Monthly Archives: May 2010

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES

After 60 years a common problem is that the window switch action is either erratic or not-at-all. This was the problem I found when restoring my ’49 Coupe de Ville. After searching for NOS parts, I decided that there must be a way to rebuild them.

Start by depressing the four spring retainers and pushing them out to where they can be pulled out, as in the photo below.
With the switch body out, carefully push the plastic pivot pin out. This pin can be easily broken, so be gentle with it. With the switch apart, the components can be cleaned of the dirt and corrosion. Re-assemble with the curved spring contacts as shown in the photo below. Re-assembly is simple and locked in place by inserting the four spring clips.

window 1 mar 10

window 2 mar 10

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MOTOR TRENDS CAR OF THE YEAR

For more than 60 years Motor Trend Magazine has been the “Bible” of auto publications. In 1949 they started their annual practice of doing a multi-page spread on their “Car of the Year”. The first was the 1949 Cadillac, due primarily to its post-war styling and, more importantly, the fact it was powered by a new OHV V-8 engine and an improved Hydra-matic transmisison. The magazine has decided to do a commemorative on the 1949 Cadillac and they have chosen my 49 Coupe as the featured car. Obviously, I’m excited about this and had a full day of shooting at the Muckenthaler Museum in Fullerton, Calif. The cover story was in the January 2010 issue. Below is my own photo, taken unfortunately during a drizzly day in 2009.

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