CAR This is not a milk thread. I have owned my '74 Eldorado convertible for 2 years now but it's time for a build thread

[Achmiel]

Fucking

 

[cowboyrps13]

F5f5f5....

 

[Cashishift]

Fun project.

I'd love to do something like this.

 

[jelloslug]

Next up was the middle dash pad. It was very dirty inside and out.

















I also dyed the upper dash.

 

[vikingen]

IN

 

[jelloslug]

The upper dash has a strip of warning lights, the clock, an emblem and crest and a sensor for the HVAC system. All of that was worn and dirty.









I found a pen that model makers use to paint chrome parts on models that worked well for the worn chrome on the trim.










I also refurbished the clock and the clear bezel.








Here it is reinstalled on the upper dash pad.

 

[jelloslug]

The lower door panels for both doors were cracked. While they are certainly savable, they would be quite expensive to have remolded and the carboard backer is not in great shape on either panel. I managed to find a pair of really nice panels from a '78 coupe that had virtually no water damage and the vinyl was in great condition. They would just need to be dyed the correct color.













After stripping off the old carpet and cleaning them with lacquer thinner, I dyed them to match the rear panels.

 

[jelloslug]

The upper door panels on the '73 and '74 cars have a big strap that is the door pull. The strap always breaks at the front connection to the upper panel and flops around. I have had a different '74 Caddy before and I always hated the strap door pulls. The '75-'78 Eldorados had a different style of upper door panel and the lower door panels that I bought also included the upper panels. Here is the '74 panel:



And here is the '75-'78 panel:





I pulled the old upholstery off of the panel and upholstered it to match the rear upper panel.

 

[FutureMan]

In

 

[jelloslug]

I continued to strip out the interior.







I pulled out the last of the dash frame and started removing the HVAC system.








I then pulled the steering column, all the pedals and the remainder of the wiring. I started coating the entire interior with POR-15

 

[jelloslug]

Next, I replaced all the bad seam sealer that I have previously removed.

 

[jelloslug]

Jumping back in time a bit, I had previously mentioned that there was accident damage that had been repaired a very long time ago on the passenger side. It appears that the car had side swiped something and the rear quarter, fender skirt and the passenger side door skin had been replaced. The door itself though should have just been replaced though. The frame of the door shell was crushed and beat back into shape and then a new skin was put on but the shape was not right and no adjusting in the world was going to make it actually fit and line up with the fender and rear quarter. I decided to just toss the door shell and replace it. My donor door was from a '73 and was aqua blue metallic which had been painted white with either a brush or a roller. I had to strip the entire door shell.











I then POR-15ed the seams and primed the whole door.









After that, I gave it a quick paint job with a single stage acrylic enamel. Right now, I'm just painting parts with a single stage paint so it's not in primer. Later on, I'll paint the entire car with a base coat/clear coat all at once.

 

[jelloslug]

After it cured a bit, I removed the old door and put the new one on. Here you can see all the bondo on the lock plate side of the old door.




Out with the old...





In with the new...

 

[jelloslug]

They cut a hole in the convertible roof to have a sunroof? Wtf

My guess is that it got a tear in it, it was sagging down on the owners head and they just ripped it out of the way.

 

[jelloslug]

502 up in that bitch?

500. The 502 was a GM performance big block that was only sold as an aftermarket engine.

 

[jelloslug]

Cut your fuel line and add a real fuel filter pre carb.

Yep, I put one in before the fuel pump.

 

[Downset]

Awesome, thanks for the thread!

 

[Jim Lahey]

That isn't a Tesla (I read nothing)

 

[jelloslug]

I'll post more later, gotta do some work.

 

[jelloslug]

That isn't a Tesla (I read nothing)

It will be, oh, it will be...

 

[AndyP]

How fast was the car once you stripped the interior?

 

[jelloslug]

How fast was the car once you stripped the interior?

At least 12 seconds.













0-60 that is.

 

[DrewDown]

badass. Awesome progress so far. Can’t wait to see the finished interior

 

[1fastz28]

This thread should be stickied so everyone sees it.

 

[Bobby Ballsack]