Help with an older Cadi

tmemastr · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 10:31 AM

Hey guys I just picked up a 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood 60s Special. At least I think its a 60s Special.
I am new to the Cadillac world but love restoring old cars.
Can you all help me on a few things like figuring out exactly what model of car I have and where is the best place to find these hard to find parts?
Thanks, I iwll get pics up later today.

My_favorite_Brougham · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 11:11 AM

Oooo, that sounds like a nice car. Folks around here tend to be more knowledgeable for rear-wheel-drive Caddies from the late-70s to the 90s, and some from the 60s to mid-70s. Hence the little response. I suggest you go to the Cadillac-LaSalle forums as they all own something like you have! They will know all the production specs as well as tricks and general help. I would really like to get a car like that someday, but I like many others here are budgeted to the big old Broughams of the late 20th c.

But we would all LOVE some pictures. We're suckers for that here. Good luck with your restoration!

Greg

Old Fleetwood · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 05:13 PM

If you get yourself in touch with the Cadillac-LaSalle club and tell them about your find, I think they will be all over you like white on rice.
They should also be a good source of info and be able to furnish leads for parts.
And don't forget those photos!
GOOD LUCK!

tmemastr · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 05:41 PM

Great. Thank you for the info, I will contact them.
As for pics,
http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r...3-07035web.jpg

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r...3-07007web.jpg

http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r...3-07001web.jpg

My_favorite_Brougham · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 06:16 PM

That car is AWESOME! Let me help you out:

I'm surprised to see that a car that old is still in such good shape. I don't know about those tires, though...lol. I know you still see 80's Cads on the road as beaters and daily drivers, but I'd like to see someone driving this thing! I guess the original owners for those cars are all dead. Does she run well? Give us some engine specs!

Greg

Junkman · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 08:24 PM

When you open the hood, on the firewall, you will find a metal body tag that will give you the information that you need. It will say, "Body by Fleetwood". This means that the body was built by the Fleetwood Body Division of GM. All the rest of the cars in the GM line, except for Cadillac were "Body by Fisher" cars. Here is a website that will help you get started on your search for the history of these cars. What a nice find when you find a solid unmolested car. Junkman.......

tmemastr · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My_favorite_Brougham

That car is AWESOME! Let me help you out:

I'm surprised to see that a car that old is still in such good shape. I don't know about those tires, though...lol. I know you still see 80's Cads on the road as beaters and daily drivers, but I'd like to see someone driving this thing! I guess the original owners for those cars are all dead. Does she run well? Give us some engine specs!

Greg

Oh yea the engine specs!! How the hell could I forget that!!!
This old Caddy has the flattop V8 of the 30s and 40s. If you research them, they are the same engines that were used in the old Sherman tanks!!!
Its not running yet, the battery and plugs have been pulled so the previous owner could insert oil in the cylinders before it got sold, they said it hasnt been started in the last 40 years. So they wanted to oil it and try to help me out a bit.
I will disassemble it anyway and hope to keep as much as possible.

tmemastr · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman

When you open the hood, on the firewall, you will find a metal body tag that will give you the information that you need. It will say, "Body by Fleetwood". This means that the body was built by the Fleetwood Body Division of GM. All the rest of the cars in the GM line, except for Cadillac were "Body by Fisher" cars. Here is a website that will help you get started on your search for the history of these cars. What a nice find when you find a solid unmolested car. Junkman.......

Awesome thank I will go check out that tag and see if I can find any more information on it.
Thanks

Junkman · #9 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 08:36 PM

If the engine turn, then I would just turn it over a few times with the starter, with the coil wire removed. You want to pump up the oil into the bearings before it is started. Depending on where you live, the engine will use 30 weight non detergent oil for weather above 45 degrees, and 20 weight for the 20 degree to 50 degree weather. Below that I doubt that you will be driving it anyway. Make sure to check the oil level in the transmission and the rear. I would drain all the fluids before even cranking it over, since there might be water in the bottom of the sumps as a result of sitting for so many years. Also, don't drive it until you have had time to check and replace all the brake components (cylinders, hoses, etc.) that have been sitting for all these years. Take your time and don't break anything by rushing. It is easy to break bolts on an old car, and they are hard to find correct replacements. Penetrators such as PBBlaster are going to be your best friend. Clean any rust from the threads of the bolt before trying to remove it.

Old Fleetwood · #10 (**permalink**) 12-03-07, 10:24 PM

Thank God somebody has rescued that grand old lady!
She's BEAUTIFUL!
I have to wonder if it was one of the very first Cadillacs with HydraMatic transmission. I have heard that some of the very late 1940 models actually did have HydraMatics installed. But working on one of those dinosaurs might be a real stinker.

tmemastr · #11 (**permalink**) 12-04-07, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman

If the engine turn, then I would just turn it over a few times with the starter, with the coil wire removed. You want to pump up the oil into the bearings before it is started. Depending on where you live, the engine will use 30 weight non detergent oil for weather above 45 degrees, and 20 weight for the 20 degree to 50 degree weather. Below that I doubt that you will be driving it anyway. Make sure to check the oil level in the transmission and the rear. I would drain all the fluids before even cranking it over, since there might be water in the bottom of the sumps as a result of sitting for so many years. Also, don't drive it until you have had time to check and replace all the brake components (cylinders, hoses, etc.) that have been sitting for all these years. Take your time and don't break anything by rushing. It is easy to break bolts on an old car, and they are hard to find correct replacements. Penetrators such as PBBlaster are going to be your best friend. Clean any rust from the threads of the bolt before trying to remove it.

Awesome. Thanks for the advise. The oldest car I have restored to date was a 76. So 40 is a little different and I will be doing a frame off resto so it will be a little while until I turn the engine. But that is great advise. The brakes are totally shot, but there seems to be fluid in the engine, tranny and rear without leaks. So hopefully they will be great resto subjects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Fleetwood

Thank God somebody has rescued that grand old lady!
She's BEAUTIFUL!
I have to wonder if it was one of the very first Cadillacs with HydraMatic transmission. I have heard that some of the very late 1940 models actually did have HydraMatics installed. But working on one of those dinosaurs might be a real stinker.

Thank you for the kind words, I got real lucky finding this one. I dont know about the HydraMatic tranny, I will have to do alot more investigating.
Working on it hopefully wont be too bad, I will take my time and restore/replace every nut and bolt on the car so disassembly will be one of the hardest parts trying to preserve all those old parts without breaking anything. But there will be alot of busted knuckles and

77CDV · #12 (**permalink**) 12-04-07, 11:37 PM

Congrats on your new 60 Special (yes, it is a 60 Special, you can tell by the roofline and how the B pillars go between the side windows. Bill Mitchell said he picked that styling detail because it reminded him of the luxury rail carriages of the day.). Definitely get with the Cadillac and La Salle Club (www.cadillaclasalleclub.com). You're going to have a really awesome car when you're done restoring her. Keep us posted!

Craig

bicentennialcadillac · #13 (**permalink**) 12-04-07, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77CDV

Congrats on your new 60 Special (yes, it is a 60 Special, you can tell by the roofline and how the B pillars go between the side windows. Bill Mitchell said he picked that styling detail because it reminded him of the luxury rail carriages of the day.).

Those B pillars were emulated on the '71-'76 Fleetwoods - to my eyes, anyway.

JTraik · #14 (**permalink**) 12-06-07, 12:03 PM

Im almost positive this is a column shifted 4 speed manual??? I helped restore a '38 Fleetwood and we spent a week perfecting the mechanics of the steering column!!

77CDV · #15 (**permalink**) 12-07-07, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bicentennialcadillac

Those B pillars were emulated on the '71-'76 Fleetwoods - to my eyes, anyway.

Yes, they were. If you look at the overall design of the 71-76 C-cars, and especially 71 and 72, you can see a lot of homages to the Cadillacs of the late 30s and 1940s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTraik

Im almost positive this is a column shifted 4 speed manual??? I helped restore a '38 Fleetwood and we spent a week perfecting the mechanics of the steering column!!

4 speed or 3 speed?