Restoring my 1942 Cadillac

[jyinger]

I am another of those rare 1942 Cadillac owners.  Mine is a series 61 and we are just beginning restoration.  Mine is virtually complete, except for many of the trim pieces.  I have located almost all of them, and we are now at the point of doing a minor engine overhaul.  It runs, pretty well, actually, but it two of the cylinders are weak.  So we will clean up the valves, etc., and maybe--if the cylinders are in good shape--put in new rings.  The tranny seems to be working, but it is getting replaced with a professionally rebuilt '52 hydramatic.

We have already installed new front disk brakes, and just yesterday I bought all the parts to rebuilt the rear drum brakes.

So......Sally's restoration is well under way.

I wish I had a series 60, but I couldn't find one.  But mine will be the nicest 1942 Series 61 when we're finished.

We should start a 1942 Cadillac group.  Any one else out there want to join us?

Jon

1942 Series 61
1949 two CDVs, one convert, one Fleetwood [three of them completely restored]
1952 Fleetwood [---only 9,000 original miles!--all original interior; exterior restored]
1958 Eldorado Brougham [pretty good shape, but it could use new paint and interior]

[jyinger]

Sorry, I meant to attach a few photos.

Here goes (2nd attempt)

[jyinger]

Photo of buttercup

[jyinger]

arrgggh

OK, one at a time.  Emerald Princess...

[jyinger]

One more----Ellie

[jyinger]

Finally, a couple of photos of Sally

[jyinger]

one more photos of Sally

[harry s]

Very nice stable!    Harry

[carlhungness]

What brake booster did you use and how much modification was necessary for the total installation?

[G Pennington]

Jon,  What disc brake setup did you use on the front of the '42?  Did the stock wheels clear the calipers?  Looking to do my '41 at some point.
Gary Pennington

[srk1941]

She should be named Mildred... Joan Crawford drove this model in Mildred Pierce. It's a beautiful car!

[gary griffin]

Jon,

   I am nearing the end of of a long restoration my 1942 67 series. I war fortunate enough to have a parts car and it has been scrapped but I have lot of odds and ends.  I may have some parts you can use??

   My restoration was an disaster but closing in I think. I have a long restoration story in the archivees of this blog which I will bring forward soon if the most recent engine I found checks out.

   I tried to start a 1942 group but it fell short.  Had a few interested but they faded away. Not many 42`s   in the club or in the world either

[jyinger]

Yes, Gary, I wish we had a '42 Cadillac group.

Right now the parts I need are rear fender spears--unique to the series 61, it seems.

We disassembled the top end of the engine, reassembled it with new valves, etc.  It runs like a dream!  And the hydramatic shifts perfectly!!

Still working on the front disc brake conversion--in the first set up the calipers rubbed on the factory wheels.  We currently have different wheels on it, which don't rub, but now we can't use the factory hub caps.  So---I going to try another disc conversion set up.

Body is in very nice shape (I've posted photos, haven't I?)