77 Cadillac Eldorado Radio exchange

[tsmith1315]

I looked at a 60 caddy once, original owner had it. I'm not into that kind of car, but for some reason I liked it.

That's because it was a coherent design. They'd shrunk the fins and squared things a bit. Cadillac was still very proud of their vehicles then. Attention to detail and build quality was great.
Only a couple of years earlier, the Eldorado Brougham at $13K (?, thereabouts, anyway) was the most expensive production car. Ferrari's flagship 174mph Daytona (equivalent to Enzo today) was about that price around '70.

I prefer the late 60's models because of the powerplants. 472 cu in with 375HP, 500 cu in with 400HP in your mother's car? Yep. And they can smoke the tires for what seems like eternity. Ahh, to be young again...
It's taken decades to get back to that kind of horsepower.


Sdoom,

radio with CD changer control that would directly bolt into the stock radio place. Also the knobs could be used.

It looks like you're aware of the knob issue in these old GM cars, just be sure the shafts are correct length to fit or they provide knobs to fit the recess.

Have you taken the stock HU out yet?

Tim

[sdoom]

not yet, I know it´ll probably be a time-consuming job. right now I´m recovering from a hernia surgery. Will be working on the Caddi during spring and summer when it´s getting warmer , right now hands fall off while working outside .

[sdoom]

Hi Guys,

took a "little longer" than expected.... had some major problems with the breakes and had to replace all calipers and the booster unit. While fixing the breakes I found the gas tank leaking ... and stuff went on and on. But finally i got all tghe legal stuff done and the car is back on the road.

Three weeks ago I started fixing the electrical components and also got the radio out off the car. Got some new ESX - speakers for the front. I am planning to place some 6" speakers into the bottom of the front panels . the rear 6x9" speakers also need to be replaced. Not sure if I put a woofer in, maybe when time comes ;-)

But to get back to the original topic, I now ordered a new head unit. That would be the USA-630. Bolts directly into the dashboard, custom auto sound told me the stock knobs could be used as the "rear" knobs have the half-moon shapes and the front knobs are bolt onto the radio axels with small screws. Hope the head unit will arrive soon.

[DigitalJunkie]

A friend of mine has a '68 Sedan De Ville with the 472,beast of a car,and a beast of an engine.. We'd always tease him about his "monkey under the hood with a bucket of gas,pouring it down the intake manifold".. sucked gas,but would just bake the tires off.
It would really get up and scoot,for such a big heavy car.

[sdoom]

Yea I know, I was once passenger in an early 70 Eldorado. Our car is "lacking" some horsepower as it uses the "oil crisis engine" , actaully with a remanufactured Rocherster carb gas milage is not so bad for a 30 year old car. But it still goes quite well and at least I am not a traffic block

Hope the radio comes soon, want to put the front together .

[sdoom]

That´s how the "Vintage Car Radio USA - 630" looks inside our Eldo

Had to drill out the stock knobs but now they fit and work perfectly




Thanks again for help guys !!!

[tsmith1315]

Good job! Did your factory radio have the outboard amp attached?

Looks like you've got yourself a nice one. The old dash still looks great, steering wheel trim, leather, etc. Cool ride.

[sdoom]

I think so, those must be the power transistors that are mounted into the heatsink.



Well yes, there are a few cracks on the upper and lower dash panel but the repair shop really asks for a lot of money for a repair.

But this year we were back on the road again , and that safely. had to buy three brake boosters (hydroboost system) , first one didn´t operate, the second didn´t have the failover option and the third now installed works (but leaks), but on the brake - tester the Eldo has more stopping power than my Lexus SC430 on the front brakes I´ll order the next brake booster in USA directly, so far everything I ordered from rockauto.com worked perfectly and almost everything I got overhere failed.

Installed new 2,5" speakers in the front , the stock speakers looked like this



Tried to install new rear speakers in December but the magnet of the new speakers is too large and that causes the rear seat not to be pushed into it´s hooks So i´ll look and see what i can find to install there. It´s a convertible and so I need that space clear for the roof . but the year just started and maybe by summer I can install more stuff and subs into the trunk , GM was so nice to provide some space in the rear ....