My New Project: 1956 Cadillac Sedan Deville Resurrection Thread

[tradow1]

Hey Ben,

Good Afternoon!

I found the trail of updates on the 1956 Cadillac Sedan de Ville today and am impressed! I'm glad you are in the process of saving her for the future! 

I'm a Cadillac La Salle Club member in Charlotte, North Carolina, but grew up in Garland, Texas.  I'd suggest you try to reach Wilson Auto for the transmission.  They have a website, as follows:

http://www.wilsonauto.com/classic-car-repair/transmission/

They may be reached at : (972) 271-3579

They are very reputable and work on Classic car transmissions.  I have no idea as to cost, but I am sure they are competitive with pricing.

Let me know if you need anything else.

I've never had one that old, but have owned dozens upon dozens of Cadillacs from the 1980's over the years.  I look forward to having a '50's Cadillac soon!

Regards,

Travis Dowell

[chstitans42]

Hey Ben,

Good Afternoon!

I found the trail of updates on the 1956 Cadillac Sedan de Ville today and am impressed! I'm glad you are in the process of saving her for the future! 

I'm a Cadillac La Salle Club member in Charlotte, North Carolina, but grew up in Garland, Texas.  I'd suggest you try to reach Wilson Auto for the transmission.  They have a website, as follows:

http://www.wilsonauto.com/classic-car-repair/transmission/

They may be reached at : (972) 271-3579

They are very reputable and work on Classic car transmissions.  I have no idea as to cost, but I am sure they are competitive with pricing.

Let me know if you need anything else.

I've never had one that old, but have owned dozens upon dozens of Cadillacs from the 1980's over the years.  I look forward to having a '50's Cadillac soon!

Regards,

Travis Dowell

I will have to call them in the morning and see what they say. Hopefully it will not be too much!

[chstitans42]

Small update for today. I called around a few transmission shops and had one of two results:
1. They do not work on anything this old
2. They wanted like $3500 to even consider it.

I had the same results until I called a friend who referred me to a retired Dallas Transmission builder named Irby Westmorland. He used to have a transmission shop near downtown Dallas and worked there for forty years until the city bought his land. He said he has build hundreds of these Caddy trasmissions and even refuses to use the Chinese parts. He quoted me $1200 to $1500 to do a total rebuild on it. Does any one know of him? He is the best lead I have so far and will go with him.

[J. Gomez]

Ben,

It seems you have received similar quotes as I did way back from several trans shops around town.   

From your comments it looks like Mr. Westmorland is an “old fart” who knows how to spell Hydramatic/Jetaway. I can tell you I had nothing but great luck with old farts like him, since I’m getting there myself. 

If he quoted you $1200 - $1500 and he supplies the parts, you hit the jackpot. Most likely he will go with the Fastco master kit which I about $340 so the rest would be time and labor. 

Just go and check him out probably he may had set shop at his garage, and he has the proper tools to get it done.

Good luck..!

[chstitans42]

Hey guys I am looking for some hard to find parts! Please watch this video and let me know if you have any of them. Thanks
http://youtu.be/eHzyNBkYWp0

[tradow1]

Hey Ben,

Sorry my lead for Wilson Auto for you didn't pan out, but sounds as if Westmorland is the ticket.  I would definitely jump on it, as you already have.  Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress.  Watched the latest video but don't have any of the parts you need for the '56, but will check around and advise.

Travis

[chstitans42]

Hey Ben,

Sorry my lead for Wilson Auto for you didn't pan out, but sounds as if Westmorland is the ticket.  I would definitely jump on it, as you already have.  Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress.  Watched the latest video but don't have any of the parts you need for the '56, but will check around and advise.

Travis

Hey it is all good. Most leads are dead ends anyways. If you do find some parts for me, that would be GREAT.

[chstitans42]

Found a 1955 penny under the sound barrier inside my '56 Caddy. Pretty cool considering that it probably was put there by an assembly line worker, and has not moved from that spot for 58 years

[chstitans42]

Started the rust repair today
http://youtu.be/SVa98wuxfUo

[52Cadillac]

Good job Ben. Enjoy watching the progress.
Mike

[chstitans42]

Another video
http://youtu.be/9q7Zj_P8-6E

[chstitans42]

A little bit of inspiration that I found on ebay. It is an exact clone of my car.

[chstitans42]

So in other good news, I got my transmission back from the rebuilder, and after a new coat of paint it will be ready to throw in the car. I just have to wait on the radiator to be rebuilt and the engine show to finish up. My goal is running and driving dependably by the end of May!

[chstitans42]

Trans is done!

[chstitans42]

More painting done yesterday. Sadly I forgot to take pics of the oil filter canister and power steering pump all painted and looking new again...

[hudson29]

What a great resto blog. I like the fact that you are on a budget and must try to make your $ go as far as possible. There are many of us who can learn from the solutions you have come to. Keep the reports coming!

Vintage Paul

[chstitans42]

Another Day hard at work
http://youtu.be/fbJJAP0GPcg

[chstitans42]

Preparing for the engine, which will be coming soon
http://youtu.be/_0uKcFkgdAs

[chstitans42]

http://youtu.be/zkTXF_0IDCE

[chstitans42]

I pulled the drums off the car to check the brakes and see what I was going to have to work with, and the only thing that bothered me is this driver's side spindle. These marks catch my fingernail when moved across them. Should I replace it? or do you think I can get by using this spindle?