Well,

The past weekend was going too smooth. I get home today to find that the new wiring harness box is here! I venture to the garage and un-spool the spagetti. This is going to be a fun task considering I unbuttoned the car about 2 years ago. Now to figure out the gos-outas and the gos-intos! So while putting the AC harness I notice the compressor wires are about 5 inches from the AC resistor (or what ever it is called) box. This isn't going to work. Then the fun continues. While stringing the alternator I notice the positive lead post about a 1/16 of an inch from the bracket. This can't be right. I pull the old alternator (I knew there would be a reason to keep it and eat the core charge) The housing is rotated 45 degrees!

Well, at least I know what I'll be doing during the week!

Ya win some ya lose some!

Craig

 

Moving along Craig, I am pretty sure that you can 'clock' the alternator and be able to rotate the connection, I remember doing this years ago but for the life of me can't remember all the details ( memory is the second thing to go ) I do not remember it being difficult

For start up I think the most important thing is pre lube and ensuring you got oil through the system before you fire it up. The one thing I am super happy about was my builder fired it up and broke it in , made adjustments and some jet changes before I took it home. I guess I will need to pre lube before I start mine again ( someday soon I hope)

Anyway great progress

 

Eddie,

Yeah, I've pulled alternators apart before. Seems to me the brushes were the only critical part to get right. I just bought it Saturday, so I think I'm going to take it back. You can void the warranty sometimes if you pull it apart! It is a made in Mexico alternator. I have the stock Delco one and some day I might get a rebuild kit and do it myself!

I came home today to a giant package on the porch! My Pypes are here! I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend!

Craig

 

That's great!!!! Looking forward to see how that goes in . For a change we do not have snow forecasted for the weekend maybe even some 50 degree weather lol then back into low 30s high twenties on Monday oh joy anyway ur getting there enjoying ur thread

 

A

A balmy 50? Sounds like Olds restoration weather! Strike when the irons hot! I sent Lectric wiring harness's a picture of my AC harness and they said something doesn't look right so have to send it back!

At least I have a few other things to do!

Craig

 

Well,

A little more progress on the project! Got the AC harness back and installed. It was NO FUN installing the under the dash part. I have a lot more respect for the Oldsmobile assembly line guys but would like to smack the designer of the dash panel!

The altenator is properly indexed and installed, Pypes x-pipe kit with street pro mufflers installed, the wiring is sorted out (I hope), new Craig's list Coy's 17" rims with Goodyear F1 225/50/17 installed, and all the little do-dads that were meticulously bagged and tagged that are now ripped open and a mess in the bottom of the "parts box" are back on the car. SO..... Drum roll please.... It's time to fire this beast up! So take some time out on your busy Oldsmobile Saturday to give a little prayer to the Olds gods that SUCK, SQUEEZE, BANG and BLOW goes in that order! I will try to videotape this grand event and post it!

Anyways, thanks everyone for all your support, I couldn't have done it without you!

Craig

 

Craig,

Good luck with breathing life back into it tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you and hope it all goes smoothly.

Brian

 

Thanks Brian,

By the way, I got your package. Looks great! Thanks again!

Craig

 

Craig,

The car looks great. I am jealous. I am just getting started and seeing your progress really gets me pumped. Keep posting...

Sean

 

Brian

 

Thanks Sean,

I'm hoping all this effort doesn't leave a large charred divot in my driveway!
Good luck with yours!

Craig

 

Well the weekend came and went. My dad and I attempted to get her fired up. I needed to add all the fluids. ATF (synthetic mind you) was added until I realized I had to install the drive shaft so it wouldn't leak. I just had it balanced and hadn't painted it, that's why it wasn't in the car. Well had to quickly paint it and install to continue. After the instal I continued to add ATf to it. I got to about 10 qts and noticed that familiar red tint leaking out all over my white epoxied floor. I know know what that vent tube does on the side of the transmission! I also recall the transmission shop telling me to fill her with 8 qts on start up! Oops! Mess cleaned up! I have a Flamethrower II coil on it with electronic ignition. The previous owner had a older hot coil on it and had done the non resistor wire upgrade. I had purchased and installed a new engine harness. It has the stock "brown wire" on it. A question to all, can I run both wires? Or should I unplug the stock brown wire and tape it up?

Anyways that pretty much burned the entire Saturday and I had to go to Poker Night with the boys (I won by the way!) Didn't seem to get done what I intended but progress is progress and I got to spend the entire day with just my Dad, no wife and kids! I'm finding as I get older I really cherish that. He's the one that got me into the confangled car thing anyways!

So Yesterday, after contemplating dumping the gas that has been in the tank for over a year and a half I attempted to siphon it. The gas gauge said 1/8 of a tank. No luck, nothing came out so I dumped some fuel treatment in and 5 gallons of premium go juice and rolled her out of the garage so not to burn the house down if she backfired! I was running out of daylight and one of those menacing California storms was brewing (50% chance of rain which means 50% in aint gonna rain) so I had to hurry. Pulled out the starting fluid. Dumped some gas into the bowl vent and gave her a crank! Pop, spit fart. And that was about it. Bummer!!!!!! You always have that vision of a fresh engine starting up on the first crank! It sounded like it was trying to fire on about 3 cylinders. I don't think I was getting fuel from the tank and couldn't see the accelerator pump spraying. I really just wanted to see if she would kick and that I had spark! Mission accomplished. It is hard to find the timing mark without it running. I did pull the distributor and spin the oil pump and then find TDC. I played with it a little and as I seemed to drift away from the timing it labored tuning over so I think I'm in the ball park. Anyways I'm rambling on and on a long story about nothing! I will try again this weekend.

Craig

 

Well, giving her a little choke and starting fluid and adjusting the timing, she fired up! I primed the carb with fuel so she would run. Seems the fuel pump isn't working so I will have to iron that out this weekend. There is nothing prettier than hearing her run for the first time!

Craig

 

Sounds Good!! I've been following and you have done an wonderful job.. I just started on my rebuild.

 

Thanks Alex!

The major hurdle has been accomplished! Now on to getting her road worthy!
Good luck on your build!

Craig

 

Great video!
Congrats, that is a ton of work!
Nothing better than firing up for the first time!

 

Craig, great job and the engine sounds really good. Check on your cam break-in procedure as you may need to run the engine at an elevated RPM for a certain period of time. Otherwise you might risk wiping out a cam lobe or two. Your engine builder should be able to give you a little guidance. Of course you'll need to have the fuel pump working to do this.
Nice video and it seems you are pretty good at making them.

Brian

 

Good job on getting her to turn over for you.

Sean

 

Great Job Craig.... we are all rooting for you!! varooommmmm LOL..

 

Thanks Eddie!

Great to hear from you! Where ya been?

 

So I got her running on her own this weekend. I went at my fuel problem backwards. I tore the carb apart to check the needle valve. Not it! noticed sediment on the bottom of the bowl. Cleaned it out. Still would not run. Moved to the fuel pump (brand new) blew it out and found sediment. Cleaned out and put back on. Not it! This took most of Saturday. Threw it back in the garage and "slept on it." Sunday thought I'd blow out the lines with a little compressed air. Cranked the compressor up to 60 PSI and blew back towards the tank when I heard a loud "POP" sound (what the hell was that?) Jacked the car up, crawled under and found I blew the hose between the tank and steal lines. Blew out the tank outlet until I heard bubbles in the tank. I replaced the blown out fuel line and fired her up! IT RAN ON IT'S OWN! As Inspector Clouseau would put it "Case-sed Sol-ved"

The engine is absolutely amazing, revs like a NASCAR engine! I am going to get into trouble with this car if I'm not careful!

On to bleed the brakes so "GO FAST" can "STOP"

Craig

 

. Um isn't that the point

Craig glad you solved this "pain in the gas" always the way, isn't it? Does make me feel I did the right thing changing all my hard lines etc. Any plans to drop the tank have it boiled out etc? It is a maw moment for sure but nothing sux like waiting on tthe side of the road jfor triple a or a two just sayin bud nows the time to jet that tank flushed you can make it purdy as well

 

Yeah Eddie, Soon the rear end will get a beautification (that doesn't sound right!) I think I will get a new tank for it at some point. It bas been off the road for almost 2 years now and I'm like a kid after christmas wanting to play with it's new toys! I did instal a clear inline fuel filter so I can see how much crap gets in to the line! A little quick and "dirty" insurance for now!

What's the deal with yours? Still a little too cold in the garage for ya? It was 75 and gorgeous out here this weekend, we are supposed to get rain in the next few days (I'll believe it when i see it!)

Anyways, hope you are well!

Craig

 

Craig,


It sounds great but I'm with Brian. Make sure you break in the cam. When I was finally ready to fire mine up I had a set of analog gauges right in the engine bay to monitor temp and oil pressure as well as a tach. I ran it for EXACTLY what they recommended for duration and RPMs. Get a shroud on that fan too .

 

It is a roller cam and the engine builder still has the cam sheet. I thought it was different than flat tappet cams. I don't remember him telling me a specific break in procedure just the usual stuff like varying the rpms.

The shroud is in the clean up stage! Will get it on!


Craig

 

what did you use on the exhaust manifolds? they look good

 

Thanks!

They were ceramic coated.


Craig

 

Just check in in with you bud.... and no so don't ask

 

Come on Eddie, you can't use the excuse that it's too cold in the garage!!!
Time to spend some time on the ground! Get er done!

I'm doing good except for the Olds. I am going to update it on the next entry!

Glad to hear from you!

Now get out in the garage!

Craig

 

Well all, some dark skies have clouded the 442 build. I developed a knock that seems to be coming from the valve train. Long story short after adjusting and re-adjusting the valves and grinding the polly locks on the rollers, due to it hitting the breather baffles on the stock valve covers, and buying taller valve covers all my efforts have failed and I threw in the towel and pulled the motor. It is sitting comfortably at the engine builders. So stay tuned, should hear something this week!

This is the video of the knock

And the pix of the engine pull.

Craig

 

The engine pull pix

 

Sorry to hear about the engine, hopefully it won't be anything catastrophic and you'll be moving forward again soon.

 

Thanks Eric!

It's in his hands now! Keep your fingers crossed!

Craig

 

Well, got a call from the builder. Apparently what the mysterious noise was over sized rod bolts! He used ARP bolts and the nuts are oversized and barely hitting the block. Nothing damaged and should have it back together this weekend! CANT WAT TO HEAR IT ROAR AGAIN!

Craig

 

We got the engine back in and fired up. Took her for a cruise around the block and then some. Always afraid to go too far on a new engine. I find I am distracted in thought with the hope that everything was torqued and bolted properly. In my twenties I would just hop in a go and throw care to the wind! I guess that is what old age will get you (at 47!) She runs good with a few minor dial in details still awaiting but no knock! When I step on it when it's warm the rpms seem to stick. Cant figure why as the linkage is fully retracting after a few kicks to the throttle is settles back down. Strange. The new transmission is a little hard shifting, I would assume it will work itself in while it breaks in. The transmission shop said to bring it by when I get it back in. I am now thinking I should have upgraded to an overdrive unit. The Pypes exhaust system sounds awesome but is a little loud. It does have a bad drone, especial in a convertible. I have everything bolted in (no welds yet) to see if I want to change them out for something a little quieter and less "drone-ie" It has great power and I would suspect it will improve as everything settles in. I'd like to dyno it one day just for bragging rights.

Anyways now the fun part of putting all the fine details back on. I think I am going to have trouble with the hood and the Stock air cleaner. I didn't shave the Edlebrock intake 1/4" like some suggested. I am wondering if I can shave the base of the air cleaner to compensate for the 1/4"? Anyone ever do that? I am going to have to build some brackets for the A/C and Alternator as the larger valve covers interfere.

Off to the garage!

Thanks for everyones help and support, I couldn't have done it without you!
CO is the best!


Craig

 

Craig, your '68 looks and sounds absolutely awesome, great work!!!

 

Congratulations Craig. Now get some trumpet tips on that thing. It makes it sound much more "Oldsmobile"

 

Thanks guys,It's a great feeling to have her running! I have the tips ready to go. I am going to take it to a muffler shop to dial the tips in.

Craig

 

Craig,

Glad to see you got the engine woes resolved and are now able to take it down the road. Congrats and great job!

Brian

 

Craig, congrats on getting her back on the road!!! Glad to hear it was just the rod bolts hitting & not something more serious!