Red 1979 Coupe DeVille project thread. - Page 2

Highway Star · #16 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 01:02 AM

There was a local salvage yard that had a white 79 coupe with red interior that I was getting a few parts off of earlier this year. Had some real nice interior parts that you probably could have used, door panels etc. Went back one day and they had crushed it. Pissed me off big time.

77CDV · #17 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzilla

Good question, Craig. Somebody deiced they wanted to install a custom radio. So they pried the center stack out of the dash, cut a MUCH too large hole in it, then gave up only after cutting off the factory wiring harness! *ugh* So I'm still thinking of what to do about that, the rear speakers are also gone. Haven't tried the A/C yet. I have a symphony sound radio from an early '80s Cad, and a Realistic brand cassette deck made in the '90s. The car originally had a CB radio, and the mic is still hanging under the dash.

I do love it when the six-toed among us try to act on their brilliant ideas.

At some point, try tracing what's left of the radio harness back, I think you'll find a snap connector, so the damaged part may be replacable rather easily. Otherwise, get hold of the wiring diagram (they do exist, I have a copy) and start wiring. This one should keep you off the streets for a while.

**DopeStar 156** · #18 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 01:04 PM

That drooling rust by the vinyl top, I have the same problem with that on my 76 DeVille. HJow would you go about getting rid of the "drool" on the paint?

Night Wolf · #19 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 04:57 PM

Congrats!

I bet you'll make her look good again

The rust scares me, but if you can get thru that, then you'll be golden

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #20 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzilla

lol, you know I'm getting a vanity plate with her numbers, it's just required. .

CQB-241

Benzilla · #21 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 08:10 PM

I got to work on her for a few hours today, I started with the interior. Some interesting things were found, there was an old bill with the owner's name & address on it, two grandparent's day cards, ketchup packets, a steak knife, an old Avon catalog, and some sort of itch and odor ointment among other things. It really isn't in bad condition, after I got all the junk out of it. It actually looks nice! I vacuumed & shampooed the carpet, cleaned & conditioned all other surfaces, and got the mats back in. I didn't tackle the dashboard center yet, and yes Craig, they cut the wires behind the factory harness. So, since I don't want to just hard-wire in a radio, I'll try to get a harness from somebody who's parting one of these out, attach that, then plug in the radio of choice.

After I got the interior done I inspected the rust under the landau. Slightly worse than I thought, but not absolutely horrible. Since it won't be show car, but just a nice looking driver, I'll do a quick bondo patch job, then have it cut out and replaced when I have it painted. It'll turn out okay. I also got some more polishing done. Dopestar, use polishing compound to get off the 'drooling rust' It'll take a couple applications, but it will look better.

Sorry no pics, I'll probably have some tomorrow.

BRICKS · #22 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 08:20 PM

aint nothing like a frame off resto! y everyone scared of rust? always a couple deep scars behind the beauty. how was the underside of the floor pans? any surface rust showing? im doing a frame off with my 77 and gonna do a clean hardtop for a while.

Benzilla · #23 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 08:32 PM

the chassis is pretty clean, a little surface rust on some parts, but no cancer problems. Clean floor plans. The most amazing thing is, it doesn't leak anything... at all. Not a drop, I can't believe it.

BRICKS · #24 (**permalink**) 08-28-07, 08:37 PM

sounds like uve found a better car then imaginable. my radiator leak was so bad my radiator support was close to being 2 pieces lol.

Destroyer · #25 (**permalink**) 08-29-07, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77CDV

The only two names I can think of (without driving her to get a sense of personality are Miss Scarlett or (it's the red and white) Candy. Good luck on this one. She seems reasonably solid, but there's still a huge amount of work ahead. And WTF happend to the center of the dash?

Firecrotch will work

Benzilla · #26 (**permalink**) 08-31-07, 11:09 PM

Update

I got the whole car buffed out, it looks 100x better than it did. Although I got impatient waiting for the buffer, so I ended up doing it all by hand. But I don't care. The sides are very shiny, and the top surfaces are shiny, but still a little cloudy. If it didn't have the rust issue, I'd have it wet sanded, but I think it would be a waste since I'm considering a paint job. Speaking of the rust, I was going to fix it this weekend, but I can't find the right color red, so I'll have to order it. I had originally thought it was Firethorn red, but in fact it's Saxony red. Also, I found out that it's been professionally repainted at some point, they did a great job though. That's probably why it buffed up so well. I still have to make an appointment for the rear fillers too. And I'm ordering a new set of front springs, right now the front sits about 0.5" lower than the back, and though most people don't even address this on show cars, it bugs the HELL out of me.

Now the interesting part. I noticed she has a rear anti-sway bar. Didn't this only come on the Fleetwoods? Maybe it's a custom installation, I haven't looked at it closely yet, I'll take some pictures.

BTW, I think her name is Denice, with a C not S. I was just looking at the car and I heard it.

Benzilla · #27 (**permalink**) 09-01-07, 08:25 PM

Pictures!

Note that these were taken before I buffed the roof. I've been working around the weather lately, so things get done in spurts. I think it looks pretty nice considering that I've only put $20 into it since I bought it. You can see the rust exposed fully by the landau, I was going to fix that this weekend but I couldn't get paint in time. So, next is rear fillers, front springs, then take my time fixing things here and there.

A couple quick interior shots. I still need to get the center stack back in, I've been hunting for a wire harness.

Today I gutted the trunk, the pictures tell all. It was horrible, the guy had transmission parts sitting in there, so there is oil and trans fluid all over the rug, which I might replace. All sorts of other junk too. No rust though!

I found the paper that went on the original flat fix, kinda cool but not much.

That's all for now.

CaddyshackCadillac · #28 (**permalink**) 09-01-07, 10:45 PM

Wow that paint came back tremendous the before and after is insane great work here.........

kwaobus · #29 (**permalink**) 09-01-07, 10:56 PM

Amazing work on the paint and interior so far. May I ask what products and orbital/rotary you used? See your point about the ride height, right now mine sits lower on the front left by 0.5" and it bugs the crap out of me. I guess I need a new spring there.

Benzilla · #30 (**permalink**) 09-01-07, 11:09 PM

Thanks, the bulk of the paint work was done by hand with old fashioned polishing compound. Then I put on a scratch remover with a cheap orbital I keep around for a back up. But the compound made most of the difference. That's the benefit of lacquer, it'll almost always come back with enough work.

Some of you might have noticed the sheep skin steering wheel cover. It's not something I'd usually put on a car, and the original wheel isn't in too bad condition. But when I was a little kid, a neighbor of mine let me sit behind the wheel of her red & white '70s caddy, and it had a sheep skin cover, so I put it on to remind me of old times and pay tribute. That car helped to build my love for Cadillacs, so it's nice to have a reminder.