Took the car to visit my mechanic who is going to do my driveshaft end seals and u-joints. We have got the u-joints with outside clips on front and center u joints and the combo clip at the differential. I wonder why there are two variations you can find on a 1959?
The lighting was so nice I had to snap a few shots.
Wow
Looking sharp !
Quote from: novetti on August 12, 2020, 10:39:32 PM
Wow
Looking sharp !
DITTO!! Is that a dark green or black car? Very nice car, bet you get a lot of looks and comments in that.
Rick
Looks like it might be Kensington Green or a variation of it. Very sharp looking car George. Clay/Lexi
It's an original paint Kensington Green car
If it an original Kensington Green, or even if it is a repaint - THAT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR - HANDS DOWN.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Trust me Steve it's real, I got a few microfiber towels that have been turned dark green by the paint. If it ever got a repaint it was in lacquer but at 39,925 miles on purchase I doubt it.
Does it look more level in this photo? I do think the rear end is maybe an inch or two low. You commented on it before I I always felt this could be the case.
Also got one thin spot and a few high spots that someone over did the buffing on it. Very minor but there.
I only wish I had some more courage to buff out some swirls that only show more under florescent lights. Need to put out a call to the experts to work on the swirls.
Also it has a few marks on it but overall a rare original with the front fenders complete and no holes or rust.
And just to remind George, his is the only '59 that I've ever lusted after. Other than his, they simply don't turn me on. And by chance, that shade of green was on a six window that sat on my way to work for some months that I did get out one day to look at it closer. (I think the price (way) back then was $500.)
Beautiful car!!!
George,
I meant no "BAD" with the repaint or down in the back comment of long ago - gr8 memory though, unless you considered it another of my "BAD".
None the less, I lust after that color & my comments/observations are never meant to be malicious or hurtful.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Quote from: 59-in-pieces on August 14, 2020, 11:02:08 AM
George,
I meant no "BAD" with the repaint or down in the back comment of long ago - gr8 memory though, unless you considered it another of my "BAD".
None the less, I lust after that color & my comments/observations are never meant to be malicious or hurtful.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Steve did not take it as "BAD". Although I do feel the car might sit an inch or two low in the back, but my gas tank is usually full or near it.
When you mentioned it before I had already thought about it, but when you look at it sometimes it looks to sit level.
George,
Your last statement - response.
True - if parked on a down hill road - quickly add LOL HAHAHA just in case.
Have fun,
Steve B.
Quote from: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on August 14, 2020, 09:49:57 AM
And just to remind George, his is the only '59 that I've ever lusted after. Other than his, they simply don't turn me on. And by chance, that shade of green was on a six window that sat on my way to work for some months that I did get out one day to look at it closer. (I think the price (way) back then was $500.)
Beautiful car!!!
Barry, it's all in the color.
By the way since the car is named Edna after the original owner, I was thinking the car presents itself in that group of cars as a lady amongst girls.
Looks spectacular as always George. Nothing beats a well preserved original.
Too bad you sold the yellow one, Eric. Your's was in second place...
Thanks Barry. That was a great car.
An update on the replacements.
Went smooth as silk, 3 new Spicer u-joints (greaseable but really can't get at the center one once assembled), rear pinion seal and rear housing seal. So the drive shaft or the term used in the 1959 Cadillac Shop manual "propeller shaft" is sealed at both ends.
He said the center bearing was a little sticky, but also said it looked OK so he lubricated it and worked it some so it was moving smoothly and it said would outlast me.
Drove the car back to my garage 20 miles on back roads at moderate speeds and on I-89 at 70 MPH and ran as smooth as silk, no vibrations. In fact, it seemed better but maybe I am imagining that.
I am very lucky to have this guy who is excellent. plus a perfectionist. He is 58 years old and will be 59 in Dec, but he has been working on cars 42 plus years and before he worked by himself he worked at the local Cadillac-Chevrolet dealer and then the Oldsmobile dealer in Concord NH. Perfect for me since I have 10 cars of these makes.
So he worked on those late 1970s GMs and later in the day and knows all about the issues they had. I bet he even saw some earlier cars than that even then.
Took a photo of the cardboard under the car. The clean one is the rear pinion seal. Looks like no leak, where it was leaking before. This is after a 20 mile rider home and sitting in the garage for a week.
The other photo shows a oil spot under the front of the car. Looks like a rear main seal. Slight but is it worth fixing? The small spot towards the front is old and not relevant. The larger darker spot is the current leak.
At this point, I wouldn't worry about it. Oil stains on cardboard always look worse than they really are because of the wicking of the oil into the paper. Looks like just a few drops which is hardly worth it unless it worsens significantly.
Thanks Dan
That's what I am thinking, I got the drive shaft sealed and new u-joints that are greasable. Well the center one is in theory greasable, you cannot get to it when assembled!
So I think I will leave well enough alone. The rear now is much cleaner, plus the unknown of the dried up u-joints are now not a worry.
G'day George,
Now you have the evidence of the amount of leaking, it is time to physically get under the car and try and see where it is coming from.
Plus, what type of oil is it? Engine oil, power steering fluid?
I have known of Rocher Covers leaking, and the oil is sneaking down the engine block sides, and giving the impression that a main seal is leaking. Happened to a mate and the leak was that bad, that he was taking the car back to the fella that built the engine. Turned out to be that the fella had not completely tightened the rocker covers down. Took a year to find it.
Bruce.
We (me and the mechanic) did notice some oil on the sides of the engine. However, I think it was old oil since when I got the car 6 years ago the valve covers were leaking. It was leaking so that you could see some oil escaping from the top, but none is evident now years later.
At the time I put new valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and transmission pan gaskets on about 6 years ago.
I am going to try to clean the engine up from underneath and see if that gets oil on it again. It could be leaking some but on an old car it's hard to tell, especially when you have some prior leaks in the past.
We also saw some oil from a shaft coming out of the transmission on the driver's side, not sure what you call that but it is maybe the linkage from the shifter? But this was real slight. Not sure how big of a deal that is to seal.
Whilst you are down there, go around each of the sump bolts and give them a check with a socket, just to make sure that they are still tight.
Whenever I put new gaskets on, I always go around the fastenings a few months later. You would be surprised just how things settle when there is a gasket between parts, especially soft gaskets and tin.
Bruce. >:D