Build Thread: 1937 LaSalle / Family Hot Rod

[37 Caddy]

I have been lousy about posting lately because I have been too busy thrashing on the car to get it ready for the Goodguys show in Phoenix the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Today I decided to attempt to start it myself. I had planned on having a shop that I trust do the initial start up, but as I have worked on it more and more I have become more confident. And I am glad I did. After wiring the fuel pump correctly I turned the key and it came back to life after being dormant for over a year.

Thank you for all the help. I will try to be better about posting as I finish it up and get it on the road.

Here is a link to some video. I still have that same smile on my face hours later.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/2.../video/6767697

[randyr]

I have been lousy about posting lately because I have been too busy thrashing on the car to get it ready for the Goodguys show in Phoenix the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Today I decided to attempt to start it myself. I had planned on having a shop that I trust do the initial start up, but as I have worked on it more and more I have become more confident. And I am glad I did. After wiring the fuel pump correctly I turned the key and it came back to life after being dormant for over a year.

Thank you for all the help. I will try to be better about posting as I finish it up and get it on the road.

Here is a link to some video. I still have that same smile on my face hours later.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/2.../video/6767697

Congrats!!! What a great car! I look forward to the day when I can fire mine up too! Keep us posted on your progress...

[37 Caddy]

I can't believe it has been nearly a year since I last posted. I did get the car on the road in time for the Goodguys show last November, but had some difficulties and spent a good deal of time "working out the kinks. There are great stories to go with all of these but I have:
1. reinstalled the driveshaft (after picking it up off the street),
2. addressed the rear suspension and made some more room for the rear tires (blown tire/heavy father-in-law),
3. replaced the transmission (learned a lot about common mistakes with automatic transmissions),
4. installed a transmission cooler (still learning about transmissions),
5. added an access panel to the trunk from the cab (important stuff locked in trunk)
6. added a radiator overflow tank (at least there wasn't a leak)
7. installed an emergency brake using the original handle (I had to make it more difficult for myself)

...and now I can hopefully make some real progress.

After fixing and redoing alot of things I chose to tackle a project with some more immediate gratification...upholstery.
3 qtr prog pic 0810.jpg

[37 Caddy]

So here is my first attempts at upholstery. I am working from the back to the front. I had to do a great deal of woodworking to get to this point and then I bought a whole role of tan vinyl to start wrapping stuff with. When it comes time to start sewing stuff I will call in a friend to make the foam and leather from a 2004 Bravada work in my 73 year old car.

Here are the before pics of the package tray and the bare back seat. There is also a picture that shows how I recessed a pocket for the rear speakers to make them mount flush. I chose to make an upholstered speaker grill so that I could get access to the speakers without disassmbling the entire interior.

rear uph bare.jpg

rear uph pre pack tray.jpg

uph pack tray pieces bare.jpg

uph speaker recess pack tray.jpg

[37 Caddy]

Here is what some of the finished product looks like and a mockup of one side of the seat. You may also notice that I used a thinner luan lumber for the speaker grill. I wish I had taken some pictures of the armrests in their raw wood state, I am really proud of the way they came together. The armrests required a number of complex curves and molding to the body contours. I don't have a picture of it, but I have punched a pattern of holes in the vinyl for the speakers.
uph rear pack tray complete.jpg

uph rear seat progress 2.jpg

uph rear seat progress 1.jpg

[37 Caddy]

Since this is the family hot rod, it will need to be equipped to latch in some car seats. So before I went any further I need latching brackets. So that is what I started working on tonight. I bent some 1/4 inch rod into a rectangular shape, cut some grooves in a 2 in wide piece of 1/8 in flat stock and welded it rock solid. I will have pictures for you tomorrow.(The wife is going out of town tomorrow so I can stay up late and work in the garage.)

This was also the first night that it was comfortable to work in the garage. Temperatures were below a hundred here today, that is big deal for us in AZ.

Jay