PAINT AND UPHOLSTERY!

[jaxops]

I finally made it to the shop that I have been trying to get my car into. After months of engine and transmission work, the 56 Cadillac is finally off to the paint & body shop. I am using American Classics and HotRods in Va Beach. They are rewiring the aft end of the car, painting the chassis, replacing a creased driveshaft, adding the fast-idle solenoid, re-upholstering the inside (except carpets which my wife and I did ourselves) and repainting from red back to Cadillac Code 10 Black. All of my chrome is coming back from New Hampshire so we're coming together for 30 JAN 2005. Many thanks to Bob Cooper (Coopers Vintage) in Burbank California for his parts support and advice along the way.

[6219_Rules]

Sounds wonderful! I hope you can post pictures of the car soon. I am looking to restore my '56s interior as well since that is one of its draws for me. I am wondering how much that will run given we need new carpet, new dash pad, new seat covers (I think we can use the robe rope on the back of the front seat along with the ash tray), headliner, and fabric on the doors. I think the vinyl, or Elascofab, is usable with a little work.

[DizzyDale]

Dear Randall,I believe restoring 50s interiors are some of the more expensive.Most have a couple different materials and patterns on the door panels along with lots of chrome and stainless.We haven't even started talking about the stainless and chrome on the dash.I think the ONLY guys that get paid more than trim guys and painters are professional athletes.diz

[6219_Rules]

Now of that last statement I am sure you are correct, Diz!

Fortunately the chrome and stainless are all in really (surprizingly) good shape. The only thing that is really bad is the dash pad. The material on the seats and headliner are simply faded by the sun with a little wear damage. Carpet is dead, of course. I was really surprized when I went to wipe the chrome dash and found that rather than being pitted, it was simply filthy. A nice surprize too! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[jaxops]

Randall,

As this is unfolding, my front seat has to be redone as well. Probably for the best since the vinyl ripped and it was a flat seat design and not ribbed as the original should be. It took them 4 hours to muscle the front seat out and get it stripped down. My dash needs to be redone as well since it doesn't fit under the dash lip anymore. Yes, it is adding up fast. Not as much as the paint and body but a lot more than we bargained for. As you said, it is a lot of specialty workmanship required, not just lay it in and fasten it like more modern vinyl applications. Luckily, the wife-partner is "onboard" with the idea (hers originally thank heavens) so we are pressing ahead.

[6219_Rules]

Sounds like a wonderful project! And honestly I hope one that brings you both a great deal of pleasure in the future. I am looking forward to the day, oh in say 3 years, when I can sell my other cars and just drive the '56. Until then I am enjoying the Eldorado and taking it one minor project at a time. Right now the '56 looks like a junk yard reject. Patience and hard work...plus a lot of money....will net a beautiful car.

[jaxops]

This is what we got done in 2004, engine rebuild, transmission rebuild mostly.

Engine out at The Head Shop VA Beach:

[6219_Rules]

Nice job! Once we get Jonathan's '72 MG-B GT back together for the SCCA season, we will remove the bumpers and engine from the '56 and start the body work. There are two small areas behind the wheel wells that need to be cut out and replaced with good steel. The bumpers are all in excellent condition except for the middle rear section. They should clean up nicely. All of the chrome and stainless is in really good shape. Now the engine and drive train appear to be sound. I think all that will be required is a valve job and gaskets but we will see when it is out of the car. Once it is in for rebuilding and painting, Jonathan and I will finish the body work, strip out the interior and clean the chassis in prep for painting. So we have a long way to go before the interior is done; however I think I will buy the material as soon as possible and do what I can on my own. All of the small electrical motors will have to be cleaned and repaired. But you know the drill. I would love to see more pictures when you have the time.

Incidentally, I bought my first non-Cadillac scale model the other day...a favorite Buick of mine, the 1959 Electra 225. In Red no less!!!

[jaxops]

This is the car in its red and white paint scheme after arriving in Norva from trailering it down from Philadelphia. A very good repaint done by the 2nd owner, a fireman from Southampton, PA.

It's a "30-pace car" meaning at 30 paces it looks really good! I don't have pictures of it stripped yet, but I am going over there this weekend.

[jaxops]

We visited the limousine yesterday at American Hot Rods and Classics in Virginia Beach (Steve and Raleigh's place on Euclid Road). The upholsterer (Eric and Dan) reviewed the materials for a final time, and will start the seats, dash, and door panels. We discovered that the rear armrests (that have a compartment built into them) and frame are made of wood. I was surprised.

The car interior is of course stripped, and the floors and doors have been cleaned, primed and painted/sealed. The wiring guy (Mark) will prep the rewiring of the interior and schedule repairs for the accessories that don't function.

The car exterior is sandblasted down and primed in gray. Several holed lower fender areas and doors were cut out and new metal inserted. Body work will continue on the passenger side before a week or two of sanding and priming. We found some very old lead fill on the left rear door from the 1960s or 70s which will stay since it was done expertly (no lead today due to hazards to workers and EPA rules). Bumpers are finally going off to Tennessee. We decided to replate ours vice swap with rechromed ones since one doesn't always know what you are getting.

We shot a lot of video, so I need to transpose it into still shots and send them to HCCP's Spoke and Wheel web site where they will add them in....and then I can show you the updated status.

[6219_Rules]

It will be great to see the progression photos. My '56 is coming along, It has been side lined for the race car prep. The engine is due in at the end of the month so we have to have the car painted and the suspension in by then. Jonathan and I pulled the engine Saturday. He has another good bbase engine for rebuild for one of the other MGs waiting for restoration. I hope he gets the car done so he can race sometime this season.