Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Restoration Corner => Topic started by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 05:26:27 PM

Title: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended August 6th 2017
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 05:26:27 PM
This site does not like me. Every time I forget to reduce a picture it eradicates my blog. This is my third try.
I purchased the car which was originally Bing Crosby's ranch car for his ranches in Nevada. This car shipped out of Detroit December 3rd 1941 and was probably on a train when Pearl Harbor was attacked. During the War Bing donated it to the military and it was sold at a military surplus auction in 1951. I believe it was used a few years and then sat 30 years in a Quanset hut in the Utah desert for 30 years. During this period it served as a home for a variety of desert creatures with bad personal hygene and my 7 year old grand daughter vows that she will never ride in it. I bet she changes her mind when it is done though. The attempts by previous owners to restore it were not successful except in losing  parts and chrome plating some of the other parts.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 05:38:53 PM
The first picture shows the condition of the car prior to beginning restoration and the next pictures show it after being stripped for painting and a little body work. Basically a rust free car with only minor body work required.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 06:17:17 PM
These pictures are of the body and parts with first prime coat. A second prime coat will be dark in color to highlight and imperfections during sanding
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 06:26:12 PM
Body and parts with second coat of primer curing in the paint booth.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 06:33:17 PM
Painted Antionette Blue, so dark it looks black inside especially in the evening.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 06:57:13 PM
Body outside on sunniest day in Seattle last year and the Antionette Blue really shows up as dark blue rather than the black appearance it has in the previous pictures.

The white residue is from wet sanding  the paint to remove any imperfections
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 07:06:38 PM
At this point in the restoration the engine was out of the car and I had the paint shop remove a couple of brackets that were apparently for an after market oil filter. In the process the 4 head bolts that held the bracket on broke and I decided to rebuild the engine while the head was off. It has taken longer than I expected but at this time it is getting close to being done. The engine ran O K but had 63,000 miles on it so a rebuild was not out of order. In the 346 engine the head bolts go into the water jacket (which I did not know) and they usually break when removed. The trick to get the stub out is to drill for an easy out and then get the stub red hot, and if an easy out dosent get it out then put some CO2  on the stub to shrink it and they then break loose.
During this time I reconditioned all of my light buckets, painted them with black engine enamel on the outside and white on the inside, checked out and repaired my heating system, bought a wiring harness and used part of it in the buckets and got the rest ready to install in the car. Had my exhaust manifold re-procinalenized, bought all of the flat glass (Rear window is curved but mine was O K.) , had my antenna rebuilt, and had my interior trim repainted wood grain. There are31 pieces of dash and trim and they look great. I hope I can get them installed without scratching any of them. I had almost everything re-chromed and I repainted the medalions in the center of the hubcaps. Below you can see the rebult steering wheel. The rim was repalced as the plastic was beyond repair, and "Steering Wheel Bob" of New Jersey painted all of my knobs and brake handle to match the steering wheel which are in the first picture.The second picture is the dash board and trim for the back of the front seat. The third picture is the rubber for the running boards and the stone guards for the front of the rear fenders. The third picture is the hub caps re-chromed and repainted centers on them. The last picture is the bases for the running boards. I have straightened them out and painted the backs with P O R 15 since this picture was taken. This car has running boards concealed under flared out doors. Yesterday I received my Diamondback wide white wall tires and they look great. I have all of the rubber moldings for the car already and have a lot of newly chromed parts. Of course I am anxious to get the car from the paint shop and put it back together hopefully before summer is over with
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 02, 2012, 05:49:12 PM
More pictures showing different views and perspectives of the Antionette Blue paint. I am getting anxious to start trimming the car out as soon as the rebuilt engine is installed
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on February 02, 2012, 08:13:52 PM
Gary,

My favorite color. Meticulous work and spectacular results. What interior trim are you planning?

Ralph
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 03, 2012, 10:59:39 AM
   Thanks for the comment Ralph. I am trying to do a very authentic restoration but possibly deviating a little on the upholstery. The options were broadcloth or bedford cloth in tan or light blue-gray. The car originally had tan broadcloth but I think I will go to the light blue-gray bedford cloth. It will be authentic as it was an option on the car but not original. A lot of people go to the burl wood trim (Painted on the interior trim metal) which is quite attractive and I think it is appropiate for the 75 series cars but I went with the straight grain walnut matching the original as closely as we could.
   In keeping with my attempt at authenticity I just bought  another 1942 6719 to get the last of the rare parts I need.
   I certainly wish the engine would come back so I could proceed with the work.

   When I started I was not as concerned about authenticity but Jeff Hansen provided an authenticity manual and lots of advice and even the plastic push buttons for the radio which are authentic for the 1942 Cadillacs unlike the chrome push buttons of earlier and later years. With that much information I just could not deviate from authenticity in good conscience. There are so few of this year and model surviving it bacame important to me to stay authentic in all possible ways.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Paul Tesone on February 04, 2012, 08:04:01 AM
Looking fabulous Gary . Did " Steering Wheel Bob " recast your steering wheel as well as repaint your knobs ? Could you provide info about whoever did the recast ? I have to do the same thing for my 47 . Thanks , and keep the pictures coming. Paul Tesone CLC # 6876
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 04, 2012, 11:19:36 AM
Paul,

  Bob repairs the plastic if possible and then if not he welds a new rim on the wheel. The new rim is the same dialmeter and looks the same as original. It costs about the same as recast. I sent it in hoping to get it repaired but that would have cost more than a new rim. Bob would have sent it back and I could have had it recast but he assured me that it would look and preform the same as new so I went for it. It looks great and having the knobs and handles matching was important also. He also sent me the remaining special paint he uses so if I add anything or scratch anything I can touch it up.
I googled steering wheel repair to find him I think. He is in New Jersey and somewhat of a perfectionest.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Paul Tesone on February 04, 2012, 02:34:03 PM
Thanks Gary - I googled him and found his web site . Looks good . ...Paul
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 04, 2012, 08:49:17 PM
Waiting for the engine rebuild to be finished and checking out all of the parts. First 2 pictures are my new Diamondback 750-16 R tires. I think the beauty ring on th edge of the whitewall makes them look like Bias ply instead of the radials they are. 3rd picture is Carb rebuilt by Daytona parts. Looks too nice to unrap. The next picture is my rebuilt Vacuum antenna and brace.
The last picture is the frontal view of the car awaiting the rebuilt engine. This is so frustratiing to be ready but the engine is still in the machinists  shop. Hope it is done soon!!!
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 04, 2012, 09:00:10 PM
The first 2 pictures are of a few pieces of the 31 that Robert Kennedy painted for me. His work is fabulous as far as I am concerned. The next 3 pictures are of some of the parts boxes I have. They are inventoried and everything in them is new or reconditioned, If you look to the left of the boxes in the 4th picture you will see most of my exterior trim
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 04, 2012, 09:11:00 PM
First picture is my grille, and second picture is hood trim. The 3rd picture is of bumper guards and the next 2 pictures are the rear and then the front bumpers and the last picture is some of the exterior chrome.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 04, 2012, 09:33:16 PM
The first picture is a stack of parts boxes with the exterior trim pieces stacked on top, and the second box is a bunch of interior chrome parts ready to install and some hub cap centers I repainted. I did a few extra hoping for 4 good ones.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on February 04, 2012, 10:04:50 PM
Gary,

I see from your pics that you have the most important restoration tool ever invented: the gray plastic shelves from Home Depot. I have this strange feeling that 1000 years from now, when archeologists comb through America’s artifacts, they’ll conclude that we were a culture that worshiped gray plastic shelving.........I couldn't do without them.

Ralph
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Richardonly on February 08, 2012, 08:55:35 AM
Gary,

I am truly amazed as I watch the progress of your fine automobile.  To think that the original photos of it looked like something to perhaps be used as a parts car, is beyond belief.

When it is finished shortly, it is now a "brand new" Cadillac.

It is GREAT people like you who have a vision and stay with it until completion.  I, for one, thank you for this and the many others who shall now see a wonderful automobile, instead of it slipping into the past!

Thank you for sharing with us the progress of turning coal into a diamond.

Sincerely, Richard
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on February 08, 2012, 11:08:29 AM
Thanks for your kind words Richard. Keeping the blog up has been quite satisfying and I am enjoying it as much as those following it. In this case I was fortunate to get a car that was sound and had only minor surface rust and very minor previous body work. The guy I bought it from had lost a significant number of parts and some were 1942 specific and a few were even model specific like the short foot rests of which one of the two was lost. The last owner had a chrome plating shop and had done some of the plating which was a savings. The car ran O K but had 63,000 miles showing and I was not going to do anything to the engine but change belts, flush and refresh fluids but when we broke a few head bolts removing an after market oil filter I decided to rebuild the engine. That has taken longer than anything else. Hopefully I will get the engine back soon and continue reassembling the car. I have spent a lot of time preparing the parts and of course getting new parts where needed. I certainly expect to be able to enjoy some club functions with the car this summer.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Jeff Maltby 4194 on February 19, 2012, 09:06:24 PM
Hey Gary. You should of bought one in the crate like your 1976 Honda Gold Wing LTD :<)

My 2 cents ~:<)
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on March 04, 2012, 11:42:10 AM
I am having a hard time getting a parts car shipped from Pennsylvania to Washington state. I need a few of the parts to complete my restoration. If I could get it anywhere in the Northwest or I-5 corridor I could pick it up. Any good ideas.

Gary Griffin
garygriffin@Q.com
206 276 0398
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Scott Anderson CLC#26068 on March 05, 2012, 04:44:05 PM
Gary, you have a PM

Scott
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on March 08, 2012, 06:20:01 PM
Update, progress is being made.  Found another cylinder sleeve needed in the engine and it is on order expected tomorrow so hopefully engine will be complete soon. I bought a parts car for some of the 42 only parts including the 42 only radio and the 42 only foot rests and some interior trim pieces. Hopefully the heater parts will help me get my heaters working correctly. My instruments are in pretty bad shape and maybe the ones in the parts car are better? The parts car is enroute and will be here early next week.

I will be scrapping the parts car out but I am willing to sell any parts not needed to help defray purchase and shipping costs of the car. 

garygriffin@Q.com
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on May 27, 2012, 07:12:33 PM
Well it has finally happened, I got my engine back from the machine shop yesterday. Back to work on the car and pictures to follow soon. I cant believe the machine shop accepted my job and then put it behind a lot of new orders for race car engines they also do a lot of. 5 1/2 months they cost me. They have a great reputation but timeliness is not their long suite. My summer cruises are out now and again I have a Christmas completion date. Maybe early fall??
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Gene Beaird on June 11, 2012, 11:42:31 AM
Heh, _only_ 5 months?  I'm still waiting after three YEARS for the engine for our race car!!  I made the mistake of telling the builder 'we're in no hurry'. 

The build looks fun, so far.  It was cool how quickly it went from rusty, dusty car to bare metal and then painted car! 

Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on June 18, 2012, 12:06:00 PM
Finally the engine is back from the machinist. We are almost finished reassembly. Ran into a new glitch, my radiator was cleaned and tested and then I found out that it was a 1941 radiator so I traded it for a 42 to 48 radiator.  Apparently 38 to 41 radiators were temperature controlled by automatic shutters and in 42 they went to thermostatic temperature controls. Another small delay. Getting an education on the way to completion.
   I hope the engine is back in the car and the front fenders and entire front end is on in the next 3 or 4 weeks.
   Hopefully the car will be back in my garage by mid July. I am estimating a month to install the glass and trim. (Being semi retired helps here) . I hope that is not too optomistic.
   The upholsterer says she needs about 3 to 4 weeks. I will take the seats and door panels to her ahead of time hopefully early July. I will give her a deposit late this week for materials.
   I will probably paint the dashboard from my parts car and install it with my old gages while the radio and other set of gages are restored. Possibly it will make aninitial drive in September??  More pictures when I remember how to reduce them properly.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on June 18, 2012, 12:45:00 PM
Motor pictures,  By now it is fully assembled and awaiting the rebuilt fuel pump and water pump. We will go ahead and install the engine and add the accessories as they come in from the rebuilders.

My original plan was to be driving the car by Christmas, 2011.  Hopefully I will make Christmas 2012.  Looks feasable right now to be finished in late August but the way things have been going Christmas may be more feasible.

Thanks for checking out my Blog
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on June 30, 2012, 05:42:23 PM
Back on NEW schedule, engine is back in the car with the transmisison, now to get the radiator installed and get the hood and front fenders painted and back on the car.

Next I need to install the accessories such as electrical system, carbuerator, fuel system and so forth. Hope to bring the car home in the next three or four weeks to make it easier to install the electrical system, rubber seals, glass.

Target is to start upholstery in mid August. My schedule has been modified so many times I make it in pencil.  I did make a deposit to order the upholstery material so hopefully that won't be a hold up. Upholsterer says  I should bring the seats and door panels in early and they only want the car there about a week due to limited storage.

The last picture is my parts car.

Hopefully I will be making regular posts soon as the conclusion seems to be in sight?? I finally wrote down the steps for reducing pictures and posting them.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on July 01, 2012, 11:55:58 AM
    I would also like to comment on the pleasure of restorations. It is a long and tedious task but good therapy and also a continual learning experience.
    I chose this particular car because I like rarity. With only  a couple hundred made it dosen't get much rarer than that, at least in my budget range. I have always wanted an early Cadillac also but was thinking of even earlier before I found this one.
    When I started the restoration I contacted every memberof the club owning a 1942 Cadillac. Most were easy to talk to and gave me some good ideas. Among them was Jeff Hansen who has been a beacon of light in the past year and a half. His knowledge and help has kept me interested in doing an authentic restoration instead of a cheaper paint and polish job.
     I could quote many of the learning experiences for example, my car came with an earlier engine but I did not know that. From 1938 to 1941 Cadillacs had shutters in front of the radiator and 42 was the first year with a flow control thermostat. My car had the earlier radiator but no shutters but I did not know the difference so I had the radiator flow and pressure tested and it was O K until I discovered that it was incorrect.
   Thats where another great guy "Eddie Jones" of Minneapolis stepped in and sent me a correct radiator in good shape in exchange for the incorrect one at no cost except shipping. Thanks Eddie. Eddie has been a great deal of help supplying parts at very reaonable prices and I would recommend him anytime. There are so many good vendors and suppliers I could not mention them all.
     The support and advice from other club members here and in other places has been invaluable and I cant imagine attempting a restoration with out such support.
      I want to thank the readers of this blog for the encouragement and advice also. It is easier to go forth with a rooting section andI have found it here on this blog.
     I hope I can intertain you all at a faster rate in the next few months as it should go at a faster rate when I get the painted car back in my own garage and start assembly. I used to think paint was the completion of a restoration but it is just a milestone as now I need to wire the car, install all of the chromed parts, install all of the glass, install all of the door and wiindow mechanisms, install accessories, get the fuel system working and test the engine, install the upholstery, test the electrical system, and finally install all 32 pieces of wood grained metal trim in the cab.

   Thanks for stopping by and hopefully you will enjoy the next few months of checking my progress and giving me advice and encouragement.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: TMoore - NTCLC on July 02, 2012, 01:32:58 PM
Gary -

It looks like it is full-steam ahead from this point.  I cannot thank you enough for all of the pictures and documentation - I know that they will come in handy when I start moving forward with my own restoration.

Tod
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on July 05, 2012, 09:36:44 PM
Big day today,  After sitting in the back of the shop for 7 months we took it out and cleaned it up so we could start bolting on the front fenders, right rear fender, hood and front end and radiator and all of the other body parts.

In a couple of weeks I hope to bring it home for trim, wireing and so forth.  The end is not near but at least it is becoming feasable and forseable. The long periond of waiting for the engine to be rebuilt kind of put a damper on the restoration but at least now I can visualize it happening.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Martin Michaels on July 11, 2012, 03:10:43 AM
Hi Gary, I've been following your blog since you started it,wonderful job.I posted pictures of my engine rebuild about the same time you did, those engines look great brand new. I saw that you had your antenna rebuilt i need mine done and I was wondering who did yours? Thank you and I hope you are able to do some motoring this year. Marty Michaels
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on July 11, 2012, 08:42:16 AM
Marty,

  My antenna was restored by Klaus Wojak 828  898 9338, but he said he only had material to do a couple more of them and that was last year. At about $400 each it would seem like some young mechanically inclined entrapenaur would pick up the idea and go with it. Vacuum antennas are simple things with few parts. Only one section actually is controlled by the vacuum and the other is manual. Klaus was in his 80's and did it for many years.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Martin Michaels on July 12, 2012, 05:44:04 PM
Thanks Gary, Knowing that I think I will try to open it up,see what makes it tick and try to restore it my self. One more thing I drove my 47 for the first time today they still have to dial in the shifting points and some other misc. things then I will get her back next week. Marty M 
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on August 14, 2012, 09:17:02 AM
Status report, Body looking good and last rear fender going on this week but fronts staying off until engine is started.

Boo Boo report, the doors wont close all of the way because the new rubber seals are too hard and possibly too thick. I bought them from a supplier who was a authorized vendor for a company sounding like Steal (Can not use actual names as it is against Forum policy to do so) and I am having trouble getting help form the manufacturer.

I think I will just buy a better set from a different company and try to get  a refund later.

More posts and pictures coming soon.

I am using a small shop to do my body and mechanical work and it is owned by the son of an old friend of mine who passed away a few years ago. Mark (the owner) grew up in the shop and can do anything that a car needs and can do it very well at a very fair price but unfortunately my job ran into trouble and the final part has been pushed into his busy time. When he is done I will take the car home and reassemble it including installing wiring, all chrome parts, and so forth then taking it to an upholsterer for soft goods installation and then bring it home for final installation of the window trim and so forth.

An interesting side effect of the blog is that I can see my actual schedule by reviewing the dates on the posts. This one is sure taking longer than I had estimated but I guess that is typical.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on October 07, 2012, 11:33:31 AM
  Too many things getting in the way of my restoration.  My mechanic working on the car has a helper who broke a collar bone, his shop is busy now and he does my work on a fill in basis. Good pricing for me on that basis but scheduling can go to hell quickly. Currently it is on the hoist getting a brake job. Next step is to install the new rubber seals on the doors (First seals were too hard and too big) install wiring and get it running. The front fenders and hood will go on after that. When it is running I will bring it home and trim it out with all of the chrome and so forth, then a trip to the upholsterers. Sounds fast and easy but probably going to stretch out in time.
 
My work picked up at the same time requiring me to work longer hours than usual for a couple of months also.

   Christmas completion is doubtful but I am closing down my business and retiring at the end of the year so will have lots of time to proceed.

   More pictures soon I hope
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: TMoore - NTCLC on October 15, 2012, 01:28:45 PM
Hi Gary -

A couple of question about the door seals - how did the vendor treat you on the return of the seals, and which vendor ended up providing the better product?

Thanks,
Tod
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: 52Cadillac on October 15, 2012, 04:27:22 PM
Beautiful work Gary.
Who rebuilt your vacuum antenna? I need one rebuilt as well.
Thanks, Mike
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on October 15, 2012, 05:55:28 PM
Klaus Wojack rebuilt mine a while ago and told me he only had parts to do a couple more and he was planning on retiring.

His number was 828 898 9338.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on January 01, 2013, 04:33:20 AM
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I officially retired at 12:00 midnight. I have conflicting emotions about retirement at 72 years old but I guess it will work out, both the good of it and the bad of it. The trick is to work on the good part which to me means more time to work on my cars and motorcycles and more time to enjoy using them also.

First my primary goal is the completion of my Cadillac restoration. It is getting so close after months of inactivity. The shop doing a lot of the work has been using the Cadillac to for fill in work when they were not busy. The good for them is they have been busy, and not so good for me is that they have been busy. Mark, the owner is a son of an old friend of mine who left the shop to him in his will. He is a good mechanic, a good body guy and I love his work but unfortunately so do all of his other customers. The good thing that I have known him all of his life and he will let me work on my car in his shop.
 
   Now is the time to focus on the Cadillac and get it ready for the summer.      Just a little bit to do on the body, get it running, bring it home to install the trim and take it to the upholsterers. I wont set another date for completion and I do not make New Years Resolutions but it is reasonable to assume it will be done before summer.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: The Tassie Devil(le) on January 01, 2013, 06:25:41 AM
Congratulations.   I thought retirement (leaving the workforce) at 55 was good.

But, I don't call it Retirement - The Retirement word conjures up the three things.   Nobody wants you, you are too old, and then you are going to die. - I call it "Getting a Life".   I get up when I want to, go to bed when I want to, and in between, do what the wife tells me to do, within reason.

But, seriously, life is good.

Bruce. >:D
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on April 10, 2013, 10:55:20 AM
   I know this "New Blog" is getting old but some are following it to get hints for their own restorations.

   Progress is occurring.

    I have all of my upholstery materials and will be delivering the seats, door panels, arm rests and so forth to the upholsterers the 15th so she can begin. Hopefully the car will be about a week later. She does not have much storage and if she finishes the portable parts and the car is not there I will have to bring everything home until the car is ready.

    Brakes rebuilt but new dual zone master cylinder not in yet. All rebuilt shocks are installed. Rebuilt radio ready. It seems like a ton of chrome work is ready to install and all new flat glass is ready along with a new exhaust system. I know there will be last minute things coming up but now I am retired and have time to find parts and prepare them.

    I am painting the Dash Board and rear and front window trim from my parts car to use temporarily until all upholstery is done as I do not want to install the wood grained items more than once.

    Final painting Wheels are painted and will be going to the shop for mounting and balancing tomorrow. One fender not painted yet but primed and ready for paint early next week. A few questions on engine parts painting asked in technical and restoration Blog. Front fenders staying off until engine is started and tuned to avoid damage.

    Hopefully by the end of the month the car will be home for installation of all of the chrome parts and terminating all of the wiring harness to the various connections. So many loose ends.  Anticipating a cruising summer in the car.

    Towards the end of  a restoration you always find you need a few items you have overlooked. I was preparing to take everything to the upholsterer and found a couple of deficiencies such as the need for a sun visor and a robe rope.  I cant find a second sun visor so it is either lost or I never had it and the robe rope is just too brittle to reuse.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on August 11, 2013, 04:47:03 PM


   The frustration of restoring a car is getting to me. I have two new problems that will take some extra time to sort out.

  1.   I selected an independant upholsterer with great credentials and reasonable price. Her husband was medically retired and she had to take a full time job to get medical benefits. This happened soon after I took her the seats to rebuild and she is in the middle of that project but going very slowly. I am looking for someone to do the headliner, door panels, carpet and so forth.

   2.   My car was in a friends shop and was being worked on as a fill in job. It sat too long and got nicks in the door paint and they all had to be repainted. I am hoping to get the body finished soon and bring it home for reassembly of windows, doors, wiring, bumpers and chrome, and then  take it to a new upholsterer to finish the interior with the exception of the trim around the windows. Pictures soon and hopefully it will be done for Christmas???
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: Thule on August 15, 2013, 06:06:12 AM
i wish you the best of luck with the rest of this project.

the car is beautiful. i really like the shape of the body
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: James Gray on September 10, 2013, 09:55:41 PM
Gary,

I saw this series of post regarding restoring your '42 - 6719. I am about to embark on a similar project with a much strong canvas with which to start.

Regarding bodywork. This will be my first attempt at this. Don't panic, I intend to spend a year or better beating, stripping, sanding, painting and sealing metal to perfect the art. WHen I can do it without error, I will then break down the Caddy and repair and Paint.

My question to you is, was this something you did professionally or did you just learn and do it yourself. What sources would you be willing to share to learn to do this properly.

As for me, there is nothing I cannot do well given the proper tools to learn the trade. While this brain still functions, that is.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on April 03, 2014, 10:03:38 PM
It was supposed to be a big day as we were finally going to start the engine but when the fluids were put in there was  a leak.  On the second page of this blog there is a picture of the engine I posted on June 28 2012 showing a pin hole in the soft plug in the center of the engine about directly under the carburetor.  Hopefully I can get a replacement quickly and keep on going.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on April 14, 2014, 04:20:31 AM
As I posted in the technical forum there were problems with my core plugs. If you look closely at page two of this blog there is a picture of the engine and you can see the core plug directly under the carburetor you will see a small pin hole.  We changed all of the core plugs this week and hopefully will be starting the engine this week.

I should have it home in a week or two and will be able to proceed with installing everything such as glass, chrome, wiring and so forth. Upholstery is currently a questionable but I am working on it.
Title: Re: New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719
Post by: gary griffin on April 24, 2014, 07:55:01 PM

  I wish I knew how to add a short i-phone video to the post. IT RUNS AT LAST!

  Finally it runs, sounds great without the muffler yet and only ran a couple of minutes.  Trying to find an oil pressure line so we can take it outside  and  run it for 20 minutes at over 2000 RPM. 

  I am excited and planning on bring it home next week and start installing windows and chrome, and hardware.

  Trying to solve my upholstery problems also.
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on December 25, 2014, 06:22:05 PM
It has been 8 months since I added to this post. A lot has happened in my life as well as with the car. Retired at 72 years old 2 years ago and been busy every since. For now I will comment only on the 1942--6719

As I had said earlier parts are quite difficult to find for this car. One problem was the vent windows on the front doors. Both regulators were completely non salvageable. These are quite rare. There so many variables in them and one being the fact that the shaft coming through the door into the cabin is forward of the pivot point of the window and it is a specific length. Most of the ones I found had longer shafts which placed the handle about 1/2 inch outward from the door panel. Finally I found the parts through Harry Scott and they will fit in my housings so that problem is resolved.

I had a terrible experience with a chrome shop which I will not name here but I have had good luck with him in the past so I sent all of my hard to find chrome to him. It came back late but looked beautiful until I started assembling the grille and it started peeling.  I sent it back and he said he needed my spare verticals so I sent them. He stopped communications and I actually purchased an additional grille for parts then I did get my parts back but not finished. I now have the parts in question at a local shop. Higher priced but good quality and good control. I hope to have the grille fully installed in January.

I had some really bad springs in my upholstery due to rusting accelerated by vermin urine but luckily Harry Scott came through again and sold me the upholstery from his parts car. Series 67 was only 1941 and 1942 low production models so parts are hard to find and also luckily hard to sell so a good deal for Harry and myself I think.

My upholsterer decided to take a night job for medical benefits so my upholstery came in late also. Luckily this did not hold me up due to the other problems being dealt with at the same time.

Somehow the splash pans that are behind the rear wheels inside the fenders were lost or not included in the car but luckily Tod Moore of Texas is preparing to restore his 1942--6719 and he sent me a splash pan for a pattern. Eddie Jones provided similar splash pans which I will be modifying to fit my car.

I am forging ahead and hopefully will be operable early in the spring. Also trying to button up some minor work with my LaSalle and just purchased a 1957--60 Special that needs a little TLC

I was going to post some pictures of the 1942 but am having the usual camera to computer problems. I will focus on this because I know everyone likes the pictures.

Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: Paul Tesone on December 27, 2014, 12:42:46 AM
 Gary - great to see that you're  posting again . And you are correct about the pictures , so keep them coming . ... Paul Tesone CLC # 6876
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: hudson29 on January 14, 2015, 08:44:18 PM
I too have enjoyed reading about your project & seeing your pictures. I often set schedules & goals with my own projects but have found that they are in constant flux as parts, time & budget impact them. I have some projects on low burner that have gone on for more than 20 years. I'm hoping to finish one of these, a Norton motorcycle this Spring as the current Model T project is finally getting well enough along to clear its allied bits & pieces out of my shop. I don't know about you, but I always have another project or three to work on when I get stalled on the "main" effort.

Please do keep us posted on your very interesting Caddie. Bing is one of my all time favorite singers and as the original owner of your car it makes it all the more special.

Vintage Paul
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on February 14, 2015, 08:45:35 PM
Just reactivating my blog.  The first pictures are the car coming home from the paint shop and then the upholstery.

I am just relearning the procedure to post the pictures so I will bring a few more in next post.

You can see the tires and wheels ready to go on the car.  My old lady was upset when I moved her potted plants and decorated the front of the house with my tires.
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on February 14, 2015, 09:18:10 PM
More pictures, Bumpers ready to install, and back of bumpers as they were in bad shape and I cleaned them up and painted them.

Front of car a few weeks ago. Tires are all on now so front of house is bleak.
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on February 15, 2015, 02:04:49 PM
Just adding an update.  If you are planning on a restoration I would assume you will be making a budget and a tentative schedule. I did and both were way too optimistic. I just passed the three year milestone for this one and have no idea where the budget figure is. I will never know and do not care because the money is gone and the car is approaching completion.

If anything could go wrong it did. I had a lot of the work done in a shop of a friend and he did it on a fill in basis so when he was busy nothing was happening. Not his fault and saved me a lot of money.

I made changes and added to the work several times.

He did a complete brake job including adding a dual master cylinder kit purchased from Art Gardner. I stayed pretty authentic but am fudging on the brakes and seat belts.  Finding the authenticity manual and the fact that only 800 series 67 Cadillacs were built in 1942 made it important to me to stay as authentic as possible.

The car is running and basically a new car in most important items.  Other than the trunk, Back of front seat divider, and headliner the upholstery is fabricated and ready to install. Everything is re-chromed and all of the mechanical items are rebuilt or new. 

I am not making any new schedules or predictions. Life gets in the way of meeting them. I have explained several of my delays in this blog and expect there will be a few more. Right now it is too cold to do much and my garage is not heated. I am 74 now and do not like working out there when it is under 55 degrees.  I am down to reinstalling things and testing them. I put the deluxe heating system on the table and tested each component and they are all working but the left under-seat heater is a little noisy so I am trying to get another one. I took this one apart and lubricated it but it is still a little loud.  One of the splash pans (In the rear fender to keep mud form the tire from splashing back ) got lost in the process so I bought a similar one had have to modify it by welding an extension on it. When reassembling my grille some of the chrome was peeling off so I am waiting for those pieces to get back from the plating shop.  I decided to add a sound deadening product called "Rattle trap" to the inside of the car. It is 80 mil thick foil backed product with adhesive on the other side. Just cut it to shape, peel off the paper and put it on and roll it with a roller to get good adhesion.  I did one door and can not believe the difference it makes. Tapping it and then the other door and there is no comparison the completed door is so much quieter. 

I have the wiring harness installed but not all of the terminations are completed and I am going to remove the wiring through the firewall and install the Rattle Trap material under the firewall insulator pad.  The Rattle trap material will be in all of the doors, the inside of the roof ,  under the carpet, in the trunk and on the back of the rear seat on the inside of the trunk. It will not be anywhere it can be seen.

My schedule or lack of one was also affected by the purchase of a 1940 LaSalle 4 door convertible and a 1957 Cadillac 60 Special. Both needing minor work and  TLC.  Plenty to keep this old guy busy and hopefully this fall I will be able to start restoration of my Triumph 1800 rumble seat roadster.

I have hopes of driving the 1942 this summer sometime and maybe even taking it 1100 miles to the Grand National in Las Vegas next year? 
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on February 15, 2015, 05:44:20 PM
Gary,

You’re doing a beautiful job on a special car. It will be stunning when finished.

I can empathize with the schedule and cost estimate. I did a similar job on a ’66 Brougham â€" help from professional friends whenever they weren’t busy â€" and it took me six years.  I lost a year when a vendor I had investigated did an amateurish job on the first job I gave him. He refused to repair it and threw me out. I filed suit, not for the compensation but to get even. Watching him and his lawyers squirm in court was priceless. I did find a much better shop that did flawless work and I’ve been friends with the owner ever since. It took me eleven months to get in his queue…….BTW, I won the suit.

I’ve restored two Eldorado convertibles , one Eldorado Seville and a Fleetwood Brougham. I feel comfortable saying Fleetwood closed cars are far more difficult and frustrating  because of all the special features and appointments. That said, when finished they best represent “The Standard of the World.”

Ralph
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on April 13, 2015, 05:28:49 PM
Thanks Ralph,

   I am hoping to have it on the road in late summer and have enough miles on it by spring to be able to trust if for a drive to Las Vegas for the 2016 Grand National.

   Had another set back, the center piece of the front bumper valance was misplaced.  I also had some problems with a chrome guy in California and thought I would never get the rest of my grille parts.  I purchased a grille with the valance piece and then I got my grille parts back also. I was about to have the valance from the extra grille prepared and painted then we found the bumper valance in the back seat of my LaSalle.  Problem solved but time lost but now I have an extra rare 1942 Cadillac grille in case I have an accident or any of the 1942 owners needs it. 1942 parts are tough to find!!
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on January 26, 2016, 07:45:40 PM
Quote from: gary griffin on April 13, 2015, 05:28:49 PM
Thanks Ralph,

   I am hoping to have it on the road in late summer and have enough miles on it by spring to be able to trust if for a drive to Las Vegas for the 2016 Grand National.

   Had another set back, the center piece of the front bumper valance was misplaced.  I also had some problems with a chrome guy in California and thought I would never get the rest of my grille parts.  I purchased a grille with the valance piece and then I got my grille parts back also. I was about to have the valance from the extra grille prepared and painted then we found the bumper valance in the back seat of my LaSalle.  Problem solved but time lost but now I have an extra rare 1942 Cadillac grille in case I have an accident or any of the 1942 owners needs it. 1942 parts are tough to find!!
Quote from: gary griffin on February 01, 2012, 05:26:27 PM
This site does not like me. Every time I forget to reduce a picture it eradicates my blog. This is my third try.
I purchased the car which was originally Bing Crosby's ranch car for his ranches in Nevada. This car shipped out of Detroit December 3rd 1941 and was probably on a train when Pearl Harbor was attacked. During the War Bing donated it to the military and it was sold at a military surplus auction in 1951. I believe it was used a few years and then sat 30 years in a Quanset hut in the Utah desert for 30 years. During this period it served as a home for a variety of desert creatures with bad personal hygene and my 7 year old grand daughter vows that she will never ride in it. I bet she changes her mind when it is done though. The attempts by previous owners to restore it were not successful except in losing  parts and chrome plating some of the other parts.
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended April 24th 2014
Post by: gary griffin on August 06, 2017, 04:18:00 PM
This basically a bump posting.  We all age and have other aspects of our lives that influence our projects. I purchased a couple of cars and a truck I can enjoy and am now resuming work on the 1942 - 6719.  Delays caused by new knee installation partly. Getting used to them and getting back to the car. Planning on getting the 1942 upholstery completed as soon as the 1957 Fleetwood comes home Hopefully it will be in service in a reasonable time!!

My parents are in assisted living facility and they asked me to bring a couple of cars for an event they planned. Great appreciation was shown by all.  I brought my 1957 Fleetwood and 1940 LaSalle both.
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended August 6th 2017
Post by: gary griffin on December 15, 2017, 12:41:38 PM
Just moving it to the top for engine perusal in middle of 2nd page
Title: Re: Not really New Blog, Restoring my 1942- 6719 ammended August 6th 2017
Post by: toybox on April 08, 2020, 02:18:38 PM
   Hi Gary,                                                                                                                                                                                     
                    Thanks for your posting. It has been great to follow and you give a good description of why and what you are doing.   I do have a question though . What oil filter did you remove and why ?  My 46 has a dealer installed AC that bolts on the middle  front and second and lower front head bolts.  I know they are not Cadillac but the do make a huge difference if your going to run the engine very much.  We drive our 46 in parades and other events plus the occasional drive and seeing what comes out of the filter and how clean my oil stays in the pan , I wouldn't be without that filter.    I'm sure there are other opinions but that's mine                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                          Keep up the great work , Tim