1968 Eldorado Restoration

[Rob Troxel]

David,

What is the tire size David, and can you give us a price range.  I'd be interested in a set of skins too.

[INTMD8]

Nice! Diamondback does a great job. Fwiw, if you prefer a different tire type/brand they can remove the lettering and add the stripes to any tire.

[Aaron Hudacky]

David,

Thanks for taking measurements and making your request to Diamondback.  I also wanted their dual stripe whitewalls for our cars, but could tell that the stripes in the photos in their catalog were too wide and couldn't justify spending $1,000 plus for something that wasn't exactly what I want.  They don't look bad, but I like the thinner dual whitewall look much more.  I ended up buying Hankook Optimos like you did and I like them except the unusual sidewall pattern.  I have other issues to address before I buy the redesigned DB tires, but it's nice knowing they can and will be made.  I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your tires.  The '67 you posted photos of still looks really good with the wider dual whitewalls.

Aaron

[DeVille68]

Hey David,

Thanks for taking the time and effort!
Mines are also not correct. I wonder if the DeVille Convertible had the same tires as the Eldorado. In the 68 Sale Brochure they look similar.
So I might also buy new tires for my 68 DeVille.

Regards,
Nicolas

[Mark Allen]

Hi David--what a gorgeous car !!  I've never been a fan of brown until now--this is beautiful !

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Mark,

I posted a scan on Dave Smith's restoration post:
http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=116290.380

HTH,
Ralph

[Carl Glass]

Can't wait to see them installed!

Carl

[Aaron Hudacky]

David,

Those look good!  I'm looking forward to seeing them on your car.

[Rob Troxel]

There is a trick to mounting the tires on the Eldo /Toro wheels.  I was having a spare mounted on a bare Eldo wheel and I think they ended up bringing on the tire from the rear side of the wheel  whitewall to the forward, front side.  Maybe someone else remembers this as an issue. Some of the newer tire changing tables don't work that well for these wheels.  David, did you change the stems this time?  Seems like you did that earlier on the first replacement set you bought.  The car looks "right" now

[Aaron Hudacky]

David,

Those tires look great.  The way the two whitewalls show the shape of the sidewall from various angles works very nicely with the shape of the wheel with the correct stripe spacing.  Thanks for posting the photos!

[Carl Glass]

Has anyone replaced the rosewood trim on their door panels?  My '68 Eldo wood panels are cracked and need help.  I found "rosewood vinyl wood grain" in various sizes on a website called rubbertherightway dot com.  Wondering if anyone has had any experience with this topic.  Also what is involved in getting to the wood panels themselves.  I can certainly remove the entire door panel, but as i recall the wood panel is not visibile from the inside.  Also, this would not help with the rear side wood panels.

Your thoughts?

thx

Carl

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Gentlemen,

I just found this on ebay:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-GM-BUICK-Cadillac-CHEVROLET-Pontiac-OLDSMOBILE-car-ROLLS-WOODGRAIN-TRANSFER-/370921645897?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1966%7CMake%3ACadillac&hash=item565ca72749&vxp=mtr

I'm not sure it matches your cars.
HTH,
Ralph

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Dave,

The best place I’ve dealt with for real wood veneer is Constantine’s: http://www.constantines.com/veneer.aspx
There’s a section showing the “Peel-n-Stick” species samples. If memory serves, ’68  used Rosewood.  I’ve used it for table tops and the adhesive is quite strong and should bond very well. The tricky part is getting stain/dye color to match the other  door panels. The easiest final finish is clear coat rubbed out to the desired sheen.

If you consider doing this, I would definitely take the panels out of the car.

HTH,
Ralph

[DeVille68]

Hi guys,

I have a 68 Cadillac with real rosewood veneer. It is really no problem to remove the wood from the door. Just remove the door panel, then make a special tool (use a screw and grind of the sides to make a six-edge tool) then unscrew the wood-metal plate from the door.

The wood veneer is glued to a metal piece. Mine was not cracked but just faded and old. So just remove the "clear coat" and then use some sandpaper for wood and reapply some protecting coating.
I wanted to document my work for many months now, but had not found the time. I posted some picture in the thread http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=122984.msg222162#msg222162. 

Have no time now to write a long story. But I will start to redo the other wood panels of my 68. So I will definitely post an update in the coming months.
Also look for some guys in the wood business (old furniture or wooden boats) in your town since they can apply the coating and or even give you a strip of rosewood veneer.

If you need more infos just write an email or replay - as soon as I find some more time I will explain the steps in more details. I have a lot of pictures.

Regards,
Nicolas

[Matt CLC#18621]

I just spotted this 67 Eldorado for sale in Hemmings.    The seller specifically mentions that they had custom made Diamondback radial dual stripes made for it!   Looks like the same ones I had made!

Was this an original vinyl top car?
matt
clc# 18621

[Glen]

David, I think one reason for the headlight doors to operate one at a time is because the tee connection is closer to the driver’s side actuator.  I seem to remember someone moving the tee to the center of the car and the action was more simultaneous. 

I got the timing down so that I could make my car wink. 

[gregm]

Dave, I read that you replaced your origianl battery cables? Did you take a photo of them? Where did you buy the replacements? Are the cable ends correct? 

[gregm]

I was looking at US Parts today and noticed they offered the battery cables so that is great.

I need an OEM look for the battery and use the toppers on several Ford and GM cars I own. But do they make one that is correct for the Eldo?   

Are your headlight vacuum lines original? Could I trouble you for pics from the reducers at the firewall forward and the "T" s up by the radiator support?

Any chance you or anyone else here knows the actual size of the vacuum hose and if anyone sells correct hose, red, yellow and green stripe, by the foot?

[Brandon]

Hi fellow Eldorado owners.
I am in Sydney, Australia-this is my '68-thought you may like to see some photos.
This was restored 15 years ago, to the original color and interior.
The self-levelling has been replaced with 3 leaf springs.
The cruise control is missing some plastic/nylon connector pieces, so is inoperable, but everything else works.
As you can see I have used Camaro exhaust tips-(yeah, I know they're not correct)
Best regards,
Brandon

[DeVille68]

Hi Brandon,

I like the car. Nicely done. The exhaust pipes are cool. Gives the car a "hot rod" look. :-)
I don't remember I have ever seen a leather wrapped steering wheel, but it is a neat idea.

Regards,
Nicolas