Need to install front shocks - clean up and install wheel well - swap out parking brake levers - battery tray and battery - then new tires / alignment

Toe adjusted and tie rod sleeves torqued down - sway bar in

Rear and done - thanks again to Nicks1966 for the help with boxing control arms - just need to swap out diff fluid after break in and add w27 cover and future sway bar

New ride height

 

Mac - what color red did you use in sway bar and springs and what not?

 

Front shocks in - power steering bled - parking brake half way out - getting closer ...

 

Dude, are you wearing your MAW helmet? I've gone three years without a parking brake, lol. I know, I kow, I'll get to it soon. As far as the tubulars go; meh, they seem okay. But to be fair, I still need a steering box and a good alignment. My box, I tightened like 3/16 of a turn, that's a lot! It feel better but return to center isn't so great so I may back it off a little. So I guess my answer is; I don't know yet. And I'm still chasing that damn thud under the floor pan. It's completely random, other than I can hear it when I jack up the front end, usually right after the tires leave the ground. Scary. Before I go back to school (in two weeks) I'll get under there and tighten the ball joints some more. I thought my torque wrench was accurate, maybe not.

So, for the paint; I'm a Rust-oleum fan. It's cheap, readily available, and has held up very well for me over the years. And this particular red matches the UMI rear sway bar red very well. Hard to see a difference even side-by-side.

 

I had to check but there is no particular name of this red listed on the can.

 

Yeah - that’s what I used for my red - except the last batch was pink so I used my brake caliper red which is a more “dried blood” red - your red is perfect - also I think your phone captures the color better than mine as my original red looked good in person but not as good in pics - as far as MAW ... mine is a four speed and sometimes takes a few cranks to start it - gets a little “challenging” rolling down the hill with no brakes or steering hoping she’ll fire so I can stop and turn 😜 - it’s just easier to get to the fire wall Parking brake bolts with the wheel well out so that’s why

 

Keep us up to date on the “thud” Hunt - this May be obvious - but start with what you changed - is the spring rubbing against anything in the tubular set up that may cause it to slightly “rub” and “release” with a dull thud? Control arm motion binding? Maybe set your phone to video and aim it particular areas as you Jack it up and maybe it will give ya ideas? Not the best problem solver here ... just trying to help

 

A four speed vert? That's kinda' badass. And yeah, you might need that parking brake, just in case, you know.

And actually, the video is a really good idea. I've got some bean bags that make it easier to position and hold the phone. I've thought about the spring(s) catching but it would be easier to find with a helper. The phone should help. Thanks dude.

 

Out paint shopping ... help me pick the best shade of red 😜

 

Hmmm.....suddenly I'm in the mood for cotton candy

 

Just need to install wheel wells and get new tires - think I will be ready for August metro cruise in Grand Rapids mi and Gilmore olds show in Kalamazoo mi

Before (used oven cleaner and simply green to prep it)

After - used krypton fusion satin black

Before

After (probably will go another coat - was windy and caused a little tiger striping)

Parking brake in and adjusted

 

Here's a rebuilt 974 box for 299.99:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Lares...rs,372171.html

 

Yup, found this one. And Speedway has a store on eBay for the same price. But it sure looks like Speedway is the only place selling these still. Thanks for the link.

 

Hopefully new tires tomorrow - put wheel wells in tomorrow and battery tray and battery and hit the road! Can’t wait!

Before

After

 

Wheel well back in - battery and tray back in - cleaning up washer and coolant bottles as we speak as I finish clear coating rims - off to get new tires and hopefully go for a drive 👍🏼 (I think Mac beat me at front end rebuilds)

 

Quality trumps speed, my friend. You have the new gear box and disc brakes. Those are on my list. Make sure you get a good alignment. Mine wasn't so good, he just went by the book.
Good work, buddy. Enjoy the spoils of your labor. Let me know how it feels on the road........if you can find a decent road out there to test her on.

 

It looks like you have a Champion radiator under there. Is a three row or four row?

 

Mines actually “becool” four core radiator - tire place was closed today - have to wait until tomorrow 😩 - lll let you know - any more leads on your “thump”?

 

Oh and mine came with disc brakes so can’t take credit for the work 😜

 

I love my four row, I can barely get the temp up to 180*.

Ahh, the thump. Yeah, I think I've found it but not much I can do about right now. The driver's header is about 1/8th inch from the control arm mounting bracket. Add in a thumpy cam and a motor that rocks back and forth at idle or slowing down, and yeah, it knocks against the bracket.

I dunno' man, I'm thinking of pulling the motor this winter. The rear main seal is leaking, the header is hitting the bracket, and I have head work I need to do. But I just dropped that bad boy in there last summer, lol.

Speaking of tires; I bought two new fronts after my rebuild. I bought Coopers becasue I want to replace the BFGs with something less expensive. Cooper fronts this summer, rears next summer. But a buddy told me today that they're going to stop making the Coopers. Sigh.......

 

Coolant system is my next area of attention - I think I’m good but I need to hook up a proper temp gauge so i can see what temp I’m running at - I’ve used the thermal gun to see and have my Rally gauge temp working but I’m not 100% where I’m at - early on with this radiator I was getting blow over out from the cap area - but I since hooked up the overflow tank and I think that’s fixed the blow over - I haven’t had a chance to run it since as I’ve been doing all this crap to it for the past two years - (I’ll start a new thread or just read up on what others have done once I get to that point) also not sure where the fill line is in this radiator (lots of reading and research to do) I know I need to add the fan shroud back on and I reconditioned it at the same time I did the wheel wells (just need to paint it) and then there is the top side straps and lower bumper shroud thingy to add - I have no idea what water pump I’m running but I do have like a 160 thermostat in her. I have the clutch fan and an electric push fan as well - but according to the temp gun I hit 200 temps - maybe even a little higher.

I would like to pull my motor and redo the gaskets and clean it up and paint it - add headers and clean the engine compartment up better - it would be the third time I’ve pulled it - first two were like 18 years ago - I do need to do a clutch and was thinking while I have the tranny apart.... but I need to just drive it for a few - I can’t keep doing summer long jobs every year - want to enjoy it a bit while my son is still young enough to make memories with it.

Pretty sure my pinion seal has a slow leak again - that annoys the heck out of me 😡 as It has less than 70 miles since rebuild

going to get bfg’s today after work and hopefully do some driving 🤘🏼

 

I hope you're out driving instead of reading this!

Your radiator is as thick as mine and I can barely break 170 without AC. But if you're not running the shroud, that would be your problem. I'm 99% sure of that. Been there. I also went round and round with the radiator puking thing; kept topping it off, added a catch can, all that. Until I read on here where Joe Padavano said to just fill it, let it puke, and it will find it's own level. I took out the catch can, put the Champion cap back on, and haven't had a problem since. I think it might have something to do with the height of the radiator vs. the height of the engine but I'm just guessing. Get a gauge on it and see what it says (after you replace the shroud, hehe).

Skip the headers unless you have them laying around. For the few horse power it gained me, they are a major PIA. Remember I couldn't get my LCAs to lower? And I had to relocate the brake valve, pull the shift linkage, bend-up a new dip stick, yada yada.

I haven't committed to pulling the motor as of yet. I'm going to try lash caps first. I don't have the scratch to have the valve seats ground again. I figure if something major happens, I bend a pushrod or a rocker breaks or something, and I lose a lash cap; the worst it's going to do is end up in the pan or get caught in the oil pickup. Right? I hope I'm right, lol. Of course having a small piece of metal floating around in the pan while the crank is churning wouldn't be ideal. At least I'd know right away that it happened. Clack clack clack!

And I feel ya on the summer jobs. I miss all the early summer fun every year because I'm doing some new project. It would be nice to just drive for an entire summer. I'm sure my wife would agree, lol. Right now I can't seem to get my timing ironed out.

 

Unfortunately I had to order tires - suppose to be in and mounted and balanced tomorrow so ... tomorrow is hopefully the day! (Rain in the forecast but only til 2pm I think)

thanks for the tips on coolant system - I’ll get the gauge hooked up and see before and after shroud and see where I’m at

keeping my manifolds would be easier - need to do something about the rest of the exhaust though - she sounds like grandmas 455 - but that can wait - I just want to drive it!

 

First trip successful - nothing fell off! - I need to adjust parking brake as it doesn’t hold well enough - need to center steering wheel a little bit more but I didn’t do half bad at temporary aligning it - feels great! Rides great - steers great! Noticed a tiny bit of whining in steerin pump at end of ride - guessing it might be low after the slaloming I did driving - will feel more comfortable with it after I get it aligned - thanks everyone for you help! Glad to be wrapping up this project - you all rule!

 

Just to add more details - the car recovered nicely from bumps and holes in the road (Michigan after all) where as in the past it was scary ... lane switching took a bit to get use to because I was so use to the pinky steer and having to re adjust after entering a new lane where as this quick steer is solid and on it - so I was just use to over correcting where I don’t need to now - no more bed springs squeaking embarrassing sounds going down the road - played a little bit and got on it a little and it feels good and tight and solid yet is a comfortably ride - I love it! On corners it is WAY better - it was a crazy lean before - it still won’t out maneuver a super car but it is great! Thanks again all for the help - first front end so was nervous going into it

 

What happened to the splash shields?

 

New force field technology - that or the old ones were so rotted I pitched them and will be adding repos in the future

 

Joe,

Really happy for you. You kept at it, did it right and was rewarded with excellent ride and handling. Should be really great once aligned!

I don't like headers on a driver. Headers are for race cars and kids that have not experienced the headache of headers.

As for splash shields, pretty low on the priority list.

Congrats!

 

Thanks Bry593! Agree with headers - I’m not looking to pull wheelies or anything - don’t need every last inch of horsepower out of it - I do want a throatier sound though (right now I’m like 1.75 inch pipes with grandmas mufflers - sounds like a quiet boat 455 in a luxury cruiser - not a muscle car at the movement) I figure I can get that with a wider pipe and more raunchy muffler and still run manifolds (saw a chevelle yesterday that had the best sound - I know a cbb and obb have a different voice but he was close to the volume / sound I want) hope to bump into him at the cruise In Grand Rapids end of this month and pick his brain - yeah I’ll get the splash shields eventually but so many other more pressing issues trump it. Thanks again!

 

Way to go, bud! You nailed it! Feels good, doesn't it? I'm envious of your your new gear box but I'm saving $$

I left my rotted splash shields on and used black show polish on them. Now instead of rotted-looking shields I have rotted-looking shields with shoe polish on them, lol.

My headers were a bucket-list thing. I'd never had long tubes so I went for it. Definitely a be careful what you wish for sort of thing. They make everything more difficult. However, they do sound cool.

Hey, make sure you get numbers when you have it aligned. I'd like to compare. And let me know what your UCA shims look like. I have a mess on the passenger side and none on the driver's. That worries me a little.

 

Oh, and my buddy with a '71 vert runs the Thornton repro manifolds with true dual exhaust (no X or H pipe) with 2.5" pipes and a small block and it sounds as good as my headers. Don't recall his mufflers, sorry.

 

Thanks! I will share the alignment specs when I get them! Lol On the splash shields - yeah one side was barely there and the other was just a mess very bad shape. Couple cool car shows coming this way - going to pick brains on exhaust set ups and see where that takes me - need to chill out $ wise though so I’ll deal with it as is for a bit - thanks for the constant support Mac - it really helped my confidence level a lot to be able to bounce crap off of ya 👍🏼

 

Thanks would be in order for so many here - thanks so much to Nicks66 for helping me box my lower control arms! Joe P for his endless knowledge on these wonderful cars and his patience to share it with newbies like me! Lady72nRob71 for the wonderful write up which I referenced over and over again! Allan R, Oldscutlass, Bry593, Fun71, and Macadoo for the constant support during this build and to all on this site who’ve shared their knowledge that I’ve either sponged off or will no doubt sponge off on the next phase of my build! I’ve had a blast driving my car the past couple of days! And I couldn’t have done it without you all! Now if summer would only last forever....

 

And good news - the shop that rebuilt my rear end is going to take care of me on that leaking pinion seal 👍🏼

 

Glad to hear they're going to stand by their work. That can be hit-or-miss these days.

I've had these in my eBay watch list for...uhhh....years? But I'm not sure if this covers all. Isn't there a wider, short piece that runs along the front of the frame? I'd have to go out and look.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Arm-Frame...rd!61753!US!-1

I go back to school next week so it does seem like summer is over. But here in central Illinois, we'll have until November to drive, usually. I drive until that first salting of the roads.

 

Oh, and I still depend on this community. Not only for help, but for friendship. I posted to the OCA Facebook page a couple weeks ago and got completely trashed by the members. Ended up deleting the entire post. That doesn't happen here, or at least very, very little.

 

No idea on the wheel well skirts - they look different then the originals - but If you go that route let us know how you like it?

 

Food for thought - Gilmore car museum is an incredible place - it’s worth the drive even if it wasn’t the all-Oldsmobile show - check out their web site https://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/eve...ts-search-form

 

Wish I would have known about this sooner. No time this summer. The wife and I are always looking for car museums within driving distance for the Olds. I'll put this on my list. Thanks.

But I gotta' say, even with the front end rebuild (although I still need a steering box), I HATE driving the Olds on interstates. Is it just me? They just seem too damn fast and sketchy. We went to a show last weekend and ended up on I-55 south. I was pushing 80 mph and I was the slow one everyone wanted to get around. Maybe the new gear box will make all the difference? I tightened mine up and the return-to-center isn't great but at least I'm not wandering all over the road. I don't fear curves on hills like I used to, though. Much more manageable since the rebuild.

I recently upgraded from a 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup to a 2014. Now I understand why people drive 90. Because they can.

 

When you re-installed your inner liners, did you have to fight a lot with them to get them back? You used all new bolts and clips, right? Actually I'm a little surprised you didn't paint the liners your favorite color instead of black