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Globie64 · 05-17-2005, 01:39 PM

Thanks for the brake info! I've recently found another hardtop to obsess about... behind a building I'm working on in Berkeley, there is a, like, a '58, Mercedes 300 hardtop, the big pillarless Adenauer one. Looks kind of forlorn but intact. Now THERE is a fabulous tow car to sink some serious dough into. In real life, our next vehicular purchase is a new Honda Ridgeline. It'll tow 5000 pounds and should handle well and be reliable. Someday my Mopar will come.

take care

Peter

**Action** · 05-18-2005, 11:35 AM

This is a shot at night.

The Merc and my Overlander.

safari57 · 05-24-2005, 08:37 PM

For those with vintage cars who want disc brake conversions these folks out of Seattle seem to have a wide range of conversion kits. Here's one example listed on eBay and from that you can get other details. It's for mid sixties Chryslers and thinking about the wagon noted earlier as in need of discs, here's an option.

1965-72 Dodge, Plymouth front disc brake conversionItem number: 7976111862

Rodger with a D · 05-31-2005, 09:10 AM

Hola

On this site there is a copy of the 1965 Motorcade Magazine's report on using a '65 Dodge sedan to pull a 27' AS. The package of the car and trailer stopped straighter and shorter with the trailer hooked up to the car. The car was not modified in any manner.

There is a booklet that vehicle dealers get called "The Data Booklet" that comes from Ross. In the booklet it shows the stopping distance of the vehicle in question and its competers. The data printed about my 1963 Coachworks Le Baron ( not an Imperial ) shows it stops way before the best Caddy and both of these cars stop about a half mile before any Linclon.

Rodger & Gabby
Colo Spgs

overlander64 · 06-16-2005, 11:13 PM

The '75 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible and '78 Minuet 6.0 Metre were finally united in full-travel mode earlier today. In preliminary tests with an essetnially empty Minuet and no towing equipment in the trunk of the Eldorado all went well with both car and trailer. Today, when the Minuet was loaded for the Wagon Wheels Caravan to the WBCCI International, the combination only made it five miles before the rear tires began rubbing on the inner fenderwell

and the front tires rubbed on the fender

whenever a tight corner was encountered.

I am beginning to think that trying to tow with this particular car was not a good idea -- it became clear after sourcing 12 wheels from salvage yards that finding a true and round OEM wheel was virtually out of the question (I needed four to replace the bent and out-of-round wheels on the car and ended up with two good wheels out of the 12 salvage yard wheels that I had inspected). The custom wheels are the only ones that could be found (after five months of searching) that were even close to the offset specifications of the originals, but the width of the wheel is just enough greater than stock to cause suspension travel difficulties when the trailer is hitched with the weight distribution bars adjusted.

The pair really garnered many stares on our brief 5+ mile roundtrip.

A set of four of these custom wheels were nearly as much as I paid for the car when I purchased it in 1995!

I guess that it will be back to the custom shop to see what, if anything, might be done to increase clearances without modifying the body panels.

Kevin

**Action** · 06-16-2005, 11:38 PM

Is there anything on the Caddie to lift it a tad?

>>>>>>>>>>Action

Silvertwinkie · 06-17-2005, 06:23 AM

Man, a thread I really, really like...those are some great cars you all have. I wish I had more real estate, cause I'd love to have a few more toys in my toybox.

overlander64 · 06-17-2005, 08:51 AM

Greetings Action!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

Is there anything on the Caddie to lift it a tad?

>>>>>>>>>>Action

The front torsion bars have been adjusted to their maximum height (after having a fabricator rebuild the obsolete adjustment mechanisms that had failed after 30 years and 110,000 miles). The front end has been completely rebuilt including top quality gas charged heavy duty shocks. In the rear, new Cargo Coil heavy duty springs have been installed along with new level-ride air shocks (the car has factory level ride) and Air Lift Air Springs -- the shocks are inflated to their minimum setting and the Air Lifts have been adjusted to 20 p.s.i. (15 p.s.i is minimum while 35 p.s.i. is maximum) -- with those settings, the car experienced no problem with the near empty coach -- I tried varying the settings and found that more pressure in either the shocks or air springs resulted in more problems with rubbing on the front fenders while any less pressure resulted in more rubbing in the rear.

The custom shop mechanic with whom I have been working on this project assures me that he can solve the problem, but I am becoming a little skeptical. I probably should have spent the money on restoring my '65 Dodge Coronet Convertible (383 c.i. V8 HP with 3.90 differential) for tow duty -- I don't think it would have been much more expensive than these strange problems with the Cadillac have been -- the Coronet was my regular tow vehicle until the early 1990s -- its only downfall was lack of air conditioning.

Kevin

**Action** · 06-17-2005, 11:35 AM

So there is a rub???!!!! LOL

Good luck to your re-engineering issue.

I can relate to you on the lack of A/C. I am in the market for a period tow vehicle. Even though my Merc is up for the job, I have a dream. And it's of the convertible type. I have never owned a vehicle that had a rag top. The closest I have come is moon roof. My Mark has one and my Wife's car does too. So I am in the throws of shopping for a 1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible. When I land one I will post pics.

(in a whisper --- and I am close to making a deal)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

wkerfoot · 06-17-2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action

... I am in the market for a period tow vehicle. Even though my Merc is up for the job, I have a dream. And it's of the convertible type. I have never owned a vehicle that had a rag top. The closest I have come is moon roof. My Mark has one and my Wife's car does too. So I am in the throws of shopping for a 1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible. When I land one I will post pics.

(in a whisper --- and I am close to making a deal)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Excellent, my dream tow vehicle is a 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible. I hope you are successfull.

BTW, how hot is it in Phoenix, we are leaving tomorrow morning for Tampa and the 1954 Liner. Tell me which side of I10 you are on and I will wave on the way through. Will be back throught Phoenix in two weeks and will wave again.

Bill

**Action** · 06-17-2005, 03:56 PM

It has been a very mild summer so far. (My wife is preganent and very gratefull) In the afternoon it will be getting to just over 100. Next week (which has the longest daylight of the year) it should get to 107 to 109. Rather low compared to many years of 100 teens (or higher) for this time of year. The winter with all of the rain has filled all of the lakes so the drought is over. We are very happy here.

I live on the north side of I-10. Just north and east of the airport. When you past the AZ 143 Hohokam freeway exit, that is the time to waive. BTW the 143 has got to be the shortest freeway I have ever seen 3 miles in total lenght. I live 1 mile north of it's northern end.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

Van · 06-17-2005, 06:59 PM

My inlaws '73 Safari and '55 Ford C60...

C Johnson · 06-17-2005, 08:35 PM

This is for short trips only but I think it will tow the Caravel just fine. It has a 260 V8 in it. I also have an equalizer hitch for it.

Ken J · 06-17-2005, 08:38 PM

Cool - looks like its getting ready for a paint job - you could paint it silver

C Johnson · 06-17-2005, 08:40 PM

Hi Ken, It's getting hunter green with a tan interior and a black top.

Globie64 · 06-24-2005, 11:35 AM

With the Eldorado, it sounds like there is some kind of camber issue with the rear wheels when your towing the loaded trailer, and the rear wheels scrape the wheel wells? I wonder if this would be true for other tow cars with independent rear suspension... like Toronados? We are going to be buying a Honda Ridgeline shortly to tow the Globetrotter, and it has irs, but it is rated to tow 5k. We'll see how well it works. If not, we still have the Ranger.

Peter

overlander64 · 07-05-2005, 11:08 PM

Greetings Peter!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Globie64

With the Eldorado, it sounds like there is some kind of camber issue with the rear wheels when your towing the loaded trailer, and the rear wheels scrape the wheel wells? I wonder if this would be true for other tow cars with independent rear suspension... like Toronados? We are going to be buying a Honda Ridgeline shortly to tow the Globetrotter, and it has irs, but it is rated to tow 5k. We'll see how well it works. If not, we still have the Ranger.

Peter

The problem with my Eldorado isn't so much with rear wheel camber -- it is with the aftermarket wheels that were necessitated when straight, true running OEM wheels could not be located -- GM discontinued them several years ago, and due to the small numbers involved, the aftermarket doesn't readily support them (the wheel was used only on 1966-1978 Oldsmobile Tornados and 1968-1978 Cadillac Eldoroados) and is subject to being bent whenever a curb in forcefully scraped. In a salvage yard search two years ago, I was only able to locate two good wheels out of more than a dozen inspected. Boyd Coddington was the only one who was willing to manufacture a wheel that was even "close" to original specifications and that wheel is larger in diamter as well as width with a very small difference in offset -- it is the width compounded by the slight difference in offset that is causing the trouble with clearances when towing.

I have about given up on the custom wheels and may just endure the constant shaking with the four best of the OEM wheels and use the car to tow the Minuet to the Rocky Mountain Rally later this month. The Eldorado made it ten miles with the configuration shown below (this photo was taken just after I pulled back into the driveway after deciding that it wasn't going to make it to the International Rally as one or more tires would rub at each railroad crossing or pothole):

Kevin

jordandvm · 07-06-2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

My inlaws '73 Safari and '55 Ford C60...

Van,
Wern't you at the Lincoln City Oregon Unit/Western Oregon Unit joint rally in April? We were formally inducted into the WOU at the Sat evening dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet you and see your setup

. It looks really kewl! I did visit with you briefly when you were headed out.....and if I remember right you mentioned to me it's OK for short trips, but a gas hog for longer trips (400+HP?). Another reason to get some AS forums decals to help us identify each other. Maybe you can make the Beverly Beach Rally in October.....we'll be there, and maybe we can see your AS then!

Rodger with a D · 07-21-2005, 11:20 PM

Hola

I am going to have another tow vehicle to pull our 1970 27' Overlander with the International package.

I have found a 1962 Imperial Crown Coupe to now do the honors ( one of 1,010 ). Push the button and you will find all glass is electric powered and tinted ( even the wing windows ). Push the button this way or that way and the seat is six way powered. Push the button and the trunk lid pops open. You get the ideal and etc, etc.

Press the foot a little to quick and hear the 413's torque and watch out for debrie from both of the rear tires since the rear axle assembly is the Sure-Grip.

Rodger & Gabby
Colo Spgs

wkerfoot · 07-22-2005, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger with a D

Hola

I am going to have another tow vehicle to pull our 1970 27' Overlander with the International package.

I have found a 1962 Imperial Crown Coupe to now do the honors ( one of 1,010 ). Push the button and you will find all glass is electric powered and tinted ( even the wing windows ). Push the button this way or that way and the seat is six way powered. Push the button and the trunk lid pops open. You get the ideal and etc, etc.

Press the foot a little to quick and hear the 413's torque and watch out for debrie from both of the rear tires since the rear axle assembly is the Sure-Grip.

Rodger & Gabby
Colo Spgs

Fantastic, how about a picture?

Bill