The Fix-It List: A Journey to fix Eve
My car is a 1992 Cadillac Deville Touring Sedan with a 4.9L V8 engine. It's beautiful, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. She drives very nice for the neglect that it had experienced. I named her Eve, since my family is religious and it's a Deville, I thought it would be catchy, but now it sounds more attention-seeking lol. Anyways this is my first project car and I wanted to go all in so that I can provide a real experience of fixing a cool 30-year-old car on a budget.
This is mostly for my own memory. Help is always appreciated but never expected.
To begin, we have already got some new tires, and I learned at that shop that my rear tire cambers -3 degrees, and the front is bent in a bit. But before I get an alignment, I need new struts all around. Shit is getting expensive.
Put in Marvel's Mystery Oil to quiet a lifter tick, and so far, it's not doing that much; need to drive more miles with it. ATF was thrown in too so I can save my Marvel's Mystery Oil.
Next week I need to go and get a tune up; basically, need fuel filter and spark set/distributor.
I am missing some underhood relays from the car. Can't tell what they are supposed to be, but I can bet its all three cooling fan relays.
Current Issues (prioritized):
Here is what parts Eve, my little devil, needs:
My car is a 1992 Cadillac Deville Touring Sedan with a 4.9L V8 engine. It's beautiful, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. She drives very nice for the neglect that it had experienced. I named her Eve, since my family is religious and it's a Deville, I thought it would be catchy, but now it sounds more attention-seeking lol. Anyways this is my first project car and I wanted to go all in so that I can provide a real experience of fixing a cool 30-year-old car on a budget.
This is mostly for my own memory. Help is always appreciated but never expected.
To begin, we have already got some new tires, and I learned at that shop that my rear tire cambers -3 degrees, and the front is bent in a bit. But before I get an alignment, I need new struts all around. Shit is getting expensive.
Put in Marvel's Mystery Oil to quiet a lifter tick, and so far, it's not doing that much; need to drive more miles with it. ATF was thrown in too so I can save my Marvel's Mystery Oil.
Next week I need to go and get a tune up; basically, need fuel filter and spark set/distributor.
I am missing some underhood relays from the car. Can't tell what they are supposed to be, but I can bet its all three cooling fan relays.
Current Issues (prioritized):
- Lifter noise from the engine
- Not sparking too well and engine is outdated (diagnosed; tune up will fix it)
- Wheels unaligned, cambering, and could cause tire damage
- Leaks: puddle on the valve train. Obvious gasket issue. Leak in the back end of engine, but isn't worth the lift
- oil had never touched the ground, so this isn't too too bad. The oil near the valvetrain is sus though
- Electrical:
- Climate Control only turns on sometimes. Looking at wires soon but it could be the panel or BCM.
- Cruise Control is obsolete. Not switching whatsoever. Fuse, wire, or connector issue? Switch?
- ABS brake lock and traction will flicker on and off sometimes. Wire issue for sure.
- A/C service light on; may indicate lack of refrigerant or that the relays are out.
- Radio disconnected; previous owner wanted to get subs. Little did they know these cars are 50% wire.
Here is what parts Eve, my little devil, needs:
- TUNE UP: Fuel filter, distributor cap + rotor, spark plugs + wires. quoted at about $400
- Struts all around and alignment. maybe $500? got a rough joint too
- Valve gasket $20
- Lifter (?)
- Still gotta figure out if Marvel's or ATF can clean it up more,
- BCM? $130
- Still looking into this one, but I'm hearing every 90s Deville owner should keep a spare.
- wire connectors
- wires need to be connected again and we need to investigate more
