66 DeVille Convertible resto

[Chuck Swanson]

Thanks Jeff.  The wet sanding really paid off.  Looks great and nice and smooth.  I wound up doing a lot of the sanding.  Was nervous using the 600 grit, but got the hang of it.  Just went up to 1500 on rest of parts.  After the wet sanding, some cleaning with RM 831, then tack and more coats of clear by my friend Bill.  Car back at my house now.  I just need to put the car back together.   Not as worried about that part as I have done before   Hoping to start assembling the convertible parts this weekend so I can get  down to the top guy this month. 

Once I reassemble the car will go back to Bill for some buffing.

[Chuck Swanson]

Convertible top frame done and installed.  Whew, this was a lot of work.  Also installed new cylinders, lines and pump.  I also got the new brass bushing kit from Hydroe, alone with replacing all the rest of hardware on frame except the 8 mounting bolts, which I restored.  Restored latch with new front chrome/hook/spring kit. Even cleaned up up hose clips in tumbler and painted original color    Appointment with shop on 6/14 to install new Electron top.   Still need to bleed air out of lines. New weather-stripping just test fitted.

[DeVille68]

Good work!
In your picture where the pump is visible it seems to me that you still have some air in the circuit?!
The bleeding procedure is quite simple. Explained in the service manual.

[Chuck Swanson]

Yes, good catch.  I have had it on the To Do list   Thanks!

[Chuck Swanson]

Brought the car down to Upholstery shop today to install the new Electron convertible top!  Have not posted for a while as I was prepping my '67 Nova...won it's First AACA Grand National 1st place award on June 4th!   The '66 Cad will also be entered in AACA shows.   Chuck

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Chaz,

Congratulations! They ain't easy  to come by

[Chuck Swanson]

Thanks Ralph!

Here's some pics of the new Electron top.  Installed by trim shop today.   All lines bled and goes up and down fine.

Chuck

[DeVille68]

nice!

Did you also install the additional insulation pad from the front bow to the first bow?

My 68 Deville is missing this pad too - most Cadillacs I saw sofar where missing this - but this was original from factory! Should give you a quieter interior and some better noise and heat insulation.  (was is factory in 66 too? )

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Nicolas,

You're correct about the pad from the header to the first bow. It was factory standard for many years.
It seemed to fade away with replacement tops as convertibles aged. Part of the reason could be that later owners didn't know it should be there .  I ordered the pad with my top from Electron and it only cost a few dollars. There is additional work for the installer but I don't have the incremental price of installation. 
Given that convertibles are noisy, some folks may not have seen the value to lower noise or more  insulation.

[Chuck Swanson]

nice!

Did you also install the additional insulation pad from the front bow to the first bow?

My 68 Deville is missing this pad too - most Cadillacs I saw sofar where missing this - but this was original from factory! Should give you a quieter interior and some better noise and heat insulation.  (was is factory in 66 too? )

Thanks!! Yes, definitely ordered the pads.  They were $70 or so for pair from Electron tops.  However, the pad is longer than the first bow...either way the pads are nice

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The pad Nick is referring to is virtually an interior headlining sheet that goes from the header bow to the first bow, and covers the full width of the area above the front seat.

The Pair of long pads will be the side pads that go from the header bow to the rear bow, and act as a side support to do two jobs.   Support the top material as it traverses the area from the flat top to the side, bolstering the side curve, and a locating link to keep the bows in alignment.

Bruce.

[Chuck Swanson]

The pad Nick is referring to is virtually an interior headlining sheet that goes from the header bow to the first bow, and covers the full width of the area above the front seat.

The Pair of long pads will be the side pads that go from the header bow to the rear bow, and act as a side support to do two jobs.   Support the top material as it traverses the area from the flat top to the side, bolstering the side curve, and a locating link to keep the bows in alignment.

Bruce.

  Thanks for the clarification Bruce.  Upon further inspection, I did order the "front" pad.  I see in the Electron catalog, yes, it is $70.

[DeVille68]

So this "front pad" for 70$ is something else.
How make this correct insulation sheet from the front bow to the first bow?

Could I add this to my top now?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I believe it has to be added to the top before the cover material is installed.

My '72 has the scissors top, and that definitely is sewn down the sides to the side padding, around the front bow, and the centre part is padded (I can feel it through the torn part.)

Mine looks original, but the actual top material has been replaced.

One day, I will attempt to sew a patch where it is torn, but it hasn't torn any further since I purchased the car in 2007.

Bruce.

PS.   The different colouring is because of fading over the years.   It looks like the lighter shaded area is open to the sun when the top is down, and maybe the previous owner/s, didn't bother to fit the hard boots when the top was down.   And I can understand this not happening.

[DeVille68]

Thanks for the pictures!
The only picture I found so far was one from an Ebay listing - it is from a 69 Convertible.
Now that you mentioned it - the picture of the 69 top also seems to have a stitching.

[Chuck Swanson]

Haven't posted in a while due to my Dad's health last year as some of you know.

Here are some recent pics.

All chrome done, except for 3-4 pieces
Grill getting re-anodized next week
Rear springs on way
Radio rebuilt at shop, picking up next week. 
Bottom line, I have around 99% of items done for reassembly. 

Pics are installing of upper and lower rear control arms.  New bushings installed.  Was installing springs today, but got wrong ones from Summit (Moog), so ordered a set from Eaton today. 

My son Alex using old school torque wrench to tighten to 65 Ft/lbs...I like the old style better than the ones that click....broke two clickers over the years, but this one still going.  Best tool purchase I made, except for the lift.  Not sure how some do this w/o a lift, especially with frozen bolts. 

Shop manual says just lift opposite lower control arm with jack, but for extra safety, especially since I don't have drive shaft installed, added the tower jack to slowly let down. Spring came out beautifully.

FYI, the entire underneath of car painting black, exactly how it was before I started resto, but got a little dirty from the water spaying at paint booth to prep car.  I just need to clean as it is all done.  Yes, I know I should have replaced spring, bushings and shocks before painting car   Next time!
Chuck

[Bentley]

Hi Chuck,

I was looking at some earlier photos you posted of your convertible top. I really like the beige external fabric color with the black interior color and black powdercoating on the frame. Was this an available color combination from the factory? My '68 DeVille came from the factory with a beige top and beige frame. I will be restoring my top in the future and really prefer your color combination, but also want to keep it as close to original as possible.

Wes

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Wes,

The top frame was painted to match the convertible material lining color which in some cases was similar the the outside of the fabric.
In '66 the tops were white, black, blue, green, covert and sandalwood. The white and black had black linings, while the covert and sandalwood had beige (light tan) lining. Reproduction top materials available today have only black or beige linings.

[Chuck Swanson]

Just to add, the third pic above in the series of pics show the color a little better, it's white from Electron top.   Not a bright, bright white, but white   Thanks, Chuck

Oh, Eaton confirmed my order on the phone today and confirmed that they have the exact springs, in stock.  Measured the old ones on phone with them and measurements the same, with correct ends.   

[Chuck Swanson]

Hi Chuck,

I was looking at some earlier photos you posted of your convertible top. I really like the beige external fabric color with the black interior color and black powdercoating on the frame. Was this an available color combination from the factory? My '68 DeVille came from the factory with a beige top and beige frame. I will be restoring my top in the future and really prefer your color combination, but also want to keep it as close to original as possible.

Wes

Wes, also take a look at post 7 in this long thread and you'll see the black under the gas tank.  I have 6 of the 65-66 cads and all have been black (along with one I saw in a pick-n-pull)...not talking about the undercoating.  Also, whenever I remove original bolts on my cars, you can see the black.  Not sure why the authenticity manual just lists grey, but grey was probably on many of the cars too.  I just haven't run into one yet.  Chuck