1940 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe Authenticity Issues

[ebuliavac]

Hi, I'm restoring a 1940 Series 62 Coupe, trim 56.  It seems the authenticity manual is out of print, but available at some pretty high prices online.  Is that the usual experience?  Also, a couple of authenticity questions that may or may not be in the manual; most of the ones I have are related to the interior:

How many pleats for the front seat?  I have seen 6-8.

Where do you get replacement dash glass?  For example, glass over my clock is cracked.

Finally, any suggestions on exhaust?  It needs a new muffler.  A number of choices out there.  Want authentic sound but also want it to last. 

Thank you in advance.  Ed Buliavac

[joeceretti]

I don't have the answers to your questions but is this not the manual you are looking for?

http://store.cadillaclasalleclub.org/product_p/class%2010.htm

[ebuliavac]

Yes, thank you, putting in an order.  Ed

[Doug Houston]

My opinion; poisonal, of course. I have four '41 cadillacs, and avbe always wondered when the brake line to the rear would finally get leaky. I've had that happen five times in my lif and that's five times too many.

I've been equipping my cars with stainless steel brake lines from Inline Tube. IO am damned if I want another brake line to fail (total brake failure) once again. Inline does offer galvanized lines, if a guy would want them, but The stainless kit isn't a lot more than the galvo kit.  I have a '41 Chevy convertible.  and we took off all the lines and took them to Inline, and had them duplicated. Now, I have stainless line on the Chevy, and Inline has the patterns for 41-48 Chevy convertible..

On exhaust: OK, you'll lose the exhaust not somewhat from Cadillac V8's, but I won't be replacing my exhaust systems every 2 years. I use Clasic Exhaust.

[gary griffin]

I hate total brake loss and that is why I buy Art Gardners kits and convert to dual master cylinders.  Safety trumps authenticity in my cars. That and seat belts are my only transgressions against authenticity though.