Just bought a 2001 Seville SLS - Page 8

submariner409 · #**106** (**permalink**) 02-26-09, 10:07 AM

The pair of 17" CTS wheels in my Post #99 are identical to the chrome 17's on my car except for finish. The chrome 17's have smooth chromed faces , but actually the whole wheel is chromed: the pockets are matte finish and flat silver powdercoated at the factory. There was a thread in Appearance 2 1/2 years ago about how to remove the powdercoat for a 100% chromed stock STS 17". Too intense looking, though........

Sunset Orange looks good on a modded Nash Rambler or maybe a '34 Ford 3-window coupe street rod. Not on a Seville. (It's a Cadillac, not a Toyota..........)

dreagus001 · #**107** (**permalink**) 02-26-09, 10:45 AM

just wanted to be different is all. im going to check out those wheels again, maybe i wasnt looking in the right place or sumthin.

submariner409 · #**108** (**permalink**) 02-26-09, 10:55 AM

I'm just jerkin' your chain, but a GOOD paint job is nowhere near inexpensive......there's Earl Scheib or MAACO and there's good custom work.

ted tcb · #**109** (**permalink**) 02-26-09, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner409

There was a thread in Appearance 2 1/2 years ago about how to remove the powdercoat for a 100% chromed stock STS 17". Too intense looking, though...

This is the post you are referring to:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...-how-make.html (97 STS Chrome rims...how to make them ALL chrome)

I used this technique on my 16" rims from my 99 STS, and the results were wonderful ... definitely a job worth doing, but only after removing the wheels.

submariner409 · #**110** (**permalink**) 02-26-09, 12:07 PM

Ha !!! I didn't see that one......there's another, then......of a job done on the 17" STS chrome flat-spokes, with pics also.

dreagus001 · #**111** (**permalink**) 02-27-09, 12:22 AM

well, its just that the white diamond paint is so hard to match and i got a few dings and dents and a crack in my front bumper, i kno they are going to have to replace it and its going to cost to have them try and match that paint only to fail and have it look miscolored, i was thinkin i should just get the whole car repainted.

submariner409 · #**112** (**permalink**) 02-27-09, 10:30 AM

A GOOD body shop can perform the body and paint work you need to preserve the White Diamond. Open the hood, doors, and trunk and imagine the pure labor required to change the car to a different color. A good color/clearcoat change, cost-wise, makes repairing the existing system look like chump change.

Another consideration......If you live in Florida, anything darker or toward red from white will create a hotter car, sun load wise.

SPreston2001 · #**113** (**permalink**) 02-27-09, 01:08 PM

Try searching ebay or your local scrap yards for your white diamond bumper.

dreagus001 · #**114** (**permalink**) 02-27-09, 02:05 PM

yea ima keep looking, i need a front grille too. anyone know of anyone selling anything pls let me kno im looking. thanks.

gdwriter · #**115** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 01:54 AM

Swapped out the rear trunk emblem today:

Before:

After:

Also put the Cadillac emblem on the glovebox. It's a little bigger than my ideal, but the regular exterior Cadillac emblem used on the late 90s DeVille is way too big. I think it looks like it belongs there:

I've noticed a slight, but not bad shimmy at 70 MPH, so I thought I'd get the tires rotated and balanced. I ended up putting a set of Pirelli Cinturato P5 tires on the car.

The tires that were on the car when I bought it would have needed to be replaced within a few months anyway, and I thought they were kind of noisy, too. I also got $40 off the set of the new ones. I had put a set of Pirelli P3000 tires on the DeVille a year ago last fall, and I've been very pleased with them. Much better handling than the generic tires I had before and they're wearing very well.

The new tires are much quieter and there's no shimmy at 70 now, so it was worth doing. There was a pokey old Ford Escort in front of me going down the roller coaster road on the way home, so I didn't get to really test out their handling characteristics. So I'll have to try again tomorrow.

Talamant3z · #**116** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdwriter

For now, I'm using the cassette adapter that I used in Cruella. It works fine, it's convenient and I'm not enough of an audio expert to really know the difference.. Should the cassette player die, however, I'll look into the aux cable.

I've used a piece of Velco to secure the iPod on the console (yes, I am that anal retentive), and even though the battery lasts quite a while, I have it plugged into the power port on the passenger side footwell. Strange location for the power port, but the installation looks clean and uncluttered.

Speaking of clean, the leather in Lincoln looks like it needs it. Sandy would not approve! Time to go buy some Dove.

HEY dude where u get that keychain

submariner409 · #**117** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 10:04 AM

gdwriter, go to www.wooddashexperts.com and take a look at their Seville laser cut wood trim (vinyl) kits. Very close color match, 3M adhesive, and you can't see any difference from the installed wood. The entire kit is a bit too much "wood", but some of the dash and door trim sets everything off just right.

STS2003 just posted some pics of his STS and the radio panel has the trim installed.....thread about "my two girls" or some such.......I used about half of the kit and am pleased......

gdwriter · #**118** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by submariner409

gdwriter, go to www.wooddashexperts.com and take a look at their Seville laser cut wood trim (vinyl) kits. Very close color match, 3M adhesive, and you can't see any difference from the installed wood. The entire kit is a bit too much "wood", but some of the dash and door trim sets everything off just right.

STS2003 just posted some pics of his STS and the radio panel has the trim installed.....thread about "my two girls" or some such.......I used about half of the kit and am pleased......

Thanks for the tip, Jim. I was thinking about adding the wood trim around the HVAC and stereo since that gray plastic doesn't look all that attractive.

gdwriter · #**119** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talamant3z

HEY dude where u get that keychain

I think I got it at Schucks, which is Checker, Kragen or O'Reilly in other parts of the country. A little bigger and more blingy than I'd normally buy, but I really like it.

chubbyranger · #**120** (**permalink**) 03-01-09, 02:30 PM

I was trying to find a Craigslist post I saw a few weeks back of a 98 STS painted Daytona Sunburst Orange and instead I found this for you guys who want parts:

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/pts/1055225646.html

Parting 2 98 STSs, one white diamond and still has the grille and bumper. Maybe he'll ship.