I have ?'s that desperatly need answered

[Khakushia]

So my finance coned me into buy a 74 Cadillac S&S Hearse. I am ok with that. It wasn't on top of my list since I have 3 other trucks i am currently restoring but she wanted a daily driver and well a hearse is right up my ally anyway. So we pick up the hearse, bring it home and i proceeded to give it a good "once over" since it has been sitting for a little while. I got a list of parts that need replaced and a hand full of things that need to be worked on. The problem i am having is that when i go somewhere to get parts they have no idea what i am looking for. So based on what i have found i have a 1974 Cadillac commercial chassis. A commercial chassis is not an option to choose from. When it comes to body parts or interior parts "carpet, gauges, hood hinges, ect" what should i tell them.

Is there any websites out there that make repro parts for cars this old?

Where would i find things like emergency brake cables, hood hinges, tail light lenses, trim pieces.

thinking of updating the electrical wiring any suggestions on vendor

Where can i find a spec sheet on this car "engine size, fuel tank size, weight, all the goodies like that.

Is there a way to fix the clock that is embedded into the dash.

Is the hearse considered a fleetwood?

what parts could be interchanged with other Cadillac's


obviously any help would be grateful

[60Crown]

Where to start...

Coaches are builder specific from the A pillar back. That means other Cadillac CC sheetmetal will interchange from the A pillar forward, including dash. Hood hinges are standard Cadillac (which happen to be a problem part). Front carpet is standard Cadillac. Gauges are standard Cadillac. Engine is - you guessed it - standard Cadillac 472 (which any parts monkey should have been able to tell). Unless you're proficient at osmosis, the clock is coming out of the dash to repair - doesn't sound like it is a priority though.

Sometimes telling parts monkeys at box stores Series 75 LIMO helps. No, it isn't a Fleetwood.

Trim is S&S specific. It may be the same from '71-'76, may be '74-'76. Another member more familiar with S&S of this vintage will know. Want other parts that interchange? Find an S&S parts car. Forget about reproduction pieces for the most part, that's the reality.

Pics help. Post them. Let others here see what else your "etc" refers to. Also fill in profile or relay your location to learn who else may bein your area that can help.

[Khakushia]

thanks for the information. as soon as i get a chance i will post some pictures and update everything.

[Dr.Feelgood]

Your location says Ohio, You might want to call this place; http://www.cwcoach.com/ or shoot them an email. They still sell parts for these old coaches. You might be able to find some harder to find parts like the E-brake cables or maybe some trim.
Most tail lights are the same on coaches and regular Cads, your '74's should fit just fine.
If you cant get an Ebrake cable, you could make one, get 2 from a junk yard and hook them together to make the appropriate size.
Good luck!

[Abnorml]

The actual tail lights (ones in the bumper) on 74 coaches are not Cadillac. I think they are Chevy wagon. Not easy to find the lenses, so I've heard.

[Khakushia]

ok thats good to know. so heres a question.... how would i go about finding someone to recover the vinyl on the top of the car. stiches came undone and started to rust to top out.

i checked out the cwcoach.com so far they dont seem to have what i need but i will make sure to keep an eye out.

[Dr.Feelgood]

Did you call CWcoaches? They dont advertise their parts online, only vehicles for sale. You need to call them with a parts list. As for the vinyl top, any auto upholstery shop can do it.

[Khakushia]

oh..... ok i guess i shall give them a call then.

[BIGEVIL]

Also common to redo the top with spray on bedliner. Check previous posts.
You can buy the kit yourself or have it professionally done depending on budget.

Most NAPA and CarQuest have a break out listings for commercial/limo chassis when ordering chassis parts.

[Khakushia]

yeah in regards to the top i was actually checking out the entire forum last night and i saw a few of the cars that had the bedliner done. yes it does look good from a distance but i wouldnt want to have the raised bumps on the roof. what i need is something that is strong like the bed liner and shinny like vinyl when you polish it.


i havent checked out any napa or carquest websites yet i will make sure to give them a call.

as soon as the weather warms up i plan on going on a junk yard crawl making a day out of it. driving to a bunch of older junk yards checking out the inventory gathering up any parts i need or dont need. with 6 vehicles i am sure to find something that strikes my fancy

i am an ADDICT i dont drink, i dont do drugs, i just collect old vehicles ...... it just so happens my addiction is a little harder to hide.

[Dickey]

Might consider coating the roof in fiberglass resin. Can't really do it in the cold, but spring is just around the corner and that would be a durable, sandable surface that you could paint whatever shiny color you like.

[60Crown]

There is actually an upholstery shop in NC that is currently becoming a distributor for vinyl hearse roofs. Everything is being set up now and I'll post as more info becomes available.

He's building up pattern stock and needs bad tops sent in. Goal is too offer affordable ready made tops as original that can be then taken to a local fitter or installed at home. Hidden stitch, waterproof, etc. There's probably more that I'm forgetting.

[hotroddwayne]

Awesome! Another Ohio hearse fanatic!
(Cuyahoga Falls huh? I did a hearse rental there Halloween 2010 for a wedding)

[Khakushia]

yeah now that i have semi working brakes i been driving around for a couple minutes everyday after work. i love the looks from people. not that its new to me since i have my septum pierced and a long goatee but now i can laugh while driving past the school and all the soccer moms... good times.



so while driving around i am noticing a lack of power. i figured with a 472 i would be able to some what romp on it and get a little bit of a tire spin. instead i get stalled out. now this car has been sitting for a little while. i been going to autozone on a daily basis getting parts for her but i am running out of ideas for parts so this is what i have done so far...

new air filter
changed the oil and new filter
all new brake hoses..... desperately needed

the car has only 58,000 miles on it. but its take forever to get it to start. what should i do next to help her out? new fuel filter is next on my list as soon as i can find it

rebuild the carb?
pcv valve
just give a carb a need soaking

[hotroddwayne]

Reah rebuild the carb, it's probably a Rochester Quadrajet... so I wish you luck. Hard starts are usually from the carb bleeding off, so what I do is buy a kit and only replace the needle & seat and the accelerator pump and that usually will revive a Quadrajet. Be sure to check the float level with the ruler provided in the kit.

Before you rebuild the carb, take off the air cleaner and check for vacuum leaks. Yours will be a nightmare of vacuum hoses but look them over good. Brittle, cracked hoses rob so much performance. After you know your vacuum lines are good, start the car and let it idle. Run the air/fuel mixture screws in (one at a time) until the engine begins to starve, then back that screw out 1/4 turn from the point of starving the carb, and repeat with the other screw. If it makes no change running each screw in all the way at idle, your carb is truly huffed & needs rebuilt.

Next, check your timing and adjust it if needed. If the quick carb tune-up and timing doesn't help performance then rebuild the carb. Your hard start and bogging/stalling when you romp on it tells me the accelerator pump is shot... which is typical. The accelerator pump is a plunger with a leather seal (sometimes rubber) within the carb, you'll see it when you take the top off of the carb. Before you go to buy a kit, write down the numbers off of the metal tags that are usually under the top screws of the carb, and there's usually numbers stamped into the carb housing on a flat surface near the fuel inlet. Good luck man!