!! Hope all is well!!

I thought I'd share a recent Cadillac part find. My mom was on a trip in Arizona and happened to stop in an antique shop. She saw this clock and the Cadillac emblem. She had no idea what model it came from and sent a picture of it to me. It had a sticker price of $39. I didn't even have to look at it for more than half a second, I told her she had to get it.

Yesterday, I finally got to see it. I really didn't think it was right that such a rare and unique hubcap (in very good shape too) was turned into a wall fixture but since it already had a hook in the back and a little hole for the clock movement, I decided to make the best of it. The clock movement was not working, the stickers looked very old, the Victorian era hands and the wood trim did not seem appropriate. I went down to our local arts and crafts store, purchased a new battery movement, more modern hands, and got some new sticker numbers for the dial. I took off the tacky wood trim and glass face. I wiped off the many years of dust that had collected, and polished the stainless. It's not perfect. Trying to get the numbers on the clock to look right was incredibly difficult especially due to the curvature of the inner hub.

Like I said, I would never do something like this to an Eldorado hubcap (probably one of the most intricate and unique hubcaps to be affixed to an automobile. It could easily be restored to a hubcap if need be. Since the holes were there, I thought I'd clean it up and find a nice place for it.
 
The final result was amazing! I hung it above the light above the bathroom sink and the light makes the stainless glow beautifully. It almost appears that the hubcap is floating all by itself. It just makes you want to think what Cadillac it had originally been on, or what roads that hubcap had traveled, or the places it has gone! It's something I will cherish for many many many years to come.

Derick
 

#6

Technical / Authenticity / Re: Zinc additives

Last post by TJ Hopland - Today at 12:17:49 PM

Here is a thread with a link to a video that came up recently.  Seems logical and makes sense to me.  First time anyone ever seemed to explain anything.  Most of the time its just one of those things that you have to do and no one really seems to know why other than marketing people seem to put a lot of effort into telling people you need to buy their product.

https://forums.cadillaclasalle.club/index.php?topic=174935.0

I'm not telling you one way or another, do your own research and make up your own mind how to take care of your equipment.

#7

Technical / Authenticity / Re: How to restore 55 Series 7...

Last post by Lexi - Today at 12:16:18 PM

Very interesting project. I never knew how that backing was made, so I can't help. If it is as you say, you may have to hire a graphic arts place to copy, restore, then print it for application. They can print it on a self adhesive backing. I used this process on another project of mine & the medium the image was printed on was like a clear acetate so it was highly durable. Probably would not need a clear coat. Can't remember size limitations but in my case the image was at least 3 feet long. Enough to easily fit on each side of the clock and finish in one pass on your door side. In 1956 the rear dash background is different and made of what looks like thin striated metal. None of that '50s "star pattern" design in sight   Clay/Lexi

#8

General Discussion / Re: 1982 Eldorado Advice

Last post by TJ Hopland - Today at 12:10:58 PM

This goes for any 80's 90's and maybe beyond Cadillac.....

Does your climate control/blower work?  If it does you may want to investigate maybe trying to lubricate the blower motor bearings.  That is easier said than done since they were not designed to be re lubricated.  What happens is the bearings start to dry out and cause extra drag which then pulls more power which burns out the blower control module.  Or if you or someone else replaced the blower at some point it may be a one size sort of fits all that also draws too much power and also burns out the module. Just for fun they also put the AC clutch control in the module and just like the blower many of the replacement compressors/clutches also draw too much power and burn up that section of the module. At least that can be bypassed with a relay.   

The modules are not easy to find or cheap if you can find one.  They also are not easy to repair both due to their physical design and being able to source the raw components. So if yours is working now you want to try and keep it working.  I would have to find an 82 manual but there is likely a testing procedure to make sure the blower isn't drawing too much power.  I know I did a 90 not too long ago and that called for installing a temporary power jumper wire with a specific sized fuse and let it run for a specific amount of time.  If the fuse blew you had a problem if not you were good. 

The module is mounted in the heater/ac box near the blower under the hood. Its got like a 6 pin connector on it and a couple wire direct wires.   

#9

General Discussion / Re: 1982 Eldorado Advice

Last post by TJ Hopland - Today at 11:58:22 AM

These really said to use straight 30?  By the 80's the multi viscosity oils had got much better so you would think they would have wanted a multi except may for the most extreme conditions.

I'm not in the camp of additives or some really special oil but do your own research and decide for yourself.  IF I had a 4100 car I would probably run the same diesel oil I run in everything.  I'm not using the diesel oil because I think its the most amazing thing ever I just have it around for the diesels in my fleet and I think its at least as good as any other option. 

Really any fresh modern fluid is going to be better than something old and dirty.  I would not use any sort of flushing agent in any of the systems.  Fresh fluids have fresh additives including detergents that will slowly clean stuff.  If the new fluids seem to get dirty fast just change them again.  Worst case should take a few change cycles to get most of the crap out.  Using some sort of flush agent may break crap loose all at once and clog things up or quickly attack the corrosion that is holding things together.  If you are going to create a leak you want it to be slow so you have time to notice and make plans to fix it rather than catastrophic all at once.

A fluid extractor can be a handy item to suck out some transmission and power steering fluid.  You don't get it all but over a few cycles you can get a lot of it and some fresh stuff mixed in.  Here is a small one that is only $20.
https://www.northerntool.com/products/ironton-manual-oil-extractor-58085

       

#10

Technical / Authenticity / Re: 1956 dealer installed AC s...

Last post by Lexi - Today at 11:47:14 AM

@Clay, @rick,

FYI

The one I had measured 22"x2" and it seat flush with the inner front support panel lip, the rubber strip is similar to the new masticated rubber material.

HTH

Here is what was advertised by the vendor. Look them up and enquire as to whether they still offer this item. Clay/Lexi