Just checking in after almost a year since my last post. It's been a hectic year... I lost my Dad, moved to a new house, hurt my back and ended up on disability... hasn't been much time to work on my Old's. Luckily, with the help of this forum, I had gotten her into dependable mechanical condition before all this happened. We still take her out most nice weekends (about 3750 miles in the last year). Just before I went missing I had posted about getting rear ended. I'm happy to report the repairs were finally completed to my satisfaction after a couple months. The rear bumper was sent out to be straightened & re-chromed (had to be done twice, due to a blemish in the chrome the first time)... the fuel tank was cleaned & repaired (the filler neck was bent in the impact). Luckily there was no paint or body damage, I think the total repair cost came in around $6500, but all was covered by insurance. I still have some interior issues on my to-do list (rear window motor, new carpet, etc.) and hope to get back to them in the near future. Anyway, just checking in and sayin' Hi...

 

Rear end before and after repairs...

 

Sorry to hear about your rough year, hopefully its all in your past and things are looking up. Glad your repair came out to your satisfaction.

 

Welcome back

 

Nice that you got that fixed. There was a lengthy thread on here very recently about a fellow whose '65 Delta 88 got rear-ended. The damage was more severe than yours, and the car was declared totaled. Even though it looked to all of us like it was fixable, he had no choice but to accept the insurance company's offer and take the money. He couldn't even find a shop to give him an estimate, let alone do the repair.

Here's the thread.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...get-parts.html

 

Welcome back Mak! Hopefully, the Delta can be a small source of relief in your life at this time....sometimes, just a cruise to think can relieve some of life's stresses....

 

Yes, it always it! I should have rephrased my post, it makes it sound like I'm down & out. The move was certainly a move "up"... but after 18 years in the old house, it was a real pain in the *** to move. I hired a moving company specifically so I wouldn't re-injure my back... but I did anyway, lol.

 

It turned out nice!

I still haven't replaced that rear window motor! lol. I see the box with the window motors sitting on my work bench everyday... I'll get to it someday.

 

Thanks. We're doing fine... and I'm never moving again, lol.
Thank you.

 

Sooo, to keep from starting another oil/oil filter thread... I'll ask it here. It's been a year since I've changed the oil in the Old's. I don't give much thought to the services on my newer cars anymore... actually I have them done at a local shop and don't even pay much attention. But, I like to do the Old's myself and use quality parts... and I don't think the shop I go to would even let the Old's it in the door, lol. I've always used Castrol oil & Wix oil filters (I drive further to go to the parts house that carries Wix). Recently I was talking to a mechanic I know who claimed "Wix filters used to be high quality, now they're absolute garbage... I'd use a Fram filter before I'd use a Wix!" Hmmm... I had no idea. So, what's a decent oil filter brand to buy for my Old's??

 

I don't know where he gets his info from but the wix or Napa gold are very good. You can do a search on Fram and see all the issues. I would not use a standard motor oil as you need a friction package more suited for an early model car in which the newer oils do not contain. Go with an oil that contains the proper amount of ZDDP, zinc/phosperous.

Good reading but lists oils by friction rating in this guys testing.

http://540ratblog.wordpress.com/

 

Every oil filter brand seems to have its share of detractors and supporters, some more than others. But every major oil filter brand is being used on thousands if not millions of cars every day with no ill effects. If there were a serious issue with some brand of oil filter, engines would be seizing up or falling out of cars all over the place, and it would be in all the newspapers. But we never hear about this. Which tells you something.

When I go to the store for an oil filter for my cars, I buy whatever is on sale, and I always have.

 

I think I'll stick with the Wix filter... although there is a Napa store about half as far away.

Wow, that's a lot of oil info!!

What I use...
29. 20W50 Castrol GTX, API SN conventional = 96,514 psi
zinc = 610 ppm
phos = 754 ppm
moly = 94 ppm

Seem's adequate for a street car that's driven pretty easy most of the time. I run 20/50, but I live in warm/hot California and generally would take a different car on an extremely cold day. I've always figured as lond as I change it often and keep it clean, I'd probably be fine.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since my Old's engine was completely rebuilt by a reputable local speed shop, including a complete valve job & Eldelbrock cam, I've always just assumed it probably had modern lifters, guides & seals that would eliminate any need for lead fuel additive or special types of oil, most likely anyway... No??

 

Your probably 100% correct, but I'd still never use a Fram oil filter... myth or no myth.

 

The Napa Gold filter is made by WIX. Just because your engine had been rebuilt, unless your running roller lifters, it's still considered an old style engine and requires a friction package suitable. You might want to travel a bit higher up the list.