The saga continues 58 Caddy former art car

[GMan58MadCaddy]

See last post here: http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=161687.msg474351#msg474351

It wasn't just the manual valve disconnected, so I took it to a local trans shop that works on older cars. Their troubleshooting says its not pumping hydraulic fluid, and suggest a trans rebuild, said it would be about $3000. That's what my wife originally paid for the car 3.5 yrs ago, I have put in about $1500 in parts and a bunch of my time getting the motor running (two carbs, water pump, harmonic balancer, plugs, wires, etc, and brakes freed up and working. I don't think its worth spending another $3000+ for the trans as I know there are a few other smaller issues, intake manifold leaking, low fuel pressure, rust in gas tank. 

I need to figure out what to do with it.  I don't have the time or the storage space to part it out myself, and I have a family heirloom hot rod that I would rather spend the time and money on. Its a really neat car but unfortunately someone drilled about 1000 1/8" holes in the body so it will take a massive amount of time to repair.  It has most of the chrome in good shape, and the interior is in really good condition considering the age and the lights, and power windows still work, the electric seat adjustment does not though.  I just feel defeated working on it so much to just to have a bad transmission and never being able to drive it. 

[GMan58MadCaddy]

only letting me add one pic at a time for some reason.

[chrisntam]

Hit the “more attachments” under where you attach your pics.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One way to cover everything would be to have the car "Wrapped", but you would still see the outlines of the little holes.

Bruce.

[James Landi]

You may consider putting it up for sale on this web site.  Having all of your effort go to someone who has the resources to finish all that you've started has, at the very least, a distinct sense of accomplishment in that you provided this car with a very strong start to a new life. Determining a fair price might be an issue for you, but if you're considering parting it, having the car remain whole and having someone take on all you've begun will help you get the car where you originally envisioned it to be "on the road again." Hope this helps in some way, James

[fishnjim]

Now you understand why someone turned it into an "art" car.   Had no future as a driver.
You can't even part out fenders with 1000s holes in them.   Right it off or set in a field.

[wrench]

I think James’ advice is best. If you can find someone who would take it on and you can let it go for a realistic price.

One question in my mind is do you have any clues about what the ‘art car’ looked like when it was freshly drilled and filled? I am having difficulty picturing what they actually did to the car other than paint it purple with yellow flames and what appears to be adhesive to hold light strips or something or other.

Was it used in advertising? There appears to be a large space on the door for some sort of sign or medallion that has been removed.

Maybe if you had some more background on the modifications, it might actually be worth more as an art piece than an old car with a beat transmission.

Maybe track down the ‘artist’ and see where they are now in their ‘career’.

Maybe donate it for a tax write off to one of those roadside cadillac ranch type attractions as a sideshow...what’s funny is ‘they’ are opening marijuana shops all over the country, but they are not like the old hippie shops, they are corporate looking buildings all serious and not a purple cadillac or Nehru shirt with beads to be found anywhere near them.

Just brainstorming here before the mushrooms take effect...

[GMan58MadCaddy]

I did some research on the car when I first brought it home and stuffed it into my garage.  We bought it from the Houston Zoo, who had it for several years and used it in their annual Christmas Light Show" (see picture) and some art car parades. It was originally built into an art car by someone with the Colorado Museum of Outdoor Arts, I contacted them a few times, but they never responded with any useful information.  Someone at the zoo ripped all the lights off before we picked it up, I had thoughts of putting some back once running, but never got that far. 

I will post it in the for sale section, and be open to offers. If it doesn't sell anytime soon, I guess Ill haul it up to Amarillo and see if anyone around the Cadillac Ranch wants it.

Here she is in her former zoo glory:

[wrench]

Wow, it was a Christmas ornament.

Very interesting.

[dadscad]

Wow! That's colorful. I would drop the transmission pan and take a look at the filter and oil pick up tube O'ring seal at the pump inlet. Sometimes it is something simple.

[GMan58MadCaddy]

Could this be an issue, even after the trans shop said it is not putting out any hydraulic pressure?  I'm supposed to pick it up from the transmission shop this weekend, but I don't know if they actually pulled the pan.  Ill call them and ask them to do so, even if it costs me a couple hundred, that's better than not knowing.

[J. Gomez]

Could this be an issue, even after the trans shop said it is not putting out any hydraulic pressure?  I'm supposed to pick it up from the transmission shop this weekend, but I don't know if they actually pulled the pan.  Ill call them and ask them to do so, even if it costs me a couple hundred, that's better than not knowing.

I would asked the shop what was the pressure reading they had when tested. The shop may be a reputable one but these transmission are a bit tricky and folks with knowledge on how to properly fix them are diminishing.

I had several transmission shops quote me with the same price a few years back $3000 to $4500   , so I tested them by asking if they have the proper tools to do the job and they all say yes we do. I gave them some fictitious tools numbers to validate their words, needless to say I did not use any of them. 

The front pump provides the fluid pressure via the fluid clutch drive torus, the rear pump is driving by the output shaft to provide extra pressure. If your car has the original non-rebuild transmission most likely the old “O” rings and seals are all gone by now, so low to no fluid pressure maybe one of the symptoms.

I know Roger is the “Albert Einstein” on these transmission so he may chime in with more info.   

I’ll try to attach a couple of pages from the Hydra-matic service manual in pdf format for your reference  not sure if they will get embedded do to the large file size.   

Good luck..!

[GMan58MadCaddy]

The download worked.  Thank You J.

I just called the trans shop and actually talked to the mechanic, and he said he wants to drop the pan and check the filter and O-ring.  This was without me prompting him, so I'm comfortable he knows what he is doing with older cars.  I also printed the hydramatic pages you sent, and will take them by this afternoon.

This forum has been super helpful, Thank you all!

[GMan58MadCaddy]

Update again.  The trans shop finally pulled the pan and there are lots of metal shavings in the cloudy fluid. 

At this point, I just need to get rid of it, take any reasonable offer really.  If I could donate it and get a tax write off, that would be better than scrap ing it.

Does anyone here part out these cars?

[James Landi]

By all means, list it in the "for sale" section of this site... based on all you've done thus far, we can hope some CLC member comes to the rescue.  Some of these folks have good transmissions sitting in the corner of their shops gather dust.   Still hoping for a good outcome for you and your car.  James

[GMan58MadCaddy]

Its listed:
http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=161843.0
Not much action though.

I contacted a local "cars for charity" place and they are having an auction company coming to look at it today.  If the auction co thinks it will sell they will take it, then give me a gift receipt for whatever amount it sells for. Its unfortunate that I never got to drive it.  My 5 yr old was almost crying saying goodbye to it yesterday afternoon.