Paint Class - Day 53

Today I pulled up and thought class had been cancelled there were no cars in the parking lot. but there was, it was just that most of the class didn't show up. I had no direction on the civic, so I helped a couple of the other students, sanding. Then I left early.

Paint Class - Day 52

Had to re-tape part of the car. Apparently, the trick is to tape the back side of the edges of the fender and then tape the paper to the exposed tape. Then we got to paint. I painted the fender, my partner painted the fender and blended it into the hood and door. It looks OK. We'll see tomorrow if there are any runs...

Paint Class - Day 51

Today no partner...I taped the car up.

Paint Class - Day 50

Today when I got to class (late, of course) One of the other students was working on the Civic, he took all the trim off the door, and the door handle off, and then we washed the car and sanded the new fender and bumper with 600 grit sand paper, and then sanded the door and hood with 1200 grit (since we were out of 1000 grit). Then put ting on the panels and washed it off. Tomorrow we will tape up the car to prep to spray.

Cadillac Club Tour

Today I co-led a tour for the Cadillac-LaSalle Club. We went to Santa Cruz from Morgan Hill. I think it was a pretty successful tour, there were 14 or 15 people, and 8 cars. We ate at the Cadillac Cafe in Watsonville, and then went on a tour of the Wilder Ranch State Park, which happened to have a very active demonstration day.

Paint Class - Day 49

Today I helped the guy with the Corvette. We blocked his car with 180, and 80 since we ran out of 80...I was complimented on my blocking abilities ;-)

Paint Class - Day 48

Today we fitted the fender and bumper onto the civic to make sure they fit before we prep everything.

Paint Class - Day 47

Today I got the OK to come in late to class for the rest of the semester. I helped the guy with the cop car redo a few things where either parts were missing, or being replaced because they were broken.

I was supposed to fit the bumper and the headlight to the car to make sure they fit on the Honda, and then scothbrite the fenders and areas to be blended, but didn't, mostly because I'm not sure what those areas are, but also becasue this guy with the cop car keeps asking me for help...

Paint Class - Day 46

Today was hard, as I started a new job in the city, and took the train in, and back to my house, and then drove almost all the way back to go to class. It will be like this until the end if the teachers are OK with me showing up about 40 minutes late every night.

Today, I ground the welds down a bit from last week, and then sanded the areas on the frame that needed to be primed and painted.

Then I sprayed primer, color, and a clear. It looked OK, no drips... but the color looked off in the florescent light. We'll have to check it out in the sun to make sure it's the right color before we paint the bumper and fender.

Paint Class - Day 45

I didn't go to class today the teacher said he may or may not show up and since I'm not coming to class from Berkeley anymore, I wasn't going to drive all the way out there if he wasn't showing up.

Paint Class - Day 44

The teacher worked with me today to show me how to fix the frame on the Honda. Today I got to use a MIG welder! It's so weird because you can't see anything through the helmet until you start using the welder.

Paint Class - Day 43

Today, my partner on the Honda wasn't here, and since I really have no clue how to work on frames, I helped out the guy who was working on putting the cop car back together.

Paint Class - Day 42

Today I got a new project. a honda civic that had been in an accident.

scary accident

My friends and I were driving to Auburn to go for a long hike today, and on the twisty turny road, a guy fell off his motorcycle right in front of us. It looked like maybe he was going too slow, and then slid out on some gravel in the road. He was extremely lucky, as his bike caught a small stump and stayed at the top off the hill, instead of falling onto the ravine below. He was probably in his sixties, and seemed to only hurt his shoulder, but he was also limping after we got him back up onto the road. so someone called him an ambulance. There was another guy who pulled off the road too and he had a tow strap, so we looped it through the rear wheel of the bike, and pulled it back up onto the road. It fell into some pretty soft dirt, so there didn't appear to be too much damage to the bike. That guy was really lucky.

Paint Class - Day 41

Today I helped the guy who was putting the cop car back together.

Paint Class - Day 40

Today I helped someone else on their project.

Paint Class - Day 39

Today we got to class and the day class had put the hood and deck lid back on the VW. Unfortunatly we weren't done with it so We had to take them back off. We wet sanded the inside of the hood and deck lid and went to put the parts back on the car when we noticed some huge chips on the edge where the tape had been yesterday. so My partner sanded those areas down with a da and 320 paper,and then sprayed primer over the areas.

Paint Class - Day 38

Today, we found out that the car was not done as we thought, but that we needed to finish some areas we didn't do. We taped off the outside of the hood and decklid on the VW and scotch-brited the inside of them then I sprayed them both with primer. I was feeling especially tired today, and by the time I was done my arm was a little shaky from the weight of the spray gun (maybe also becasue the hood for the VW is huge, and I was holding it up high for kind of a long time...I should start doing some weight lifting to prep for the next time I spray.

Also, we were in class LATE tonight as there were a couple projects that people were trying to wrap up. After the VW, I helped a guy tape up and de-wax his corvette so he could shoot primer, but someone in the class messed up the primer he was going to use. So he didn't get to shoot the car.

944 pt 2

Today I drove home from my brothers, I didn't want to stop anywhere in case the car didn't start again...and when I got home and took stuff out of the back I noticed that the wire to the hood shock is severed and corroded. Maybe there is a bigger electrical problem.

944

Today I started up the 944 (started right up!) and drove down the freeway a bit (just to make sure the battery charged up).

Then later(again, started right up) I drove it down to Redwood City for a Cadillac club board meeting. When I went to leave, the car didn't want to start. After a few trys it finally turned over, and I drove down to where my brother lives. I wonder if it is the starter that's going out...

Paint Class - Day 37

Today, we finished wet sanding the VW, and hopefully, it won't be there on Monday when we go back into class. I'm hoping the next project is something we get to paint.

Paint Class - Day 36

We wet sanded the VW with 600 grit sandpaper, careful not to break through the paint so that it won't rust in case it doesn't get painted for a while.

Paint Class - Day 35

Today I was stuck in the tool room checking tools in and out.

I could see my group working on the VW bug, they put a reduced coat of primer on the Bug, and tomorrow we will wet sand it with 600 grit sandpaper.

Paint Class - Day 34

Today, when I got to class there were staduim-style seats set up in the shop and there was an airbrush demonstration going on.

Cadillac Meet

We had the New Members meet today, and there was a new member with a 67 convertible! Makes me want mine to run...

Spring Break!

This week is Spring Break so no class!

Paint Class - Day 33

Today, I was put on a new team and we moved a Pontiac Gram Am out of the yard to put it back together as best we could so the owner could take it away. These things are really made poorly. everything in the car was plastic and falling apart.

We were supposed to clean out the shop today, but half the students didn't show up. I think it was because the day before, the instructor said to everyone that we would be cleaning the shop up today. So we got out a bit early today.

Paint Class - Day 32

Today I was back on the VW, new teacher, new instruction that it wasn't done yet, now I had to go into the door jams and sand the flaky old paint off that was still there. and get the guide coats bits that I missed yesterday off.

About an hour into the class I was put on a new car. There was a crappy beat-up Jeep Cherokee that had one small section of the drivers door sanded and filled with plastic filler. THe instructor said the filler was not covering enough area, that the dent was larger so we neeede to re-do the filler, and prime that area. Eventually the whole door would be painted. I sanded the area down with a DA and 150 sandpaper (we were out of 180) then mixed and applied the filler, cleaned up and waited for it to dry. then went over it with a cheesegrater, and an long board with 80, then 180 sandpaper. Then back over thesendscrates with a DA and 320 sandpaper. Taped the door up, sprayed the area with degreaser, and sprayed it with a coat of primer over the exposed metal and then another coat tover the whole area that was taped off (less than the whole door).



Luckily, the team next to me was spraying primer, so I got to use their gun, and didn't have to mix and clean and all that.

Paint Class- Day 31

My team had blocked the rest of the VW, and been re-assigned to another project, so it was just me finishing up the edges. Ther e is not supposed to be any of the guide coat showing, but it's hard to get into the crevices, so i folded up a small piece of sand paper and started working on those. then the instructer came by and felt the door panel that was done the day before by my team, and told me it wasn't good enough, so I had to re-guide coat it, and block it agin to level the door (you could feel bumps in the door). I got it pretty smooth, but not perfect, I think the body work done underneath was pretty extreame.

Paint Class - Day 30

I skipped class tonight, I had a volunteer project that I needed to attend instead.

Wheel cylinders

I installed the new Wheel cylinders on the pass side of the '67 DeVille. I'll install the other one and bleed the brakes when I go down to visit my brother again. I forgot to bring my brake tool kit with me, so it made the job a little more difficult, but all went smoothly, and hopefully after this process is finished, I'll have brakes!

Cadillac Work Party

Today one of the members of the Cadillac-LaSalle club had a work party. We couldn't get as much done as we had hoped to but it was interesting.

Paint Class - Day 29

Today we primed the VW bug, first we sprayed primer onto the bondo areas (there were a lot of them). Then, I got to spray most of the body with 2 coats of primer, it was good to be able to spray so much and get the hang of it. The new guy on the team did the roof areas.

Paint Class - Day 28

Today my partner and I were assigned to a new project plus we picked up another team member. We were assigned to a VW bug that the body repair class had finished with, and now we were going to prime it. We spent the day taping the car off so it could be sprayed. then we sprayed some etching primer onto the bare metal areas. My partner showed me how to spray it on, in little spurts lightly over just the bare metal areas. While we waited for that to dry, we ran out of time and had to claen up.

Paint Class - Day 27

Today we vacuumed, cleaned and washed the BMW, and tried applying a hand glaze. but that softest towels we has to use were totally scratching the paint, so we did one more round of glaze with the buffers and the foam pads to get rid of the scratches, and left it alone. Then we dressed the tired and rubber/vinyl on the car. We also had to go through the car and make sure the fluids were all topped off, and the lights all worked.

One of the maps lights did not work, so I tried to replace it, but the two possible bulbs we had in the shop didn't work, so we left it. In the process of finding that out, I dropped two bulbs under the seats, and had to dig them out of the most disgusting stuff that had been living under the seats for god knows how long. and I burned my finger on the bulb that had been left on than shut off but hadn't cooled long enough.

The car looked really pretty by the time we were done with it, but by the time we left, it was totally covered in a layer of dust. I hope they have a swiffer or feather duster or something in the shop.

oil

The oil in the 95 was 1 quart low already (I just changed the oil a couple weekend ago). This car seems to be eating though the oil like crazy... but I don't see any leaks. Maybe I should be a little lighter on the gas pedal...

Paint Class - Day 26

Today we re-did all the detailing on the BMW, except we put the hood and trunk back on the car first, and then detail the whole car as well. We again started with the polishing compound, then moved to the glaze. We had a third person help us, which was nice...I guess he was the one who took all the stuff off the car, because he was the one who put it all back on too (lights, wiring, clips etc...). We wasted a lot of time (not our team specifically, but the whole class moving cars around - what a fiasco), so we ended up staying late, luckily we have no class tomorrow.

Paint class - Day 25

Today we talked about detailing in lecture for about a half hour, then my partner and I started working on detailing the paint on the BMW hood and trunk. First we wet sanded the paint with a 1500 grit sandpaper in one direction. then came back with a 2500 grit in the opposite direction. then we rinsed the panels and dried them, and used a buffer with a wool pad and rubbing compound to buff the paint. After that we used the buffer with a faom pad and glaze to make the paint super-shiney.

Paint Class - Day 24

Short class today. We went over the test we took last Wednesday and then we went home.

duh

This morning, (well, it was morning for me, but it may have technically been the afternoon...) I went out to get the mail, and there were these three teenage guys in a loose formation, making their way across the street from my neighbors house. They look a little hip-hop, they also looked lost. One of them asked if I could "electrify" his car (um he didn't speak English very well) which was around the corner. I said sure, went inside and grabbed my keys (while trying to scarf down the bowl of cereal I had in my had so it wouldn't get soggy).

I grabbed the jumper cables from the 944, and drove around the corner to their Chevy (Malibu?). I assumed they weren't stealing te car since they had the keys for it. They already had cables, so we used them, and I hooked my car up. It wasn't working though. Hmmm. Then we moved the ground, turns out I totally put the ground cable on a painted surface which does not conduct electricity properly, so once we moved it to a metal grounding point their car started right up. I'm going to claim sleepiness on this one, but really I think it's just forgetfulness.

Awesome Inspiration Poster

here the link to where I found it:
http://jalopnik.com/361677/mad_science-makes-bid-for-project-car-hell-poster-child-award

Paint Class - Day 23

I couldn't go to class today. I left my boots and some other stuff at home, and I had to stay late at work to finish up stuff for a deadline.

Paint Class - Day 22

Today my partner sprayed a black sealing primer on both the hood and the deck lid of the BMW, but we noticed some deep scratches from the block sanding the day before on the hood - the trunk looked ok - so we ended up putting a few more layers of paint on the hood two of which I got to spray :-) I learned that the nozzle of the gun should always point straight down at the surface you are spraying, that you want a lot of overlap with each spray so there are no dry spots (which you will see when you put the clear coat on) and I go too fast.

Ordered Wheel Cylinders for deVille

I ordered 2 wheel cylinders(one right rear, one left rear) for the '67 deVille today, Maybe they will get there by this weekend...I ordered from Rock Auto, they had the raybestos versions for $27.79 ea. + 7.90 shiping - $2.90 discount w/coupon vs. $45.99 ea. at Kragen (who also does not have them in stock).

Paint Class - Day 21

Today we also had a tool check - which consisted of checking for about 5 things, from our 20+ item list. If you didn't have an item you were sent home, I think one we got to the fifth item our teacher decided we has a critical mass of students, and didn't want to loose any more. My partner and I wet sanded with 600 grit sand paper and a sanding block the hood and deck lid of the BMW. well, he blocked the hood (that we put so many coats of primer on) with a long board and 180 grit first, then wet snaded it. I learned that the wet sanding should be done in an x pattern, and that it should be done to the point that none of the guidecoat shows any more (which eliminates low spots).

Paint Class - Day 20

Today we had a "tool check," which consisted of checking to make sure we had a pencil and paper. My partner and I applied primer to the hood and deck lid of the BMW, but the group next to us was stripping their car, and the little metal flakes got into the primer. so we had to pick all the crap out and re-apply the primer a few times. I learned that If there is an air bubble in the primer you should push it in with your finger, and then apply another coat. After we finished with the primer, we applied a guide coat, and left it to dry. Then I spent the rest of the day looking at what other groups were doing.

chrome on plastic?

This was an unsolicited post on one of the cadillac groups I belong to. This guy says he's an expert at chrome-plating plastic. Now everything in that whip can be shiney chrome. But his name is bandit, so maybe see if you can get some good feedback before you try anything too expensive.

http://www.lashopabandit.com/pages/chrome_plastique_plaque_en.php

New oil in the '95

Changed at 117040 miles. It was a quart low, so when I drained the oil, it didn't overflow my insufficiently-sized oil pan this time ;-)

I also changed the air filter, and I guess it's the first time I've done it since I had this car. Apparently, somewhere inbetween 1993 and 1995 Cadillac thought it would be a SUPER idea to add a little bracket that goes over the corner the air filter is on, so now a simple air filter change involves five bolts.

GM really sucks now.

Paint Class - Day 19

Today my partner Dan showed me how to apply a plastic filler (like bondo but made of different stuff) and sand it down to the right level. You use a tool called a cheesegrater, which looks just like a cheesgrater with no handles to shave off the excess plastic, and then sand down with 80 grit sandpaper and a longboard, and then 180 grit sandpaper with a longboard. Then we re-sprayed the corrosion protection to the area around the palstic where it had been sanded off. Then we were put on some one else project for a bit, because it was too cold to spray the primer. Then we cleaned for the last hour.

Paint Class - Day 18

Today I was stuck in the tool room checking out tools. We're only supposed to have to do it one week, but I think the two instructors have not compared notes well enough, becuase the guy who was doing it yesterday was not doing it today. SO... I'm sure I'll have to do it again. My partner on the BMW sprayed the hood and trunk with a black-tinted primer.

Paint Class - Day 17

Today we were assigned to specific cars in the shop. A second year student is assigned to the car, and a first-year student to help them. I was assigned to this 1991 BMW 3 series that had oxidation on the hood and a repair on the trunk. the last class had stripped the paint down to about the primer with a chemical stripper (my dads favorite stuff - airplane paint stripper). So today I used a grinder with 80 grit sandpaper to take it down to the metal, then I came back with a DA(Dual action) sander with 180 grit sandpaper to take the fine bits off. I was working on sanding the paint from the slats in the hood (by hand), when we had to pack up.

DeVille

Today, we (meaning my dad - since I knew that it had to be special ordered) looked for a wheel cylinder for the deVille. Doug and Dad had been moving cars around and trying to get them going, so when I got down there the deVille had been moved to where Dougs camaro used to be (not easily accessible, but not terrible). He said it started and ran, but it needed tranny fluid. So, I'll need to order a wheel cylinder so we can replace it at the next opportunity. The car is registered and insured so as soon as I can get it roadworthy, I'll bring it up to the house.

Paint Class - Day 16

Today is really the first day in the shop with the second teacher, and we spent the day cleaning the shop out (this time was much more thoughourg than the first time we did it.

Paint Class - Day 15

Today we wet sanded the primer we put on our fender Monday, and then put the fenders away. Then we buffed the paint on a car.

Painting Class - Day 14

Today we had a test, and watched a video about painting with different types of paint(1-stage, 2 satge and 3-stage paints).

Painting Class - Day 13

Today was a long day, When we came in, our freshly painted fenders all had been "keyed" or scratched with a key. And our project for the day was to feather out the damaged area, and prime. It took a long time with so many people in the class. we didn't get out until 10:40.

Car problems today

(to be edited later)

Today I hooked up the trickle charger to the 944 and after about an hour, it started up. I was going to let it run for the recommended 20 minutes to charge up the battery, but the gas light was on (I forgot that I needed to fill up last time I drove it). So I went down the street to the gas station to fill up. After the tank was full, guess what, the car wouldn't start.

I, of course, had nothing with me... no phone, no jumper cables, not even my camera (two dog-in-cars went by while I was at the station). so, I bought some jumper cables and asked a few people who were filling up at the station to help me out, the first guy said he was in a rush and couldn't, the second guy said it was a company truck and he couldn't, the third guy (a young guy driving a 91 BMW) agreed, but didn't really look like he wanted to). So, we hooked the cars up and it didn't work. That guy and another guy who had just pulled up helped me push the car into a parking spot. And I walked home in my flip-flops. On the way, I was thinking about going to get a battery and swapping it out, but I decided to just call AAA. I renew in April, so I might as well use my last roadside assistance for the year now. Plus, it's such a pain to find stuff for this car, I didn't want to waste half my day looking for a battery.

I drove back to the gas station in the Cadillac, since I figured the AAA battery truck wouldn't take too long to arrive (it didn't - I pulled into the gas station and started filling up the Cadillac, and before the tank was full the AAA guy was there). The guy was really nice, we got into a conversation about cars and racing - he races a '67 Camaro. And we talked about my 944 and how cool it would be to put in some racing struts to replace to worn out struts that are in it right now (which is why I haven't been driving it).

He hooked up the jumper cables and battery to the car, and it still didn't turn over. He said he thought it was the starter, but I told him that there had not been any issues starting the car in the past, and usually a starter will give you a little warning before it gives out. So, he hooked up a second set of cables to the car. It started :-) I left the caddy at the gas station, and high-tailed it back home in the 944. I left the car running in the driveway while I pumped up the tires on my bike, hopefully it was enough time to keep the battery charged enough to start the car again.

Then I rode my bike to the gas station, put my bike in the Cadillac and came home. It can be such a pain in the ass to deal with the cars sometimes.

I'll need to bring the 944 to a Kragen or Autozone and have them test the battery to make sure it's OK.

Paint Class - Day 12

Tonight we went over our tests from Tuesday (I got a C - better than I was expecting). I Learned that PPG stands for Pittsburg Plate & Glass and purchased Ditzler a number of years (maybe decasdes at this point).

We also partnered up and took apart an accuspray gun to see if it needed any new parts. We ordered one part, a gasket, but neither my partner or I had the tools we needed to open the gun up (as did about 95% of the class), so who knows if we needed any other parts.

On Tuesday we will install the new parts, and see if the guns will spray.

Paint Class - Day 11

Today I went out and bought the remainder of my materials. $258 ouch. (+another $52)

In Class, a group of us who has missed the last couple of classes spent the first hour of class sanding our fenders, then we all went into the paint booth and sprayed some color on, and then clear coat. We were in class pretty late, I didn't get home until about 11pm.

I think tomorrow is just lecture, so we shouldn't be there so late.

Painting Class - Day 10

I've missed the last two days of class. I guess we sanded our fenders last thursday and painted them yesterday. But there are a lot of other students who apparently didn't get all their tools in time, so I won't be the only one trying to catch up.

Today was a test, I think I did better than the last one, but really not so great, it seems as though the tests include questions on topics we haven't talked about yet. This was followed by a lecture, and we went through catalogs of products and talked about what they did. We also talked about the grit of sandpaper, and sandpaper types.

Paint Class - Day 7

Today we went over the answers to the test we took on Monday, which apparently were not graded (at least mine didn't have a grade on it, but I got there 5 minutes late as usual). and over the parts of a pressured-fed paint gun, and accupaint, which would normally be used for primers and sealers. So they say you should have like 5 or 6 paint guns one for primer, one for light color paint, one for dark color paint, one for clear, one for other products. - Oh and I found out that I didn't miss anything after I left yesterday, they just cleaned.

Paint Class - Day 6

Today we watched an instructional video showing the process and steps of painting a car with new panels and blended panels. It's kind of a crappy old video, the information is still current (kind of - the instructor has to stop the tape a couple of time and say "you can't to that anymore"). Then we went down to the shop, where he asked us to bring our tools (none of which I had gathered/purchased). Those of us who were missing anything were sent home early, and told not to come back until we had the tools.

Painting Class - Day 5

Today we learned what the different types of paint guns are, and how to diagnose problems with paint guns that don't work.

Battery dead in 944

I haven't turned it over in a few weeks, so the battery had died.

Painting Class - Day 4

Well, the class is going alright. I was able to obtain a fender that was left from previous classes, so I don't have to find one. We have our first quiz on Monday. I don't really care about my grade, but I don't particuarily want to fail either...

engine block wine holder

While this isn't a caddy block, it would be cool to make one!
http://www.jag-lovers.org/include/iv3.php3?zx=SdADyw4IiM8ED8ZK%2FZfkxwPOCQCYmM8Czgc41s2j3L1HN6OXvET8PwvO2gpCvAwPi5jc98kfRd3dxDz4QPvS1Qw3CUz81dj998kfQdTHBkW8CxTZ1PdC9kk21doFMQo%2BMdrPBUD2QjzKyw4ExUk21pm8NQJMO6Od9wvMCTCdnsgCBxEEnp%2FPTNAS%2F5iZzgMPDwGWlsYEyTrwoQ%3D%3D

Fender

I have to find a practice fender for my painting class. The instructor suggested that we not use a panel that we want to use on a real car, as we will be practicing on the panel a lot. Maybe I can go to pick and pull, or MAYBE doug still has part of his jeep laying around that I can use...

Painting class

Tonight is the first day of the automotive painting class I signed up for. The class cost about $200, and I'm sure materials won't be cheap either, and it's a huge time commitment. So, if I'm not going to come out of the class with intimate knowledge of how to paint a car and make it look good, I may drop it.

FINALLY!!!!

Cadillac has finally decided to play around with the idea of making a CTS coupe. I don't know what they've been smoking the last few years, but I've been waiting to see when they would finally get around to this.

interesting are the engine options it rumored to have, the v-6 and a turbodiesel engine. Maybe you will be able to run this car off of biodiesel as well.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/FREE/974474836/1528/newsletter01

today I'm shopping for parts

Specifically, a new wheel cyclinder for the drum brakes on the '67 Convertible. it's the parts that the brakes lines go into at the wheel, and what creates the braking pressure to the pads. Here's what it looks like:



My brother is moving into the house where the convertible is being stored, and he'll be moving a few cars down there, so I thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity to have the 'vert towed up to my house, where I can work on it more easily. But I'd like to change the wheel cylinder out before that happens so the car will have an effective braking system (helpful for when you're moving them around).

New Cadillac Concept

I'm growing ever more dissapointed with the designs that Cadillac has been revealing. Here's the latest concept something called a Provoq, obviously an over-thought name to follow in the steps of the previous over-thought marketing names like the Evoq, but probably better than whatever they end up calling it real life. Lets see - what "hot" letters are left to form into a non-sensical attempt to appear more European?

This thing looks like a Saturn Vue meets a Nissan Murano(Um, hello- so NOT European inspired!). Cadillac is supposed to be the luxury GM car, where's the sexy, I-really-want-to-max-out-my-credit-to-buy-this-car aspect?

Things they got right: fuel economy with a hydrogen powered fuel cell. "green" gadgets partnering with Michelin to produce low-carbon emitting tires (it' not thourouly explained how they do this) and earth-friendly interior materials such as recycled carpets, and soy-based headliner wraps. It's the way of the future and there's nothing we can do about it but embrace it. Interior console design, while it's not super-awesome, they are on the right track with the lighting.

Here's the article from Jalopnik with all the details:http://jalopnik.com/341986/ces-cadillac-provoq-hydrogen-fuel-cell-concept-revealed

Jim's back and wants his space in the garage

Now that Jim is back from Sacramento, he wants his space in the garage back. I had to hook up the trickle charger to the '93 (which I had put in the garage with the '67when I was swapping wheels around a couple weeks ago). It involved taking down the extension cord that the Christmas lights were hooked up to is the freezing cold last night. Jim tried to move the '93 out of the garage yesterday when he got home from work but it wouldn't turn over, which I think is good, because I really don't want him driving it anyway...even if it is just to back it out of the garage. That car could stop functioning at any moment.

I really need to fix or get rid of this car...but I just can't deal with it until the summer.

Upholstery kits

leather kits you can order for your car:
http://autoupholsterykits.com/

Finally!

The tires I bought for the '95 Eldo are swapped onto non-leaky wheels!

I brought the car and my original wheels from the '93 (which are a little dinged up but don't leak) to the tire shop today. It was going to cost $96 to have the tires swapped, but I bitched about all the extra fees ($20 to fill the tires with nitrogen? WTF?) and got them to take the price down to $60, That was very nice of them, and will make me consider coming back to this shop the next time I need tires.

(photo to come)
Here's a shot of how badly one of the chrome wheels is destroyed. How does this even happen?

Automotive Painting

I just signed up for a class the local community college is hosting on Automotive painting. I figured I should Learn how to do it, since I personally have so many cars that need paint ('67 Vert, '67 Eldo, 944 and the '79 Deville) Plus, dad has two or three and Doug has a few himself.

If I can get Doug to do the body work on the '67 Vert, I may be able to get that car finished before the Cadillac-LaSalle Club's Las Vegas Grand National in the Summer of '09.

Need some rain-x

It's finally started to be winter here in California, and I'm realizing that I need to apply some Rain-x to the windsheild of the 944. The wipers work well enough, but you never know when they'll stop working, and having the rain-x on there with the wipers makes it a lot easier to see. I may have to use an entire bottle on the hatch window...

Speaking of the hatch window. I'm also wondering how much it would cost to put in a rear wiper. I already have the correct glass with the hole in it to mount one. but am not sure if I have the proper wiring or if it would need to be routed in. I'll have to do some research on it...

Sick this weekend - didn't do much

I did put the new registration sticker on the 944.

944 spider problem

Today when I left work, the 944 didn't want to start. It seemed like a battery problem, since it just clicked, with no attempt to start. the lights and radio were working with no problems, so I thought maybe there was corrosion on the cables or a bad connection. I tried to wiggle the negative cable but it was on securly and wouldn't budge, the I lifted the cap of the positive cable, and saw a little spider buliding a cocoon type web (most likely planning to lay some eggs there) on my postive battery cable. I shooed the spider away and scraped the web off the battery, then the car started right up.

Not much going on over the weekend

I hung the Christmas lights. Now the cars look pretty at night.

944 Passed smog!

Yay! I'm late in registering it, so it's costing me $70 instead of $54, but I'm very happy that I don't have to fork out a couple hundred for any smog-related issues...

Cadillac Club board meeting

A new member came out to the board meeting today and drove his 1937 Cadillac.

Ugh! Chip in the Windshield

I didn't even see or hear this one happen, it's on the passenger side just on the other side of the rearview mirror, so I can't see it from where I sit. Jim pointed it out to me when we went to get hot dogs...

Cleaned out the garage

I intended to work on the '67 eldo, but the garage was such a mess, I couldn't focus on the car...SO i cleaned the garage instead. I also re-arranged the cars a little, so the '67 eldo is in the garage for now.

Modulator arrived today

I was shocked out of sleep by a door bell ring, and what was there when I answered it? Two packages from Rock Auto! The Modulator, and an oil filter for the 944.

took the cadillac in to work today

Before I left I checked the oil and it was more than a quart low! I think my oil leak is getting worse... or maybe it was the trip to LA that burned so much of it off...

Ordered Modulator!

Maybe it will be here before the end of the week. Every time I look up this part or talk about it, I think of Marvin the Martian, and the way he says "Mod-u-la-tor"

Smog Check

I need to get a smog check done for the 944. I hope it passes! When I bought it, the guy I purchased it from did the smog check, and one of the numbers was very close to the max then. I'm hoping that stays the same, but am also fully expecting to have to get a new O2 sensor or some other smoggy part.

Changed Oil in Porsche!

Finally! I bought a couple of shorter 2-ton jackstands($20 at Kragen), and changed the oil. I was at about 5k miles since the last change (which is actually under the recommended oil change frequency for this car, but I want to keep changing the oil every 3k).

It's still difficult to change the oil even with these shorter jackstands, but at least I can get under the side of the car to reach the drain plug with the lower jacks (I did need to get Jim to help me loosen the plug - why do these guys at the shops always over-tighten everything?). I'm thinking maybe the drive-up ramp lifts might be a better way to go with this car... Also, the oil filter is angled so you lift it from the top of the engine. This makes no sense to me, there's no way to keep all the oil from spilling out over everything.

But, the drain pan I had (that had overflowed when I changed the oil in the Cadillac)worked perfectly for the 944. Just the right size for the oil pan and oil from the filter.

no tires this weekend

didn't pick up the other two wheels this weekend, but mom said she'd drop them off when she drives down this way on Friday.

Tire Swapping

I needed to drive down to LA for a wedding today, so I took one of the old wheels that I just brought down from my parents house (the one that still had functional rubber), and one of the wheels off of the '93 Eldo, and put them on the '95 Eldo. We did this last night at 11:30 p.m.



Not wanting the car to look even junkier than it already does, I swapped the wheels around on the 95 so that the two chrome wheels were on the drivers side, and the two matte aluminum wheels were on the passenger side, so at least each side of the car looked like it had matching wheels. This may not be the best option for tire wear, but it sure save on embarrasment.

Oh - two of these wheels that the tire shop installed were almost impossible to get off the car, I had to stand on the wrench to get the lugnuts off. Someone didn't set the tourque on the air wrench to the right setting... It shouldn't take 155 lbs to loosen the lugnut!

Saggy rear end

The rear end on the '95 Cad is sagging a lot, I suspect that the shocks were either swapped out for the kind you have to fill with compressed air every once in a while, or the fuse for the shocks has gone out... I will do a fuse check as soon as I can get around to it.

I took two of the spare wheels I have home this weekend, which is the number of cadillac wheels you can fit in a honda accord trunk. We're probaly going back up this weekend, so I will grab the other two then.

Why won't anyone change the oil in the 944?

This is getting ridiculous. 8 places that "specialize" in oil changes refuse to do it. WHY?! The place today tried to tell me that the engine needs to be turned over in a special way when the oil is changed. ugh...One a few weeks ago said they didn't have the tools need to change the oil in it. I refuse to go to a Porsche dealer and pay $120 bucks for an oil change!!! I'll probably break down and buy the shorter jack stands so I can do it myself at home.

'95 cad wheels

I think I'm going to grab my spare set of cadillac wheels from my parents house when I go visit this weekend...then I can have the tire shop switch over all the tires when I get the flat repaired. No more leaky tire...

Cadillac meet today

I went to a Cadillac meet today with the Bay Area chapter of the CML. Except I didn't get to drive a Cadillac. We BBQ'd and ate pie, and looked at each others cars. It was a beautiful day and great fun.

so busy...

Work this week is very busy I've had homework every night. so nothing has been done on any of the cars. I haven't even brought the flat into the tire shop for repair yet.

I was thinking that it would be a good idea to bring the 944 into the shop and have the struts and alignment done, but I'll also have to get new tires, and I'm not 100% sure the rear drivers side wheel lock will come off...

More Flat tires

This time a different tire went flat while I was at work...

Plan for this weekend

I have found myself with a free Sunday for once.

Here's a list of stuff that needs to be done that I currently have the parts for in the garage:

Change front brakes on 944
replace headlight on 944
install antenna on 944
re-connect ipod plug in 944
Change oil in 944
Change front brakes on '67 Eldo
Change oil on '95 Eldo

Here's a list of other things that I need to get parts to do:

Check rear brakes on '95 Eldo (well, I MAY need to get parts for this...)
Fix '67 Eldo (need vacuum modluator?)

Cadillac North-South Show

I went to a Cadillac show this weekend in San Luis Obispo, CA. There's nothing better then looking at beautiful working Cadillacs to motive you to finish yours...

There was a gorgeous 1930 v-16 Cadillac at the show, and many 60's including 3 '67-'68 Eldorado's!

I got some good info on possible solutions to my vacuum leak, including the difference between the two vacuum modulators that are available in parts stores. Turns out I want the more expensive brass one which is what the original came with.

The smaller modulator leaves off a feature (that I can't remember what it was exactly...) that you don't NEED to run the car, but why would you buy a part that reduces what the car does?

Going to SLO this weekend

in the '95 eldo with the leaky tire...

Dirty Dirty Cars

I need to do a mass car washing... all the cars a filthy, with the exception of the 67 Eldo which has been under a car cover the last few months. though I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't clean under there, every time the gardeners come by they use leaf blowers to "clean" the yard, and in the process blow the cover off the car (last time this was evidenced by the fact that the car cover was stretched over the antenna instead of having the antenna go through the small hole I put in the car cover). It really drives me crazy that there are people coming to the house every other week who are touching my cars.