Brake Part Suppliers

These places makes brake line tube replacements:
http://www.classictube.com/
http://www.inlinetube.com/

Brakes parts kits can be found at:
http://www.rockauto.com

Plan...

OK, so here's the plan. I will allocate 4 weeks to fix one part on all my cars. This does not mean that I will not fix other parts that break as needed during this time, it just means that I am trying to focus my energy on getting my cars running well and on the road instead of buying more cars. I may throw in a specialty weekend here or there as well.

through April 20 - Brakes (this may go a bit longer since I have three weekend trips planned in this four week period)
April 28 - Timing checks
May 5 - compression testing (may combine with timing checks if time allows)
through May 25 - Shocks
May 19 - Lube all points
through June 22 - Tires
through July 20 - Suspension
through Aug 24 -
through Sept 21 -

Cadillac Stops again

Dad and I went armed with a new master cylider for the cadillac to where I left the car at my work this weekend (I was relieved that it was still there). the old one came off, but the new one wouldn't go on. Turned out there are two different kinds of master cylinder that year, a bendix and a Moraine. I, of course, have the one that no local parts houses carry. It's a special order only item. The old one went back on, and the fluid was a bit down (not much though, maybe 3/8") so we filled it, and then it seemed to have some pedal. Dad drove it home while I led in his car.

We went and got a brake adjusting tool at Kragen (I also returned an air filter I tried to make work in the 944 a few weeks ago, and ordered the correct one) then we adjusted the drum brakes in the rear. The brakes seem to be working without problem now, I drove it in to work with no brake problems.

No brake problems, but the red light came on partway through my ride to work, I almost didn't notice it, it's so small. When it came on I realized that it had been more than a week since I checked the oil(there is a pretty severe oil leak, A&A apparently missed a spot when they re-sealed the engine). I stopped and got gas and topped of the oil. The light went away after about a half block, so I can only assume it was down too low, I wonder why the oil light didn't come on first. I'll need to check the coolant before I leave work today.

No Brakes

Is there anything worse than the feeling you get when you depress the brake pedal on a 4,500lb car and get no response?

This morning on my way into work, the brakes went out in the Cadillac. Well, there was a little brake, so I suspect the master cylider went out (I think this was the first year they had that in the Cadillacs, but I may be mistaken - I'll look it up later...)

Luckily, it happened just down the street from work(and not on the steep, windy road I came down on the way to work) , so I parked it in the parking lot at work. I 'll probably have to get a lift home from Jim and leave the car here. Good thing April is brake fixing month!

Idea...

I had a new idea on how to handle to masses of automobiles I now have. Instead of trying to work on one car at a time, I thought maybe I would try working on one part at a time. For example April will be "Brake month" I will replace all brake parts that need replacing on all of my cars in the month of April. I will buy four new drum brakes for the convertible, new front disk pads for the '67 eldorado (and check the drums in the rear), check the pads on the 944(and fix the wheel lock on the rear driver side wheel), and check the pads on the 93 Eldo as well... I may skip this process on the '79, but If I have time and/or money, I may not.

No Cadillac...

Well, the Cadillac (converible) did not make it to my house this weekend. I called a tow guy off of craigslist who said he had a flatbed trailer and would tow it the 60+ miles for $150. My sisters Husband had charged the battery up and it started when I got down there, but had a very hard time moving it, the brakes seem to be frozen.

When the tow truck guys came by, it wouldn't start again. We tried jump starting it with another car, but that didn't work. The trailer they had was too low to make it down the steep driveway and I wasn't willing to let his tow it up the driveway with his truck to load it on the trailer in the street, so I sent them home with $20 in gas money for coming out.

After they left, we tried charging the battery again, and it did start again, I'm guessing the alternator is not working, or maybe some wiring to the alternator is corroded.

Hot Cadillac

The weather has been just gorgeous here in Nor cal the last couple of weeks, and I'm getting a taste of how hot the black interior of the Eldorado is going to be this summer. Air conditioning seems like it will be a must this summer.

I found an article explaingin the basics of air conditioning from of all places mother earth news.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1987-07-01/Auto-Air-Conditioning.aspx

Gas price shock

I've been driving a 4-cylinder car to work for the last year or so, the last two weeks I've been driving my 67 Eldorado to work and back everyday. I just added up the amount of cash I've poured into the gas tank over the last two weeks - $151.15 - ugh.

Tires

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

anything and everything you could every want to know about tires. Including an awesome tire size conversion chart for those times when you need to replace the old bias-ply with radial.

also check out the other car bibles, Brakes, transmissions, anything you want...

http://www.carbibles.com

Trailers

I need to find a Trailer to tow the Cadillac to my house with. My Brother-in Law has volunteered to tow it up to my place with his truck, but I need to find a trailer. I'm not sure if the one's from Uhaul will work. My car is pretty big.

Too much 944 not enough Cad

I'm noticing that I'm doing a lot of work on the 944 and not nearly enough on the Convertible (meaning none). I'm also noticing that the show in Savannah is coming up pretty quick, and I've got to get rockin if I'm going to bring the 'vert...