1970 Cadillac Deville Convertible

[CrossWired]

Here's my gal, Francine. Since my wife assumes anyone named Francine would be weird or just plain not attractive, she named the car Francine so she wouldn't get jealous of the time I spend with her.

I bought her almost 2 years ago and progress has been slow, but recently, I've been picking up steam.

I'll make a couple post to show the major steps.

Here's when I got her.

 

[CrossWired]

Interior Ripped Out

Here's where I ripped out the interior. My dad did automotive interiors for 15 years, so my natural inclination is to start there.

Heres a few shots of damage after the interior was ripped out.

 

[CrossWired]

New Seats

While this car isn't going full rat-rod mode so it will have some normal items in it. For instance these are seats I found in a junk yard out of a 2001 Seville. The power seats work and they were cheap as chips.

I did a paint test on some of the plastic parts, here's what it looks like

 

[CrossWired]

Front End Tear Down

I started the front end tear down trying to get to the engine.

The hood was heavy as hell and since I didn't have a cherry picker or anything of use at the time I had to rig some ratchet straps the the joist and do a little rigging to get it suspended and then slid over top of my rolling workbench. That was a major PITA, but it was worth it, now i have full access to the engine bay.

I managed to get all the fenders off fairly quickly as well as the front end. The passenger wheel well did involve some bolt cutting, and I called it a day after starting a fight with the driver wheel well.

This is about as far as I made it this day.

 

[CrossWired]

Getting Her Naked

The next time I was out I went out and bought a nice 3.5 ton floor jack from HF. I found an engine stand on CraigsList, and while I was there picked up another set of jackstands. My collection is really starting to build.

I ended up putting her up on jackstands all around and pulling the wheels.

Once I got her set in, I dug in and got that right wheel well off.

 

[CrossWired]

Funny

As I was getting in to disconnect everything in preparation of removing the engine I look up and see this on the manifold, apparently it was leaking there and the previous owner couldn't be bothered to drill a bolt out.

 

[ratrodney]

Love the big ole caddys. They have style...room n power! Keep the pics a comin. RR[P

 

[Neverdone]

As I was getting in to disconnect everything in preparation of removing the engine I look up and see this on the manifold, apparently it was leaking there and the previous owner couldn't be bothered to drill a bolt out.

Sweet!!! Free tools with purchase of car!! Was that included in the ad when you bought the car?!?!?

 

[CrossWired]

Nope, it was on of those surprise features. I also got an allen wrench too!!

 

[old man dave]

I always liked convertibles especially Cadillacs. My dad had a convertible of some kind since 1958.

 

[maverickmk]

Careful, one of my sisters is named Francine

Nice ride, I love it. Looking forward to seeing it when it's finished.