Will A 33-Year-Old Cadillac Make It To Las Vegas?

Will A 33-Year-Old Cadillac Make It To Las Vegas?

The truth is: We don’t know how this is going to end.

The 2,500-mile drive from Babcox Media’s headquarters in Akron, Ohio, to Las Vegas, across the iconic Route 66, is enough to test any vehicle. But the car Babcox Media’s Joe Keene picked to rehab and drive to AAPEX isn’t just any car. It’s a 33-year-old Cadillac Brougham with more than 180,000 miles on the odometer. 

As Keene says in the first episode of “The Road to AAPEX,” “It’s about the journey,” and the ASE-certified technician had a long road ahead of him as he brought the Cadillac up to a safe standard. With the help of aftermarket suppliers and experts, Keene conquered the leaking transmission, an air suspension that didn’t work, and a complete lack of air conditioning (which could have made a drive through the desert even longer), to name a few challenges.

“There were a lot of things about the car that weren’t specified in the ad,” Keene said with a laugh. “It floated, the steering was all over the place, the windows didn’t work–just all kinds of things going on with it. But I didn’t want something easy. I wanted something that was going to be an ‘are you going to make it’ moment every time I get in the car.”

Combing through junk yards, testing the counterman’s expertise in hunting down new parts for an old car, and a trip to Ohio Technical College were just a few stops Joe makes to whip the Caddy into shape. Watch the first episode above to see how Joe takes a clunker and, with expert help from the automotive aftermarket, gets it ready to tackle The Road to AAPEX.

Vehicle Stats

  • Make/model: Cadillac Brougham
  • Year: 1989
  • Hometown: Arlington, Texas
  • Mileage: 180,000+ miles
  • Engine: 307 LV2 Olds V-8
  • Power: 140 hp and 245 lb./ft.
  • Weight: 4,500 lbs.
  • Length: 20 ft.
  • Fuel capacity: 21 gallons
  • Fuel economy: 15 city/22 highway
  • Tires: 225/65R17
  • Transmission: Remanufactured Turbo-Hydramatic 200-4R
  • Brakes: Front vented disc/rear drum brakes
  • Air conditioning: R134a conversion
  • Air bags: None

AAPEX will take place Nov. 1-3 in Las Vegas. For more information, visit the AAPEX website.

You May Also Like

Electronic Controls in Modern Drivetrains

Technology is ever-changing in the automotive world.

Electronic Controls in Modern Drivetrains

Not too many years ago, the drivetrain of a vehicle, from the transmission to the wheels, consisted of completely mechanical components.  

But today, the drivetrain is an integral part of vehicle performance, safety and economy, and beginning to end, electronics are the key components managing drivetrain operation.

Main Types of Rear Axles

Any axle assembly that transfers power through it is considered a “live” axle.

Rear Axles
Brake-Fluid Basics

Brake fluid is the lifeblood of the braking system.

Brake Fluid Basics
Get to Know Performance Ride Technology

PRT is a global OE supplier with more than 5,000 products available in the United States.

PRT
Fundamentals of Automotive Electrical Systems

This system is called upon every day to do more and more.

Automotive Electrical

Other Posts

AAPEX Accepting Proposals for Joe’s Garage Training Program

AAPEX will announce the final selection of training sessions in mid-April. 

Joes Garage Training
Basics of Automotive Lighting Systems

Halogen headlights are common in older vehicles, while LEDS have become increasingly popular for fog lights, off-roading and powersports.

Automotive Lighting
Understanding the Basic Types of Antifreeze/Coolant

It may be hard to believe, but antifreeze has been around long before the automobile.

Types of Antifreeze Coolant
Detecting Leaks in Automotive A/C Systems

A telltale symptom of a leak is a decrease in cooling performance.

Detecting Leaks in AC Systems