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66 DeVille Convertible resto

Started by Chuck Swanson, September 29, 2011, 10:26:12 PM

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Chuck Swanson

All tires done...with correct wheels weights on front ;)  Waiting for some used upper control arms next week so I can put the front suspension together.  One of my A arms bent in press when removing ball joint.  I'll let my friend do the next one  :D

Picking up a plating kit Tuesday to clean up and plate all the nuts and bolts. 

http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/zinc-plating-kits.html

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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Chuck Swanson

#21
Few more updates today:
Inner fenders painted a few days ago...just picked up...the pic shows my fingerprints after thoroughly dry, but they actually look great ;)
Front brakes disassembled.
Small parts painted, brackets, jacks, etc...
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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Chuck Swanson

#22
Control arm bushings and ball joints all removed today.  I noticed on the lower control arm bushing that it is slightly bigger on one side (new one), and looks like goes in from the flat side. 

Will now drop off at my friend for sand blasting, then will put all back together (New ball joints/bushings), tape up, and paint.

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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Chuck Swanson

Ready to drop off the control arms to my friend tomorrow to press in ball joints/bushings, then will be ready to paint black.  Here some pics with the arms in epoxy primer.  Steering knuckle/arm bare metal and will paint tomorrow with caliper high heat paint. 

Bolts have been tumbling all week-cleaning up.  Will will be picking up my Caswell Copy Cad kit tomorrow to start plating all the bolts.  Scored a nice rectifier last week, used only once, so now I just need to grab my wife's old crock pot to degrease bolts ;) 

Goal is to reassemble front end by end of next week. 
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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

DeVille68

Very nice. Let us know what you think about the Moog balljoints.
1968 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (silver pine green)

Chuck Swanson

#25
Sure Nick I will thanks! (Lower Moog, Upper are TRW brand)

Here's some pics with the ball joints and bushings installed.  Just need to clean up all the grease marks off of the epoxy primer, tape up, then paint.  Brake drum turned and ready too-New races installed.

Chuck

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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Ralph Messina CLC 4937

Gentlemen,

I used all Moog parts on the front ends of both my ‘66s and I’ve been very happy. Service, product and performance have been without issue.

Ralph
1966 Fleetwood Brougham-with a new caretaker http://bit.ly/1GCn8I4
1966 Eldorado-with a new caretaker  http://bit.ly/1OrxLoY
2018 GMC Yukon

Chuck Swanson

#27
Bolt night after snowmobiling all day with my teenage son :)  Love the Copy Cad system from Caswell plating.  Just got last month and tried tonight.  These were all rusty old bolts for the '66 before putting in the tumbler, and wire wheel on some. 

Got my wife's old crock pot as a degreasing station  ;D  First two as test came out great.  Now I just need to yellow chromate the bolts, but I'll do outside for that step (fumes). 

Last resto I did I painted some bolts with various Eastwood sprays, bought some resto bolts, and some from the hardware store.  Since the tumbler is a walk away task for 4 hours, and the plating is fairly quick, it seems like much less time to clean up most of original bolts vs. finding new.  I am using new grade 8 for some though. 

I know the authenticity manual doesn't go into the level of detail of bolt colors/heads/bracket colors and such (or judging-AACA or CLC), but I took pictures of original colors of all and I think will be cool  8) to put them all back pretty much the same :)  Just having fun...lol    ;)

Chuck
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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

DeVille68

nice. The tumbler is also on my bucket list. No budget and not enough old rusty bolts (yet) :-)
1968 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (silver pine green)

Chuck Swanson

Thanks!  Here is some more completed work.  I can now get the bolts to show quality after doing a few batches.  Started with parts that can't be seen, in brake drum.  I'm not going to redo some of the minor errors on those, but found if I need to redo, I use a solution of battery acid diluted to 18%, per the plating co, and that works great, takes a few minutes. Getting easier as it goes along. 

I'm doing all the grade 8 with yellow zinc chromate, along with many brackets I took off where I could see the yellow.  2 strut rod washers not perfect, but I can hide bad part when mounting :)

I also have black chromate, along with blue chromate.  Does anyone know what color the bolts are that mount the wheel cylinder?  I think black. 

Also rough assembled new tie rods/center link, etc...
Chuck   
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66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Chuck Swanson

Few more parts painted (all done w/ spray gun).  Should be ready for front end reassembly soon.

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66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

Chuck Swanson

#31
Front brakes done.  Replated these parts with with copy cad-then yellow chromate: stabilizer plates, grease guard, support plate, lock plate, shoe guide plate, link, and small spring pins (not in kits-only long).  All springs new except Primary to Secondary springs.

Cleaned all the old grease out of front hub today too.  Wheel bearing packing/install in am :)...then wait for my friend to assist with front end assembly. 

My teenage son did passenger side on his own.   ;D
Chuck
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66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

savemy67

Hello Chuck,

Nice job on the brakes (as well as everything else that I can see).  In the photos of the brakes it looks like you installed relined shoes.  Are the linings bonded or riveted, and why did you select one or the other?  Did your front brakes have one shoe with a grooved lining?  When you had the drums turned, what brake lathe equipment was used?  Keep up the good work.

Christopher Winter
Christopher Winter
1967 Sedan DeVille hardtop

Chuck Swanson

Hi Christopher,

Bonded, not riveted.  The ones I got were the only ones I could find-got from NAPA.  No grooves.

Not sure on the lathe my friend used, but it looked old, from maybe the 50's??  His dad owned shop before him and they have held on to equipment thankfully, as not many shops will turn. 

Thanks!  Chuck

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66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

DeVille68

Hi

Nice job! Looks nice!

Did you replace the springs too?
Where did you find a brake hardware kit for the front?

I only found spring kits for the back drum brakes of my 68 Caddy.

Best regards,
Nicolas
1968 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (silver pine green)

Chuck Swanson

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Like 65-66 Club: www.facebook.com/6566Cadillac
66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

DeVille68

Ok, thanks. I'll try them.

Best regars,
Nicolas
1968 Cadillac DeVille Convertible (silver pine green)

Chuck Swanson

Some test fitting before final front suspension assembly  ;D
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66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T

JoeKarasinski


Chuck Swanson

#39
Thanks Joe!

Front end done!!  All new suspension, brakes, steering box, inner/outer tie rods, upper/lower ball joints, bushings,  etc...
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66 DeVille Convertible-CLC Sr Wreath, (AACA 1st Jr 2021, Senior 2022, 1st GN 2022 Sr GN 2023), Audrain Concours '22 3rd in Class.
66 Sedan DeVille hdtp
66 Calais pillar sedan
66 Series 75 9-pass limo
65 Eldorado (vert w/bucket seats)
65 Fleetwood
07 DTS w/ Performance pkg.
67 Chevy II Nova (AACA Sr GN 2018)
69 Dodge Coronet R/T