ClassicOldsmobile.com - View Single Post - My first American car ... a 67 Delta 88 Custom ... in Australia !

Aussie67Delta88Custom · 03-30-2007, 05:53 AM

Yes, I am learning that an 67 Delta 88 Custom is not to common, even in the USA.

Oldsmaniac is correct - "Ruby" as my girlfriend Michelle has called her ( that's fitting as it was the name of my late Granmother who passed away about a year before I got the Olds ), is fitted with a Starfire motor and near new twin system.

The guy we bought it off had told us they had replaced the wheel cylinders in the front brakes a couple of years before. My mechanic called me and asked what the guy was on ( ie drugs ) as the front brakes could not have had the wheel cylinders replaced ... it has discs !

I was very happy at this information as I had been quoted A$1300.00 to convert it to discs ... but as it was the front calipers were pretty bad and cost A$935 ( inc. pads) to fix !

Now ... the brake story.

While the calipers were off being done my mechanic called to ask if I could take the car home as he had the rear brakes working okay and it's only about half a mile.

So my mate drove me up there and I picked it up ... brakes seemed okay ... keeping it slow

I got the first warning all was not as it seemed when the car did not quite come to a halt as I took the left turn lane off the main road into my estate... it was downhill you see ...

Anyway, I took it easy and didn't need to stop fully at the next 2 corners so all seemed ok on the flat.

I slowed right down as I got closer to home and drove into my driveway at a roll ... THEN I KNEW I'd made a big mistake ... it did the same thing ... didn't quite stop !

In the milliseconds I had I worked out the only thing that might stop it was the foot operated hand-brake ... located above the accelerator !

I knew if I hit the accelerator Id end up parked in the kitchen and then it hit the house - bump... stopped. OUCH

I was lucky I guess ... trying to stop a couple of ton with a pair of rear drums... it could've been much worse ... if I had hit someone or another car.

I got away with a crushed fender extension, a buckled guard and a bruised ego.

I have sourced everything needed to fix "Ruby" up and more ... I will keep adding pics.

I hope I'm not boring you all, 'cos there'll be more to come ...

Cheer's all.

Gary

03-30-2007, 05:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Aussie67Delta88Custom Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hallam, Victoria, Australia Posts: 100	Thanks for your comments guys ... Yes, I am learning that an 67 Delta 88 Custom is not to common, even in the USA. Oldsmaniac is correct - "Ruby" as my girlfriend Michelle has called her ( that's fitting as it was the name of my late Granmother who passed away about a year before I got the Olds ), is fitted with a Starfire motor and near new twin system. The guy we bought it off had told us they had replaced the wheel cylinders in the front brakes a couple of years before. My mechanic called me and asked what the guy was on ( ie drugs ) as the front brakes could not have had the wheel cylinders replaced ... it has discs ! I was very happy at this information as I had been quoted A$1300.00 to convert it to discs ... but as it was the front calipers were pretty bad and cost A$935 ( inc. pads) to fix ! Now ... the brake story. While the calipers were off being done my mechanic called to ask if I could take the car home as he had the rear brakes working okay and it's only about half a mile. So my mate drove me up there and I picked it up ... brakes seemed okay ... keeping it slow I got the first warning all was not as it seemed when the car did not quite come to a halt as I took the left turn lane off the main road into my estate... it was downhill you see ... Anyway, I took it easy and didn't need to stop fully at the next 2 corners so all seemed ok on the flat. I slowed right down as I got closer to home and drove into my driveway at a roll ... THEN I KNEW I'd made a big mistake ... it did the same thing ... didn't quite stop ! In the milliseconds I had I worked out the only thing that might stop it was the foot operated hand-brake ... located above the accelerator ! I knew if I hit the accelerator Id end up parked in the kitchen and then it hit the house - bump... stopped. OUCH I was lucky I guess ... trying to stop a couple of ton with a pair of rear drums... it could've been much worse ... if I had hit someone or another car. I got away with a crushed fender extension, a buckled guard and a bruised ego. I have sourced everything needed to fix "Ruby" up and more ... I will keep adding pics. I hope I'm not boring you all, 'cos there'll be more to come ... Cheer's all. Gary