............Distractions............

Vacation, H1N1, life in general...they have all temporarily put the brakes on any progress.  My 6 year old daughter broke her arm at the SLC Hogle Zoo, she later allowed me to sign her cast while on our coffee date.  Still planning on getting the body off very soon, stay tuned.

Looks Fit For The Junkyard

It depresses Lacy to even look at it.......to make an omelet you have to crack some eggs.

It's lost a bit-o-shine. Kind of lacking without all the chrome.

Found a spot to stick the glass.

Shedding some weight

The welded hitch pieces alone weighed over 150 lbs. Sorry to see it go :)

Carpet and glass and the body will be ready to come off.

Reassembly???

Dice, drill, epoxy....a little Vegas touch to the shifter and turn signal levers.

The new anti-sway bar is just a wee bit beefier than the original. Think it will keep the barge form rolling in the swells?

'59 Caddy continued deconstruction....Is this considered progress?

With a little help from some friends

The girls got in on the action this morning helping tear the headliner out. The car has kind of become a dilapidated fort to them.

Tight as a Drum?

I think there may have been a slight oil leak. The motor keeps shrinking and now looks like a filthy green eyed alien. System: 1-remove part. 2-take picture. 3-sell on ebay.....repeat....

Eternally Chrome

There is so much trim on this car.....I bet it weighs 1000 lbs less once I strip it of it's shiny accessories.

What to do with a 390?

Exhaust, transmission mounts & driveshaft.....then it's time for the motor & trans to go. So far, so good, no broken bolts or knuckles.

Note To Self:

'59 bumpers are HEAVY.

Deconstruction

Was I suppose to keep track of where all those bolts went?

50 years of gook muck (grease, dirt, tar, oil and rust baked in the Vegas heat) is coating most every part of the engine & front suspension.....looking forward to quality time with a putty knife, scrub brush and volatile chemicals.

Last Drive?

I took it out for a tool around town tonight, probably the last time before minor disassembly begins. Boxes...check, baggies...check, sharpie...check, camera...check..................

1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville Project

1959 Cadillac Sedan de Ville Project


Engine:
Smeding 383 Extreme 450hp/460tq
Intake: Edelbrock Performer Air Gap or RPM Air Gap.
Carburetor: Quick Fuel “Q” series 750, dual feed
Ignition: MSD
Concept One serpentine accessory drive kit with AC, PS & alternator.
Braided fuel lines.
Blueprinted & dyno tuned.

Engine Compartment:
Headers.
Weld up extra holes.
Aluminum or SS overflow tank, PS & washer reservoir.
Finned air filter and valve covers.
Custom radiator & AC condenser.
Batteries in trunk.
Rebuild heat/AC system and controls by Classic Auto Air.

Mufflers & Exhaust:

Transmission & Rear End:
4L60 (not 4L60E), torque converter with lock-up.
Custom drive shaft.
Currie 31 spline 9" Ford rear end (3.25” housing) with a Detroit True-trac posi, 3.73:1

Brakes, Steering & Suspension:
Disc conversion (Jamco)
Rear disc brakes.
Rear triangulated 4 link
Master cylinder, booster & proportioning valve.
2” lowered springs & shocks (Jamco)
Performance 1-1/8” anti-sway bar (Addco)
Rebuild steering system.
Front end rebuild kit (Kanter)

Wheels & Tires:
Front: 255/55-65R17
Rear: 285/55-65R17
Current tires are 235/75R15
"Smoothie" style 16" or 17" rims, red & chrome with wide whites.

Trim & Body Alterations:
Re-chrome or polish everything.
Shave door locks, trunk lock, replace with remote pops.
Weld in fender skirts, reshape reveal.
Nosed & decked lids
Powder coat the front & rear grills (subtle satin silver/pewter).
Smooth blisters on tail & triangle between doors on rockers.
Eliminate front plate bracket, weld in bumper pieces to continue “V” profile of front end.
Headlights-

Interior Upholstery, Dash & Carpet:
Remold dash pad, add tach & oil pressure gauges in place of crest & clock.
Re-chrome dash trim, restore gauges, digital shift indicator.
Re-upholster seats, door panels & replace headliner.
New carpet.
Polish all interior metal trim.
Restore steering wheel.
Dynamat sound deadening material on floors & trunk & firewall.
New brake & gas pedal rubber.
Dice on shifter and signal levers, door lock knobs.

Audio:
Fit head unit in glove box.
Alter ashtrays to accept aux/power/ipod.
Speakers in rear deck lid, custom front floor boxes, subs & amps in trunk.
Batteries in trunk.

Color:
Body- Black suede.
Frame & suspension-black.
Black & white upholstery with body color metal.
Red or Caddy blue block & intake manifold, brake booster and blower housing.
Chrome or satin nickel blower motor housing & washer motor housing.
Polished aluminum finned valve covers and air cleaner.
As cast aluminum heads, pulleys, AC compressor, ps pump, alternator, master cylinder, radiator and ac evaporator, satin headers.
Silver/pewter grills and select trim.
Chrome bumpers, major trim, etc..

Miscellaneous:
Lighten car wherever practical.
1959 Cadillac 6329 six-window Sedan de Ville
Wheelbase: 130"
Length: 225"
Weight: 4850
Factory Price: $5498
Production Total: 19158
Engine: 390 ci (6,4 l)
HP: 325hp @ 4800 rpm
Torque: 430lbs @ 3400 rpm

Power:Weight ratio comparison:
Cadillac 390: 325/4850=.067
Smeding 383 Extreme: 450/4850=.093
Schedule:
1. Body off.
2. Send frame for sandblasting & powder coating.
3. Rebuild front steering & suspension.
4. Install suspension & brakes.
5. Install motor & tranny, adjust firewall & motor mounts.
6. Install rear end assembly then order driveshaft.
7. Fabricate headers, Install radiator & condenser.
8. Body on, adjust ride height and wheel/tire clearance, body mods & prep..
9. Body back off, paint Firewall, fender wells, door jambs, etc.. Body on and paint.
10. Assembly, interior, trim, audio.
Anytime:
Interior off to upholsterer.
Customize & weld bumpers.
Dash, steering wheel & gauges off to restoration.
Clean up & prep engine bay.
Custom fit trunk for batteries & audio.

Smeding options:
High torque chrome starter $225
Fuel pump : High-volume mechanical, includes mounting plate and rod $92
Water pump, High-flow aluminum, specify long or short style $169
Painting: Standard colors; Cherry Red or Medium Blue $80
Fuel line: Stainless steel braided hose, aircraft fittings and filter $120
Concept One Serpentine kit (anodized clear) Air, PS, Alternator (140 amp-extra $) $2195 in “anodized clear” not polished finish (Includes: Chrome 105 amp single-wire alternator, Sanden a/c compressor, high-flow Edelbrock water pump, billet pulleys, power steering pump with separate billet reservoir, and a self-adjusting tensioner on single belt systems.)