Introducing "Project Omaha" ('56 Biarritz)

[South_paw]

 Here's my new Cadillac/project, a 1956 Eldorado Biarrtz. The car was located in Omaha and with the help of a CLC member I was able to have a friend of a friend check it out for me. She was just shipped to me today.  I took the car out for a spin and she runs & drives great! With only 66k original miles, she should I guess. Typical body rust but not too bad. Solid car overall. My plans are a full chassis off resto for this one. Here's a few pictures of her for now.



 







Lou
(soon to be flat broke)

[The Tassie Devil(le) (Bruce Reynolds)]

G'day Lou,

You sure are a glutton for punishment

But, seriously, even though it is a beauty now, it will be a superb masterpiece when you have completed the restoration.

Bruce.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Lou:

She looks like a winner!  Good luck with the restoration and above all,
take your time -- it only took me 20 years -- not that I advocate taking that
long but it's the unexpected things that can throw off your timetable.

Anyway - we're here to help!! You know where to find me.

Mike

[veesixteen]

Lou, get in touch with CLC member Roger Zimmerman, in Switzerland.  He did a beautiful job of restoring the same model (in far worse condition at the start).  Roger might have some tips for you.

[Roger Zimmermann #21015]

Lou, get in touch with CLC member Roger Zimmerman, in Switzerland. 

Hi Yann! I'm not sure if I can help somebody located in the US...But Lou may look at: "to restore or not" in General discussion. I posted some pictures here in January 27, 2008. It's now on page 11, dated March first.

[okccadman]

Lou,

Congrats!  I saw this car on Craigslist and was hoping it would find a great home.  These cars that have been in the same family for 40+ years don't turn up every day.  My 56 Coupe was in the same family since 1962 when I bought it last year.  if the Eldo turns out half as nice as yor 60 Special, it will be a show stopper!

Jim

[Joe Manna]

Hi Lou,Congrats on the car and good luck with the restoration.Can't wait to see it.If it turns out like the Fleetwood,that will be dynamite! I guess the plates from the 70 are going on the 56?

Talk soon,
Joe

[South_paw]

Bruce, yep you can say I enjoy my fair share of abuse

Mike, 20 years? I think I can beat that   

Yann/Roger, "to restore or not" is one of the best threads on this forum. 

Jim, they sure don't just pop up It took 47 years for the second owner family to let this one go. 

Joe, I thought about keeping the GR8 WHT plates but I will probably retire them and come up with something new when the time comes

Thanks all

   

[Bill Podany #19567]

Lou,

The basic car looks like a winner to be restored if that is your intention; take your time and take no short cuts for the sake of expense nor time.  This anxiousness will haunt you later and the fix it cost shall be greater than your original effort.  Get the best restoration experts for every aspect that is part of your master plan.  For example, if you send those sabre wheels to to be refinished, do it right and with the best shop or you will pay twice the cost a couple of years later.  Those wheels, for the very best cores, will be approximately a $1,000 each...the best shop is in California.  Take your time and do the work as it can be afforded.  In the mean time these special Caddy's can be driven as a work in progress.  Mike Josephic can attest to this reality.  The best restoration shop for this model, in my experience is Harbor Auto Restoration in Rockledge, FL; they have completed Mike's Eldorado and mine to 100 point levels.

Bill Podany
Knoxville, TN

[South_paw]

And so it begins    Disassembled the nose of the car this afternoon. There was no disappointments . I did uncover a bit of assembly line history when I removed the fenders. On the pass side cowl I found the numbers 632 written in pencil. This is the body number & on the drivers side cowl I found the ignition key code written in pencil. I'm amazed after all of these years that this writing survived. He's a pic of the numbers found along with what the car looks like as on now.

PS, Bill thank you for the insight. My intentions are to see that the car gets everything she deserves

 

[DavidinHartford]

WOW!    She is a BEAUTY!

[Roger Zimmermann #21015]

A beauty? not quite yet. Anyway, this car is in a much better shape that my own '56 Biarritz was during dismanteling. It will be (maybe) an "easy restoration" .
Roger

[South_paw]

Thanks David.

Roger, easy resto?  Whats that    

More disassembly this weekend. I ripped the conv. top off and took out the back seat and arm rest. So far all good news. The top frame is in excellent condition, the front bow has no rust and really nice.  No issues under the seat either. There is no inner body rust in this area. Floor and B pillar are solid. Whew!  The fun with rust comes later in the project






 

[Jim Garner]

Lou
Nice car to restore. Great choice. Good luck with her.
Jim

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I took ten years with my 54 CDV and it is still work in progress , but basically complete - I have driven it for one Summer, but I have had ongoing power steering problems. Unlike my car the value of your car will be greatly enhanced by your restoration. However I did mine because I love 50's Cadillacs , not for the value !
Good luck,
Phil

[Stewart Homan]

I took ten years with my 54 CDV and it is still work in progress , but basically complete - I have driven it for one Summer, but I have had ongoing power steering problems. Unlike my car the value of your car will be greatly enhanced by your restoration. However I did mine because I love 50's Cadillacs , not for the value !
Good luck,
Phil

Alright Phil, whats the matter with your power steering?



Stewart

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Hello Stewart, it turned out to be the shaft that joins the hydraulic piston [this is in the steering box] to the "power rack" [using Cadillac's terminology here] - it was pitted and tore up the o ring seal that it travels through. This meant that the ATF leaked through to the part of the steering box that has steering gear oil in it - leaving me with no hydraulic pressure.  I hope this makes sense !! Anyway , I got the shaft metal sprayed and re-turned to the correct spec. All I have to do now is refit it and my one is the early 54 without the steering shaft flexible coupling - what a pain !!
Phil

[South_paw]

Hi all,

The body is just about stripped down to the shell. No major surprises. The passenger side front foot well and the driver side rear foot well floor needs to be replaced but I knew that. I have a complete rust free floor from that 55 Coupe I parted out, so making a factory correct repair shouldn't be to difficult.  Here's a pic for now... Next update, the engine and tranny removal.

Happy Holidays,
Lou



   

[Roger Zimmermann #21015]

Hi Lou!

It seems that there are also holes in the rear passsenger's floor, near the tunel. With a '55 coupe floor, you will have an easy job!
Roger

[South_paw]

Roger,

Yes, having the coupe floor will make things a lot easier. The driver side rear foot well / tunnel area will be replaced. I find it very odd the way the floors in these Cadillac's rust out. The passenger side front floor is rusted out, but the drivers side front is good Usually it's the drivers side that is the first to go. And the rear tunnel area makes no sense. There is no spot welds to accelerate the rust. Anyway, I'm glad it is being restored now, if this rust was left unattended to for a few more years the car may have been a goner.  Here's some better pics of the floor rust

In this first pic, notice how the driver side is in good shape but the pass side is a mess (that black spot by the gas pedal is a piece of tape)


and the reverse is true in the rear, driver side is bad but the pass side is good! Go figure