The resurrection of my Hurst Olds
April 23rd, 2011, 07:00 PM
#1
The resurrection of my Hurst Olds
In 1995 (May 25th to be exact) I finished all the body work and painted my 1969 Hurst Olds. I followed the stencils that I had made to make sure that each stripe was the correct width and length. While buffing out the clear coat, I burned the paint on one of the quarter panels. Before I got the chance to re-shoot the clear, my father (the original purchaser of the vehicle) passed away. I completely lost all interest in it at that time and so I put it in a storage unit.
Two years ago I pulled it out of storage and brought it to Williams and put it in its new garage.
There it has sat.
Until today.
Last summer my husband and I purchased an engine for it from John (2blu442). We drove up to his house and brought it back, where it has sat until last month. My husband told me that he finally got all the pistons and parts to rebuild my engine. I thought it was put on the back burner again.
Today I came home and noticed a familiar wing and taillamp peeking out of the barn. John and his friends pulled my car from the garage using a forklift (dirt got soft after all the rain this year and all the tires sunk down) and then pushed it in to the barn. They removed the hood and then left John to have the fun job of pulling the engine.
I got home in time to get some pictures and then help him with it.
Here are some pictures from what we got accomplished today.
We are hoping to have it back in shape to take back home to Reno for Nationals.
Two years ago I pulled it out of storage and brought it to Williams and put it in its new garage.
There it has sat.
Until today.
Last summer my husband and I purchased an engine for it from John (2blu442). We drove up to his house and brought it back, where it has sat until last month. My husband told me that he finally got all the pistons and parts to rebuild my engine. I thought it was put on the back burner again.
Today I came home and noticed a familiar wing and taillamp peeking out of the barn. John and his friends pulled my car from the garage using a forklift (dirt got soft after all the rain this year and all the tires sunk down) and then pushed it in to the barn. They removed the hood and then left John to have the fun job of pulling the engine.
I got home in time to get some pictures and then help him with it.
Here are some pictures from what we got accomplished today. We are hoping to have it back in shape to take back home to Reno for Nationals.
April 23rd, 2011, 07:50 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Shorewood, Il.
Posts: 3,057
Is M'Lisa short for Monalisa?? Pretty!
Sorry about your Dad, musta been cool to have had a H/O!!
Glad it's coming back together - I'd of been going nuts, waiting!
Now that we know what your husbands dirty hands look like, can't wait to see yours!
Sorry about your Dad, musta been cool to have had a H/O!!
Glad it's coming back together - I'd of been going nuts, waiting!
Now that we know what your husbands dirty hands look like, can't wait to see yours!
April 23rd, 2011, 08:32 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Moreno Valley, CA
Posts: 824
Hope to see you in Reno. I am restoring an Olds that has been in our family for 30 years. My daughter Maritte claims the car and we actually call it Maritte's car. If you get to Reno look for a gold with black stripes 1970 442 w-30 convertible 4 speed with a 29 year old lady behind the wheel. Our car was a shelf in our garage till it was sent off to get restored and is almost finished.
Good luck on your project. Lee
Good luck on your project. Lee
April 24th, 2011, 06:42 PM
#10
My father bought the car in 1970 for my mother for her birthday. She was the 2nd owner.
April 25th, 2011, 07:15 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,386
Very Exciting, and how appropriate for a resurrection on Easter weekend!!! I am sure that many will look forward to the future progress of this very significant auto,......both commercially, and more importantly emotionally with regard to the family tie! Thanks for sharing......
April 26th, 2011, 07:11 PM
#13
A big THANK YOU to all who have pictures of their Hurst Olds engines. I told my husband that my engine should be red. He argued saying that the last engine he put in was gold. He had replaced the engine back in 1990 after I grenaded it! The attached pictures are of the cool bad luck award our car club used for a year. If it happened you got a clothespin on the bent push rod.
That engine was gold, so that is the color John has always painted it. I told him to look up this site and Hurst Olds Club of America. My engine is now red.
We think when the engine was replaced under warranty they must have painted the engine gold. Who knows?
That engine was gold, so that is the color John has always painted it. I told him to look up this site and Hurst Olds Club of America. My engine is now red.
We think when the engine was replaced under warranty they must have painted the engine gold. Who knows?
May 1st, 2011, 08:56 PM
#14
John put her together and here are the videos of her trying to start.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rixm2x5Bl-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp9iRH7qO8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBvmLiikKSg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi4cLn3-_cE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rixm2x5Bl-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp9iRH7qO8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBvmLiikKSg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi4cLn3-_cE
May 18th, 2011, 09:18 PM
#17
John has the engine in the car and has her all back together. He even bathed her!
So tonight he asked if I wanted to go for a ride and I agreed. I got outside and she was sitting there waiting for me. Man it felt good to get behind the wheel and crank her over. I shifted from Park to Reverse and she chirped the tires. Oh...yeah! I put her into Neutral and then into Drive and chirped them again. Ahhhhhh.
I drove her slowly out the gate to the highway that runs past our house. Looked left, then right, then creeped out of the dirt driveway to the asphalt. I gave her a little gas and she started to take off and then..
pop,pop. She started backfiring when I accelerated. If I eased it she would smooth out, but didn't like the acceleration.
I brought her home and we put another carb on her and went out again. Same thing happened. I did drive her back and forth to Nissan's (about a block away) about 6 times.
Drove her home and let her coast in to the barn. She acted like a horse at that time. Kept having to ride the brakes to get her to slow down and all she wanted to do was go home. Now!.
I asked John if he had changed the points in the car and he hadn't. I told him that I don't remember the last time the points were changed, so he'll order new ones tomorrow.
M'Lisa
So tonight he asked if I wanted to go for a ride and I agreed. I got outside and she was sitting there waiting for me. Man it felt good to get behind the wheel and crank her over. I shifted from Park to Reverse and she chirped the tires. Oh...yeah! I put her into Neutral and then into Drive and chirped them again. Ahhhhhh.
I drove her slowly out the gate to the highway that runs past our house. Looked left, then right, then creeped out of the dirt driveway to the asphalt. I gave her a little gas and she started to take off and then..
pop,pop. She started backfiring when I accelerated. If I eased it she would smooth out, but didn't like the acceleration.
I brought her home and we put another carb on her and went out again. Same thing happened. I did drive her back and forth to Nissan's (about a block away) about 6 times.
Drove her home and let her coast in to the barn. She acted like a horse at that time. Kept having to ride the brakes to get her to slow down and all she wanted to do was go home. Now!.
I asked John if he had changed the points in the car and he hadn't. I told him that I don't remember the last time the points were changed, so he'll order new ones tomorrow.
M'Lisa
May 19th, 2011, 04:14 AM
#19
I hooked a tack up wrong once and it did the same thing . Why would it cherp the tires just going in and out of gears sounds like idle is very high you should have a 1800 rpm stall . Does it backfire when not in gear under load could be a vacum leak and are you shure he got plug wires on or is not a tooth off Good luck
Last edited by firefrost gold; May 19th, 2011 at 04:17 AM.
May 20th, 2011, 12:00 AM
#20
The idle is a little high, but she has always chirped going thru the gears and not accellerating. John changed the points, but it got too dark to test drive. He also noticed the air cleaner is completely clogged, so he will pick up a new one tomorrow. My tach isn't hooked up yet (don't know why).
I could slowly accellerate and she would be fine, but try to give her more than 1/2 a pedal she would pop.
We are putting it off until Sunday and then monday we are towing over to the shop I work at so I can reshoot the hood and buff out the rest of the car.
I could slowly accellerate and she would be fine, but try to give her more than 1/2 a pedal she would pop.
We are putting it off until Sunday and then monday we are towing over to the shop I work at so I can reshoot the hood and buff out the rest of the car.
May 20th, 2011, 04:04 AM
#21
I have never in the past had problems with points it seams like they work or dont
I have not played with them much . I have a pertronix in my pontiac now and have run that type form the 90's . what shop do you work at and what do you do at it?
I have not played with them much . I have a pertronix in my pontiac now and have run that type form the 90's . what shop do you work at and what do you do at it?
May 22nd, 2011, 08:33 PM
#25
We woke up early this morning and went to a Poker Run put on by John Nissen who owns Nissen's Hot Rod Shop. My sister ended up winning with a full house of 8s and 9s.
After we parked Christine at the Hot Rod Shop which is about .3 miles from our house, John and I walked home and got my Hurst Olds. I drove her over there and she purred like a tiger. This was her first car event since Hot August Nights in 1996.
We had a blast! When we left my sister rode with me. It has been along time since we've gone any where in that car. I had to open her up....my sister looked over at me and just smiled. I had tears running down my face and the biggest smile since John and I got married!
Thank you John for...EVERYTHING!
M'Lisa
After we parked Christine at the Hot Rod Shop which is about .3 miles from our house, John and I walked home and got my Hurst Olds. I drove her over there and she purred like a tiger. This was her first car event since Hot August Nights in 1996.
We had a blast! When we left my sister rode with me. It has been along time since we've gone any where in that car. I had to open her up....my sister looked over at me and just smiled. I had tears running down my face and the biggest smile since John and I got married!
Thank you John for...EVERYTHING!
M'Lisa
May 23rd, 2011, 06:21 AM
#28
Very cool story. I like those where someone has had the car for a long time especially with a lot of sentimental values. It just makes it more special when you get it back on the road. Congrats! Very nice car.
May 23rd, 2011, 02:28 PM
#30
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 11,798
Glad your run went so smoothly and was so much fun!! Beats putting that BBQ together, huh?
I guess I will tell the Saturday night story myself on how I sniffed out lost motels, Oldsmobiles, and Classic Olds members!
I guess I will tell the Saturday night story myself on how I sniffed out lost motels, Oldsmobiles, and Classic Olds members!
May 23rd, 2011, 08:04 PM
#31
I will let you tell everyone how you found me!
June 22nd, 2011, 10:36 PM
#33
Thought I would update you on the progress of the Olds.
Friday June 17th I went down to the DMV to see what bullshit I was going to have to deal with on order to register her. Nothing, went smooth and only cost $86.00. Of course they did tell me that it may take a little longer to get the title, because it came up with a "180 Woosley" code. She told me that the car had been registered in California and someone was owed money on it. I told her that I have all of the registrations for the car from Nevada from May 17,1970 until January of 1997. Always been in Nevada. I guess we'll see.
Last Saturday John and I wet sanded the whole car with 1000 grit. Of course before we started I noticed she was on "E" and from past dealings with her I know that doesn't stand for "E"nough. I actually drove her legally to the gas station for the first time since 1996. :-)
John drove her to my work, Selover's and next monday she will be re-cleared and ready to buff and assemble!
M'Lisa
Friday June 17th I went down to the DMV to see what bullshit I was going to have to deal with on order to register her. Nothing, went smooth and only cost $86.00. Of course they did tell me that it may take a little longer to get the title, because it came up with a "180 Woosley" code. She told me that the car had been registered in California and someone was owed money on it. I told her that I have all of the registrations for the car from Nevada from May 17,1970 until January of 1997. Always been in Nevada. I guess we'll see.
Last Saturday John and I wet sanded the whole car with 1000 grit. Of course before we started I noticed she was on "E" and from past dealings with her I know that doesn't stand for "E"nough. I actually drove her legally to the gas station for the first time since 1996. :-)
John drove her to my work, Selover's and next monday she will be re-cleared and ready to buff and assemble!
M'Lisa
June 23rd, 2011, 09:05 PM
#37
June 23rd, 2011, 09:09 PM
#38
I was even one of the founding members of the Eastern Sierra Olds Club.
When I heard Nationals were going to be 155 miles from me, I knew I had to complete her restoration to the best of my abilities. She and I are going home for a visit.
When are the Drags?
July 8th, 2012, 07:22 AM
#39
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,386
I had a chance to read "the rest of the story" this morning over coffee in the July JWO. Thank you for sharing your story with more heart and emotion in conjunction with the actual car information. A truly great story to read. I admire your great taste in cars (at such a young age), and your strong tenacity to preserve the car as a tribute to your parents. Sometimes the articles in JWO can be repetitious only providing options and information with less personal experiences, your story....not so much.
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