Yesterday's Car

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

No, not an antique tractor but I bet there are a few who recognize the last of the big Eldorados. (1978) One of them found me this past week and looks like I
have adopted it. My first Caddy.

Eldorado

Bruce from Can. · Apr 13, 2021

You are going to rival Scott over in Alberta at Cold War Motors, with that old Cad. Will it start ? You could possibly enter his winter beater competition with that honey, lol

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

I'd guess the front drive Eldo would be a winner for the winter beater run at Coldwarmotors but this one will be reserved for dry ground and pavement I think. Yes, its definitely a runner as shown in the next video. Got a few bugs to iron out though. Water leaks around the window have caused a big mold/mildew problem on the carpets and leather upholstery.
Eldo Start

Switchflicker · Apr 13, 2021

And a spinner on the steering wheel
How cool is that on an Eldorado.
Stan

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 08:03:40 04/13/21) And a spinner on the steering wheel
How cool is that on an Eldorado.
Stan

Its an "8 ball" spinner. 5000 pounds and 425 cubic inches of fun. Totally inappropriate for these times but it makes me happy.

Bill(Wis) · Apr 13, 2021

Congratulations!. I don't see a spot of rust on it. When my dad retired from dairy farming in 1967 he bought a great big Buick Electra 225 brand new. He and my mother and occasionally my aunt and uncle along saw the United States. They travelled everywhere in that big car with the 455 engine. Stereo, AC, cruise control. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! Something they were never able to do while dairy farming. (;>))

MarkB_MI · Apr 13, 2021

Nice find!

rustred · Apr 13, 2021

nice. my buddie had one of those Edorado's in the 70's. he would drive around and smoke a cigar like Boss Hogg. lol. they sure were nice riding on the hyway , just float along.

Jim in NC · Apr 13, 2021

Really nice find rusty. I believe it will.clean up well.

Shoprat · Apr 13, 2021

Nice ride.

JK-NY · Apr 13, 2021

Funny you should mention Boss Hogg, I was thinking that car needs a set of longhorn horns on the front. Seriously thats a nice looking car Rusty6 , I hope the old Merc isnt too jealous.

jimtrs · Apr 13, 2021

I'm jealous!

Caddy's were all my grandfather drove back in the 60's & 70's. Eldorado's, then Seville's. He wasn't a wealthy man but always drove him and my Grandma around in style! Brings back memories. I've been driving since the 70's and always wanted one. Haven't done that ..... yet!

Steve@Advance · Apr 13, 2021

Yeah, a nice car, but a deuce and a quarter ain't a Cadillac...
Deuce and a Quarter

flying belgian · Apr 13, 2021

Everyone should own a Cadillac at least once in their life. I paid my dues about 30 yrs. ago. Never again.

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 09:41:14 04/13/21) Funny you should mention Boss Hogg, I was thinking that car needs a set of longhorn horns on the front. Seriously thats a nice looking car Rusty6 , I hope the old Merc isnt too jealous.

You are not the first one to make mention of the Boss Hogg longhorns either. I don't think the Merc will be jealous as it sits safe and dry in the shed. Eldorado is getting buried in snow as we speak with a late spring storm.

Hobo,NC · Apr 13, 2021

That's an interference engine and they will jump time.

Geo-TH,In · Apr 13, 2021

Wasn't it Caddy's first front wheel drive?

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 11:28:09 04/13/21)
That's an interference engine and they will jump time.

"Interference engine"? Seriously what is that? I figured the 425 was just the Cadillac version of Oldsmobile's rock solid line of V8s that just never wear out. (I've got one of those).

Ultradog MN · Apr 13, 2021

I remember seeing one of those in Minneapolis during a real big snow storm.
It had tire chains in the front.
Looked goofy but he was getting through the snow when everyone else was stuck.
Nice car!

Geo-TH,In · Apr 13, 2021

Just one?
I must be a slow learner.
I'm on my 5th caddy and each one is better than the previous. Today was 65. No AC

It's a 2018 XT5 with 40K.
I can't find anything more comfortable.
I only buy new. Refuse to buy someone's problems

George

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 12:35:53 04/13/21)
I only buy new. Refuse to buy someone's problems

George

I've never owned a new vehicle in my life other than a motorcycle and a snowmobile. Had pretty good luck buying nice used stuff and whole lot less cost.
The only thing I envy on the newer Cadillacs is that 27.2 mpg figure on your dash display. I'll be lucky to see half that on the 78 I think. I don't drive enough miles to justify buying an economical vehicle though. And yes, the Eldorado was their first front wheel drive. Based on the Olds Toronado.

JMOR · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 15:06:51 04/13/21)

(quoted from post at 11:28:09 04/13/21)
That's an interference engine and they will jump time.

Click to expand...

"Interference engine"? Seriously what is that? I figured the 425 was just the Cadillac version of Oldsmobile's rock solid line of V8s that just never wear out. (I've got one of those).

t means that if cam to crank gets out of time, where a valve is open when the piston comes up, the two kiss (interference) & it is not a sweet loving kiss! In 1978, I'm pretty sure that Cadillac still used their own engines.

DR. EVIL · Apr 13, 2021

I've bought 4-5 used cars & pickups. They have been anywhere between poorly maintained piles of junk, to
polished up ticking time bombs just waiting to blow up. The new cars I've bought, both the cars/trucks I
ordered out exactly what I wanted, or bought brand shiney new off the dealer's lots have been far far
better than anything I bought used. I will say the cars sitting in dealer showrooms todays have no
where's near the Personality that that Cadillac does. I spent an hour wandering around the showroom at
the dealer where we bought the wife's SUV from 2 weeks ago. It was sitting right outside the salesman's
office on the showroom floor when we bought it. 5-1/2 years, 90,000 miles, just oil changes and 4 new
tires have been needed.

fastfarmall · Apr 13, 2021

I had one too, biggest piece of junk i ever had!

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 13:15:42 04/13/21) I've bought 4-5 used cars & pickups. They have been anywhere between poorly maintained piles of junk, to
polished up ticking time bombs just waiting to blow up.

I guess I have had better luck than you. My 97 Blazer has given me 19 years of good service and plenty of life left in it. The 81 GMC pickup I bought in 86 still does all my run around the farm jobs with only the usual maintenance as things wear out.
When I look at the price of new vehicles now I think I am further away than I have ever been from owning one.

flying belgian · Apr 13, 2021

I will say one thing. You will really turn some heads when you drive up at the next family reunion.

JK-NY · Apr 13, 2021

I always hate when a snowstorm comes in after a stretch of spring weather. We have had a decent spring here in Central NY although
it is a bit dry. Last year we had 2-3 of snow 3 days in a row the first week of May after a cold March and April. I guess the
Caddy will have to wait till you can find a spot to get it inside. I am always impressed by the low rust on your vehicles, but I
imagine you dont often need to get out on the roads when they have salt on them. I live in a hilly area and they really pour the
salt on in winter and the salt really destroys vehicles. I can remember driving on a snow pack when I was young , and also running
chains on the 2wd pickup which was my first vehicle.

Hobo,NC · Apr 13, 2021

I have junked out a few high mileage ones because they jumped time. They were at 200K the cam gear had plastic teeth it shucked the teeth off... All of them were still running good it was just not worth the cost to fix the engine. It was in the early 80's they went all to ell bumper to bumper they were junk...

That was about the time GM came up with their friendly engine program. I would have paid extra to get a cat, olds, Pontiac, buick with a 350 chevy in it. Some got lucky their olds/pontiac/buick came with a chevy V8... I think I have seen a cat with a chevy v8 from the factory... Eldorado's for sure used a cat engine...

Hobo,NC · Apr 13, 2021

I tell folks its luck of the draw on a cat, its a good'N are you will end up with a stack of repair orders about as thick as a sears roebuck catalog...

Dune Country · Apr 13, 2021

My parents had a Cortez motorhome, Eldorado drive train , ft wheel drive. Nice unit.
It had a tube into the exhaust that would burn the effluent out of the black water tank when temp's were high enough. not now!

rusty6 · Apr 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 18:15:48 04/13/21) I am always impressed by the low rust on your vehicles, but I
imagine you dont often need to get out on the roads when they have salt on them. I live in a hilly area and they really pour the
salt on in winter and the salt really destroys vehicles..

Trust me we have pllenty of salted highway here and I avoid it as much as possible. This Eldorado is one of the most rust free old vehicles I have. It was a B.C. car and the previous owner was pretty careful with it. Both Mercs were "Fred Flintstone cars" with rocker panels and floors pretty much gone.
It really bothers me seeing the Eldo sitting out in the weather and I'm going to try and make space in the shed for it. Anybody want to buy a Case DC4 or a Cockshutt 40?

jimg.allentown · Apr 14, 2021

Rusty, wasn't that about the era when Cadillac had a 500 cubic inch V-8 in the Eldorado? I seem to remember reading
something about that someplace.

rusty6 · Apr 14, 2021

(quoted from post at 10:19:51 04/14/21) Rusty, wasn't that about the era when Cadillac had a 500 cubic inch V-8 in the Eldorado? I seem to remember reading
something about that someplace.

Earlier years had the 500 but by 78 all they offered was the 425. Maybe that is their "economy engine"? They did offer the option of fuel injection but this one has the carburetor

Yesterday's Car

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