Re: Cadillac owners

Posted by Loyd Smith On 2008/12/19 11:00:55

John is entirely right about the V-4,6,8 engine but he's about ten years off. These did not manifest until around '84.

I owned a '74 Eldorado, though not a convertible. As I recall, it had a 500 cu. in. V8. My wife (of the time) had a habit of running over curbs, etc. with it and, yes, the CV joints were expensive and, being driven as it was, it was almost impossible to keep the front end aligned and I bought a lot of tires. The only problems that I had with the car (not caused by the way it was driven) were (1) the speed control went out early on (diaphragm, if I recall) and (2)the padded top retained water causing early rusting/discolouration problems on the rear upper quarter panels (convertibles wouldn't be subject to this). The doors are incredibly long and heavy. The car did not drive badly, in spite of being very front-end heavy but, if you ever get a rear tire out of balance or out of round - or rotate a slightly bent (from running over a kerb!?!?) wheel to the rear, you'll know it immediately.