1970 Survivor ElDorado

[billmorrow]

just acquired a real 98k miles survivor 1970 ElDorado.. the windshield wipers are rotten.. the only bad part of this car..
ordered a set from amazon.. but aside from sliding the rubber blades from the SS wiper blade structure, HOW are the complete blades removed..
they seem to be permanently part of the wiper arm assemblies..
i do have a 1970 service and body manual (on CD) coming..
need pix, please ask.. :-)
thanks

[cadillacmike68]

Take a small / med flat blade screwdriver and push in on the center spring. That should move out it of the way of the indent on the arms and you can slide them off.

[billmorrow]

now on to the next few issues..
trunk got wet at some point and was never maintained..
thus some small rust i am wire brushing and sanding with 220 grit sandpaper..
and gloss rustoleum will go on next..
so, where to get a new trunk carpet set.. ?
something a little UP market from the original unless you "keep it original" people recommend going back with the original..?

[cadillacmike68]

If I remember correctly the standard was a felt carpeted floor with thick dark grey / black cardboard linings for the sides and well up behind the rear seat. A spare tire cover might have been optional. The felt floors and the cardboard sides are nice enough but some folks like to have a felt glued to the sides and back well too. The spare cover can be easily made.

I sent you a PM.

[billmorrow]

thanks.. i see some carpet sets for sale on 'net stores.. just need trunk carpeting but i think to upgrade it to the same as the interior carpeting.. maybe the purist collectors would not like that..

an additional issue is the dash panel lights, windshield wipers, radio, courtesy lights, etc. all do not work.. i'm thinking there might be a master fuse or known issue in the ignition switch..?
should i start a new thread..?

[cadillacmike68]

Interior carpet is probably far too thick to be useful in the trunk. 

That sounds like the body fuse is blown. It's in the fusebox by the driver's left shin under the dash.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

now on to the next few issues..
trunk got wet at some point and was never maintained..
thus some small rust i am wire brushing and sanding with 220 grit sandpaper..
and gloss rustoleum will go on next..
so, where to get a new trunk carpet set.. ?
something a little UP market from the original unless you "keep it original" people recommend going back with the original..?

Um, what's the condition of the area around the rear window? Did it come with a vinyl top?
Pics?

[76eldo]

You can buy the felt and make the trunk look like new.

[billmorrow]

Um, what's the condition of the area around the rear window? Did it come with a vinyl top?
Pics?

the dealer replaced the vinyl top with what looks to be a good job.. EDIT: to attach picture of vinyl top..
so there must have been dimpling under the old top or it was done for..
the dash panel and other interior parts all look to be in excellent condition..

i attached pix of the trunk after pulling up the old felt carpet..
and cleaning up the tarlike covering of the metal trunk.. there were 3 tiny holes which i filled with epoxy..
sanded the trunk and used rustoleum white.. 2 coats so far with 220 grit sanding between coats..
now thinking i might respray with flat black.. (opinions on that requested)

thank you all for your advice.. 

[billmorrow]

You can buy the felt and make the trunk look like new.

i don't particularly like that felt trunk lining.. it looks and feels cheap..
the same carpet as used in the interior i think would make a nice upgrade to what really should have been cadillac's premier offering.. unless the purists convince me to keep it 100% original..

is there anyplace i can find pix of the jacking instructions label under the trunk lid and images of the cadillac labels under the hood so i can print them on self stick paper..?

[billmorrow]

Interior carpet is probably far too thick to be useful in the trunk. 

That sounds like the body fuse is blown. It's in the fusebox by the driver's left shin under the dash.

hello mike..
YES.. small correction.. the fuse block is above my right shin or above the accelerator pedal..
and YES, there was a fuse labeled "CLK-LTR" & "BODY" which was blown.. it can be seen in the picture..
replaced it and the courtesy lights and radio now have power.. radio is kaput, lights but no sound..
windshield wipers still do not work, the fuse LOOKS ok but next time i'll pull it and check it with an ohm meter..
is there another BODY fuse someplace..?
i'll attach pix of the left and right side under the instrument panel..

thanks for the hints and advice..

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Bill,

Those fuse "clamps" look like they are a bit rusty, and could do with a bit of cleaning.

One question for everyone.   Did Cadillac ever produce a car with under-dash wiring that was neat and tidy?

Bruce.

[chrisntam]

For grins, you might unplug and plug back the wire connector on the wiper motor.  Wipers on my '75 Olds stopped working, did that and they started working again.

[76eldo]

Looks like you lucked out on this car.  Trunk looks perfect and no bubbles under the vinyl top or around the molding so you look good there.

Trunk lining is no big deal.  The sides had a black cardboard configuration and the rest was the felt material and then a rubber trunk mat over that which was an inexpensive option that most people opted for.

[billmorrow]

Looks like you lucked out on this car.  Trunk looks perfect and no bubbles under the vinyl top or around the molding so you look good there.

Trunk lining is no big deal.  The sides had a black cardboard configuration and the rest was the felt material and then a rubber trunk mat over that which was an inexpensive option that most people opted for.

i DID luck out.. if luck is defined as looking very carefully, knowing the issues and expecting to find a few unreported or unknown issues..

i ordered 2 yards of cut pile black carpet..
out of which i will re-carpet the trunk and upgrade the car a bit since is is not much more $$ than going with the factory original felt.. its just what i like..

[billmorrow]

For grins, you might unplug and plug back the wire connector on the wiper motor.  Wipers on my '75 Olds stopped working, did that and they started working again.

tried that, did not do it BUT there was 13.5 volts at the yellow wire.. and the wipers tried to park themselves when i reconnected the wires (a 3 wire plug) so i now know the wiper motor is most likely operable..

[cadillacmike68]

hello mike..
YES.. small correction.. the fuse block is above my right shin or above the accelerator pedal..
and YES, there was a fuse labeled "CLK-LTR" & "BODY" which was blown.. it can be seen in the picture..
replaced it and the courtesy lights and radio now have power.. radio is kaput, lights but no sound..
windshield wipers still do not work, the fuse LOOKS ok but next time i'll pull it and check it with an ohm meter..
is there another BODY fuse someplace..?
i'll attach pix of the left and right side under the instrument panel..

thanks for the hints and advice..

They must have moved the fuse box in 69. 68s are over to the left. 

I was gong to suggest checking the wiper motor, but you seem to be already on that.

[billmorrow]

 

They must have moved the fuse box in 69. 68s are over to the left. 

I was gong to suggest checking the wiper motor, but you seem to be already on that.

the wiper motor electrical circuits are really strange..
from reading the schematic it appears there is always 12 VDC present at the wiper motor and it is turned on by the wiper switch when it grounds the circuit..
been working o  the trunk carpet so the car has not been out of the garage for several days and i can't open the driver door until i move it out to check the wiper switch..