Lovey, the 1955 Eldorado restoration story

[David King (kz78hy)]

I brought back the heater blower units with me to clean up and get ready to install.  One unit has a bent fan and motor that does not turn freely.  I found a good blower unit on eBay for $50 and cleaned that one up using the blower housing from my original.  Both units came out good and test fine, ready to mount in the car.

Inbeween Christmas and New Years, I am taking my son to assist me and we will work on the car and hopefully get to the point of installing these.

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

David,

You're doing a beautiful job. This may be only one I've seen in this livery which is shown only once in one of the '55 mailers. Stunning !

[David King (kz78hy)]

Rick had a local windshield installer show up and the glass is in.

[Roger Zimmermann]

He can take it out again: the upper molding must be installed into the rubber profile before; then the windshield can be installed on the car!

[David King (kz78hy)]

Great!...The saying while working the car has become "it's no fun if you don't do it twice"

Thanks for pointing that out Roger.

This kind of shit drives me nuts.

[Roger Zimmermann]

I understand the pain!
This detail is described in the '54 shop manual; strange that Rick was not aware of this "detail".

[David King (kz78hy)]

Rick did know, he forgot to tell the installers and left them to do their work.  Oh well, now to find the molding...

[David King (kz78hy)]

Rick was able to get the molding installed in the car...kinda tough to get in, but he and his assistant were successful.  The crew that installed it sealed it real well, so to get it out would have destroyed the weatherstrip seal.

Next week when I am there, we should be able to knock out a lot of stuff.

[Roger Zimmermann]

You are lucky! It was certainly not easy, but with a fresh rubber seal still pliable, Rich and his assistant managed to do it.

[David King (kz78hy)]

This week my son and I have been working on the car and are finally starting to install some jewelry.  Fuel tank pipe and hoses installed and connected.  Brakes were filled, bled and shoes adjusted, this was a long day and I still have a suspect joint at the master where a leak is appearing.  The new tires and wheels were installed.  Temperary oil pressure gauge line removed and the oil filter line installed.  Temporary fuel line removed and main fuel tank line reconnected.  Wiper motor cable was installed and connected to motor.  A spring was dropped into the heater hose that was kinking on the sharp bend from the Ranco valve so that is soothed out.  Rear crown moldings, LH side belt trim and side trim installed.

Tomorrow is the last day and there is still plenty to do.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Pretty parts.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Today was a huge push for parts install.  Rear lamps, moldings, trunk lining, sound deadener in doors, windshield moldings, hub caps, hood trim.

[David King (kz78hy)]

More shots from today.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Superb! Did you used ribbed molding I sold to you or did you find another solution?

[David King (kz78hy)]

Roger, I ended up with several parts and I can't remember now which ones were used....I think the rears were mine, but not sure.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Rick as been busy and installed the cluster, (at least temporarily) and the side glass, it has been a struggle.  The car goes to the top shop on Monday to get the convertible top installed.  My Son and I will make a trip there the 1st week of March and complete the exterior items on the car.  The goal is bring it back with me to MI (in a trailer) to finish the car.  The GN will be here before I know it.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Rick stopped by the top shop and sent this photo, progress is being made.  I will be there the following week for a weeks worth of assembly with the goal of bringing it back with me to complete.

[David King (kz78hy)]

When i got to WI last week, the car was still at the top shop.  On Monday it was completed and arrangements were made to flatbed it back to the shop.  The car was pushed onto the lift.  The rear end panel seal I installed was upside down, that was corrected.  The clips were missing so I used the small office supply paper clamps with the wire handles and after installation, the wire handles were removed, it worked out nice.

All the bumper end rubber is for the Standard cars as I could not find material or repo parts for the Eldorado version.  They seemed to fit well enough and I wanted support for the exhaust pipes through the bumper.

The front bumper assembly was started.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Front Bumper Assembly

[David King (kz78hy)]

Front Bumper Assembly and headlamp parts.