tmatador

Finally got it to where it will go and stop and pulled it out of the garage. First time its seen sunlight since 1989!

firefrost gold

Well its about time whats the deal?

Allan R

Wow, you're going to have lots of work ahead to make sure it's totally safe and roadworthy. 22 years of storage will do wierd things to rubber parts and seals. Don't ask how I know....

Looks like a beauty. A real R350 or clone?

tmatador

Its real, my mom bought it from the original owner in 1976. She used it as a daily driver til about 1980. She gave it to me in 84.

Allan R

Sweet. Gotta love Mom's who recognize value in a car. Is it a SMT or auto? What are your plans for it?

oldcutlass

Congrats Dr. Frankenstein!!!!! Sorry, its close to Holloween!

Like was said up top, make sure you check your rubber lines and stuff!! Again don't ask us how we know!

tmatador

Its an auto on the column. F85 post car, pretty plain except for A/C & front disc brakes.
I'll keep it forever. I like it!

tmatador

I have put all new brake lines and replaced the rubber hose in the rear that goes to the gas tank. Any rubber lines I should know about that would cause safety concerns?

Allan R

There are actually 4 rubber fuel lines at the back of the car. To see them you have to get the back end up, and look up directly in front of the tank. You also have a rubber fuel line at the front of the car where the fuel line leaves the chassis. Also check all your rad hoses, thermostat and belts. All vacuum lines should be checked and/or replaced based simply on 22 years of dry non use. Check tranny fluid level and color - consider a flush. Did you do brake lines or hoses? All new lines is a really big job, hoses are not. Change the coolant and oil, + give her a lube job. There are 11 grease fittings on the front end - lots of people forget this and only do the control arm ball joints.

71supreme

Congrats tmatador! I had the same feeling when I pulled my cutlass from storage for the first time since 1997 last year. Its a wicked rush

Good luck on the project!

Destructor

Nice, I don't see too many post coupes. The aluminum trim looks nice around the side windows of a post car.

Allan R

Me either.
More pics .... Please!!

tmatador

Been piddling with the Rallye. So far it has rebuilt trans, new fuel tank & sending unit, new exhaust, new brake lines & hoses, new brakes all around, new ball joints & control arm bushings, switched the open rearend for a posi unit, new fuel lines. The engine seems to be ok so far, I haven't really drove it yet but it was rebuilt in 87 or so and has less than 1,000 miles on it. Haven't done a compression check or anything but not smoking or anything. Things are not as cheap as they were 20 years ago!

sicky olds

Grats, i myself have been working on my Rallye 350 that i just bought
LOVES IT!!!!!
Whats the plan with yours

tmatador

Fix it, drive it, admire it and then probably give to my grandson

citcapp

Congrats on getting the Olds out of the garage. As my dad once told me take baby steps and do it right the first time. Don't tell your grandson what you plan on doing he will follow you around like a puppy.

Allan R

Spoken like a true Dad and Grand dad. Nice work on the front end BTW

tmatador

I found the core support just about gone on the battery side so I got a reproduction support from OPGI. Anyone ever got one from them? Are they exact repops like they say? Just wondering since mine want be here for a week or so.

Thanks!

Allan R

You'll know the answer in about a week I think. For stuff like this, may I suggest that it would be good to ask that question before you buy. You're pretty much locked in now. I hope it fits. Exact repop? I don't think there is such an animal. Every repop is 'slightly' different from OEM because of patents and branding copyright laws.

sicky olds

how is the progress going on it?

tmatador

Things kind of stalled through the Holidays, but I'll get revved back up on it in a day or so. How bout your Rallye? What kind of project is yours?

sicky olds

Still deciding... Going to be attempting to keep stock on it, since it is numbers matching and such. But we shall see lol

tmatador

Well, after not doing anything to the car for several months (again) Its finally off to the body shop.

tmatador

Its taking forever to make any kind of progress on the Rallye.

Allan R

Some progress is better than no progress. Did the shop give you any kind of timeline on it? It's been almost a year. Most shops like to get the insurance work and quick in/out stuff. Although they should be working on yours too because it's eating up shop space.

tmatador

I guess I can't complain for the price I am getting it done for. I had to agree for it to be what they work on when they have time for the price I got. I would just rather it be sitting in my garage instead of theirs!

gearheads78

Be careful on those kinds of deals. Sometimes months turn in to years. Have you already paid anything? Are you paying as they go? Pay all at the end?

Allan R

Not to mention the probability of misplaced/lost/stolen parts. I hope there's a complete inventory of what the car had when it got there vs what it might be missing now....

tmatador

I have paid half, The shop owner is a friend of the family which helps in some ways and hurts in others.

ent72olds

Looks nice so far. Out of curiosity, what emblems were on the front fenders...?

OLD SKL 69

Looks good so far. Do you have any other pictures of the resto?

tmatador

I have a few pictures, not as many as I would like to have. It is an F85 and it had Cutlass emblems on the fenders.

ent72olds

Thanks!