1968 M&M Cadillac Hearse

[Gene Beaird]

Wish we had room for one of those.  They'd make a nice 'pup-mobile' to haul our dogs around in.  Not sure they'd like the slick surface back there, though.   

While that part of the hood was prone to rust pretty easily, I'd expect that hood lip trim to be the same for any 67-69 deVille/FW/Calais, so that should open up your options. 

[metalblessing]

Wish we had room for one of those.  They'd make a nice 'pup-mobile' to haul our dogs around in.  Not sure they'd like the slick surface back there, though.   

While that part of the hood was prone to rust pretty easily, I'd expect that hood lip trim to be the same for any 67-69 deVille/FW/Calais, so that should open up your options.

68 only unfortunately. 68 was the first year where it curved down a bit. 67 was straight across, and 69 was a new design so doesnt fit. I will find one eventually

[WTL]

There was a good priced 68 hood lip on eBay a couple years back when I was looking for mine, for a 69. 

Best thing is to take your time.  I was able to acquire a rather rough one before our wedding for $100, most chrome is pitted, but it still brings the look.  I don't want to pay the prices that others want for a good one, but I figure I can wait it out now that I have this. 

It wouldn't shock me if in 10 or so years 3D printing makes stuff like this a little more easy to find.

[Highwayman68]

Found this on ebay, that is the lowest starting price that you will ever see for one of these. It is not show quality but it is complete and will do until you can find the quality that you are looking for.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-cadillac-hood-chrome-moulding-trim-coupe-deville-sedan-2-4-door/173305349674?hash=item2859cdc62a:g:0aAAAOSw5W5a77cX

[metalblessing]

Found this on ebay, that is the lowest starting price that you will ever see for one of these. It is not show quality but it is complete and will do until you can find the quality that you are looking for.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-cadillac-hood-chrome-moulding-trim-coupe-deville-sedan-2-4-door/173305349674?hash=item2859cdc62a:g:0aAAAOSw5W5a77cX

Thank you very much for pointing this out! I had slacked on my regular searching, hopefully i am able to get this.

[metalblessing]

In a few weeks I'm going to try to re-condition the crinkle paint on the top of the car. It was recommended I use a 50/50 mixture of acetone and gloss black rustoleum and roll it over the existing original crinkle paint. This should retain the original texture of the factory crinkle paint and make it look new. Looking foward to the results.

[Highwayman68]

HOLY CRAP that molding went for $242.50! Were you one of the ones bidding on it?

[metalblessing]

HOLY CRAP that molding went for $242.50! Were you one of the ones bidding on it?

Yes I bid up to $72 and didnt check it until this morning

[metalblessing]

I got it painted Saturday and it does look a bit better, although I did get it a little too thick in places on the top. I did have a major mishap during the painting. Originally I had the paint tray on top of the coach so I wouldnt be lifting a paint soaked roller over the body. Worked fine for awhile until I went to refill the tray and put it back up top. I didnt get it quite high up enough and it slid off the roof and all over the front of my wifes Subaru Impreza, all over the driveway, and also a bit on the body of the hearse.

Thankfully I was able to get it all cleaned off the vehicles without damaging any existing paint. I still need to clean off one of my wife's rims, and the driveway is proving difficult. I poured stripper on the driveway, then an hour later scraped up the goo and hosed it off. Helped a little bit I need to do it several more times.

Aside from all that here are the post-paint pictures:

[DeVille68]

wow, makes quite a difference!

[metalblessing]

I mentioned this in another thread but I will also put it here:

Over the past weekend a clicking or tapping sound had developed in the engine compartment. Some people had suggested I may have a loose motor mount, so I was focused on that possibility.

Yesterday I was poking around under hood with the car off, trying to make sense of what could be making the sound, when my hand bumped a cable and I heard the click sound. I nudged the cable again a few times and heard the sound. Followed the cable and it was my AC Relay. Previously I had unplugged the AC relay since not only does my AC not work but the connector is melted. Apparently the connector had managed to shimmy its way back onto one of the contacts (the wrong contact) and each time it wiggled it would intermittently make a connection and activate the relay, making a "click" sound.

I made this video in case it helps anyone else in the future:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8TZ7du5b-s

[metalblessing]

I finally ordered myself a shop manual!

Also I need to pick up one of those AC guides from Cadillac Tim soon, I have decided maybe I will fix the AC afterall

[metalblessing]

Got to take part in my first parade over the weekend at the Collinsville, OK Independence day parade. My wife got these bunting american flags that actually turned out to look real nice in the windows. Then was in the car show at a local fireworks show "Rockets over Rhema"

Also brought my sons toy silverado

[Highwayman68]

That car probably felt right at home in that parade moving along slooowly

[metalblessing]

That car probably felt right at home in that parade moving along slooowly

Yeah, but I was afraid of vaporlock the entire time, but didnt have a problem. I had vaporlocked in highway traffic a week before. But after an oil change it seems I no longer have issues. My oil was pretty dirty (seafoamed it back in Feb)

[35-709]

Changing the oil is a good thing, but would have nothing to do with vapor lock.

[metalblessing]

Changing the oil is a good thing, but would have nothing to do with vapor lock.

Wouldnt old, dirty oil increase the operating temperature of the engine? Before I would have slight vaporlocking at long stoplights, and had a 15 minute vaporlock on a congested highway. After my oil change I was able to sit in a 1 hour traffic jam in 95 degree weather without problems.

[35-709]

I wouldn't think so.  How old and how dirty?  Never heard of changing the oil affecting vapor lock --- maybe if the oil was of too thin a viscosity, but at 75 I haven't seen or heard it all yet so I'm willing to learn.   

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

I wouldn't think so.  How old and how dirty?  Never heard of changing the oil affecting vapor lock --- maybe if the oil was of too thin a viscosity, but at 75 I haven't seen or heard it all yet so I'm willing to learn.   

I have my oil changes on the Acadia done at Beard Chevrolet, my local mech can't match their prices on Dexos. After the last oil change, and within an hour, I got every warning light/code etc the car was capable of throwing, all timing chains codes. Timing chain was replaced a few years ago. Ran to my mech who said they put in the wrong oil, bring it back. Brought it back, the service manager thought I was nuts. "Change the oil again son, and another filter too." This time I stayed with them as they worked on the car, watched him grab the "10-30" dispenser from the ceiling, etc. They cleared the codes and not a problem since. Oil can do funky things.

Blake your car looked FABULOUS for the parade! You must have been so proud!

\m/
Laurie

[metalblessing]

I have my oil changes on the Acadia done at Beard Chevrolet, my local mech can't match their prices on Dexos. After the last oil change, and within an hour, I got every warning light/code etc the car was capable of throwing, all timing chains codes. Timing chain was replaced a few years ago. Ran to my mech who said they put in the wrong oil, bring it back. Brought it back, the service manager thought I was nuts. "Change the oil again son, and another filter too." This time I stayed with them as they worked on the car, watched him grab the "10-30" dispenser from the ceiling, etc. They cleared the codes and not a problem since. Oil can do funky things.

Blake your car looked FABULOUS for the parade! You must have been so proud!

\m/
Laurie

Thanks, its a blast to drive, it certainly gets attention thats for sure.

As for the oil. I had it changed in January, however...I added seafoam to the crankcase, which would have thinned the oil, and also caused it to pull dirt and crap from everywhere, which is why it was solid black and gritty. So I assume the oil being diluted and thinned with seafoam may have been a contributing factor. Now its running great.

Before everytime I started it up and backed out the driveway, putting it in drive and hitting the gas would sometimes stall me. Now it seems to always be ready to go. So glad about that for sure.

Looking forward to July 13th, because it will be "Car Collector appreciation day" which means I have a justification to drive it Tulsa to work again without my wife getting mad about my insane gas usage.