68 Cadillac MM Combo (Restore thread)

[Blake Sherwin]

After doing some research I think someone must have put an Ecco light under my dome. Glad I asked because I ignorantly assumed it was original, because...why would someone swap it out? Well apparently someone did huh

 

[Blake Sherwin]

Here Ron, i took some interior pictures for you. Also i took some pictures of the zippered headliner for the siren.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

the cotton threads have rotted out. standard problem. now if it is good and the head liner not torn up a curved needle and some dental floss will put if back in. it would look like they did not have a light on the car originally. not unusual as a number of combo were not use for ambulance duty the double hole one for the wire one for the bolt was not factory. factory would have run the power lead threw a hollow bolt.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

it would look something like this. this is one a made up for my 72. it has a factory set up on it now. the light would ground threw the shaft so that when you tighten up the wind nut you complacent the circuit

 

[Ron Devies]

Cot Bar

The interior is like new, just needs a little elbow grease. You have the mounts for the cot bar, but you need the actual cot bar and of course the cot. If you watch ebay, often you can find a model 30 cot and sometimes if your lucky it ends up being local where you can pick it up.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Looking at that picture again you might be luckly. It looks like the wire for that light is in a hollow bolt that is broken off and they just drilled another hole to mount the light.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Now that heat damage flooring can be brought back to life. The armstrong pattern is cast all the way threw it. You can sand off the damage and save the flooring. Start with as course a wet and dry paper as you can get the work your way up to finer paper and polish it back. There was most likely something made of metal setting there and it heated up in the closed car in the sun. One more reasion to keep a window cracked and the car covered.

 

[Blake Sherwin]

I will try to take it off this weekend. Question though, if I remove the light is water going to get inside through the roof? Or will I need to get a similar size bolt to put in its place to fill the hole?

 

[Russell Street]

I will try to take it off this weekend. Question though, if I remove the light is water going to get inside through the roof? Or will I need to get a similar size bolt to put in its place to fill the hole?

Duct tape.

 

[Blake Sherwin]

Got it off, thanks

 

[John ED Renstrom]

it looks all homemade. globe and skirt are all that is federal

 

[Russell Street]

You really ought to send that light to Ed and let him work his magic on it. Well worth whatever it costs.

 

[Nicholas Studer]

Agree with above. That's cobbled-together for sure. The mount is very odd...

Recommend you chat with Gary Cahill at Rescue Market and get a red Model 17 from him. That'd be most common for your car, and look great. I have had a very good experience with his service for lights. https://rescuemarket.com/shop?olsPage=t/federal-beacon-ray-lights

My recommendation for sirens is my good friend Kevin O'Connell. His offer of a Model 28 is one you should jump on immediately. Kevin is nearly underwater with work all the time - and the siren business is his "side gig." If he has a 28 he can sell you- I'd pay yesterday. Kevin brings these sirens to "better than new" condition and are absolutely authentic.

 

[Ron Devies]

Blake I am still holding out for a 175 hill light but anything would be better than what you have.

 

[Paul Steinberg]

I have a few "guts" that are complete and can fit into that skirt, assuming that it is the later diameter. I would need a measurement of the diameter of the opening to know which it is. If it is the older "narrow" opening, then you are limited to the model 17. If it is the newer "larger" opening, then you can use any of the different "guts". The old narrow lenses have been discontinued many years ago, and I only know of one source for them. The larger diameter lens is still available from Federal, and they are reasonably priced. Putting together a beacon light isn't rocket science, and it is as simple as putting 3 screws into the 3 holes in the skirt. If you still want to have a demountable base, then that will be a little more work, but once again, it isn't rocket science. If you know how to turn a screw driver, you are golden.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

in fact here are the guts you need. this is the the federal set up if you bought the light ready to go from them. not of the manufactures did that. but a few such as Eureka and Superior did there own thing. the first set up is Federal the mount base was the same on all the bubble gum lights. they would change the shaft and the bulb holders to get the different lights but the main guts were the same. in these three pictures first is the federal set up next is how eureka did it and eh last is superior. they were the only one to us the hot shoe that i know of.

Ron if your holding out for a 175 I have one that needs a new home. everything I have here has a 173 on it. I find the 175 a bit to much for this old guy to take on and off.

 

[Blake Sherwin]

Thanks everyone. Over the weekend I tried a clay bar on that vinyl residue and I got one letter off but it took a very long time. I was suggested to use starting fluid so I sprayed starting fluid on towel and to my surprise that took the residue right off.

Before and after pictures attached

 

[Ron Devies]

Now go over the car with a clay bar now that you have the glue off.

 

[Blake Sherwin]

I was off and it was nice, so i thought "why not". I also was able to tell my wife later "see? it does fit in the stalls"

 

[Blake Sherwin]

Per request, here are pictures of my dash