64 Cadillac as a semi daily driver

[Cadillac Jack 82]

So I've decided to sell my 2001 "beater" Chevy to a friend of mine who needs a car ASAP.  Outside of that I only currently have my classics.  I was thinking of using my 64 as a daily and switching between that and the 66 Olds Toro I have to get to work.  I only work 13 miles from my house which will soon become 8 miles or so once I move in June.  My question is this.  What components etc should I keep an eye on when using my 64 as a daily?  She runs great and everything works.  The only thing I can see that I'll need to do is charge the AC system and ensure that the climate control works properly.  When she's parked at work or home she'll have an all-weather cover on her.  If anyone here has any suggestions/recommendations I'm all ears.

[Michael Petti]

Change oil every 3,000 miles or sooner. What you described was considered rough service back then. Also lubricate the front end. Not sure if GM Cadillac advertised front end parts lubed for life of not, but many did. That was true because the parts wore out and had to be replaced. No lubrication. You should be fine, many drove these cars allot. They were great cars and still are.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

From experience with two '64s I've had with mileages of 106,000 and 27,000, keep a sharp eye on the oil level. Both  used a quart per 400-500 miles like clockwork.

[Lexi]

Yes, keep an eye on the oil level. Unlike the new cars, these old ones require more frequent oil changes and they normally do use a bit as well. Clay/Lexi

[Cadillac Jack 82]

All good I usually do my own.  Again max daily mileage will be around 30 miles if that.

[billyoung]

Personally, I believe that we who own these cars because we Love the experience of driving them should do so regularly for two reasons. One, they if not driven suffer from just sitting. This is why in the case of a classic that is just driven to a couple shows a year rather than with regularity tend to break down when driven. Two, not trying to be negative but there may come a time when we will no longer be able to drive them for some regulatory reasons. So, I am an advocate of driving them regularly, my 1968 is almost done and when it is I am at age 69 intending to drive the wheels off it. You will find me cruising along with the Temptations singing thru the speakers lost in a space and time that can only exist behind the wheel of an old Cadillac. One Mans Opinion, also in December last we sold our 2013 Chrysler 300C with 83,000 miles loaded with computers to operate it and bought a 1992 Cadillac Brougham with 68,000 miles as her every day car. This leaves only my 2003 Chevy S 10 pickup that has 148,000 miles that I commute to work in.

[James Landi]

One of the positive elements of your short commute is that it's brief and won't tax your likely fouled cooling system.  In my experience, radiators and engine blocks become slow ticking bombs.  On long runs, internal radiator cores have build up scale that negatively affects the efficient transfer of heat to the coolant, and rust in engine's water jackets gets trapped in the radiator as the core strains out the rust, thus partially blocking the passages.  So your short runs will likely not cause you overheating problems that do create major disasters for those of us who put our fouled cooling systems to the ultimate test on long highway drives.  As mentioned above, the downside for the short commute is that your engine's internals won't burn off condensate that drips water into the oil and on the upper areas of the valve covers. Additionally, exhaust parts won't entirely heat up and dry out,  so I would urge you to take your car for a ten mile run at least once a week to boil off that accumulated condensation.  Keep us in the loop.  James

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

In the scheme of things, there should be nothing wrong with using your car as a daily driver, so long as you keep the recommended servicing up to date, as these cars were built as daily drivers.

Even Taxis run over 500,000 miles and they are abused more than the privately owned car.

Bruce.

PS.   Maintain good insurance to have it fixed when someone runs into it so it can be repaired.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

All great input thank you!  Shes a fun/solid car and I think I'll drive her to work today...just for the hell of it .

[Michael Petti]

One more thing is to use lead substitute in your fuel, unless your heads have been redone wigh hardened valve seats.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Already use the gunk stuff in all my cars and the zinc additive in my oil.  All my vehicles also have OEM parts and NOS plugs.

[bctexas]

If you have a collector car insurance policy, commuting to work in it may not be covered.  Most collector car policies specifically state limited annual mileage and the car may not be used as a daily driver.  To me this is the primary impediment to commuting in a collectable car.  Check your insurance carefully!

[Cadillac Jack 82]

The amount of use that this car will get still falls within the cruising range of my policy.  For example today I brought my 66 into work.  This weekend I'll most likely cruise with the 59.  This isn't a permanent fix moreso than waiting for things to settle down after I kicked the former mrs to the curb.  Divorce is expensive

[bcroe]

I believe both your 64 and 66 have single circuit
drum brakes. I would worry very much about the
day something goes wrong with the brakes (hose
or line rusts thru) with no second circuit backup. 
And drum brakes become unpredictable if really
wet.   

Good luck with a leaded premium engine, you might
keep an eye open for a late 70s big block that
likes crap 87 unleaded.  Nearly a bolt in if the
64 has a TH400. 

By all means drive the wheels off, that is what
I do.  Bruce Roe

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Dual circuit braking system began in 1962.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

The 64 has a dual system.  My 66 has a single system.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

My 66 has a single system.

Something was changed then. It did not leave the factory that way.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

For an Oldsmobile Toronado it is factory correct.

Would have helped if you specified Olds whenever going "off script" with alternative makes.  On this forum, stating year alone implies Cadillac.     

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Haha I figured with my signature listing my cars it was a giveaway.  Will note for future posts

[bcroe]

So Cadillac got dual circuit brakes in 62?  Olds
certainly did not in 66.  Just about all my cars
have had brake failures and they are newer than
yours. The dual circuit system avoided disaster.

Which trans did the 64 get, the TH400 is certainly
the more maintainable. 
Bruce Roe