Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

I'm curious how many Cadillac owners do their own work, versus outsourcing. Pick the option that most closely aligns with your style.

I'm "mid-duty" myself- takes me a while to learn sometimes, but I can generally get things done, although I'll outsource if it's something big (largely due to time/space constraints), or occasionally if I just don't want to spend a weekend on the garage floor (no lift!)

Same here, I am "mid-duty" myself. Basic maintenance items I can do, brakes, some steering replacements, minor body work, and so on.

But there have been many times where I just feel like I don't have the enthusiasm anymore to work on jobs that can get real messy or take too much time to fix. Maybe because I'm getting older, I don't know.

I also don't have a garage so that's probably another reason why, and I also don't have the tools or true know how to disassemble an engine or a transmission.

Replacing shocks, repacking wheel bearings, minor electrical work, carburetor work, for the most part I do myself. There's also the notion that no one is ever going to work on your car as well as you do. Or pay attention to detail.

At least when I do make repairs or do basic maintenance on my cars, I know I used the best quality parts and fluids.

The work ethic and quality of work in the automotive repair industry has plummeted recently, so I have always been naturally skeptic of shops just because of poor experiences in the past and lazy work that was performed, besides for a very few that I completely trust locally.


Plus, reading the shop manuals and truly understanding the ins and outs of my Cadillacs, has made me more knowledgeable about how to make repairs properly on them, unlike a shop, where attention to detail and doing things by the book specifically by the shop manual is completely ignored and glanced over even if you mention certain things to mechanics about how this or that works and where it is located. Just because our cars are so old, and a lot of newer mechanics have never worked on Cadillacs of a certain age and sometimes need to be told where things are at.

Basic to mid duty. No suspension work, I don't heed a 1000 pound pressure spring flying off and hitting me or something, and I don't have a lift.

Quote from: 64\/54Cadillacking on November 17, 2022, 12:16:01 PMSame here, I am "mid-duty" myself.

Plus, reading the shop manuals and truly understanding the ins and outs of my Cadillacs, has made me more knowledgeable about how to make repairs properly on them, unlike a shop, where attention to detail and doing things by the book specifically by the shop manual is completely ignored.

I am in agreement with the above 3 posts. I especially liked 64\/54Cadillacking's comment about shop's not wanting to take direction from the source material, i.e. the Shop Manual. As the old adage goes, "No one will look after your car as well as you do", proves true so many times. I just wish I had a lift and a proper space to work on my car, which then would compel me to work on progressively more projects. Clay/Lexi

I can do the basics and mid level stuff but sometimes I get lazy and take it to Legends Luxury Auto. 

I do it all myself...farmed out the engine and trans build tho cause warranty...

I agree with above posts regarding the shop manual, etc.

I'm between mid-duty and master. I have the ability, experience and knowledge to most mechanical work on my '49 (which has stick shift so is relatively simple), as I have a good workshop in the garage and lots of tools and equipment. I can do engine work, change the clutch, take apart the stick transmission, do front suspension work, etc.  However, old age and the lack of a lift in my garage means I have to rely on a friend who is younger, has a lift and has more ability than me for some tasks. Also, there are procedures I'm not good at, like rebuilding carbs and fuel pumps, which I outsource, as well as rebuilding water pumps which I don't know how to do.

I can do the front coil springs, but similar to what Cadillacmike68 said, I'm afraid of working on the rear leaf springs.  Also, I'm not good at changing the driveshaft universal joints, but fortunately there is a good driveline and spring shop in this area to which I've outsourced these.

I can't do body work unless it's very simple.   Also, while I can remove and replace a Hydramatic trans, except for adjusting the TV rod I don't know how to work on them.

I would be mid-duty type of guy, I do most of my own repairs as I don't feel anyone else will give it the attention to detail that I will,I will do all my own electrical as shops charge by the hour and you never know the skill level of the tech doing the diagnostic and then he say's you need this "component" and he replaces it and still has same issue and says we need further diagnostics, engine repairs and overhaul, manual transmission repairs and rebuild's, differential repairs and (rebuild's except Cadillacs), mainly anything mechanical, I do not have some of the equipment needed and I have to outsource (tire machines alignment machines) and stuff like that, I am just starting to wrap my head around automatic transmissions they intrigue me very much, so we will see on that what the future brings for me. I can do minor body and paint work but I dislike it very much so I outsource that also. Anything I will tackle except body and paint.

Bob

I do only the simple stuff: Oil changes, spark plugs, lube jobs, removing/installing accessories after rebuilds. I did much more as a youngster but lost interest as an adult. So...I am at the mercy of available "mechanics". 

I found a shop in Ohio that could overhaul these old flatheads. Indeed they overhauled a 346 for me 4 years ago. For a few years there was an "old time mechanic", two years younger than I, near me.... who could and would maintain anything my LaSalle needed. He is retired now and has a hobby shop at his home. He still does tune up for me, rebuilt my carb, adjusted he clutch, etc.... but he does it as a favor and really doesn't want to.

I had a great frontend man who really understood these old cars. He moved away to Montana and now there is no one. I drive my LaSalle around 3,000 miles each year. Obviously I am living on borrowed time.  Don't know who will work on my car in the future...should I and the LaSalle survive another decade or so.

A curse upon those of us untalented persons who own pre-war.

Bob R.

I do it all myself and without lift. I've done many frame-off restorations, EFI conversions, transmission & engine rebuilds, even do my own tire removal from rim/replacement etc. and so far, the only three things I can recall that I needed to outsource were cutting brake drums, recore radiators (I can solder leaks though!) or bore engine cylinders .XX over. Not only have I historically enjoyed doing all the repairs and work myself, I've found that I never trusted any local shops (which were all shady to me) to handle any of my cars, and that was back when there actually were shops that still knew how to work on these classics. Now, I've heard my friends with classics say they can't even find a shop to change points - hell, I couldn't even get a guy behind the parts counter to understand what a heater hose is not too long ago.

I have the receipts from the local Urgent Care to show my level of participation  ;D

Experience taught that I could save a ton of time and
money by learning to do car repairs myself.  AND the
quality is consistently far better.  Having a lift makes
the work so much easier and cleaner, no crawling in
trans fluid.  The price of my 2 post lift was under $4K
for a DIY install, paid for (like the other tools) on
the first major job (trans swap). 

Maintenance is minimal on my late 70s cars, no points
or generator brushes to fail, plugs last forever.  Those
early emissions V8s just keep running, plenty of parts
available for the brakes, etc.  And if a TH400 trans ever
does need attention, there are plenty of parts sources. 
I have done a lot to reduce maintenance, pipes under my
cars become a rustproof stainless, nickel-copper, or
copper.  C clip axles eliminated. 

And absolutely nothing here is under warranty.  Bruce Roe

No voting section for me.

I do all my own work, well, used to before I got crook, but as everything is done now, will have to wait and see.   But, like Bruce Roe says, Do it yourself, and no need for Warranty problems.

My Workshop is probably better equipped than most, and I am self-trained.   This is where Shop Manuals come into their own.   Every car I buy, I also buy the Shop Manual.

The only thing I don't touch is the complete Automatic Transmission rebuilds, as when the Shop Manual says, use a clean area, well, I don't really have one, per se, but clean enough to do total resprays.

But, I also ask for help when necessary.   Now days, especially when having to lift something, or tighten up anything over 50 ft.lbs.

Bruce. >:D

I guess I would be ip tier with mid to master.  Wow love Dan's post. 
Just because I can't really trust a lot people with older cars.  Also good mechanics are hard to find.

I would say to a lot members here you always need to have the manual to your car.  And know some basics.  Points ignition did come up, we should know how to revert back from electronics if needed. 

Yes a lot new shops don't know how to work on anything mod-80's and older recently.

If do know maybe find a friend or a cars and coffee person that can help teach you.
 


 

I've done most of the work on my 1941 myself. Too long a list to mention.

I would have to farm out any internal engine and Hydra-Matic transmission work if needed. I had to farm out the replacement of my front end king pin set and the outer pivot pins. I need a complete set of shocks at some point and will have to have the front shocks installed by a shop.

I'm currently rust proofing the underside of my Cadillac without a lift. After this is complete, I'm ready for body, paint and interior. :)

I'm not allowed to. "Don't touch the car" - Michael Amster (Hyannis Vintage Auto)

I'm a master mechanic. Worked on and designed all kinds of different equipment. For over 40 years. The thing with this older cars is most shops don't know anything about them. I had to pay to go to collage to learn my engineering. I'm not going to pay to have someone learn on my car. I fix club members cars all the time. After they have taken them to a shop. To do poor work or they could not find the problem. They don't know what to do when they can't plug in the scanner. Just my thoughts.
 Thanks Wayne     

Mid-duty. Like others, I don't have a lift or a large garage/workshop. At my previous house the garage wasn't large enough to fit my car, so I kept it in a storage space a mile away. I'd drive the car home, work on it, and drive it back. That also meant I couldn't do anything that would render the car motionless. So no brakes, no radiator/deep engine work. Most of the repairs with the car are electrical or paint, so that is an acceptable tradeoff.

I now have a small child and my free time has pretty much evaporated. My new house has a garage that the car should fit in, so I'll check that in the spring. Maybe with the car at my house I'll be able to find a few more minutes during the weekends to work on the car.

Quote from: 55 CDV Fan 82 on November 17, 2022, 01:08:51 PMI can do the basics and mid level stuff but sometimes I get lazy and take it to Legends Luxury Auto. 

Funny, that's who worked om mine for the previous owner.  The selling dealer didn't want me to find out any previous info regarding ownership or who worked on it but forgot the oil change sticker up in the tint band of the windshield.  Sure enough that was the one.

Since my stroke I just don't have the gumption to tackle big jobs anymore.  I'll do minor stuff but that's about it anymore.  Plus, the car just dominates what little space I have in the garage, and I have too many trees once I pull it out so then chit all over the car.

"...you've got to know your limitations!" [Clint Eastwood]
I don't do brakes, transmissions, and engine rebuilding.  I'm not good at painting either.

There was a time, but the sand has shifted, in this old hourglass.

Now the spirit is willing, but the body is thinking hard about getting on the ground, and then how to get back up.
The dang floor keeps getting further and further away, with each passing year.

Have fun - if and while you can,
Steve B.

Quote from: 59-in-pieces on November 24, 2022, 11:38:30 AMThe dang floor keeps getting further and further away, with each passing year.

Have fun - if and while you can,
Steve B.

LOL. The floor is sometimes the biggest obstacle for a number of reasons, for older individuals. At least you can't fall off of the floor as they say, so no danger there...but one of Murphy's Laws says it takes children 5 years to learn that! Clay/Lexi

For me, now that I'm an octogenarian it's not getting down on the floor, but pulling myself back up.

Some things I find important.  Have the official
manuals and study them carefully.  Do not be in
a hurry, being neat is better than cleaning up a
mess later.  Get whatever tools are needed to do
it right and efficiently.  I have countless small
tools to make things easier, most paid for by the
first use.  Many I made by looking at the book,
some were just an invention.  Most were actually
pretty cheap.  Bruce Roe

Quote from: Lexi on November 24, 2022, 02:00:50 PMLOL. The floor is sometimes the biggest obstacle for a number of reasons, for older individuals. At least you can't fall off of the floor as they say, so no danger there...but one of Murphy's Laws says it takes children 5 years to learn that! Clay/Lexi

Your comment reminded me of this quote for some reason :D


"You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without hanging on" -- Dean Martin

Yes, the notable and quotable Rat Packer. Dean was extremely witty. Got to try and remember that one. Clay/Lexi

Quote from: 39LaSalleDriver"You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without hanging on" -- Dean Martin

Too bad Dean did not know the difference between
laying an object on the floor, and his body lying
on the floor.  Bruce Roe

I have been doing all the maintenance and repairs on my cars since my first car in 1970.  The only things I don't do are bodywork/paint, alignment and tire busting.  (I tried bodywork once - it wasn't pretty).  About the only component I haven't tackled is an automatic transmission - I have never had one of mine fail so haven't had the need.  I generally enjoy working on cars, and the jobs I don't enjoy I do anyway because I know it will be done right, and the cost savings is so high vs paying full retail for parts and labor.  Yeah, I've spent $ on tools over the years, but I'm sure they have been paid for several times over.

My wife finally figured it out - this hobby is just an excuse to buy tools.....  ;)

I'm a mid level type...by neccessity more than anything. Shop rates are through the roof here in So Cal, so I try to do most of the stuff myself...with a LOT of help from this fine group here! I'm not tearing down engines or rebuilding transmissions...in fact, I really don't rebuild at all, just replace! Mostly maintenance stuff. I replaced the water, fuel, a.i.r. and power steering pumps, alternator, ac compressor, brake master cylinder, heater core, windshield wiper motor, arms, washer reservoir...basic maintenance. But some things are beyond my skill set...so I had a shop recore my radiator, another shop rebuilt my distributor and replaced the points with Pertronix, and another shop replaced my steering box and lower control arm and redid my brakes, and I had the transmission serviced. I enjoy working on my car sometimes...other times I'm inventing new curse words to go along with the task at hand. 

I sit on my garage couch, drink a beer and wish upon a star it would start.
In college, I failed auto mechanics...and I was a gearhead!

I got my 64 convertible to stop leaking fuel at the carb by tapping the bowls gently with a sledgehammer. Hey, it worked.

Low skill at best. Plugs, tune up and oil changes. Minor electrical stuff. Mmm...maybe.
I have a full set of tools so my mechanic friends can come by, drink beers, and fix something at gunpoint.
When I was an IMSA racer, my crew chief yelled at me to f••k off when I offered to help with the car. I think that says it all.


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Quote from: jwwseville60 on November 28, 2022, 10:52:32 AMI sit on my garage couch, drink a beer and wish upon a star it would start.

Low skill at best. Plugs, tune up and oil changes. Minor electrical stuff. Mmm...maybe.
I have a full set of tools so my mechanic friends can come by, drink beers, and fix something at gunpoint.
When I was an IMSA racer, my crew chief yelled at me when I offered to help with the car. I think that says it all.


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Haha - fair enough. I maybe should have added an option for "works on it myself but really shouldn't"  ;D

That's a cool wagon - I don't know that I've seen one before.

Our 32 LaSalle has only ever been worked on by Brooklyn Cadillac, my father or myself. It's never been restored, but rather maintained. Dad was the second owner purchasing form the original owner in 1958. Currently replacing the bottom of the doors and painting.

Yes, i doe every thing self on my Cars,

i am a perfectionist and see many times that mechanics have not the respect on your Car

Just basic to midlevel stuff for me too. Time constraints sometimes get in the way of doing my own work, but such is life I guess.