Howdy y’all,

I was convinced by my wife to write about my attempt to restore my “newly” acquired 69 442. I had initially purchased it sight unseen from a man named Buggs Threadgill while I was on deployment with the Navy and waited almost 4 years to collect it. Unfortunately, Mr. Threadgill passed before I was able to meet him in person.

It will be a long project by myself but I am looking forward to it. Thankfully, my wife is supportive and I have kids with small hands to help!

Starting point. Most major parts are there. Some not pictured.


interesting details: 455ci motor with Carter Thermo-Quad carb. Auto trans (unknown model).

Progress has been minimal due to my honey-do list. That’s almost done for now though. Can’t wait

 

First, many thanks for your service. Second, congratulations on your purchase and don't get discouraged. '69's are the best of the bunch (in my opinion) and it took me close to 30 years to get mine the way I wanted it. Lot's of people here can help if you get stuck. One piece of advice - if you don't already have them, get a factory service manual (hard to come by) and a build manual (reproduced by several sources). They're invaluable resources. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Here's a picture of mine prior to installing the top.

 

Some assembly required.

 

I still don't have my '69 4-4-2 convertible the way I want it and I've had it since 1987! Don't get discouraged...it just takes time...and money!

Randy C.

'68 4-4-2 convertible (the way I want it!)
'69 4-4-2 convertible (still needs work!)

 

Thanks for the support. I hope to get to know y’all better

 

You can usually find the factory service manuals on ebay. Shop the prices because they can vary a lot. I am sure that is a future nice car.

 

Thank you for your service. Working on a restoration is rewarding no matter how long it takes you to complete. I have had mine for 5 years and it is about 95% done. Be sure to take photos of the disassembly as it will help immensely on the re-assembly.

Sean

 

Anyone have experience with this?

https://www.themotorbookstore.com/19...anuals-cd.html

looks like a good deal to me. Nothing beats paper version but I could print off all the copies I wanted.

 

So I finished my major flooring project on the house and decided to take a crack at starting my car project for real.


The trailer I pulled the car out of. Last inspection was 1987…

Pulled the Carter TQ off and stowed for a rebuild. Looks like mostly good shape. Mechanical secondary. Not sure of the cfm but the model is 9094S. I’ll find out later.

Also pulled the belts, alternator, head covers, and intake.


Just a hunch, but I think I found an issue?

Intake will need to be replaced. Too many rusted bolts seem to have been broken off. Head covers will also probably be replaced with something better.



Interesting find was the cowl tag mentions a cutlass body with Aztec Gold paint and Black Interior as I understand it. Someone repainted it the dark green and replaced the interior with matching green. Might change it back to the orig.

Forgot to take a picture of the VIN but that denotes 442 (34467).

The major plan is to pull the body and restore the chassis.

I decided to buy the Motor Bookstore CD manual pack. Received it today and will open it next chance I get.

 

I think this covers all you need to know about the TQ carb
http://www.retrorarities.com/images/...nformation.pdf

 

My answer. Steer away from this manual. My suggestion. Purchase the OEM PAPERBACK version of the CSM (Chassis Service Manual).

You can get away w/ CD versions of the Assembly Manual, etc. but get an ORIGINAL CSM.

Here is a good set>>>https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Oldsmo...cAAOSwktFdG5uC

 

Actually doesn't look all that bad, IMO. Did it have a metal turkey tray intake manifold gasket?

 

thanks for this!

I will look into a paper manual as well then.

and yes there was an intake gasket tray

 

And as Others have said Thank You for your service, I also suggest getting the body manual as well as the chassis manual, there are reprints available on line and you wont be sorry. be patient take your time and take one bite at a time. I have been working on my 1969 for freeken ever LOL...

 

Welcome to the best Oldsmobile forum on the web! I have a copy of the '69 Assembly Manual in pdf form and happy to share it with you; If you PM me your email address, I'll send it your way. All together, it's about 30MB of info, but it's broken up into 8 sections that are small enough to email.

Rodney

 

I remember Buggs. He was an Oldsmobile man through and through. If I remember right, he lived somewhere in East Texas or maybe around Houston. He also had a 70 (I think) 442, might have been a W car not sure about that.

 

yes to all of those. He lived out in Cypress/Spring area of Houston. His family offered to sell me his 70 442 and custom trailer with tools but there was no way I could afford any of it.

He was working as a property developer still had some big plans in the works.

Fortunately, I was able to keep in touch with him for the last few years of his life and he was very kind to me.

Heyday with Buggs on the right. Sometime before I was born

 

I actually met Buggs back when I was looking for a car. I remember looking at your car in fact. That car is going to be nice when you are done. I will be sure to follow the progress.

Sean

 

Got some more work done this weekend. Mostly just dis-assembly. Pulled the front passenger drum brake guts out. The heater core and fan. Heads, lifters, pushrods, and most of the underside of the dash (electrical, kick panels, insulation, etc). Found some extra rust.

Not terribly exciting but I had extra child duty so couldn’t get much more done this time.

Anyone have a good vetting process for a body shop? All I hear about is horror stories…

Only thing left is the steering column

Electrical needs to be replaced something bad. All I found was shorts, burns, and bad soldering.

I should mention I am working in a limited spacial area. Running out of room fast

Gave a fight but I think I won

Waiting to get a picker and stand to pull the rest of this bad boy

Not terrible, but not good

I can see why the cowl trim was left on

 

Oh man, you got some work ahead of you. Ive seen worse though, keep at it.

 

I could have swore I saw this car for sale on F/B with an LS engine in it. Nope, similar though. It was the Chevy steering wheels that threw me off!

 

I can see the resemblance. Hard to tell them apart when they’re stripped down like that!

 

WOW , that's a good bite of the elephant, looking at the rust it doesn't look so bad, I replaced both outer wheel houses and quarters using the hardtop stuff, the window channel is also available, I am not sure about the top of the wind shield support? are you planning on doing any of the body work yourself? I would take some time to start sorting all the parts you have removed, I am suffering for being less than methodical now, and also for how long it took me. mow I have to remember where I put it all LOL... I will be following along, I am sure your resto will be done before mine LOL...

 

I was curios so I did a quick search it seems it may be available ? The lower frame is the same as a Chevelle ( I believe the one I bought from fusick even said Chevelle? so there is a 69 windshield bridge for a Chevelle
https://www.ss396.com/chevelle/RWB-1...SABEgLCKfD_BwE

 

Thanks Eddie. I actually have one already buried in the trunk with the other miscellaneous parts. I’m planning on having the body work done by “the pros” just because of the size of the project. I don’t have any of the tools yet for that kind of work anyways.

But then again that might change. I might grow some wild hairs and decide to try it out down the road.

 

I hear you I had been looking for a shop to do the paint, and it isn't as easy as it sounds unless I go to a maaco or some super high end shop, I don't need show car but like things nice LOL. I have sprayed a few cars before and I am ok with the process, I was unfamiliar with BC/CC and the new epoxies but now that I am using them seems to be no big deal, so I might just go ahead and do it myself, things do change. LOL... anyway will enjoy your thread either way!!

 

Your weekends look solidly booked over the next couple of years...ha. I'm not that organized and would rather tackle one issue at a time....less discouraging to me to see a smaller job that needs done...I'd feel overwhelmed and discouraged quickly....but that's just me. My 69 442 is nearly stripped and ready for priming....just needing a string of good days as I'm going to try my first paint job in the garage. Will be following and cheering you on!

 

2020. ‘Nuff said.

I was fortunate to have a productive job that needed my skill set last year but it didn’t leave me much time to work on the car. I thought I would just add an update as I had to quarantine this month due to exposure to the virus (tested negative thank goodness).

I also was tasked to help my wife renovate a trailer into a mobile coffee shack for her business.

So it was a busy year. Stay safe everyone.


Pulled the engine and trans

Not shown here but did a complete tear down of the engine

Removed the gas tank. It was pretty badly rusted and bent so I’ll probably just replace it. Later...

Pulled the body off finally. It took me a couple of days to get all the bolts out. Some broke from rust, some had to be cut. All needed to be replaced anyway. Edit: forgot to mention I also had to use scissor jacks since that was all I had available. Had to cut up a socket to use for my drill and made that go a little faster.

Pulled out the frame and was able to brush and clean some. Just waiting on the paint to come in now.

 

Thanks for your service. That looks like a good project. One day at a time. I'm going through the same thing.

What neighborhood are you in? I'm Ocean View.

 

Thanks HorseCollar. I’m over in Hampton.

 

Bolt-onfirenzefire: Hey, I feel you pain with all the rust. I had to go thru all the same problems with my 69 442 conv. I'm not an expert, but I can give you some lessons learned if needed. Also, I am in Suffolk by the MMBT.

 

I will take all advice and hints or tips. I have had work pick up this year so I’ve spent less time lately but welcome it all.