Last pic of it together for a while.

[gearheads78]

I leave for Hotrod Power Tour in Two months. Sunday I took final drive for a while. Next weekend I will be starting on a lot of disasembly, detail work and making some changes to the car. I am still undecided I how far I want to go and know for sure I can have it back together in time.

[Oldsguy]

Good luck, perhaps with the next picture of it complete it will look "brand new again".

[Lady72nRob71]

Judging by that picture, she looks brand new as-is!
To me the only things missing are the dog dishes on the wheels - she looks great!
Best of luck in the detailing and perfectionizing!
(I am doing that myself to my '72).

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

Judging by that picture, she looks brand new as-is!
To me the only things missing are the dog dishes on the wheels - she looks great!
Best of luck in the detailing and perfectionizing!
(I am doing that myself to my '72).

Thanks pictures hide a lot. Don't get me wrong its a very nice all original (even paint) survivor. It needs a complete restoration to be perfect but for now I want to make drivetrain, suspension, and brake changes. The paint is the original laquer so for now I will just do the best I can with the body and paint. Lots of checking in the old laquer that will get some rubbing out.

[gearheads78]

Well after I set it down with this tires today I talked myself back out of the steelies. Lots of work to do but I am sticking with my original plan.
Got it mocked up with tires under the car at what will be ride height.



Got all the suspension out of it to mock up the new suspension and brakes tomarrow. I should have all the data I need to order wheels.

8.5 rear thats going under it.

[gearheads78]

measuring for front and rear wheel clearance


made some brackets for the brake new emergency brake cables. Ready for refinish.

[J-(Chicago)]

Nice work. While your at it,might as well box the control arms

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by J-(Chicago)

Nice work. While your at it,might as well box the control arms

Thanks...

Already have aftermarket rear arms so no boxing will be nessasary

[gearheads78]

Todays progress only 48 days till power tour

[Eddie Hansen]

just some upgrades and brakes LOL..... I thought you were gonna just bite off little bits!!!! C'mon fellas get your lobster bibs on, Gear head's on a mission from God!! gonna be plety to chew for all of us in 48 days !!! speed on brutha, she does look sweet though, and your welding is aces!!

[Olds64]

I like those rims in the second set of pictures. They are so shiny they are invisible! It doesn't even look like there are any wheels on the car!

[gearheads78]

Rear bumper had a couple of pretty good dents so I dropped it off at the plater this morning.
Got the brackets for the rear brake lines made up and welded today. Also got the housing stripped down ready to go to the powder coater.


Lots more dissasmebly only 42 days

[gearheads78]

Almost 1/2 way there. Just about everything thats coming apart is now apart. I dropped off lots of stuff to the plater late Saturday. Going to do lots of parts in white and black zinc for an OEM look to everything even though its all custom.
I already told my boss I will be in late on Monday. I hope to have this stuff at the powder coaters when they open.

[gearheads78]

I picked up my slightly modified C6 Corvette calipers tonight after work. What do you think? I don't know if I am the first to do this but I have never seen it done.

[Oldsguy]

That is really cool. Tell us the story behind the calipers (I read over at R.O.P.).

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by Oldsguy

That is really cool. Tell us the story behind the calipers (I read over at R.O.P.).

LOL I thought it was pretty obvious that was a joke but a few people are taking it serious. I better not repeat it or rumors are really going to start

The real story is they are off a 2006 Corvette. I paid a machine shop to mill the "Corvette" off and countersink the new lettering.

[Oldsguy]

haha, you had me for a little while. I am not up so much on the newer Oldsmobiles so it sounded quasi plausible.

[68conv455]

Am I the only one with "Lift Envy".
I think I reeealllly need one.

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by 68conv455

Am I the only one with "Lift Envy".
I think I reeealllly need one.

basic tools any car guy needs 1/2" wrench, 9/16" wrench, lift, 3/8 rachet, screwdrivers ect ect

[gearheads78]

Little bit of progress this weekend. Still a few days before I get the cad/zinc plating and the powder coated stuff back. I worked of prepping some of the stuff I still have here.
455 won't be built for a while so the orginal 330 will go back in for now. The motor was pulled down to a bare long block and scaped, chisled, and wire brushed 42 years worth of grease and grime. Also resealed everything back up with new gaskets. Little bit more cleaning and motor will be ready for a fresh coat of Oldsmobile gold.
The rest of the time was spent cleaning, sand blasting and painting lots of misc parts.

[J-(Chicago)]

Originally Posted by 68conv455

Am I the only one with "Lift Envy".
I think I reeealllly need one.

I'm a fan of this lift

Originally Posted by gearheads78

basic tools any car guy needs 1/2" wrench, 9/16" wrench

80's deltas use metric bolts, so those wrenches are usually only good for popping off beer bottle caps.

[gearheads78]

Two phone calls today. One was from the machine shop the other from the plater.
Since I am using LS1 F-body rear brakes on a stock 72 rear there is nothing to hold in the factory bolt in axles tight. I had these spacers made to take care of that. I also had them cut down the front hubs to clear the C6 Corvette front rotors. the last thing I had them do was cut the stud holes to .503 to get the correct interference fit with my aftermarket ARP metric studs. I cut them down to 2.200 so they will still be long but stay under the closed end lug nuts.
The plating I am extreemly happy with. I had old greasy rusty original parts and new gold cad after market parts parts. I did not like the look of either. Anything that did not go to the powder coater went to the plater. After this I don't think I will ever clean a rusty bolt again. Below is just some of the stuff.

[The_Jeremiah]

Thats lookin pretty cool. You are going through a lot of work. Is that your own garage in the pic where you were mocking up the new tires ? thats a sweet facility, your pockets must be bottomless : )

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by The_Jeremiah

Thats lookin pretty cool. You are going through a lot of work. Is that your own garage in the pic where you were mocking up the new tires ? thats a sweet facility, your pockets must be bottomless : )

Thanks for the complements on the car. As for bottomless pockets that is far from the truth. I saved a long time building and collecting parts for my 78 malibu race car. I sold that a few month back and all tht money is going in the 66. When we bought our house it had a 900 SF wood shop in the back yard. I converted that for car use by adding bay doors and a concrete parking slab. The lift was free. A shop was going out of business. I bought all he had and and resold all but the lift and a few thing I kept.

If I really had deep pockets you wouldn't see all the used parts with a spit shine. My BTR 455 or twin turbo DX motor would be sitting on the stand waiting to go in. I have less in my whole brake system than many guys are spending on one caliper. My wheels are about 1/2 of what many pro-touring guys are spending. Instead of calling up someone and ordering a turn key 5 speed conversion kit I was only able to buy the trans and clutch. The rest is used parts modifed and refurbished. I'm using stock spindles instead of a ATS. I could go on all day. I could be doing things very different if I was not on a tight budget.

[Oldsguy]

Is the plating charged by the piece or by the pound? The hardware looks really good by the way.