Projects My New Project: 1956 Cadillac Sedan Deville Resurrection Thread

Im sure some of you saw my post, asking what this car was worth. I now have it home, and am ready to start bringing it back to life, hence the resurrection thread. Usually these threads are full of pictures, but I will be trying to make videos of all of the progress. With that said, Check out the first video:



Let me know what you think!

Ben

 

Also, if I posted this on the wrong forum, please feel free to move it where ever it fits best.
Thanks!

 

Checked out the video...the car looks in surprising good shape...you done good...!!!

R-

 

I had a small amount of time to work on the Caddy today. I started to see how well the front bumper cleaned up, and even though it is not perfect I am happy with the results. I also went to the auto parts store and got everything I might need for a tune up.

I started with the factory fuel pump, and found out that one of the previous owners had added an electric fuel pump and had blocked off the original fuel pump mount with a cover. He also added a zip tie to the push rod to hold it up away from the cam shaft... Weird but we installed it correctly. All I need now is a fitting to go from the C curve fuel line to the glass filter.

I changed the oil and oil filter, and even though the oil was black, and had some sludge in it, there was no water in it what so ever, so that is good. I also added a quart of marvel mystery oil in with the oil in order to clean out what sludge is inside the motor, and Im sure there is a fair amount.

Since I had the battery in, and new oil I said what the heck, lets try to get the motor to at least start for a little bit. I got my dad to help spray carb cleaner down the carbs while I cranked the motor. The motor spun just fine, but it never did fire. We tried pulling a spark plug wire and grounding it on the exhaust manifold, and we did not get spark while the engine was turning over, so that will be the task for tomorrow, see why we have no spark.

Any ideas on the best way to trouble shoot the ignition system?

 

If you've got no spark, that's an old points/condenser ignition system...change them first and gap them correctly...then put in new plugs, a step or two hotter than what's in there. IF you want to spend money, replace the plug wires, the rotar and the cap, they are prolly very old...and replace the coil as well...that's about all there is to the ignition system...oh and make sure the battery cable is tight on the starter.

R-

 

How do you gap the points correctly without the car running? I have only set the dwell on cars that run. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Use a matchbook for thickness...you'll need to have the engine turn over while you're adjusting the bolt that holds the points in...slip the matchbook between them while someone cranks it over...you'll be close and then you can put it all together and see if it'll fire...then adjust when the car is running...

R-

 

set the points gap with a feeler guage at .016, dwell is 30 deg.

make sure points are all the way open on the distributor cam when you set the gap.

it would not hurt to pull the plugs and squirt some oil in the cylinders and crank it over before you try to start it....

 

Great find and I like the two vids so far. Nice project!

 

Another quick video for you guys:

 

Looks like a great car to start with. I don't know why, but I keep thinking Dolly Parton.

 

Ben, after you polished the chrome in that video what you have is "25 foot chrome"...meaning it looks really really good from 25 feet away... and that's not bad for a car that's prolly 35 (or so) years older than you are...!!!

BTW, the dash surround is chrome-not stainless and that part of the dash will come apart in two or three pieces - the background will remove from the part you just polished and it will make cleaning it that much easier. FWIW, The headlight doors are chrome (and they are a real bitch to rechrome as trying to polish the deep recesses and the flutes is near impossible for a lot of "average" chromers, but all the windshield trim (around the wipers and etc), upper side window trim and rear window trim is stainless.

The very thin trim below the side windows and the taillight trim at the top of the taillight is chrome...and hard to find so be careful if you remove it. The trim at the rear sides in the raised portion is chrome as well...and impossible to find.

Good luck on your 'restoration'...that's a lot of car to restore...2000% more than a 'tuner'...!!!

R-

 

thanks!

That is one of my favorite things about Cadillacs! Guess it must be a guy thing?

Today I spent the hour of free time I had on the caddy. I finished cleaning the leather top dash pad. It was Very dry, and took alot of leather conditioner to get it back to decent looking. Im sure I will have to work on it a little more, but hopefully I can get it to a point where it will look good for a "driver" Caddy as mine will be.

I also pulled out all the fron carpet, and honestly the front floors are worse than I thought they were going to be... BUT all is not lost, the rear floors look like they have no holes and will need no patching!! You win some you lose some, in this case I guess it is a draw. Two big holes in the front is the same in my book as four small holes in all the floors. More videos to come I promise!

 

IT RUNS!!!!

The Video Is Coming!

 

New video!!!



THE ENGINE RUNS!!!!!

 

Congrats!!! I'd be excited too!

Embedded, just for you!

 

Another cool project... why must you taunt me with my two favorite cars from the 50's? First a 58 chevy and now this sweet 56 Caddy? Living the dream!

 

Congrats...the invitation to ride with us into the LoneStar event in either my Cadillac or my brother's '54 is still open, however, now you'll have to find us at the motel or at the event...those two tickets are available...and where else are you going to see about 2000 cars for F-R-E-E...!!!

Congrats on getting the engine running, that rad should arrive your place today or tomorrow...and we will be arriving in Dallas on Thursday afternoon...

R-

 

Thanks for sharing. You have a another great thread.

 

It's always a cool experience when you get some long-forgotten and neglected engine to finally fire up and run! Cool score, I sure do love these big old caddys!!! Good luck with her!

 

Awesome car man, I would try some waxing of that paint job and bring it back to some of it's orginal glory and then drive the wheels off it. Glad to see it running and that goes along way in the project world. If all you have to do is patch a couple holes in the floor you are a long ways ahead of the game. Very cool boat, I like it.

 

Can you show me how to embed the videos? I would like them to look like this from now on

Looks like we have the same taste! Since you are local you can come over any time to check it out if you like!

PM sent

Thanks! Hopefully this one will turn out as well as the 58 did

Hopefully it has oil flowing and nothing major is wrong on the inside of the engine!

Ill make a video of the floors here soon. This car will need ALOT of cleaning, like maybe a whole weeks worth!


With that said, does anyone have a used good condition gas tank for this car they would be willing to sell me? The one on this car is trashed beyond repair. Any help or pointers would be awesome. I would rather not buy a new one, they cost alot!

 

Go to the YouTube page featuring the desired video. Place your cursor on the address bar and then left click, which selects the entire address. Wait a second and click a second time to deselect. Then hold the left mouse button down and drag the cursor to highlight only the part of the address between the "equal" (=) signs and release the left mouse button. Copy the highlighted link by one of the following methods.

1. Right click on the highlighted text and then left click on Copy. Or...

2. Use the keyboard shortcut and press Ctrl+C to copy the link.

Now open the forum page and click Go Advanced at the bottom of the reply window. On the tool bar just above the text window go clear to the right end of the tool buttons and click the one that looks like a movie reel. This provides the necessary tags to post your video.


You should see a blinking cursor in the middle of the tags, right where you want it. Just press Ctrl+V on the keyboard to paste the link between the opening and closing tags. It should look like this, but with brackets in place of the parentheses.

(YT)eFxFo2virbo&feature(/YT)

Then press the Preview button and check out the results. If it works click the Submit Reply button.

 

Awesome. Thanks for that description! Now it will be much easier for people to follow this resurrection!

 

Thanks to ClayMart, all the videos are now embedded in this thread for your viewing pleasure! Tomorrow I hope I have some time to make another.

 

Got the Radiator in, and now I am working on rebuilding the dual carters I have on top of the motor. I got one all disassembled today, and I am thinking they will clean up real nice! The inside was actually much cleaner than I thought it would be. I had to loosen up a few small parts but they should be 100% when done. Stay tuned!

 

New UPDATE!

 

I wonder if Buick, olds, pontiac had a similar tank. Buick Roadmaster and Olds 98 and cadillac were very similar, the tanks might be the same. It might help in your search for a tank.

Also, maybe measure dimensions and hit the junk yards, maybe an old 70's boat has a similar tank you could use.

 

That is something to check out. Im sure they were similar, with he filler tube going into the bottom side of the tank.

 

IT RUNS SOME MORE!