Brought a 61 Olds back from the dead out of a junkyard

[derek nesdoly]

Nas, you have done amazing work on that classic Olds!! I too am getting more frugal with age,so it's great to see your inventive genius at work,especially when the results are so good.My 69 442 needed a new rear package tray and the shipping charges were more than the replacement cost .Used the old one as a template and built one with pressboard.Drilled the speaker opening holes...door screen and 3-M spray adhesive...SEM spray paint and...Voila---new tray. Your June 29 pics remind me of how some insects make their rears look like their fronts to fool predators into attacking their less vulnerable areas.Your car would look awesome even coming down the highway in REVERSE!! Keep up the great work....Derek

[NAS Backyard]

Thanks Derek, It's been alot of fun bringing this car back. I rebuilt the 2 barrel carb and got rid of my loading up problems, I also changed the base plate out. This will work until I get an actual 61 Olds core to work with. I've been driving it to work for about 2 weeks now shaking everything down. It seems to be a decent driver. This car had a Glacier Blue roof from the factory . I scored some more parts from ebay, good deal on the tierod ends at 20.00 ea delivered, still need one more ES 636. My car has the Thompson alternate steering with power. As some of you might know, these cars had 3 different part#'s for the same part. The holy grail of upper control arm bushings were discounted at 33.00 ea. compared to 51.00 list, but still no bargain in my world. But I thought I better get them while the getting was good.





Best deals, rebuilt pump 31.00, centerlink 32.00 delivered price

[citcapp]

Once again you show us how to do a great build on a budget. I have been slowly collecting parts for my 48 Olds using e-bay and craigs list. Great savings you just have to be patient. I enjoy all of your posting keep up the good work. Have you found the right color seat covers yet?

[marzgtp1]

floor patch what thickness of metal do I use 16ga or 12ga ?

[dynamic88]

how neat. looks very solid from pics for sitting that long. good luck

[redoldsman]

This is still one of my favorite threads on here. When I see a new post, I always check to see what you have done. I agree on no skirts and the dog dish hubcaps. If you ever paint the car, in my opinion white is the only way to go. Keep up the good work and thanks for keeping us up to date as to what is going on.

[NAS Backyard]

I finally got around to cleaning and detailing the engine bay. It took 5 cans of degreaser and a pressure washer. I used gray primer to soak up the patina and Pontiac blue on the engine. (they don't have 2 barrel Olds engine paint in the spray can) I replaced my upper and lower radiator hoses and hooked my heater back up. I've been driving it to work. It's running and driving great, however the engine is using a little oil and may be on borrowed time. (good reason to install the 455/400) I'm plannig a roadtrip back up to Red Bluff in it to take pictures and get more parts in mid-late Oct.
As found

needs cosmetics





And one for the global green freaks to think about

[citcapp]

Looking good as always. You have come a long ways

[NAS Backyard]

Not much time to work on the Olds since I get to work 6-12's during the grape season. But I have managed to install a tach, replace the fuel pump and take my generator down to the rebuilders. I also won some more great deals off ebay. The generator was $65.10 out the door for the rebuild. The local shop has been around forever and the same guy has been there for over 20 years. Their so old fashion they don't take credit cards and the most hi-tech device is the telephone.Here are some pics.









Ebay deals, 15.00 for front axle seals and 27.00 for Idler arm , delivered

[citcapp]

I love those old shops. honest work with american labor and you get what you pay for. Most of them have closed up around here and I miss them all. Looks like your scored some good parts a great prices

[NAS Backyard]

Took the Olds to a local show on my day off today. I had to drop it off and go home to sleep for awhile since i work 6-12's for 2 more weeks, so I made up a little short story and some before pics and hung it off the hood. Unfortunately, I left my camera home on the return trip and missed some really good pictures. It was judged by the general public. There were 150-175 really nice cars there with only a few project cars in the mix. I couldn't believe it when they called my name and gave the car an award!

[442_Mustang]

that is such a cool ride. i'd love a car like that...

[citcapp]

Congrats on the trophy, well deserved for all the work you have done.

[zed]

Congrats! That's cool.

[Dan Wirth]

Great story all around. What makes it is all the work you are doing yourself - and youre not wasting anytime about it either. Good Luck!

[AZ Rocket88man]

Way cool car, and good story. Nice to have a car pretty much nobody else has. Keep up the good work. Hope you can find out the history of the car. The blue roof may have something to do with the original owner, a business. Maybe the white and blue were the company colors.

Joe Varley
AZ

[OLD SKL 69]

Nice job on the engine compartment. It's amazing how much you can improve a car by just doing the simple things. BTW, I like the "global warming exit" decal on the side. I'm sure you get some comments on that!

[NAS Backyard]

Originally Posted by Dan Wirth

Great story all around. What makes it is all the work you are doing yourself - and youre not wasting anytime about it either. Good Luck!

Thanks Dan, there was a beautiful black 57 Super 88 with a continental kit at that show.

[German442]

NAS,

Do you remember if one of the '65 F-85/Cutlasses has a decent (straight!) front bumper? I'd have to go thru the trouble of getting it shipped right from his yard, but if there's a good one, it'd be worth it!
HOPE, HOPE!!!!

By the way, it's truly amazing how far you've come with the car. I'm awed! Could you email me the junk yard owner's contact info?

masonr1233@hotmail.com

Thanks,

Ralph

[BIGJERR]

Just got done going thru all the pages! Outstanding thread and ride!........

Ps What was the green 70 442 going for at the ole junkyard?

[HolidayCoupe]

wow thats a sweetass yard thanks for showing the pics!!!!

[NAS Backyard]

Originally Posted by BIGJERR

Just got done going thru all the pages! Outstanding thread and ride!........

Ps What was the green 70 442 going for at the ole junkyard?

Again, Thanks for all the great comments! I've really enjoyed working on this car. Asking 4500 for the 70 442, but I think you could get it for ALOT less. I will be inventoring the whole yard and taking lots of pictures when I go up there in a couple of weeks.
For any 61 or 62 owner familiar with suspension parts, I scored what I think was an unbelievable deal last week on ebay. I just got through looking through 27 pages of 61 Olds stuff and decide to search 62 Oldsmobile ball joints, 2 items came up, the first one was this NOS Pair of Moog upper ball joints for a Buy It Now price of 19.99! These are 57.00 ea from vendors. Ive only seen one single one on ebay in the last year. So for 32.00 delivered I got them. Mine aren't really shot, but when I do the upper bushings I'll install these also. The weird part was, the seller only listed them as 62 Olds ,without a part number or anything else, and no pictures of the boxes. He could have easily got 60.00 or more for these. Ive been driving it alot lately and am pretty confident it will make the 380 mile round trip to Red Bluff. If not, I have 200 mile AAA.

[citcapp]

Good buy. Looking foward to those pictures too

[scubastever]

lets get some details on the Woodbridge Merlot too !

i love the stuff!

being Italian, theres nothing better (non-Olds related i mean) than a glass tasty red with a plate of home cooked pasta....

[NAS Backyard]

The Woodbridge Merlot is some of the best. I work for the company who owns that brand. The grape harvest is over!!! I'm going to Red Bluff next Saturday Nov 14th. FYI, If anyone has a request for a part or car, PM me the info and I will look. He mainly has 57-66 full size stuff and 64-73 mid size and alot of Starfire stuff. I've got plenty of oil. If that 394 makes the round trip I'm doing a ring and valve job on it. Otherwise If it grenades, then it gets the 455/400. Heres a couple of pics of my Starfire the day it went bye-bye back in 2000 for 5500 with another Starfire parts car.....sniff .....sniff.........

[zed]

Those Buick wheels look hot on it. I'm a sucker for RWLs...

[citcapp]

That was a sweet ride. I am looking for a green tinted windshield with the dark tint at the top and a green tinted passenger door glass. Have had no luck at local yards

[NAS Backyard]

Live, from Red Bluff CA! The Olds made the 160 mile trip without any problems other than using 1 1/2 quarts oil. We made several stops along the way. We stopped at a museum that was closed, visited a Mopar buddy that has owned a 69 Charger R/T that he bought in 1983, at the age of 16 for 1700.00. Then it was on to a local wrecking yard, 15 miles south of red Bluff in Orland Ca. We will be meeting up with Joel on Sunday morning at the Oldsmobile junkyard. Here are some shots from the trip so far.
Big M Auto Wreckers Williams Ca. Closed

All Star Auto Wreckers Orland Ca.

[NAS Backyard]

Made it back from Red Bluff in the Olds. Lots of pictures coming soon.

[NAS Backyard]

It was a great trip and I was in Olds heaven. I will need to figure out how to host all of my pictures and video's, Over 180 pics. Here are some highlights from the trip. The car ran great for the most part, started acting up a little on the way home, used 4 qts of oil total and 1 3/4 tanks of gas. I spent 250.00 on parts and also bought a barely used radiator for my 68 Firebird. I got 2 barrel air cleaner, carb, and intake. Chrome valve covers, 2 water pump cores, starter,horns, radiator brackets, windshield wiper motor and a triangle glass bottle with the Original Olds label,windshield trim, tailight trim,4 T-3 headlights,power steering pump and hoses, voltage regulator, A/C vents,clock, TS switch,window glass track, 2 14"wheels, 4 nice hubcaps,and an original 61 Olds jack. I'm going to reward the car with some rings and a valve job. I also parked it back in it's original spot.

[jj1965]

I love junkyards! I want to take everything home. Your car is really cool amazing how good the engine looks with a little TLC keep it up.

[zed]

Wow, lotsa goodies there. You can use Photobucket or a similar host site for all your pics. It's free.

[NAS Backyard]

OK, I'm experimenting now, I'm going to try a post a short video of the boneyard.
View My Video

[citcapp]

there are some nice cars in there