Dick Hansen & Eldoda Yule, 2003
see May '05 Up Date Below 1st Article
Remote Cigar Lighter & Work Aluminum Crankcase With Bolt-on
Light on 12' Cord, Light stored Cast Iron Cylinder Blocks and Heads.
on Firewall.
Brass Gauge and Silver Ball Atop Float
in the Crankcase Showing Oil Level.
There is an air compressor driven off the
transmission and accessed through in the
floor under the driver's legs.
The wheel's sprocket like internal teeth engage the hubs external teeth,
all held together by a nut tightened by a spanner wrench with a locking device.
All the wood work was done by Dick by hand from the correct selected woods.
Dick Hansen has been lovingly restoring a 1929 Cadillac 8660 Town Sedan since July of ’99. This car came to Dick from Cliff Anderson, one of the founders of our NorthStar Region of the Cadillac LaSalle Club, as a “project.” Dick is a real-estate broker, but, has also been a Licensed Aircraft Mechanic and ASE Certified Master Automotive Mechanic, great credentials for restoring this Cadillac.
Dick got off to a slow start as he was limited to the cramped quarters of a townhouse garage. This also caused him to store the car winters the first few years. Then he spotted the place he's in now, which is a four car, plus work shop, heated and well lit, garage with high and wide doors. Oh yes, there's a lovely home attached too. He bought the garage and attached home on "the spur of the moment" and shifted momentum on the '29 into OD. He has also attended swap meets all over the country, including Hershey, PA, plus spent countless hours on the Internet and communicating with fellow CLC members all over the country. His travels also included visits to similar cars in, of all places, Mandan and Minot, ND.
The car itself has an impressive list of unique and extremely interesting design features including:
- There is a cigar lighter that pulls out from a fixture on the dash. It has a 12’ cord so you can light your favorite smoke anywhere in the car. There is also a plug-in light assembly for late night exploring in the cabin. You simply detach the cigar lighter and replace it with the light fixture. When in storage, the light resides on the cowl where a push and twist turns it on for under hood illumination. Dick found the original parts, un-restored, for this accessory on E-bay.
- There is an air compressor driven off the transmission and accessed through a door in the floor under the driver's legs. Actuated with the turn of a screw, when the transmission in neutral and the engine is at idle, the compressor allows you to inflate your own tires.
- All the wiring is run in stainless steel Romex type Conduit. There are strategically located electrical junction boxes Dick made himself from scratch as the originals were rusted beyond recovery. This is a more than a little bit challenging sheet metal operation.
- The power plant consists of an aluminum crankcase with bolt-on cast iron cylinder blocks and heads, Porcelain coated exhaust manifolds, updraft carburetor, ROLLER TAPPET CAMSHAFT and enclosed chain drive water pump and generator.
-A built in oil pump in the fan mounting housing is yet another interesting detail. It maintains constant lubrication to the fan drive bushings, which Dick said showed zero wear when he inspected them, indicating the system works well.
-The engine has no dipstick. It has a float in the crankcase. Atop the float is a rod with a ball on the end indicating the crankcase oil level when lined up visually with a brass gauge strip.
-There is also an oil filter which was one of many innovations Cadillac is credited with bringing to the automotive industry.
-The headlight switch, which Dick rebuilt and made contacts for himself, and hand throttle, are at the bottom end of the steering column assembly and operated from the center of the steering wheel.
- An engine driven vacuum pump assists the natural engine vacuum to operate the vacuum operated fuel pump. Dick assumes the boost to vacuum would be required when pulling long and/or steep grades as the engine vacuum would be low and the need for fuel delivery high. He's heard that, at best, the fuel mileage is in the single digits even on level roads.
- All the doors are metal over White Ash wood structure as are other body panels. The window frames are beautiful, rich, Walnut. All these structures were hand-built by Dick. Norm Abrams of "This Old House" and "The New Yankee Workshop" has nothing on Dick.
-The lug wrench has a spring loaded lock that sets into the wheel hub. The back of the wheel engages the hub/brake assembly by a gear type device.
Dick has the dedication, craftsmanship, artistry, inventiveness, research and above all patience to complete this project and have a 100 point car.
Roy Boone, Herald Columnist & Club Webmaster
MAY '05 UP DATE
Holy Smokes, time flies, we’re back with Dick Hansen & Eloda Yule. You might remember we wrote about the ’29 Town Sedan Model 8660 being restored. The story is on our website “northstarcadillac.org” under “Featured Members”. Read it and study the pictures first and this follow up article will be more meaningful to you. I thought it about time I invite myself over for another fantastic lunch so here’s the follow up story.
It’s come a long baby. It motivates on its own (even though the seat is a milk case), it’s painted a beautiful two tone burgundy (actually Regent Maroon) & black, and it has a headliner and half the front seat is upholstered in a rich burgundy. The more Dick talks about his labor of love the more unique features come to light. For instance:
Now its time for lunch, what I really came here for in the first place. Thank You AGAIN Eloda.
Roy Boone, Herald Columnist & Club Webmaster
Ramblin Roy's Ramblings, June '05 Herald