Hearse! Yes, I have a hearse...

[mckitterick]

... well, sort of. Recently, bluebuddha moved from Lawrence, leaving behind his sort-of non-running 1973 Cadillac hearse. It's been sitting in a field for years, not getting any better, and they decided not to take it with them when they moved away. So he offered it to me with the proviso that I make it live again.

(By the way, I had to take some "before" photos: before it runs, before I drive it home, before I restore it... so you'll find them behind the cuts.) It looks more like the Ghostbusters emergency vehicle than a hearse, really.
"Before" photo:

Yes, it really does live in a field right now.

So! I have been doing my damnedest to fulfill my part, despite some obstacles:

• The car is currently sitting in a field off a gravel road several miles outside of Lawrence.


• I don't have the ignition key.


• I can only take the time off during Thursday and Friday afternoons to work on the car.


• The tool that you discover need the most is always the one you didn't bring.

The first few times I went out to the car, I asked for rides because I (silly me!) thought I might be driving it home and didn't want to leave my car parked way out there, blocking the gravel road, tempting passers-by to steal or ram into it. Thanks to amjhawk and jamer_31 for those rides and for the company.

The first time I visited the hearse, I discovered the key issue (which included missing a key for the locking gas cap). The second time, I returned with the suggestion to try using the keys he sent "upside-down" and instructions from the local auto-parts store for how to drill out a locking gas cap. On the third return trip, I returned by myself with some other plans... including replacing the ignition switch. On the fourth trip, I brought a drill for the ignition and a number of other tools, too, and got to meet the realtor selling the land on which the Caddy rests. I also discovered that battery-operated drills run out of power long before you finish drilling out an ignition switch (they're really hard steel.)

No, I don't have the car running or home at my tool-filled garage yet (which would solve 90% of my problems!), but I have managed to do these things:

• Titled, insured, and licensed it to legally operate in Kansas.


• Removed and replaced the gas cap.


• Poured several gallons of fresh gas into the tank.


• Replaced the spark plugs, ignition wires, cap, and rotor.


• Filled the (nearly empty) radiator.


• Removed the steering wheel, blinker unit, flasher unit, and other hardware in an effort to remove the locked and un-removable ignition switch (for which I have no key).


• Killed the colony of ants living inside. Ew. Ether (starting fluid) is a fine pesticide, as it turns out.

(Another "before" photo. It's really lovely out there:)


Things left to do in order to get it home:

• Finish drilling out the existing ignition. Turns out you can't just replace an ignition switch by following the instructions you'll find in a new switch... you need the damned key. So why would you replace a switch if you already have the key? Grrr.


• Replace the ignition.


• Prime the fuel system. That gas is at least three years old according to the license tags.


• Make sure the tires are full enough to drive.


• Surely lots more surprises!

Wish me luck! More updates to come as I have them. Hopefully I'll have some "during" photos up soon.

Chris

Comments

[gryphonrose.livejournal.com]

Very cool--very Harold & Maude. Good luck getting it up and running! I'm guessing you've already checked online and locally to see if you could find anothe Hearse ignition key, in the hopes it would match? Any chance you can call Hearse, explain the situation, and ask them for suggestions--or a key?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a security key like any other ignition key, darnit.