Any advice on pulling a convertible out that has been there so long it has sunk into the ground almost to the rockers. Do you think it would damage the frame to hook to the front holes in the side of the frame and pull with a 4 wheel drive? Signed,
cutlass underground.

 

I would try to pull it up first with a cherry picker and stack boards like 2x8's under the tires once you kind of get it level pull it vs. fitting the divits it has sunken its self into.

 

I'd be really concerned that the whole bottom of the car is roached. Try getting the jack out of the trunk and lifting it by the bumpers, like it would have been done back in the day. Then get some cribbing or fill into the holes left by the tires. I'd pull from the engine cross frame, right in the center.

 

Damn, that's a good idea. Just happen to have one. This car has buckets but the top is Swiss cheese. Thanks for the idea, pulling it out and seeing what I can save is a good thing.

 

Good luck! Post some pics of the rescue. What year is it? Just about all the verts were spoda be A51 equipped unless the A65 bench was ordered at no extra cost. I think ALL the A body coupes should have been bucket equipped from the factory. Well, maybe the entry level could have retained the A52 seat.

 

The top is Swiss cheese and doors won't open so don't know if the buckets are shot but the top near the trunk area is gone and a huge worm has taken up residence. It's a 71. Dark green. Black interior. What's left of it.

 

I'd just drag it out by the frame.

 

+1. I'd just latch onto whatever is structural and pull - everything below the doors is probably shot anyway, and the brakes are likely rusted solid, so the wheels aren't going to turn no matter what you do.

- Eric

 

Why are you so concerned? Just put some fuel in the tank and a fresh battery in it and start it up and drive away!

Seriously though, post pictures once you rescue the car. The others have solid advice. Good luck.

 

I passed on a 69 drop top sitting just like this in the woods. Please let me know what worked and what didn't

 

take an air tank and see if the tires will take air.i have seen some pretty wicked tires take air.

 

I know where there is a 71 and 69 convertibles without motors not in the weeds but he wants 3800 for the 71 and 3000 for the 69. Both are rough, have no interiors and the 69 is missing the front clip. Damn, what's a guy gotta do to end up with a convertible cutlass? Pony up or hook up the ponies. Tough choice. Gonna need to move this to the humor thread.

 

After that long and sinking that deep, do you actually think that there is any frame left to salvage? I believe that you have a lot of hand digging ahead of you. If you try pulling it out with a machine, you will most likely be pulling it out in pieces.

 

I got a free '66 Cutlass from the land near a gravel pit once.

Lifted the car with the wrecker only to see the frame still on the ground.

Put chains under the frame from front to under rear bumper to wrecker, which lifted it. Front wheels did not turn until we cut the brake drums off.

 

I had 4 old cars sitting out in the good old Gratiot County blue clay for about 15 years. I had surprisingly good luck with putting a floor jack under the bumpers then getting high enough to put blocks then getting a better lift point under the frame and jacking up enough to put wood under the tires. I found that every drum brake was stuck badly. I took off the front wheel bearings and could rock back and forth using the tire and wheel for leverage to break the hold down springs and make the wheels roll. The rear were worse I couldn't get them free and they dragged. The cars left a perfect mold of their frames, rear ends, gas tanks etc. They came out pretty easily actually. The red one and white one are now gone. I am trying to sell the tan Dodge and still have the 72 Cutlass. I actually got a part off it yesterday. I guess I should keep it awhile longer. Good luck getting the car out.

 

I posted this one a while back. It is sitting in a field in Eastern New Mexico. Last time I looked at it everything was still there. It is rough and the top is full of holes so the floor pans are probably toast but this is New Mexico so it may not be as bad as something out East. I spoke with the owner and it could probably be had for $2~3K cash.

69_Cutlass_zps43c5bb90.jpg

 

I helped a family friend move his 68 Monaco from his field. Sat for 10+ years. We took the top off the carter afb, quick cleaned it and filled it with fuel. Hooked up a gravity tank and started it up. We pulled it from the spring up and out of the hole it sank into, and once it was out, we drove it to the barn. Not expecting much from it, but it moved at least, and it was sorta kinda solidish.

 

Gary, what's the scoop with this project? Is it now 'cutlass rolling on the ground?'
Time for an update my friend.

 

The car is owned by a widow that knows the guy that told me about it. She didn't know how much it or some other stuff I want is worth. To make her comfortable I said I would pay what her friend said it should sell for but he does not know when he will get up there. I let her know I want it but until he steps up I am hoping someone else doesn't move in and get it. I've got transportation and a plan to drag it out based on advise from members here. I looked at another car near me but it was too far gone. I did find a 1920s visual fuel pump at that property that this guy is interested in so I hope it works out that he gets that and takes the time to help me get what I need. Also found a 64 one owner olds that the guy is selling. It's all original with lots of documentation. I told him about this site because I know someone here would want it. He said he would look into it.

 

Is the guy with the 64 the one that has the 98 that was his grand mother-in-laws car?

 

The guy with the 64 says he bought it from original owner, no relation to him. I saw the car briefly. He also has the gas pump and two more cutlass convertible shells. Just mentioned it , not relevant to this thread though. Probably should have left it out. Does make it more confusing. He doesn't own the one I posted this thread for. I will post pictures if I am able to get the sunken car. I wanted to get ideas on how hard it would be to get it out before I pursued it farther. Now I know what to expect, I just need to make it happen.

 

Got word today my offer was accepted for this car. Waiting on title. Will get pictures of the extraction.

 

Maybe this is obvious but shovel the dirt from around the wheels.
Once when I was on a job I backed my truck up to a house.While I was working it got unseasonable warm .At the end of the day I found the ground had thawed my running boards where setting or the ground .I put it in fwd absolutely nothing . I called a tow truck it parked as far as it could and parked side way to my truck when he turn the wench on it reeled the tow truck in.Mine never moved.I thought for sure I was going to have to get a back hoe. Then they sent the biggest wrecker they had the kind they use for tractor trailers and that got it.
railguy

 

Front end came off easy. Jacked it up, put air in the tires that would hold any then pulled with a 12000 lbs wench most of the way. ****** strapped the rest of the way. Gas tank was not recognizable, trunk floor gone as well as some of the cabin floor. Frame was toast,buckets were gone and could not use Cowell area because it was rusted too much underneath at lower passenger side and top corners of windshield frame. Has some things (garter snake, trim, side windows, lower dash bezel,10 bolt diff, 350 motor etc.) Doors may be fixable but would not open even after unbolting the hinges. Would have liked to get them open,not sure why they wouldn't. Sure was fun pulling it out of the weeds though. Bought some other cool stuff, dash, console,W-Z manifolds, sport wheel,etc.

 

No disrespect but that is not worth the effort to save. It's totally roached.

 

Looks like a pile of garbage, but if you had fun pulling it out, that's all that matters.

Holy cow!

I guess it's really all over when SHE sings.

- Eric

 

Wench?? Oh weally? I think he meant winch. But that was funny

 

Was a good laugh though. The doors and trunk would not open before we moved it. Before we got into the car it didn't look so bad but it became clear quickly as we got it in the open it was a lost cause. I rolled the seats over before taking the pictures of the interior,when first seen they were sitting in it like any other car but the floor rusted out under them. I was mostly interested in it for the Cowell area and any other usable parts to use on another project. Was going to sell frame if good. And yes the fat lady has sung on this car project.

 

We have some good cowl sections here in Indianapolis if you still need one. I probably would have done the same thing. It's not always about the parts & money, it's about the adventure & story.

 

You should try to salvage the ac stuff ,and the stainless trim alot of it is reproduced but the original is alot better. Also I'm not sure how much of the glass is reproduced or what it's worth.
Railguy

 

The stainless around the windshield looks good and the pinch weld only has two medium dents that look repairable. The edge trim on the trunk is driver quality. Tilt wheel, lower dash uncut. I told them if they don't sell it I may be interested in the glass (grey tint). Could get the stainless then.

 

When looking through the garage where I found the console and two dash's I pulled out a box from under a shelf and a four foot black snake was coiled in it looking up at me like " WHAT!" Slid the box back under and said "snake over here". Not everyday you see that.

 

I would've given 10 bucks and pulled the very few salvageable items from that pile, said last rites and let the rest return to the Earth. I bet you wasted more time than any of that was worth. I hope you didn't pay more than 35 bucks. I hate to even know but I'm sooooooo curious..

 

Bozang, where you shopin that sells dashboards and consoles for under 35 bucks. The car was shot and I didn't buy anything off it yet but there are some parts on it I may get. Pulling it out helped the owner and I didn't consider it a waste of time at all. Us Olds people help each other.