Disasterous Cleveland Trip

Ron Devies

Ron Devies

PCS Ohio Chapter President PCS Past Vice President
Today the local CLC chapter held the Gathering of the Land Yachts at the Nautica parking lot in the Cleveland Flats. It was a beautiful day. Traveling home in the Superior 54" the left rear tire blew. It blew with such force it blew off the hub cap and fender skirt. The tire shredded and the fender skirt was smashed beyond repair by I-77 traffic. The hubcap was not found. On top of it all this happened on a bridge and I had to travel over one hundred yards on the rim to get out of traffic. Does anyone know where I can get a 75 Cadillac left side fender skirt? I am also going to need a replacement hubcap. It even blew the mounds on the car off so the car will be taking a trip to the body shop.
I have to thank Shawn Byler and his buddy to stop and check on us and a HUGE THANK YOU to Carl and Kyle Thompson. Carl and Kyle stopped, took me to look for the fender skirt and hubcap, took us to meet the wrecker at a gas station then took a tire off of their 59 limo and put it on our car so we could limp it to their house. Once there, they loaned us Kyle's car to get home. Carl is taking the high top to his favorite tire store tomorrow to get a new tire on it. That is what is so great about this club is it's members come through and help each other in desperate times.:applause:
 
The help of a few friends can definitely make a bad trip a little better. Glad you guys made it home. Hope you can find what you need to put the car back together.
 
That your safe and sound is the best part of the story,once the word is out should be able to get replacement parts,when Russ the (Michigan Mountie) and I were returning from Milwaukee his hubcap came off on the Chicago freeway,he suggested I run back and dodge 5 lanes of traffic to retrieve it,such a funny man,Best of luck Ron...
 
Hey Doug, that left fender skirt on your car really wasn't there, I just loaned you that one, can I get it back? :rolleyes:
 
A fender skirt from 1971 through 1976 should work. I know where there is one, but I might need bail money if I go to get it for you. Wheel covers are a lot easier to find, and less expensive.
Remember, you are not supposed to use radial tires beyond their expected life of 8 years.
 
Does a standard 75 Cadillac skirt work or was that a customized thing Superior modified?
 
This is lousy Ron. Looks like there is a good support system here. I take my fender skirts off before I travel the freeway. I also have a pare freshly painted pair, thanks to Ed in reserve, as well as hubcaps. I will also be putting bias ply tires back on my 63, and Jen's 66 Mustang.
 
Brendan Martin said:
This is lousy Ron. Looks like there is a good support system here. I take my fender skirts off before I travel the freeway. I also have a pare freshly painted pair, thanks to Ed in reserve, as well as hubcaps. I will also be putting bias ply tires back on my 63, and Jen's 66 Mustang.
Click to expand...

Good call Brendan! As Ed said, "radial tires will kill us all"!
 
If All Things Come Together

If all things pan out, I have another set of fender skirts coming, five hubcaps, I still will have to go to the body shop to have skirt fasteners re-attached, skirts will likely need to be painted. While we are at it I guess I will have that rusty quarter panel addressed too
Now I am confused, which is better radial or bias?
 
I am SO glad you got everything worked out, Ron. I felt bad leaving you, but that far from home, I myself couldn't have done the wonderful things Carl did for you, I am glad he was able to help you out so much.

The rest of the way home, I was worrying about MY tires. They are at least 20 years old and are radials as well. I definitely think I should replace my tires as soon as possible. Now, the only thing I am wondering about is if I should go radials again, or go with bias ply tires. I don't know much about bias ply tires, so I just don't know which way to go. I know there have been many posts on here about tires. The only bias ply tires with a suitable white wall I can find from Coker or American Classic are only 4-ply with a 1970 lb rating. Is that enough for my car? The car weighs 5,500 pounds, so four of those tires with the 1970 lb rating would be 7,880 lbs. With four people and a full trunk, that would be under that, but getting closer to that number. Any ideas/thoughts, anyone?
 
You're quite welcome. Kyle and I were glad able to help out.
Boy, the wife nearly had a heart attack when she came home to find that giant white beauty in the driveway in place of Kyle's car.

It was nice to get at least one of the '59's wheels out of the garage for the first time in 5 years. Interesting that the wheel and tire is exactly the same on a 1959, 1975, and 1996 Fleetwood commercial chassis. But good information to know.

And for the record, for such heavy cars, I highly recommend buying extra load light truck radial tires which are available in a white wall.
 
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