Allan R

Hey Paul, just curiosity raising it's cute lil head. What color was the car originally from the factory? I know it's red in your sig pic, but what was the factory code? (I like red myself, but I also like silver, gold, blue, yellow, green......) I know you'll be showing it off in grand style when it's done.

car_designer

The original colour was Nordic Blue with blue cloth interior. I really wish it still had the cloth bench seat, but at some point (I am guessing when they painted it red) they recovered the seats in black vinyl. I can still see some of the blue cloth through the tears in the black cover, but the cloth is just as bad.

Allan R

My first 72 Cutlass S was Matador Red. Only it wasn't a post. So you're doing all the seats with the Legendary reskin kit (madrid naugahyde)? Black is a universal interior color.

car_designer

The back seat is in pretty good shape, so I am going to just wash it and put it back in. As for the front seat, a local Olds guy I knew was working on another 72 Cutlass, and the owner of the car (not him) wanted to convert to bucket seats, so he sold me the bench they took out. It was recently recovered, so all I have to do is bolt it in

Allan R

Why is it that all the back seats in these cars are like new? Nothing exciting ever happened back there???

car_designer

car_designer

Today I cleaned and polished, by hand, the front bumper then put it on the car. That was a little bit of a challenge. I think it is on pretty good now.

Hopefully I'll have another update tomorrow.

Allan R

Paul,
Did you have any issues with lining the bumper up? I am going to take my front bumper off and also clean up the mounting braces/nuts/bolts. Lots of pics going to happen with that. I'm a little apprehensive about getting it back on with the right spacing. Oh well, time will tell. post a B&W pic of the bumper on the car showing the spacing??

car_designer

It was a bit of a challenge to try and get it to line up well with the stoneshield and headlight trim, but I think I did a decent job and it looks pretty good.

I never took a picture of the bumper on the car today. I will have to take one tomorrow.

car_designer

Here are a couple of pics of this weekend's progress on the Cutlass. Today was polishing and installing the rear bumper with lights.

CutlassAtHome015_bw.jpg

CutlassAtHome016_bw-1.jpg

Allan R

Paul, that color is just stunning!! I am going to keep bugging you about that until you break down and show us the true color I know....
BTW, your air cleaner snorkel should go to the passenger side. Do you have the stove pipe and shroud? If not, I think I know where I might be able to get one for you. WAAAIIITTT a MINUTE.... that's not a 72 stock air cleaner. Did you install HEI and need an air can with the right clearance? I had that problem too. Use a 3/4" adapter on the top of the carb and your stock air cleaner will fit just fine.

car_designer

Good eye Allan. That is not a '72 air cleaner. And I think I would need to widen the opening on the one that came with the car... on the 2bbl. The one on the car is from an 84 or 85 Delta 88. It fits good.

And you just need to be patient. I will be posting colour pictures once it is finished.

Allan R

The stock 2 bbl air cleaner does have a very small air snorkel compared to 4bbl ones. Did you change your carb/intake to 4bbl? No worries, I'm a patient guy.

Hey! just a question about the trunk deck trim. I'm guessing you went BC/CC on the car so there's going to be a bit of a paint thickness issue fitting all that trim on. (At least that's what I find) How do you fit the curved trunk pieces on without chipping the paint? I know it screws on from behind (with those special teflon washer stainless screws) but did you sand down the paint, or widen the channel? I also have to do door edge moldings and I have 3 coats of clear on the car.

Tony72Cutlass'S'

Wow,

AWESOME build thread, how did i miss this??

Sick pictures BTW. I'm finishing the suspension on my cutlass this weekend ( I CAN FINALLY GET THE CAR INSPECTED).

So Excited.

Allan R

Well I wondered where you been the last little while. Gotta check your thread to see if there's new stuff for me to also get excited about Nice to see you haven't lost all your fingers doing wrenching

Tony72Cutlass'S'

It's coming along slowly but surely!

A good friend of mine is getting married in 3 weeks, i promised him i'd do my best to have the car finished and drive in the parade.

TIME IS TICKING.......

Allan R

Gee, congrats or condolences are in order I guess . Must be a good friend! You'll get 'r done; I have faith in you.

Paul - just wondering. Did you tie the trunk down for that shot? My trunk torsion rods are set at mid point and if I pop the trunk there's no way it will stay anywhere but fully up. And I never even gave it Viagra either!

You going to try the lens restorer on the red parts of the tail lights before you paint them silver again? Saw some guys on this site do that with amazing results. I did mine using Maguires plastic finish, lots o' elbow grease and time taping off and trimming (exacto knife) to get perfect lines. When you go to tape it off? A suggestion: Use that new Frog tape. It doesn't allow any paint bleed at all. Seals instantly.

car_designer

Allan, yes I did switch to a Quadrajet and a Performer intake.

As for the trunk trim, the 2 pieces I have on the trunk right now (over the tail lights) I just gently pushed on. I have not put any screws on yet. I tried, but the holes seem to be too big for the screws I am pretty sure I took out. So I am still trying to figure out a solution for that. I have tried a larger screw, but they were too long. I did not see any damage to the paint after I placed the trim pieces on.

The trunk is tied down so that it is not open all the way, or latched.

I am debating painting the tail light lens. One of them has some pieces missing on it. I think I have another one somewhere, but not sure where.

car_designer

Tony, I don't know how you missed it either Thanks for the compliment.

If the car is inspected, does that mean you will be driving it home from inspection? Take a video!

Good luck finishing the suspension this weekend. I hope you get the car finished in time for the wedding.

car_designer

Update time again.

Finally have all the scripts and emblems on the car along with all the exterior lights.

Next came a case of dominoes. I wanted to install the missing post trim piece. It turns out that to put the post trim piece on, I have to remove the piece above the window, and to do that I have to remover the top window channel, and to do that... Here is what I ended up doing...

CutlassAtHome017_sm.jpg

Next I need to put the metal window edge trim back on the glass (it had been stuck in the channel and separated from the glass) then reinstall it.

And only 5 more pieces of glass to remove the old tinting from

And just for Allan, here is a colour picture

IMG_2145_md.jpg

Allan R

Paul, you're killing me! Is that tinted glass? I got all new (4 sides) from PS auto glass a few years back. I'll be pulling my old 'clear' stuff and putting in tinted too.

Have to ask you, because I've seen that trick done before with the picture. How do you isolate just the script and emblem? I'll see the rest of that beautiful blue car soon enough when you reveal it. (The paint looks really nice BTW) Did you use some kind of masking filter or Photoshop? I'd love to learn how to do that too. Pleaseeee??

car_designer

Allan, to be honest, I didn't pay much attention to if the glass was tinted at all.

I also checked the company you mentioned and guess what? No glass for a post coupe

I used Photoshop. If you have it, I'll send you a pm with some instructions sometime in the next couple of days (this has been a busy weekend).

Allan R

Paul, sorry to hear about the glass. I always thought the side glass from even a hardtop would have fit. I looked through my Fisher body manual and my interchange manual and can't find any distinction between post glass or coupe glass (except for the 68 front doors)

I don't have photoshop, but maybe I should get a copy so I can do stuff like that. I think there are free downloads of it on line now. When you get a chance fire that info along - no rush. I understand how it is when ya hafta werk (as Jamesbo would so eloquently say)

car_designer

Today's update:

Over the last week, I have replaced the gaskets on one vent window (fun times!) and removed more window tinting. But I have been pretty busy so that was it until a little bit of work yesterday and more work tonite.

Tonite's project was working on a personal touch for the dash. I am not a huge fan of woodgrain. The interior of the Delta has quite a bit, and it looks good, but since the dash on the Cutlass has nothing, I decided to try something different.

I considered carbon fiber, painting it another colour or maybe something else. But I finally decided on "brushed aluminum". I am using a simulated brushed aluminum vinyl material.

Here is a pic of the dash when I started tonite.

Dash02.jpg

After installing it and trimming it.

Dash03.jpg

And finally with the wiper switch trim panel back on. I do not have pictures of the rest of the dash, but I have installed it on the whole lower section except the glove box door. I was hoping the grain would show more, but it might be the fact the light is more or less directly over where I was working.

Dash04.jpg

Allan R

Paul, that's a very interesting effect. Looks really sharp. Are you going to do the instrument pod with that overlay too? You know that once you start, you're also going to have to do the door panels too....Have you photo shopped it to see what that would look like? An engineer could do it as part of their 3000 hours of purgatory...

Seriously though, I like it. You also did a great job on the dash and AC vent reveal. Chrome sharpie??

car_designer

No photoshop, using my imagination. And yes, I have thought about everything else I need to make match.

sammy

X2,I have no idea how I missed this . Car looks great,ESP the color
Picking up some good stuff for my 72 cutlass s. Keep those pics coming!

Ted

car_designer

Update time (sorry, no pics).

This week all the passenger side glass has been reinstalled in the car with new seals/channels. The manual helped a little, but it still took a few tries to get all the pass. door glass in correctly. Tonite the exterior door handles and lock cylinders were re-installed, so now I can actually open the doors with one hand, or even if the window is closed.

There should be more updates over the weekend.

Allan R

Sounds good Paul. Looking forward to the updates. Did you have to reinstall regulators or just glass?

car_designer

Allan, for the doors, I had to just reinstall the glass and the bar that the other end of one of the regulator arms runs along. For the quarter windows, it was just the glass and channel.

This weekend's update:

Yesterday was the replacement of the driver's side window channels and glass. Today's project was to get the dash back in the car. It took some work to make sure everything was lined up properly but it wasn't too bad. I started plugging a few things in after, and now I know all the lights work... I just can't turn them off at the moment I need to find the headlight switch shaft so that I can turn them off. Hopefully I'll find it tomorrow.

I was hoping to get a bit further today, and wanted to take some pics, but I was racing against the rain, and I lost.

Tony72Cutlass'S'

Paul, where the pictures at!!!!

I'm sure your car is looking awesome, so post some ASAP.

I'm currently photo-documenting A-Arm rebuilding.

Best investment so far in suspension tools? 14$ Pickle fork at Canadian tire. 6-7 good whacks with a BFH and BOOM. Balljoints popped right out like butter.

car_designer

Soon, soon.

car_designer

Another update, this time with pics.

This week, I have been working on the interior. First was putting the dash back in. Some of those fasteners are hard to reach! But I've got the switches and gauges back in, and things are looking pretty good. I also put the rear interior panels in, which were a bit of a challenge. Also, the rear seat and "new" front seat were installed.

Still lots of work, but it's starting to feel like a car again.

And now for a couple of pics.

CutlassAtHome018.jpg

CutlassAtHome019.jpg

Allan R

Paul,
Nice work! Really nice details on the silver inlay on the dash and side trim. Is that the normal primer color on the inside by the sail panel? I think Peter Card was saying something about that color on his 72 supreme vert???

One question. I noticed that your car has a 'disc brake' circle on the pad. Is it the original? Reason I ask is mine is also disc and doesn't have that. When was yours built and what assembly line??

car_designer

Allan, my car was built in March, 1972 at the Framingham, MA. plant.

I doubt the brake pedal cover is original since the car has 4-wheel drum brakes, and the cover looks not very worn.

As for the colour on the sail panel, I would guess it it original, but can't say for sure.

Allan R

Paul, mine was built in April 72 at Lansing. Curious, what are your last 6 on the VIN? Mine is 208783
I'm guessing yours is 3G77K2GXXXXXX

I'm starting to get a good idea how complicated it can be to take the dash out of these. Wonder how GM did it back in the day? Seems like they must have had people with really small hands..

car_designer

Another update.

Yesterday, the rear window was reinstalled and they also installed a new windshield.

Today, I picked up my painted SSIII wheels.

Now onto tires, alignment, tune up, some exhaust work, finish off the interior... I think that is about it.

Allan R

Umm, NO. Paul you have to post pics of that stuff. Otherwise it just doesn't mean as much. If you want you can do it in B&W

car_designer

Well, instead of talking about the most recent update, how about I just finally post pictures... in COLOUR! Ok, one thing that can't be seen in the pics. A friend offered to have me bring the car over to help install headers to fix an exhaust leak I had.

The car is running great... or it might just be the fact that I am driving it!

IMG_3825.jpg

IMG_3826.jpg

IMG_3829.jpg

IMG_3828.jpg

IMG_3831.jpg

IMG_3833.jpg


I still need to finish the interior and some exterior trim. I should also do some fine tuning with the carb and timing.

ent72olds

Finally! Looks awesome Paul! Really cool touch with the brushed aluminum look on the inside...personalizes it! I also love the "no trim ring" look! Glad you are finally getting to enjoy it!