The restoration of my 1967 Cadillac Eldorado
When I was searching for a 67 Eldorado I did not want to buy one which would need a restoration. Thats why I bought this low mileage - two owner car.Being a perfectionist of course I soon found out that it would need some work done to it when it arrived at my door.
Technically wise it needed the following to be perfect:
- radiator needed re-coring
- left front disc brake was sticking slightly - needed complete rebuild including pads and all 4 pistons
- new brake hoses
- new gaskets for valve covers, transmission, differential
- new ball joints
- new pitman arm
- new idler arm
- new stabilizer link
- new fuel lines
- new battery cables
- new fusible links for headlights
- new H4 headlights to be street legal in Austria
- new dryer
- new evaporator
- new expansion valve
- new heater core
- new O-rings
- new A6 AC compressor
- new waterpump
- complete rebuild of the AC which was torn out in an attempt to replace a leaking evaporator by the previous owner - including fixing the heater box, new heater core - reinstalling the blower and much more
- new condenser
- new master vacuum switch
- new expansion valve
- new idle-speed up diaphragm
- some new vacuum hoses
- recharge of the AC system
- windshield-washer pump overhaul kit
- new regulator valve for the ALC
- new clock stem
- new steering pump hoses
- Carburetor rebuilt
- Ignition completely rebuilt
- rebuilt door jamb switch
- all new fluids (coolant, brake, oil, transmission fluid)
- rebuilt power seat transmission
- and some small things I already forgot ;-)
These are all some typical issues of low mileage cars that were into storage for too long.
Cosmetically wise it will get a repaint sometimes in the future as the original paint has some issues. It is cracking on some places and unfortunately it also has some paint chips from storing it under boxes in the garage of the original owner. The car also has the typical issue around the rear window - where some surface rust is showing. The original owner already made some poor attempts to fix this. I will take care of all of this at the repaint. The car will be stripped to bare metal of course. The car has no rust as it was always garaged.
I also need to have the rear bumper re-chromed as the chrome is flaking off - I have never seen this on any car before - its strange, but fixable.
The engine bay will get a detailing job to look like new as well.
The interior needs nothing - its like new!
Check back often to see some pictures of the progress below.
the engine bay - as it looked like when I got the car
the AC was torn out by the previous owner in an attempt to replace the evaporator - it will be restored back to original condition
when I got the car - I started to clean and degrease the engine bay
My buddy Tayfun helped me cleaning the car
My buddy Tayfun helped me cleaning the car - here he is polishing the hood
cleaning the interior
wet cleaning the carpet
my wife helped me to change the radio
trying to repair the radio
my wife working on the radio - I´m still looking for a good AM-FM radio for the car as the one I found did not work
Cleaning the original floor mats
The floor mats turned out like new
the fusible link of the headlights crumbled into pieces when I touched it
the harness going to the starter - I removed it and put in new battery cables and a new fusible link
the old original positive battery cable which I replaced with new correct ones
the ALC blew the regulator valve - I found another one and replaced it
the Eldo at American Special Parts for examination
the radiator was leaking badly - so it was recored
some of the parts I had to buy
new valve gaskets had to be installed and the valve covers repainted. Note how clean the engine looks inside!
some of the parts
new stabilizer links in place together with new ball joints
A H4 european headlight had to be installed as the original T3 lights are not street legal in Austria
the left front disc brake is sticking - a picture before the rebuild
the Eldo at ASP
to replace the evaporator the whole AC had to be disassembled
to replace the evaporator the whole AC had to be disassembled
to replace the evaporator the whole AC had to be disassembled
the vacuum hoses around the hot water valve were leaking a little
the vacuum hoses around the time delay relay were also a little loose
the idle speed up relay on the carb needs to be replaced
the master vacuum switch was the main reason for the blower problem
I hooked up another switch for testing purposes - this solved the problem
Eldorado headlight doors vacuum diagram
Eldorado headlight doors vacuum diagram