When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Favorite thing about your car and what one thing would you like to have?
Hey all, if you had to pick one thing about your car that you like the most, and one thing you would change, what would they be?
For my '72 U code Supreme, I would say my favorite thing is that it is very even tempered. Even with the W 30 cam and 770 Holley, no matter in stop and go traffic or running 70 on the highway, the 455 behaves very well.
Lightning Rod Shifters! Just so much fun! Automatic and 4 speed all in one. Want DX block with around 600 HP and able to move my tach's red line to 7,000 rpm.
Sounds like a great thread for a dreary, rainy, lazy Saturday here in St. Louis. I didn't initially respond because there are two things I equally love about my '67 4-4-2, but since we've already passed listing only one, here ya go:
What I love
1. Everything points to having a completely original drive train, 400 ci with E block & C heads; TH400; and anti-spin 3.55 O-type rear-end.
2. Complete color scheme of correct K code Aquamarine exterior with black vinyl top and black interior. I get a lot of compliments on the paint color.
What I'd change
Sure would be fun to have a 4-speed! Looked for a nice 4-speed car for over a year and couldn't find one in my price range that was anywhere near as nice as the one I bought.
Nice topic.
Nice 67. 4 speeds are way over rated for a driver in my opinion.
What I love about my car is how you can't go anywhere without peoples memories. I own a Buick by the way. 66 Sport Wagon. The windows in the roof bring so many comments.
What I would like to do to it? Give it the attention it needs. Life has been crazy for the last few years. 70k original mile car. Rear brakes probably do the fronts too. Probably rebuild the master cylinder. Rebuild the factory four barrel. New gasket on the trans pan.
I am sure I will get scolded for this but on my 70 W30, thing I like the most, that badass hood especially from the drivers view.. one thing I would change , blacked out grills instead of silver..I just think it looks better.
Probably because it is so unusual/ unique to ever see another one anywhere, show or on the road. I have only seen two others in 20 years of owning my ride
.
As what I would add it would have to be factory AC if it was ever offered.
Probably because it is so unusual/ unique to ever see another one anywhere, show or on the road. I have only seen two others in 20 years of owning my ride
Tedd - I never get tired of seeing your beauty, magnificent car!
Favorite thing about my car, pretty much everything I pretty much love it the way it is, but if I had to pick one I guess it's the color, it stands out in a crowd, it is the factory code colors but some don't believe that GM used colors that vibrant in 56, I guess you had to be kind of a special person to appreciate Alcan white and Tropical green, the Tropical green is interesting because it can look almost like two different colors depending on the time of day.
If I had to change something it would be the exhaust, I don't care for the Flowmasters or the over sized rectangular exhaust tips, eventually they
will give way to a normal diameter curved down bologna slice chrome tip.
Favorite thing about my car, pretty much everything I pretty much love it the way it is, but if I had to pick one I guess it's the color, it stands out in a crowd, it is the factory code colors but some don't believe that GM used colors that vibrant in 56, I guess you had to be kind of a special person to appreciate Alcan white and Tropical green, the Tropical green is interesting because it can look almost like two different colors depending on the time of day.
If I had to change something it would be the exhaust, I don't care for the Flowmasters or the over sized rectangular exhaust tips, eventually they
will give way to a normal diameter curved down bologna slice chrome tip.
Solly - I do love the color combo on your car, the colors themselves and where Oldsmobile chose to place them on the car. Another thing I really like are the afterburner "Rocket" tail lamps, just too cool looking. She's a real beauty!
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; Apr 25, 2021 at 03:35 AM.
I am sure I will get scolded for this but on my 70 W30, thing I like the most, that badass hood especially from the drivers view.. one thing I would change , blacked out grills instead of silver..I just think it looks better.
Oldsmobile OAI hoods are the best looking hoods put on a muscle car. Nothing like looking out over one from the driver's seat.
Favorite thing about my Vista Cruiser is the attention it gets, where ever I go it draws a crowd. I always hear comments like "I've never seen one" or "I havent seen one in years" or "My friends parents had one". The thing that I wish it had is more power, the original 330 4bbl just doesn't have much grunt. My 70 Chevelle SS is a much nicer car but it doesn't get near the attention that the Vista gets.
Favorite thing about my Vista Cruiser is the attention it gets, where ever I go it draws a crowd. I always hear comments like "I've never seen one" or "I havent seen one in years" or "My friends parents had one". The thing that I wish it had is more power, the original 330 4bbl just doesn't have much grunt. My 70 Chevelle SS is a much nicer car but it doesn't get near the attention that the Vista gets.
Seems Vista Cruisers have become very popular, Back in the day (early 80's ) my sis had one I thought it was cool then but to most people it was just another wagon, not so any more, to be honest I don't remember what year it was (I think second generation) but my brother -in-law used to complain that having a Vista Cruiser just meant extra windows to wash. what cool cars.
Seems Vista Cruisers have become very popular, Back in the day (early 80's ) my sis had one I thought it was cool then but to most people it was just another wagon, not so any more, to be honest I don't remember what year it was (I think second generation) but my brother -in-law used to complain that having a Vista Cruiser just meant extra windows to wash. what cool cars.
One bad thing about the Vista is the roof glass does let a lot more sun in the car, even with the tint, on a hot sunny day here in TN the heat is almost unbearable in the car without using the a/c.
I suppose the things I like most about my car (and the things I have changed and modified over the years) are things most people would know isn’t “right”, but immediately notice when they see them.
About 25 years ago, I noticed a tilt steering column from a 75 cutlass is a almost direct bolt in for the factory non-tilt column in my car. I swapped the lock cylinder and hazard switch for that factory look. One of the features of the 75 column is the dimmer on the turn signal lever. I swapped the factory dimmer switch for a switch from a new (at the time) Cadillac fleet wood with the “flash to pass” feature. By adding one battery feed power wire to the connector, you can flash the high beams by pulling the dimmer switch. Great for motivating pesky Prius drivers out of the left lane!!
Later on, I again modified the column to include a delay wiper switch (and delay wiper motor from a Buick century) and newer cruise lever for a modern cruise control kit. Delay wipers using junkyard parts.
Last winter, I built a new dash wiring harness. I also added a RAP (retained accessory power) module from a 95 F body. Just like a new car, **** off the ignition, the radio continues to play for 10 minutes, or until you open a door.
I also added “theater lighting”, when you close the door, after after a few seconds the lights slowly dim. As a added feature, after 30 minutes, the lights automatically shut off, preventing the battery from draining. I could have REALLY used this when my son was young. Whenever my wife needed to carry in groceries, she would allow him to entertain himself in the front seat of my car (obviously no keys in the ignition!!). I could alway tell when she did this, next time I get in the car, the turn signal might be on, wipers on, radio full blast, whatever. One time he opened the console lid and didn’t close it.
This past winter, I installed power windows. One feature of the F body RAP module is if you open the door, for 45 seconds the power window circuit remains powered, without the key.
About the time I installed the steering column I also installed a modified G body power door lock setup.
I love the look people have when they notice the hoses coming from the air cleaner to the under the bumper scoops. The hoses are pretty common on cars today, they look just out of place enough in a classic car that people notice them. Then the look of “Ah Ha!” when they figure out what they are.
The best “driving enjoyment” modification is probably the gear vender, and the 86 442 steering gearbox. The gear vender allows cruising at 75 with the engine just loafing along. The steering gearbox gets rid of the “powerful steering” one finger over booster power steering these cars had new. I guess I would have to include the disc brakes I installed in 1988ish in the driving improvements.
The factory Rally Pac gauges, console, factory bucket seats, are all things that originally caught my eye when I bought this car. All that stuff is still there, either restored or updated.
All the modern features are either hidden in plain sight, or just completely hidden. I like the stock look, other than the wheels and exhaust it looks pretty much like it would have in the early 70s if a performance enthusiast owned it.
My goal when I first started building my car was a pump gas, drive anywhere, comfy stock appearing 11 second street car. While I have achieved all my goals, unfortunately, an 11 second street car isn’t impressive today. Since I refuse to install a roll bar, I can’t go much quicker. My best 1/4 time is an 11:64, 11:49 or quicker by the rule book needs a roll bar.
I'll contribute in a roundabout way. I have 3 A bodies with AC. A mod my granddad did to his Monte Carlo, now mine, is to take a vent window, non-AC car's kick panel with one vent, one pull, for the left side and put it in for an extra vent for the driver. The passenger side can't be done as the port is used for max air recirc, but a/c does nothing with the left one other than blocking it off.
So I have driver side vented kick panels for the 67 and 72 Olds's waiting for install. The vent is awesome on the nuts, and the only problem is remembering to close it in cold weather or AC being on.
I'll contribute in a roundabout way. I have 3 A bodies with AC. A mod my granddad did to his Monte Carlo, now mine, is to take a vent window, non-AC car's kick panel with one vent, one pull, for the left side and put it in for an extra vent for the driver. The passenger side can't be done as the port is used for max air recirc, but a/c does nothing with the left one other than blocking it off.
So I have driver side vented kick panels for the 67 and 72 Olds's waiting for install. The vent is awesome on the nuts, and the only problem is remembering to close it in cold weather or AC being on.
Favorite thing about my Vista Cruiser is the attention it gets, where ever I go it draws a crowd. I always hear comments like "I've never seen one" or "I havent seen one in years" or "My friends parents had one". The thing that I wish it had is more power, the original 330 4bbl just doesn't have much grunt. My 70 Chevelle SS is a much nicer car but it doesn't get near the attention that the Vista gets.
Love those Keystone Kustomags. I haven't seen a set of those up close since the ones I had on my '64 Chevy Impala 409 in high school. Bitchin'!
Thank you, cool color combo, gold on gold 4 speed..most have black interiors.
Completely different animal but I had a gold interior 70 Cutlass. Two tone gold car. Painted gold upper. Darker gold lower. Owned by a dentist. He ordered it cool. Sport mirrors. Sport steering wheel. Air. Disc brakes. Posi. Sport wheels. I sold that car to my cousin. I will have to ask her if she still has any pictures. That gold interior I swear was one third as hot as my black interior 442.
I'll contribute in a roundabout way. I have 3 A bodies with AC. A mod my granddad did to his Monte Carlo, now mine, is to take a vent window, non-AC car's kick panel with one vent, one pull, for the left side and put it in for an extra vent for the driver. The passenger side can't be done as the port is used for max air recirc, but a/c does nothing with the left one other than blocking it off.
So I have driver side vented kick panels for the 67 and 72 Olds's waiting for install. The vent is awesome on the nuts, and the only problem is remembering to close it in cold weather or AC being on.
That's a great idea! So you pull out the vent **** and have fresh air like the old non AC cars had? Cool!
Favorite - I'd have to say the bench seat. Before I bought my Olds, it had been probably 30 years since I had last sat on one. It is like riding a cloud sitting on your living room sofa, and my wife can slide over to sit next to me when we cruise.
That's a great idea! So you pull out the vent **** and have fresh air like the old non AC cars had? Cool!
Yes, the hole is there because the car body is not specific for AC or non-AC. There is a block-off plate sealed on there that will need cut off, and also, that end of the vent assembly in the kick panel will also need sealed on as that area of the cowl can get water. I think the vent door itself is recessed enough to not get water even when open, but the vent duct itself is right there at the hole, so it needs sealed.
I think this wasn't included in the cars to save a little money, to keep you from forgetting about the vent with the AC on, and also, it can't be done on the right side, so it's not symmetrical, but, my cars get driven by just me most of the time, so that's fine.
Ima. say this about that: If you only have one thing that's your favorite OR you would change, you're in the wrong hobby. I love my 67 442. It ain't perfect, but it's fast, real f-ing fast. Is it fast "enough"? Within my spending limits (or, careless spending), it is. By turbo LS standards? No. But, you just don't see 67 442s rumbling down the road with 3" exhaust and REAL ROCKET POWER much. That's why I love it.
