1968 Eldorado Restoration

[djohnson]

I know you are happy that the car is home.  The paint looks great, Is that a New paint Job or ?? 
If so what price range was that in.??   Great ELDO

[Carl Glass]

David...I think you have inspired me to get my '68 Eldo out of the garage this weekend.

Thx

Carl

[djohnson]

Two things Dave......How did the turtle was work on the grille?  ( I got a white film that doesn't want to go away)

And is the hood ornament the same all four years or was 67-68 different from the 69-70....  ordered a couple
already and had to send them back because the were the wrong ones.  maybe from a Deville or fleetwood...

Let me know when u have a chance

[Jeff Wilk]

I have the Master Parts book here.  Not familiar with these cars though.  It appears that the three parts..... "Crest _ V Emblem _ Wreath" are all the same for 1967-1970.  There is also an "Ornament _ Base _Spring" that is also the same for 1967-1970

Hope this helps

Jeff & Noah

[Glen]

The parts book is confusing.  In the illustration it shows the 67 â€" 68 part number as 393 2941 and for the 69 â€" 70 part number 363 3289.

In the parts listing it shows the part number for all four years as 363 3289. 

My guess is there is a difference but the later one is usable on the earlier cars. 

My parts listing is a 1974 edition while the illustration is a 1973 edition. 

[Rob Troxel]

Dave,

Hoping that the gaskets did the trick for the trans leak.  I hear that the fiber based ones last the longest which what I believe you ordered.
Sadly some of our vendors have a very leisurely approach in shipping.  In contast, my Rodded Packard vendor, SpeeWayracing sends orders out the same day usually arriving in 2 to 3 days.

[Carl Glass]

David

You're right, I doubt it would be a vacuum leak.  However, your twilight sentinal could be acting up.  I believe the photocell is working properly, since the lamps were lit, however the electropneumatic valve under the hood could be at fault.  Maybe a stuck valve or loose electrical conneciton.

Good luck!

Carl

[Carl Glass]

David

Odd you have GM and not TS.  My car has neither.  Although I have assembled the parts to install both.  I'm currently n the process of adding the vacuum door locks.  My biggest project is the black leather bucket seats and console I bought.  One day I will install them.

Carl

[dirtycustom40]

I remember seeing an ad for the i believe the 1970 eldorado and it said "the gentlemens hot rod".I looked for it a few times on google but couldnt find it.The car looks very very nice.These cars get addicting.Nothing else ever made looks like they do.They are one of the sleekest looking cars ever made.

[Dan M]

I all- wonder if anyone could measure their 472 eldo dipstick from the bottom of the "hilt" to the tip.  I have just put in 6 qt and it is just barely on the stick.  I wonder if somehow I have the wrong stick?

I have a 68 Black with white top and while leather- will post pix later.

I just ordered 2 door actuating cans from Ricks Camaro and will provide a report as I apply them to the Cad.

[Rob Troxel]

Rick,

There is a difference on the oil sticks, Eldo Vs the others.  I'll be glad to measure when I retuirn from vacation.  @ 6 quarts you should be full.  Another option is to put a file mark at that level on the stick. 

thanks for tackling the Camaro headlight motor mod.  I have heard these do work quite well but you must tread the actuator end rod for the clevis bracket used on the Eldos.  Keep us posted!

[Carl Glass]

Where can i read or see a video about the headlight mod?  I've seen some Camaro or Riviera doors that seem to shap open and closed.  I wouldn't want that for my Eldo.  Or does this mod involve vacuum doors as well?

Carl

[Rob Troxel]

Carl,

We are talking about the actual vacum  cylindrical canister motors built for the hidden headlight Camaro  that are about the same size as the ones on our Eldos with  a similar stroke to work the H/L doors

[Carl Glass]

Oh cool!  So it is a very similar replacement solution!

Carl

[Dan M]

Yes- there is an electric conversion for the Camaro which apparently snaps them up and down.  The 1969 RS model had the vacuum actuated canister similar to the Eldorado.  Apparently the main difference is the female yoke that fits the male door arm  is reversed on the Camaro, with a male eye on the actuator.  I'll either remove and thread for the yoke, or I will see if it can be used off to the side- I believe we saw that in some one's pic.  Anyhow, I bought used and of course they are dead too, so the Rick's add states "all new tooling" and I am hoping to solve this once and for all!

[dirtycustom40]

We installed a set on a camaro a few years back and they seem to work fine with electric motors.I think they needed to be cycled a couple times to find their correct stops.1968 caprice should be the the same vacuum cans if i remember right.Im looking for hideaway parts if anyone has any spare brackets and buckets please let me know.

[Dan M]

Hi guys- I got my actuators from Rick's Camaro.  They are in a Goodmark Restoration Parts box.  They are very nicely made, have the gold zinc plating.  The main thing is how the yoke or eye is attached to the rod.  The shaft have a groove near its tip, and there are 2 spring roll pins through the Camaro eye, securing it to the groove.  I drove out the pins with a little brass wire.  This gave me a chance to figure out how to adapt the Cadillac yoke.

[Dan M]

The rod is hardened and/or chromed where a file will not easily cut it.  I thought about heating it to anneal to thread it, but also was tryingt o keep things simple.  So, I drilled out the Cadillac yoke with a 5/16" drill to make a close fit to the shaft.  Then I drilled and tapped for 10-24 set screws to engage into the groove.  I know I was giving up the adjustment feature, but as I experimented with them it seemed fine.  I left the rubber boot on, even though I could not find an elegant way to secure it to the yoke- I did a wire wrap- we'll see if it holds up.

The actuators went straight in.  The top hose connection points to the side, so I chose towards the fender orientation.

These things hold vacuum perfectly.  The worn out ones had lost their seal completely.  I put a vacuum gage on one side and it measured the same amount as on the other.

My doors work perfectly.  This also gave me a chance to replace all the various hoses and I am very happy with the doors operation, the improved vacuum system retention.  these cans were about $80 from Rick's Camaro which was online store.

[Rob Troxel]

Great contribution!  I like your set screw idea.  Keep us posted if it is still working as it should.  Do you have a web link for
Ricks Camaro's?

[Dan M]

http://www.rickscamaros.com/catalogsearch/result/?search_year=1969&q=headlight+actuator&x=0&y=0