Oldsmaniac

Thought I would start a thread on this car. The updates will be slow in coming as I am in the middle of another project which needs to be completed first. I can't just leave this car sit so I have been picking away at it. I hope to post some more pictures soon. I always thought the 67 TC was a cool car and with the 400 E block and 442 suspension it was on my "must have" list. The car is complete but needs general resto and the car has seen salt so there is a fair amount of rot on it. The engine will be pulled and disassembled for inspection and paint and gasketing. The car was white with the champagne/parchment interior. It had no vinyl top or AC but does have the front disc brakes. It also has the Rally Pack gauge package but I am not sure it is original to the car as the shift indicator is PRNDL and not PRNDSL as it should be for the Turbo 400 trans. I have pulled the gas tank and rear seat hoping to find a build sheet but nothing was found. I have also removed the front clip to see how bad the rot is. So far it is not too bad but the rockers will need work and the fenders need patch panels. The front floors need some work and a total replacement of the trunk floor. Fortunately the new sheet metal for the trunk and floors came with the car. Purchase price was 3500.00

tva442

Joe - will be watching this build as I did with the Trac Pac

Are you going to leave it with hupcaps ? I like them!

Oldsmaniac

Thanks Tom, yes hubcaps for sure and will keep it pure stock.

stevengerard

good luck, looks like a great car. Love those air cleaners!

Oldsmaniac

Had today to fiddle with the 67. Its in the teardown stage and this gives you a good picture of what you actually have. The engine/trans are almost ready to come out. I took out the seats and carpet to see how bad the rot is. I also have pictures of the trunk floor. I am lucky the interior is decent.

Oldsmaniac

A few more pictures of rotten metal and a door panel.

nj_cutlass72

hey Joe, was the rear end same as you mentioned?

Oldsmaniac

The rear is a 12 bolt cover Olds posi rear. Literature says the ratio with the TC package is a 241 for the test cars and when released to the public it was to be a 256 gear. I have not looked yet for axle housing stamp to see what ratio it actually is.

nj_cutlass72

I wonder if the naming "Turnpike cruiser" is based on above? It suits you well since you live near NJ turnpike!

Good looking project and nice addition to your olds collection! Ill be also watching this thread...

OldsStarfire

That's some serious rot. I hope that's the worst of it.

Oldsmaniac

Well more than I would like but no surprises so far. Have repaired worse cars so I am not frightened.... yet. The TC is a scarce ride and it deserves the resto. I believe the odometer is correct showing 75,000 miles.

Giftman23

That "serious rot" will be handled no doubt by your "serious skills!"
Can't wait to see it!

Oldsmaniac

No appointment needed! Thanks, but dont know about the serious skills but I do have serious insanity.

vistacruiser67

Oldsmaniac

Thanks for posting, I do have a copy of that magazine but great its here for anyone interested! Funny the picture in the article shows a PRNDL shift with Rally Pack gauges while the TP should have the PRNDSL. My car also had the PRNDL and that is why I thought the gauge package was not original.

vistacruiser67

I just went on line quick and found that. I was looking for a two page bit of sales literature I have on the 67 Turnpike Cruiser. It was reprinted in a 1983 issue of Classic Sixties Magazine. I dismantled the magazine years ago and saw the two pages recently in a leaf binder I have of Oldsmobile articles and pictures. Shows a black and white rear shot of the car going under a freeway or turnpike sign with all the options available. Original dealer literature I think. Probably can be found on ebay those reprints of dealer literature books. I bought the 71 and 72 feature manuals on ebay and was very pleased. I would have to find those two pages I have , scan it, and upload it. Below is an ebay scan of the book that probably has the two pages Im looking for.

vistacruiser67

The turnpike cruiser is the granddaddy of the 70-71 Cutlass SX.

Ranzan

Joe what options did the car come with other than the rally pac?

Oldsmaniac

Not sure what was standard but it does have tinted glass and front disc power brakes, deluxe seat belts. No other options really but the TC package. No AC or other power options at all. No vinyl top and it has a bench seat. I am not sure the rally gauges are original. Here is a decode of trim tag thanks to a fellow CO member.


*05F* = ? - May 6th week - must've been a loooong month
*X* = ?
*67-33817* = 1967 Cutlass Supreme 2dr hardtop
*FRA10166* = 10,166th 2dr hardtop body built at Framingham, MA
*987-C* = "champagne" (w/black trim) STRATO bench seat w/armrest interior
*C-C* = "provincial white" paint (bottom & top)
*W* = tinted windshield
*2Z* = column shift turbo 400 & *R* = rear speaker
*5Y* = deluxe seat belts & *P* = trunk compartment light
***************

Oldsmaniac

Had some time to play with the TC. I wanted to look at the quarter to see how bad it was rotted and what kind of patch panel would be needed. i am happy to say just some sheetmetal will do as it is not that extensive at least on this side. I cut out the bad metal on the rocker too. I then worked some on the trunk floor getting things ready for the new metal. I also got my dash Rally gauge bezel corrected.

Oldsmaniac

A couple more picts.

MDchanic

As usual, Joe, you're moving right along!

- Eric

Oldsmaniac

Its progress that keeps things moving. I am happy to say the new trunk floor is welded in. It came out nice. I left the one good gas tank mount but both frame mounts were needed. I need to grind smooth some welds and welding/repair still needed where trunk floor attaches to inner rear wheel wells. I will probably remove the rear as it makes things easier for rear wheel housing repairs.

dave84

Hey Joe, I think I saw this specific one a few years ago, Southern Jersey or maybe PA. I should have jumped on that one at the time, but F-85 was right down the road and I was craving. Do you have any plans to pull it off the frame? my underneath is similar, surface rust on rails but surprisingly clean sheat metal underneath with original tar/gunk for coating.

Oldsmaniac

Yeah the car had been for sale for years, I finally went to see it when the price dropped to what I thought was parts car price. I was afraid someone would part it out. I kept hoping someone would buy it but it kept popping up on craigslist every few months. I think the body will need to be lifted to do a few bad frame mounts. At least one is missing only the bolt and washer is there still. At this point though I am not planning on a frame off resto, just fixing what is bad and of course going thru the mechanicals and then putting some paint and nice bumpers on it. The car came from Ct. from what I can tell.

dave84

Nice wait and grab! I remember it was originally at $6000-$6500. I'm trying to go about deciding on frame off or just fixing the metal that needs it and just cleaning up what I can on the frame. I too will need new body mount bushings.

Oldsmaniac

Yeah I paid 3500 for it and thought that was fair considering what it is. It came with a lot of extra parts like headlight bezels, stainless, trim clips, and the repro floor pans and trunk pan, assembly manual and factory shop manuals. It also came with fabricated head pipes for the CCC system but the rest of the exhaust is flowmaster with 3 inch pipes. I wont be using that stuff. I did not realize though the rear bumper is not a supreme unit but I have one reserved for me. The front one is a good core for rechrome. Time and cash will get it done.

Oldsmaniac

Got a little more done this weekend. Trunk floor is almost there. I still need to attach it to inner fender wells which are now too short in spots due to rust. i also welded up the many holes and replaced missing pieces of trunk gasket channel. I did pull the rear to give me working room. I will need to pull lower rear boxed control arms as the spacer shims for rear sway bar were mostly rotten and the welded bracing on them needs repair due to rot.

ent72olds

Looks like a lot of fun Joe!. Keep on trunk in'!

Oldsmaniac

Its fun trunk-in but at times it doesnt seem like I am going anywhere! So far it seems like most of the ugly rot is in areas that wont show and get under coated!

ent72olds

Been there done that with the Vista....only thing is, I knew it was there, and covering it up without fixing properly would kill me! That car is much rarer and cooler, as well as more valuable than a vista. Covering it would be the easy way out......I sense that that isn't in your DNA!

Oldsmaniac

What I meant was if the welds weren't ground smooth and neat as well as some seems it wouldnt show because of locations and trunk mat will cover. For sure nothing will be ignored. If it needs to be redone it will be.

66luvr

Joe, here is a pic of under hood of my TC convertible. Having all the AIR stuff makes it look a little cluttered.
Is there something which controls the pump? Or does it pump all the time?
Do you think I should remove all it, put plugs in the manifolds, and store it in a box? Maybe get a set of regular non air brackets for alt & PS pump?

Mike

Oldsmaniac

Mike, yes you could remove the smog stuff. The air pump turns all the time. It is your choice as to keep it a Cali smog car or not. I do not like all that smog stuff and the uncluttered look is more appealing. Then if you took it off you would be removing some originality but you will not be undoing something that cannot be undone. So it could all be put back on at a later date. You would need to plug the holes where the air tubes go into the heads. Actually w30 cars had these same heads with those ports plugged. On my car I will be redoing the hot air tube from the exhaust pipe up to the air cleaner but the actual doors to allow the heat to enter the air cleaner will not be operational. It will look like its all intact. I love your car and very rare that it is a conv. Love the wheels too but mine has disc front brakes so those wheels were not available in 67 on disc brakes.

Oldsmaniac

I finally got the trunk floor install finished and have been undoing some poor repairs on the body. Have been rounding up parts I will need as I have funds to do so. I did pick up a pair of fenders since the ones that came with the car had been patched and all the lines and curves were lost. They just used a flat piece of metal.

OldsStarfire

Looking good Joe!

MDchanic

Very nice.

- Eric

Koda

Looks good. I just found this thread.

Joe, up on your tag discussion, you said 05F for date, which is the 6th week of May. in 67, the 5th week was Mon-Wed, so that's interesting. My 67 is an 05E, which explains my interest. Also, you mention 987-C interior, which is what I have, but you say strato-bench, which I don't think mine is. I see your one interior shot to show the same bench as I have, could you comment more? Thanks.

ent72olds

Nice work Joe!

Oldsmaniac

Thanks Eric and Jeff for the support.

Koda, I do not know what the 6th week of May would be. The trim tag was decoded by another member here and the Strato seat is his words. I know the typical Strato seat is a seat with bench bottom and bucket top. These were not available in the 67 A bodies but perhaps the factory termed the bench seat that to differ from the standard bench seat without the fold down armrest in the center. Just a guess if indeed that is what this seat is.