Replacing Rolls Royce Grill

[Rick Biarritz]

I am looking at an 85 Eldorado Biarritz with a Phaeton grill on it.  What is involved in getting rid of this thing and putting on the correct grill.  I am HOPING that one simply unscrews the grill and the chrome top piece, (I assume they are separate) and then one simply screws/bolts on the two correct pieces.  Also, what does the correct grill cost, where does one get said grill, and are they easily found? 

I await your learned replies.

Rick Lynch

[Eric S. Maypother #15104]

Hi,
I've never toke 1 off an Eldorado but I took 1 off an 85 Seville which is about the same, and a few FWD devilles, RWD Fleetwoods, on the FWD's with a 2 piece setup almost always the bolt-studs on the top piece snap off when you go to un-bolt the nut because of rust, I'd soak them in WD-40 first and make sure I have the other pieces to put on before I'd remove 1, the bottom parts usually come off fairly easy. You could try eBay for the grille and hood piece unless someone on here has 1, then you can sell the rolls royce grille on eBay.

[76eldo]

There is a chrome molding on the front of the hood, the grille, and 2 little side fillers that hide the attaching screws, painted body color.

If the RR hood cap was installed correctly, it had a plastic molding that keept it from scratching the paint on the hood.  There may be a line pressed into the paint though.

Ebay is a good source.  if your shell is nice, you can easily sell it on ebay.  The grille is stainless, which does not rust, but the hood cap is chromed, and usually not in great shape on a 23 year old car.

84 and 95 grilles are the same for sure,and possibly 83, but check before buying.

Brian

[Rick Biarritz]

Thanks for the tip.  Been looking for an Eldo (79-85).  Have spent hundreds of hours on the net of course, but still no luck.  Know anybody selling one?  Thanks.

[Rick Biarritz]

Thanks for the tip.  Been looking for an Eldo (79-85).  Have spent hundreds of hours on the net of course, but still no luck.  Know anybody selling one?  Thanks.

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Thanks for the tip.  Been looking for an Eldo (79-85).  Have spent hundreds of hours on the net of course, but still no luck.  Know anybody selling one?  Thanks.

Rick, There are 23 '79-'85 Eldorados currently listed at www.autotraderclassics.com.

[Rick Biarritz]

Rick, There are 23 '79-'85 Eldorados currently listed at www.autotraderclassics.com.

Yes, I've spent almost every waking moment in the last two weeks on the web.  I've seen HUNDREDS of Eldo's.  Fate seems to be working against me.  I want a dark car, burgundy, black, dark blue, firemist, maybe a medium blue, with a leather interior of almost any color, except white or the washed out blue.  60k miles or less.  $4 - $6,000 range.  I have found MANY, MANY cars that are absolutely perfect, EXCEPT for one thing.  It's always one thing.  90% of the time, the problem is a white body or a white interior.  Both are deal killers, period, end of story.  Secondly, are all the people who want $10,000.  Sorry, but I've already tracked down 20 or 30 low mileage, pristine or nearly pristine Eldos for less than $6K.  Lastly, there are the perfect cars that are in California, three thousand fricking miles away.  $1,000 to ship or even more if I fly out and drive it back.  ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!  The heartbreak of bringing up the ad with the '85 burgundy biarritz, one owner, 45,000 miles, asking $5,000, only to scroll down and see the white interior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I feel my anger growing just sitting here typing.  Oh well. 

[Wynn Moore]

Just as a comment, I really never understood the use of some of the after market "add ons", other then increasing profits for the dealers.  I really don't most really enhanced the looks of the cars, especially the so called Rolls Royce Grills, and after a few years many would start to show their age, unlike the factory grilles.

[76eldo]

Rick,

I have a lot of experience with these cars.  Do yourself a favor, and try to find a low mileage 79/80/81.

This way you will sidestep the HT4100 engine and related issues.

The 79 has an olds 350, the 80 has the Cadillac 368, and the 81 has the 368 with the V-8-6-4 setup, which can be disconnected, and it will function as a regular V8.

They are great looking cars, and I wish you luck.

Brian

[Rick Biarritz]

I'm with you -- the RR grill does nothing for me. 

[Rick Biarritz]

Ahhh, this is very helpful.  I've heard horror stories about the 4-6-8, but I didn't know it could simply be disconnected.  Is this a complex procedure?

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

Ahhh, this is very helpful.  I've heard horror stories about the 4-6-8, but I didn't know it could simply be disconnected.  Is this a complex procedure?

I've never done it, but I've read that you can either just disconnect it completely (reportedly by cutting just one wire) or put a switch under the dash to activate or deactivate the system.  If you find one that doesn't stall and which isn't too jerky when changing modes, I think I'd leave it alone and disconnect if it started acting up. Some friends of mine bought a new '81 SDV and I drove it shortly after they bought it and it went from 8 to 6 to 4 cylinder modes pretty smoothly. I didn't like the slight roughness which you could feel in the V6 mode. It felt like an early odd-firing Buick V-6 which is understandable because you basically have an odd-firing 90 degree V6 when it's in the six-cylinder mode. Fortunately, it's in six cylinder mode much less than the other two and it always idles with all 8 cylinders firing so you don't get the shaky idle you did in the old Buick V6's. As for the horror stories about the 8-6-4, in my opinion they are all exaggerated unlike most of those about the HT4100.  The V8-6-4 was nothing more than an Eaton cylinder deactivation system mounted on a cast-iron Cadillac 368 V8 and the 368 is a smaller bore, shorter stroke version of the very good Cadillac 500/472/425 engine.

[EldoradoRedd1]

I hav my '80 Eldorado jus came frm the shop f/repairs, Hav paint, rims, conti kit car is black w/red interior. I'm in Brooklyn, NY

[Rick Biarritz]

I hav my '80 Eldorado jus came frm the shop f/repairs, Hav paint, rims, conti kit car is black w/red interior. I'm in Brooklyn, NY

Is it for sale?

[arto]

the  r&r grill was for pimps buying these cars in 1979 ... $$$$cash money$$$$ ...... kind of like getting 22inch wheels stock on your new cadillac suv in 2002 ..no matter what its still a cadillac!!

[EldoradoRedd1]

Is it for sale?

Its f/sale been busy rhamedavid@yahoo.com

[EldoradoRedd1]

Its f/sale been busy rhamedavid@yahoo.com

If u need any info call me at 347-403-4211 David

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Just for the record,
The Cadillac (and Lincoln) "pimpmobiles" with the garish upholstery, custom body work and of course the "Superfly" front ends were actually on the streets in the early 70's.  The wannabees of the 80's that copied that "theme" were the kids that saw the movies in the '70s and finally had the money to be "slick".  By the late 70s and early 80's the players were in Mercedes 600s.
Greg

[EldoradoRedd1]

Just for the record,
The Cadillac (and Lincoln) "pimpmobiles" with the garish upholstery, custom body work and of course the "Superfly" front ends were actually on the streets in the early 70's.  The wannabees of the 80's that copied that "theme" were the kids that saw the movies in the '70s and finally had the money to be "slick".  By the late 70s and early 80's the players were in Mercedes 600s.
Greg

The 70's put the HOGGS on the map, SUPAFLY CADILLAC has a bit of history to it i'm told. It really belonged to a PIMP frm HARLEM, NY, But my fav. is frm. THE MACK GOLDIE GOLDIE!!

[paul]

Those superfly cadillacs of the early 70s are highly prized today. I saw one last year at a show. A 73 eldo coupe. REd and white. It was really cool looking. When they were new i used to laugh at them. Funny how time and government designed cars can make even a garish gaudy bunch of add ons look beautiful. Thats my opinion of course other may not find it attractive.  I do have a question on thisi topic. I have to get the top rolls grill piece off the hood of a 84 eldo. Somone snatched the ornament and i need to get under the piece to put another one on. It looks like its rivited on at the front lower. thats not a problem i can rerivet. I dont seem to see any other attaching bolts or nuts under the hood that hold it on.