good leads

My next project will be to replace all the wiring in the '67 eldo as well as the carpet, I got a couple of leads for parts suppliers, and it looks like the carpet will run a little more than $200, and a new wiring harness incl engine harness around $500. it's kind of pricey, so I may just see if I can fix the rear lights only.

here's a place I found that has pretty inexpensive struts for my 93: http://www.actionsalvage.com/airspringeldorado.asp

Great parts catalogs

I just got a catalog in the mail from Automotion who specialize in parts for Porsche. this thing is so complete you can get virtually any part you need for any Porsche made. Not only that but you have a selection of manufacturers. There are like 5 different options for brakes pads for my car in this thing!

WHY does this not exist for Cadillacs? Do you realize how difficult it is to track down parts for Cadillacs? you have to get 20 catalogs from 20 different companies and then many of the parts are STILL not available.

Here is a list of parts catalogs you would need if you have a cadillac:

Rock Auto
Steele Rubber
Cad500 (performance)
New Cadillac Parts
SMS Auto Fabrics
electric window parts
lectriclimited electrical parts
Automotive Carpet
Carpet/Mats

Cad Auto Recycler

List of Stuff to Fix

Things each of my cars need:

1967 Eldo
Tires
Repair on electronics to rear lights
radio installed
new dash face
paint
controls in passenger side door repaired

1984 944
Brakes (maybe rotors too)
oil change DONE
coolant leak find and fix
antannae installed
fix ipod hook up

1993 Eldorado
new engine
new struts
new windsheild

1967 de Ville
body work
paint
engine work, tranny work (unknown)
front suspension work
new convertible top?

1979 de Ville
vinyl top needs to be taken off and rust prevention applied
engine rebuild
tires
suspension work
electrical work (I don't think the windsheild wipers work, or the twilight sentinal)

Giving Up

Maybe because it's winter...or maybe because I moved and now I pay more for rent, but I don't think it's possible to get the convertible done by next summer.

SEMA

the SEMA show was really great, but there is way too much to look at. Also there was a lack of cadillac representation. The theme was american muscle, so maybe they just got edged out by the mustangs, camaros and mopar...

Las Vegas

I'm going to Las Vegas on Monday for the SEMA show. It should be awesome!

sluggish...

I haven't even thought about my cars other than the fact that the 944 probably needs new brake pads (and hopefully not rotors, I have a nasty habit of waiting too long).

Last Thursday, I went and talked to the guy who runs EPPCO the place around the corner from work that looks like they work on cars. It turns out, they don't they are a machine shop, but he's been doing body work for friends. I was supposed to call him on Monday and ask for some references for people who do body work, but he said I should just sign up for a bidy shop class at lankey college to learn it myself. I don't know if I have the time to do that.

suggestion

I got a suggestion today to check out the neutral saftey switch on the convertible to see if that's the problem.

Also, the lights are still working in the Porsche!

this weekend

OK, so this weekend, was all about electrical. Last week I got a fix-it ticket in SF for my tailights not working(I had forgotten to hit them to make them go), also the light above the license plate has stopped working as well, but when you tap on them they came back on.

Also Thursday night, we took the '67 eldo out for dinner. When I came out of the restaurant when it was dark, I backed out of my parking spot and noticed the backup lights were not working, in fact NONE of the lights on the back half of the car were working. not even the brake lights...Luckily, I got home without another fix-it ticket.

My dad came down to my house with his ohm meter to help me fix this stuff. The Porsche had corroded connections, so we cleaned them and I also replaced the bulbs. Those lights all seem to work now, but I need to go back in and put some anti-corrosion spray on the points of contact. I think when it rains the hatch does not protect from moisture as well as it should.

The Cadillac is a bit more of a mystery. The fuse had gone out for the parking lights, when I replaced that, they started working. But when I replaced the flasher fuse, and fuses for the stop lights and reverse lights(even though they looked OK), none of them started working. Then my dad was trouble shooting, and after reconnecting all the wires, not even the parking lights worked anymore. When I moved the car into it's proper spot in the driveway the right blinker did work, but that was it.

The electrical stuff in this car is a huge mess and really needs to be gone through with a fine tooth comb. There are a lot of workarounds and weird things from the person who "rebuilt" it.

slump

I'm not sure what to do this weekend. I could go get an ohm meter and try to track down the faulty connection in the convertible...or I could try to get the carb running right in the '67 Eldo.

I don't think there is enough time to get everything done on the convertible before next summer, maybe if I skip the painting part and just primer it hot rod style it could be ready.

5th starter

Ok, so I removed and exchanged the wrong part number starter for the right part number starter, but it still didn't have the hole in the bottom for a bracket. I went to two stores to verify this. This sucks, why would one part have the correct hole for the bracket and one not when they are the smae part number from the same company!?

I bought it anyway and installed it, and the car still does not start. Obviously it is something else. I may have it towed to a garage, so that someone else can figure out what the hell is wrong with this car. Before I do that, I'll need to remove the fender I started taking off, and make sure the primer is fully covering the metal so it won't rust away in the hands of someone else.

I also went and bought a new cover for the car, I couldn't find a new tarp, so the old tarp went under the car cover and I tied it down. The old car cover went over my brother's car with a couple bags of bark on top to make it stay on.

starter reciept!

I found one of the reciepts for the starter I bought...now I can return one. Yay!

nothing

I've done nothing, well, I pulled all the cars out and switched which side of the driveway/garage I occupy so that Jim will have an easier time getting into/out of the garage. I also washed the '93. I need to take a clay bar to it than wax it, there's a lot of crap on the paint.

Oh- and I also cleaned and lubricated the lock and fasteners to the hatch of the 944, so it doesn't stick now...

Pretty cars

I washed and waxed the 944 last night, it was looking pretty ratty with the bird poop on the hood and all...I also washed but did not wax the '67 eldo (it was waxed in June).

On Saturday, Jim borrowed my 944 to go to the store and get his hair cut. He turned on the air in the car (which I never do). When I started it next to move it the fans belt were squeeking like crazy until I shut the air off. I hope that doesn't mean something...I wonder if the compressor is going out.

interruption

I am having a party at my house and have been focusing all my energy on cleaning up all the crap in my house, so nothing is done on the car yet.

I need to call eppco and find out about body work, and find the reciepts for my starters so I can get the core charges back, and return the last one...

lazy...

I've done nothing on my cars. I went to LA for the weekend instead.

Poor Porsche...

Jim drove my Porsche on Tuesday because my arms were too sore to shift from working on that starter on Sunday and his car was boxed in the driveway. He used to own the exact same car: same model, same transmission (and year) car as this, but he's so used to his Accord now, that he tried to start the car with out pushing the clutch in, right after he said "oh yeah, it's a stick..." I found this very funny since his favorite running joke every time he is in that car with me is the "Women can't drive manual transmissions." The best part is he did it again later! :-)

Oh, and then on the way home, he got pulled over because my taillight was out. He got a warning(we didn't tell the cop we knew about the problem). Good thing I wasn't driving! I really need to see about fixing that...

Starter Fiasco

Sunday, I went to go put the new starter in the convertible. The day started off well with plenty of time to get the starter in and trouble-shoot in case it still didn't turn over. I took all the wiring off the starter, and unbolted the bracket, and the first bolt easily, the last bolt was a bit of a pain and took a while because it is a really long bolt, and the ratchet would not fit and I had to do with a regular wrench. All while I lay on the ground and held the starter up to keep the bolt aligned. As I unbolted it, all I was thinking was "damn, I wish we had a ratcheting wrench set here."

Then I broke the third starter, and had to go get another...I was trying to take the nut off of the copper bolt that is where the positive battery cable connects to the starter, and the nut was on there so tight, that the entire copper bolt twisted right off when I tried to take it off.

I went to Kragen down the street and got another, got lunch and when I got home I was looking around in the garage and found a ratcheting wrench set that was missing a couple wrenched, but NOT missing the size wrench I needed! How easy it would be to put the new starter in...

...so I thought

Once I got under there and got the new starter positioned, I realized the ratcheting wrench was also too thick to fit between the bolt and the transmission. Uh! What a pain to hold up the (heavy) starter and try to align and tighten this huge bolt at an awkward angle. plus, I must have had food coma after my lunch, because the first few times I tried putting this on, I was turning the wrench the wrong way, and kept wondering why the bolt kept falling back out (Jim says this is actually because I don't know my right from my left, but it's not true! I claim disorientation from being upside down and food coma).

After I get the thing in there with the two main bolts, I go to but the bracket back on and realize that there is no hole in this starter to screw the bracket into. Then I look at where the starter meets the transmission, and notice that it does not line up exactly where the old one did. SO, I check the one I just took off and the new one, and they are different part numbers. Ugh! What a waste of a day.

1993 ETC

I totally flaked on the engine for the '93. I don't want to spend the money. I just want to concentrate on the '67 convertible. I wonder if I should part it out to fund the convertible project.

Also, I was looking at my paint chips for the '67 and '68, and I think I do want to go with the '67 color of Atlantis Blue Firemist the spectre blue from '68 looks too blue.

For Sale

I have listed for sale my '93 Eldo, I'm going to give it another shot on Craigslist before I buy a new engine. I think I'm finally ready to part with it.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/201797783.html

To be realistic, there just in not enough time to rebuild all my cars. The Porsche is going to need a new clutch soon, and the convertible needs so much work before next August, I really need to spend my time and money on it.

I'm also really depressed about the dent in the bumper on the '67 Eldo, and the thought went through my head that I should sell it before I destory it any further. that thought quickly left though.