Laurie's 1970 Fleetwood Brougham Restoration

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Secretariat was born in 70, just like your Cad.  I'd use that. 

BRILLIANT!
Laurie!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

From page G-2 of the 1970 Cadillac Data Book:

Valve arrangement Overhead
Bore and stroke 4.3" x 4.06"
Block and cylinder head material Cast iron
Piston displacement 472 cu. in.
Taxable horsepower 59.2
Max. brake horsepower 375 @ 4400 r.p.m.
Max. engine torqueâ€"Ibs.-ft 525 @ 3000 r.p.m.
Compression ratio 10.0:1

Mjussayin'... ?
Laurie?

[35-709]

   Iron/cast iron, no argument here!  My point is there is too much minutiae and that sort of thing could be eliminated.  Your sign will be great.

[wrefakis]

looks good with white top
toying with purchase just so stunning

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

looks good with white top
toying with purchase just so stunning

STUNNING! Get it! What are they asking for it?
I'd be interested in a pic of the data plate.
Is the dash blue or green? I can't really see it's color well from the pic.
Inside condition looks just like mine, survivor!
Laurie!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

  Iron/cast iron, no argument here!  My point is there is too much minutiae and that sort of thing could be eliminated.  Your sign will be great.

"minutiae", I love that word! Right up there with "defenestration".
Laurie!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

A person buying a new one in 70 I suspect did not see nor likely were offered this much information. I doubt viewers at shows would have thier eyes glazed over. Less is more . It might be interesting to one rebuilding the same however IMHO arent interested.

Agree completely. How many in the late 60's saw the sense in buying a Yenko or COPA camaro vs what the local dealer offered, who knew enough to read the fine print? Same with early 70 'cuda, why spend the extra whopping $800 for the hemi over the 440... The folks who read the fine print and checked all the blocks created historical cars.

I'm a car junkie, I *LOVE* the 'fine print'. And I'm not putting my car in the same league with the aforementioned either. But I believe the majority who go to car shows willingly (vs those being dragged along for the day) are car junkies too. If a '70 Caddy catches your eye, you're going to read the show board. When I go to shows I walk by a lot of cars, not because the show board looks too informative, but because the car doesn't do anything for me.  JMHO

Laurie!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Short and sweet works best, and I know you understand that!   

Completely!
Laurie!

[Dan LeBlanc]

Agree completely. How many in the late 60's saw the sense in buying a Yenko or COPA camaro vs what the local dealer offered, who knew enough to read the fine print? Same with early 70 'cuda, why spend the extra whopping $800 for the hemi over the 440... The folks who read the fine print and checked all the blocks created historical cars.

I'm a car junkie, I *LOVE* the 'fine print'. And I'm not putting my car in the same league with the aforementioned either. But I believe the majority who go to car shows willingly (vs those being dragged along for the day) are car junkies too. If a '70 Caddy catches your eye, you're going to read the show board. When I go to shows I walk by a lot of cars, not because the show board looks too informative, but because the car doesn't do anything for me.  JMHO

Laurie!

Maybe I'm in the minority, but even being a car guy, it is extremely rare that I will take the time to read the display board.  If it's a car that I find interesting enough to read a board on, I'd rather just walk over to the owner and talk to them about the car.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Sometimes when I see a display board, it has been conveniently placed to cover up an imperfection.

Bruce.

[59-in-pieces]

I don't understand anybody who would ignore MORE INFORMATION.
As Johnny 5 would say - "MORE INPUT, Stephanie".
Ignorance is not bliss - it's ignorance.
Besides, the information on the board or from other sources, like the owner, may twig your memory or your imagination - new perspectives.
Have fun,
Steve B.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

OK, the show board is still a work in progress, when its 'done' I'll post it.
Diverted several hours of insomnia the past few nights to a 'poster board' about 1970. The young'uns
learn nothing about history any more so I did something short and sweet to compliment
the rest of the display. Used PowerPoint, some power Googling and Staples, total cost $32.
What do you think? 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Ah...... did you post the wrong image?   Where is the Cadillac?

Bruce.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Ah...... did you post the wrong image?   Where is the Cadillac?

Bruce.

Under the poster! LOL!
Laurie!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Hey folks? Outside where the windshield meets the body, where the windshield wipers are... that material looks like poultry fencing. What's supposed to be there? Does anyone have a good photo? Does anyone sell replacement? I know it has to be vented. Thanks!
Laurie!

[WTL]

I think it's stock.  That wire mesh?

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

I think it's stock.  That wire mesh?

Yep, looks like something a farmer put it... stock?
Laurie?

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

UNWRAPPED for the 'spring' yesterday! Paint is fine, roof is the same. Damp Rids did their job, I replaced all 7 of them. Car smelled good. So great to see The Ark again, and not the green 'bag' on my lawn. Into the shop in 2 weeks! To the mech for all the engine work before that the end of this month, CAN NOT WAIT! First show April 12 at Gillette! So excited!

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

As of today, all of The Ark's AIMD work will be done at Hyannis Vintage Auto, not with my regular mechanic Scott. Apparently there was an 'issue' with another client in his garage falling, so the boss said NO clients in the bays, including me. I panicked, I was devastated. Ran crying to Mike who said I was more than welcome to work with his mechs in his shop when The Ark goes in for paint and body. God works in mysterious ways. Everything happens for a 'reason'. Expecting to work on The Ark tomorrow, nice weather so let's get busy, the more I do, the cheaper it gets. Removed the box of Gain fabric softner sheets from the engine and tail pipe, a few pumps on the pedal, and she started right up after 3 months, sweet! How about a ride around the block, sounds good. Completed my pre-flight and just like an aircraft the brakes are last - fail. Brake light goes on, pedal to the floor. Damn. As my friend Chuck says who owns 33 classics, "they can break just being parked". Noticed an orange fluid on the ground (good thing I parked it on a blue tarp). PS was fine, tranny down a pint, tranny had a wicked weepage around its gaskets, those parts are in que. Orange? No visable leaks around the vacuum boost or break fluid thing, tried to open the resevoir but its pretty rusted, I need a screw driver, I'll look tomorrow to check for brake fluid. Still plan to flush the radiator, change the therm, and now I'm going to replace the top hose, it looks mottled while the others look brand new, autozone hose will be fine, clamps in stock. Wondering if that orange puddle could be rain/snow run off that ran off over rusty parts on the frame? I still have to move the car a little tomorrow, I'll test the emergency brake, it worked when it was parked. Already contacted Hagerty, its 12 miles to the shop and I'm covered for 15, it will be towed in when the time comes. Jeez I wanted to drive it today, just around the block! Things happen for a reason...

The 2nd Shelter Logic 10x20 arrived today. The 1st one arrived in a destroyed box, parts sticking out, etc. Sent it back the next day, new box today locks factory fresh. This will be nicest Shelter Logic ever constructed. The roof will have 2 ratchet straps installed evenly spaced between the supports to give that "snow load" support. $6.99 for 4 at Harbor Freight, I need 6. Installing a floor, 3/4" ground contact 4x8's screwed together. And running power to it from my shed via U-12-2 for the over head LED lighting, power for the fan(s) I'll be installing on timers to keep the air moving, as well as extra AC there if I need it for something. Also got 8 15" rebar spikes to drive into the footings, this thing won't be moving. They survived Irma with this configuration. I'll need to back the car in a bit to starboard to give myself enough room to open the door to egress. My concern is the zipper for the 'front door' is there and I don't want to scratch the car on it. Maybe I can just roll it back tight and use a velcro strap. 20' long, car is 19' feet long, no problem.

Here's some pics of the orange puddles I noticed; one looking down through the engine bay, the other from the ground, that's rain water in foreground. Tranny leak or rusty water run off?

\m/
Laurie?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

As of today, all of The Ark's AIMD work will be done at Hyannis Vintage Auto, not with my regular mechanic Scott. Apparently there was an 'issue' with another client in his garage falling, so the boss said NO clients in the bays, including me.

All the boss should have banned was the fella who fell.

I had a similar instance of not being allowed onto the shop floor in 2008 when I was in Connecticut.

I took a pair of my '72 Eldorado wheels in to the tyre shop to buy some new tyres and have them fitted, but when I came back, after a bit of sight-seeing, they didn't have the job done, and explained they couldn't get the tyres off the rims.

After much discussion as to how to do the task, they still couldn't understand that the tyres needed to be removed backwards.   They finally allowed me to operate the tyre changer, as I explained that I had operated them before, having managed a workshop, I had the tyres off and the new ones on in 5 minutes.

I was thinking that they might have made me sign a disclaimer to allow me to touch the machine, but they didn't have anything like that in their correspondence, so they let me do it.

All the staff were watching me, and couldn't believe that it worked.   Seems like they only work on new cars.   Now they know what to do.

Bruce.