1968 Eldorado Restoration

[David Smith]

I know you are happy that the car is home.  The paint looks great, Is that a New paint Job or ?? 
If so what price range was that in.??   Great ELDO

Thanks!   Nope.  Not new paint.   That is Rosewood Firemist, so it has quite the lustere to it.   I actually need to get the hood repainted as it has a quarter sized spot on it that won't buff out.   But that will have to wait as this mechanical visit went way over budget.

[David Smith]

I had today off from work so I pulled the Caddy out of the garage and waxed the trunk and hood.   Phew!   That's alot of acreage!   Ha!

I also had some chrome polish, so I cleaned up the grille.    Thank goodness the eggcrate grille is large enough to get your fingers in there to clean the slots.

After that I took the car for a spin around the Hartford area, stopping at a few places to take some pics.


My neighbor,  Samuel Colt.



The Connecticut State Capitol

A great old roadside sign, stil in use.

[David Smith]

For the chrome.  I used this on the grille too.

[Carl Glass]

David...I think you have inspired me to get my '68 Eldo out of the garage this weekend.

Thx

Carl

[David Smith]

Post some pictures for us Carl!      

[djohnson]

Two things Dave......How did the turtle was work on the grille?  ( I got a white film that doesn't want to go away)

And is the hood ornament the same all four years or was 67-68 different from the 69-70....  ordered a couple
already and had to send them back because the were the wrong ones.  maybe from a Deville or fleetwood...

Let me know when u have a chance

[David Smith]

The grille did clean up alot.   But it would truly need to be completely disassembled and put to a buffing wheel to make it look like new again.   That's not going to happen anytime soom.   I may go over some areas again.   

I can't say for sure on the hood ornaments.   We need to find one of the guys with a master parts book to compare numbers.   They look the same tyo me in pictures, but i've never had two of the different years parked next to each other for a direct comparison.

[Jeff Wilk]

I have the Master Parts book here.  Not familiar with these cars though.  It appears that the three parts..... "Crest _ V Emblem _ Wreath" are all the same for 1967-1970.  There is also an "Ornament _ Base _Spring" that is also the same for 1967-1970

Hope this helps

Jeff & Noah

[Glen]

The parts book is confusing.  In the illustration it shows the 67 – 68 part number as 393 2941 and for the 69 – 70 part number 363 3289.

In the parts listing it shows the part number for all four years as 363 3289. 

My guess is there is a difference but the later one is usable on the earlier cars. 

My parts listing is a 1974 edition while the illustration is a 1973 edition. 

[David Smith]

Sorry for the poor photo.  It was getting dark and I wanted to grab a photo before I put the car in the garage.

Tuesday night I remembered that there used to be a local cruise night over in Glastonbury.  So I swung by with the Eldorado.    Not a huge crowd, only about 50-60 cars.   I was pleasantly surprized when they told me to stay to the end.     I rec'd one of the three Trophys given out.

[David Smith]

I'm looking for the accessory trunk mat.

Even if you don't have one to sell, if your 67-70 Eldorado has one, please take a good photo of it for me.     This way I'll know the exact shape it should be so I can watch ebay.    The ones I've seen online have all been different shapes.

David

[David Smith]

Back when I picked the car up from its long shop visit they told me it was leaking some tranny fluid and that they were not happy with the NOS gasket they used.

They said they had tightened it down somewhat and it seemed better.    But nonetheless they doubted it would get better and that i should bring it back when conveinent to reseal it.

Sure enough, it got worse.   Worse to the point I had to add a pint when it started shifting hard.    That is when I saw the huge red puddle in the pan on the garage floor.

Many thanks to Rob for giving me the name of a new Vendor to order a new gasket from.    I actually ordered two of them.    But typical of my luck the gaskets did not arrive in time for my service appointment.   My dealer had ordered the same new gaskets for me!   They ordered two as it is recommended to use them both for a good seal.    My gaskets showed up two days later of course.    Thankgoodness they were only $5.37 each.   So now I have an extra pair.

I picked up the car this morning before going into work.    I took the car home and put it in the garage and drove the DTS to work.   The car was shifting smooth and running well so I was tempted to drive it to work.   But todays forecast was for 95*F and very humid so I decided the DTS was a better choice with its ice cold air conditioning.

I'll take the 68 out on Tuesday to clean it up and go for a spin.

[David Smith]

Oh and one last thing about my experience with that other vendor.  The one I had so much trouble with getting the power brake booster and master cylinder from.    After all that, the delays in shipping,  defective first unit,  more delays in sending a replacement,  lied to at every phone call,  rude help that hung up on me, they didn't credit me for the two units I sent back!      I got my charge card statement and saw no credit after another billing cycle.  So I had to contact them again.    I had made copies of the invoices and enclosed them in each box.   I also kept the tracking numbers to prove they rec'd them.    I got an email back saying that they had indeed rec'd the boxes but had forgotten to issue the credit. 

So the experience was bad from start to finish.    Forum rules prevent me from posting this companies name.   

Needless to say I will never order from them again.    The tranny pan gasket was from another vendor.  Although I ordered that on July 3rd and didn't receive it until July 11th.  Which is a lonng time to go from NJ to CT via UPS.     Even with a Holiday in between.

[Rob Troxel]

Dave,

Hoping that the gaskets did the trick for the trans leak.  I hear that the fiber based ones last the longest which what I believe you ordered.
Sadly some of our vendors have a very leisurely approach in shipping.  In contast, my Rodded Packard vendor, SpeeWayracing sends orders out the same day usually arriving in 2 to 3 days.

[David Smith]

Thanks for hooking me up with the new Tranny pan gasket vendor Rob.  The dealer was happy with the gasket.     I can't believe they used an old GM cork type that was in an old GM box.  They saved the box as it looks vintage!    The service manager has it on a shelf in his office with other vintage GM service items.

[David Smith]

In my web surfing I came across this photo of the trunk mat in a 1970 Eldorado.    Does it look like the right one?    It doesn't look like a good fit to me.

[David Smith]

It was still a hot and Humid 93*F  tonight at our weekly Tuesday Night Cruise Night.   But there was still a good turn out.   I was pleasantly surprized when this Toronado parked next to my car tonight!





When we were all leaving at dusk, another 68 Eldorado was pulling in!    So I turned around and talked to the owner.    His was Arctic Blue (powder blue) with a dark top and dark cloth interior.  It was too dark at this point to get any photos.   We took a quick look-see at eachothers cars, exchanged contact info and went our separate ways.    His was interesting.  He had alot of options but no tilt wheel.  We will get the two cars together for some photos.   

[David Smith]

Oh!  and one more thing!   

As it was near dark when leaving the Cruise night, I turned on my headlamps.   Driving out I realized the headlamps were not on.    So stopped to see what was the matter.   I got out and saw that the doors were shut but the lamps were on under them.    So I got in and wiggled the Headlamp switch.  Nothing.   I pushed it back in and then out again.  No difference.   No vacuum sound either.   Hmmm.   Very odd as they have always worked.   So I got back out and had to push hard on the left door to open it.    Then I went over and pushed hard to force open the right side door.    As I push the right side open the left side closed!   D'oh!   So with arms outstretched I was able to reach both doors and push them open.   They stayed open.    I hoped they would stay open for my drive home.   

Just as I was heading to the driveway to exit an entering car was blaring it's horn at me.   That is when I saw that it was another 1968 Eldorado!    The owner was flabergasted to see my 68 Eldorado.   So I turned around to meet him and check out his car.    At first I didn't shut off my car as I wanted to keep my headlamps on.    But he asked to see my trunk, so I had to pull the key out.   So I turned the lights off.     As we walked around the car I noticed my headlamp doors were closed again.

When we parted, I started the car and turned the headlamps on again.  Same deal as before.  The doors were shut.  So I pushed them open again.    I did make it home with them staying open.    The good news is my Guidematic auto dimming works excellent!    I had it set for mid range and it was dimming at approaching cars.   

When I got home I pulled up to my garage.  I shut the lights off but kept the car running.  The doors closed.    I then pulled the lamp knob on again.   The lights came on and the door OPENED!    Now I could hear the familiar hiss at the switch when you pushed or pulled the switch.    I tried it again.  it worked.   Very odd indeed!     

I wonder what the issue was?   There was plenty of vacuum in the system.  I had to push against the vacuum to open the doors.   There was no hiss at the switch when I pulled the knob out when the doors would not open.  It was as if the switch had no vacuum going to it.  Maybe a line was blocked with some sediment?    Somehow during the drive home it worked itself out.      Obviously it wasn't due to a disconnected vacuum line as it wouldn't reconnect itself.   
It was a very hot and humid day.  I never heard of Vacuum operated headlamps door having vapor lock!    LOL
   

[Carl Glass]

David

You're right, I doubt it would be a vacuum leak.  However, your twilight sentinal could be acting up.  I believe the photocell is working properly, since the lamps were lit, however the electropneumatic valve under the hood could be at fault.  Maybe a stuck valve or loose electrical conneciton.

Good luck!

Carl

[David Smith]

David

You're right, I doubt it would be a vacuum leak.  However, your twilight sentinal could be acting up.  I believe the photocell is working properly, since the lamps were lit, however the electropneumatic valve under the hood could be at fault.  Maybe a stuck valve or loose electrical conneciton.

Good luck!

Carl

Carl,   That would be my first thing to check.   If I had Twilight Sentinel that is.     I suppose it could be the headlamp switch.  But I think it is odd that I didn't hear any vacuum hiss that you usually do at the headlamp switch when you pull the knob in or out as the vacuum flow changes.    So my thought is that there was a blockage somewhere.    I had to push really hard to get those doors open.    So the vacuum is good.    And they stayed open with the engine running.    Very odd indeed.     

Of course now everything is working 100%, so it will be impossible to troubleshoot unless it happens again.