Carl 61 Fleetwood Phyllis

[jwwseville60]

This is a great thread!

Imagine GM designing new models for every year with major differences in component design. Imagine the little details. It boggles the mind. The engineers must have worked 24-7.

And they made several models each year to boot---coupe, convertible, sedans, limo, ambulances and FW 60S. 1961 was a pivotal year.

My 61 CDV drives so different from my 60 Seville coupe (3 deuces) its astounding. Yes, the drivetrain was carried over but the 61 is lighter, more lithe in handling, faster and nimbler. Space age wonderment. A polished, refined muscle car in a nice suit.

The only way to 100% appreciate these design changes is to restore a car yourself. I wish I had the skills to do just that.

[Clewisiii]

Finally disassembling my rear bumper. I needed to get it out of the way.

I already have new chrome. But I need to restore all the brackets, fasteners, and fuel door assembly.

I will also redo the light housings. The light wiring is funny. There is one plug across two lights per side. So in tge assembly plant they had to install one wire into a plug end after making the assembly.

[Clewisiii]

I spent $700 on a new phone just to get better pictures. I am happy with the detail able to be seen now. My old phone was washing them out.

[Clewisiii]

Well these bolts came off much easier then the front bumper bolts. But I still think I will be breaking the smaller bolts.

[Clewisiii]

Look at that rot. Michigan is great isn't it.

[James Landi]

"My 61 CDV drives so different from my 60 Seville coupe (3 deuces) its astounding. Yes, the drivetrain was carried over but the 61 is lighter, more lithe in handling, faster and nimbler. Space age wonderment. A polished, refined muscle car in a nice suit."

John makes some compelling points.  Had Carl selected a 60 model to resurrect, his entire ownership experience would be far different.  My family had a 60 coupe and a 61 convertible... as John notes, they simply were ENTIRELY different..  John, it might be a fun topic to consider--- what model years were dramatically different from their predecessor.   James

[Clewisiii]

"My 61 CDV drives so different from my 60 Seville coupe (3 deuces) its astounding. Yes, the drivetrain was carried over but the 61 is lighter, more lithe in handling, faster and nimbler. Space age wonderment. A polished, refined muscle car in a nice suit."

John makes some compelling points.  Had Carl selected a 60 model to resurrect, his entire ownership experience would be far different.  My family had a 60 coupe and a 61 convertible... as John notes, they simply were ENTIRELY different..  John, it might be a fun topic to consider--- what model years were dramatically different from their predecessor.   James

At a somewhat local classic car consignment location, they had a dark blue 1960 Fleetwood for sale.  They wanted more then what was reasonable because the car was used in a movie about Barry Gordy. Looking at that car it had some bad panel gaps. It must have been damaged and repaired poorly because the door rubbed on the edge of the fender chipping all the paint off. I looked at the rear roof line and being so low it was very uncomfortable for me to get in the door.

[Clewisiii]

Question on ground path for headlights and taillights.

From the diagram I see the light housings are self grounding.

So I assume that goes Housing, chrome, brackets, frame. So I will need to sand some powder coating away at the frame and brackets.

The gas tank has a ground wire to the frame.

The top of fender turn indicators must cut through paint inside the fender. I assume the two bottom of fender screws to body must cut through paint. I think they have serated hexagonal washers under those bolts.

Any other thoughts. Am I accurate in my thinking?

[Clewisiii]

Well I came to the first one I must cut off. A carriage bolt that is spinning in its square hole.

I also need to get a can of MAP gas. The propane is just not getting hot enough.

[Clewisiii]

A while ago someone asked about a rubber bumper on the bumper. I thought they were talking about the threaded bu.per on the headlight support brackets. But maybe they meant this bumper on the rear bumper bracket.

I have never seen a bumper like this available before. I assume a flat stock rubber pad will work. Will just need to glue it in place.

[Clewisiii]

Three bolts left. Two I should be able to get off with more soaking and heat. The last will need to be cut.

[Clewisiii]

Well I ended up having to cut two bolts. Really this chrome is scrap. I don't see anyone wanting to attempt to restore it so I think this will be going to recycling.



What I was really going for was all of these brackets and fasteners. The brackets will be going as is to the powder coater who will sandblast and coat.

The fasteners will soon get a dip in hydrochloric acid before sandblasting to see what can be saved.



The aluminum. I have a set of aluminum trim that someone had chromed. Not exactly right. But they do look good. I will look into having these re anodized when I have my grill done.

[Clewisiii]

So if I had to restore another rear bumper, it would be the parts cars bumper. Much better condition.

I may take the two dividers off around the fuel door. They are in better shape then the ones I have now to restore.

[James Landi]

When looking for parts on a "scrapped cars," it's sometimes sad to find one that's in better condition than the one I've selected to resurrect.  The one pictured above clearly has a long story to tell, if it could communicate... likely someone's prize possession for decades, and then tossed when that someone could no longer care for it.   James

[Cadillac Jack 82]

It amazes me how some of these parts cars have nearly perfect chrome while the body looks like swiss cheese.  The lenses on that 61 are also very clean too.

[Clewisiii]

Through the fall, while I am saving my cash for chrome, I will need to work though restoring this bumper hardware. There are a lot of fine thread nuts and bolts and unique brackets that I just do not have spares for.


I have restored a lot of hardware myself. And have relied on Jason Edge for all my unrestoreable and spares. Looking through my bagged parts to see what may be extra, I may have half the carriage bolts, but none of the rest.

[David King (kz78hy)]

If there is room to place a nut cutter, it is good solution for getting stuck nuts off.

https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-Universal-Nut-Splitter-CMMT14117/dp/B07R96Z6LY/ref=asc_df_B07R96Z6LY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6758444959300378191&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019227&hvtargid=pla-2281435178098&psc=1&mcid=16b8ed42f1673edd96fa67d4cdca5383&hvocijid=6758444959300378191-B07R96Z6LY-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1

[Clewisiii]

So I am collecting brackets and parts for my next round of powdercoat and plating.   Two things that annoy me. The body side fender skirt brackets have a hidden securing plate inside the rocker. I cannot get to this plate and it wiggles around enough that I lose the bolt holes. So I fished a copper wire through the holes to hold it in place. I will need blast over this and then spray it with a rust convertor.

The brackets will be plated.

[Clewisiii]

I tried to run a batch of bolts and hardware through a tumbler to save time I'm the sandblasted. 7 hours in the tumbler will still save me time at the blasting cabinet.

[Clewisiii]

Now I just need those Fleetwood crests.