Believe it or not, the staple kits were probably really made for Chevy's and such that have steel inner fender liners. The number of staples were set and the holes were probably pierced ahead of time. On the Olds with its plastic inner fender liners the number of staples used depended on the worker on the line that day as they stapled through the plastic and splash shields at the same time. I certainly cannot believe an engineer would have had them apply staples like they are on my cars!

 

I took these to work and worked on them during lunch and after work. With mounting the splash guards I have 4 more hours in them. I have well over 20 hours total in this pair of inner fenders. I decided to test fit the driver side and it went so well I decided to just leave it there and finish it. Still to to add a couple bolts and tighten it down. Very happy with how it turned out. I think the pictures look just a little better than they are but still very nice.

 

Eric while the wheel is off could you take some pics of the staples?

 

The inner fenders look GREAT! I just put splash shields on my 70 GS 455 yesterday. The inner fenders are different, metal, and more difficult. I think the guy who put them on at the factory was tripping! The staples are at different angles, some missed completely, the shield wasn't lined up right, either. I used a small piece of sheet metal like 2 x 3", then drilled 2 holes the width of the staple. Then used that as a template to get the SS staples in. MUch more uniform looking, but have some tiny holes under the rubber I'll tack one day...maybe! Might help others....

 

I will have to get better pictures, these did not turn out well. I used the staples that came in the kit but there were not enough of them. I made some out of wire to finish. I bent them enough with pliers to hold the splash guard still till I got them all in. Then I had my wife hold a 5 lb hammer against the top of the staple and I used a small hammer to tap the back side flat. Some of the ends don't point to each other perfect like the factory's did but I can live with that.

 

The inner fenders are done. I have heard several times that the repop washer jars don't fit. This one came from Fusick and fit great.

I have several things I will finish Thursday and Friday night then have a friend tack weld the exhaust tips on Saturday morning then I will declare it done. I will make some improvements after that but I will still call it done. The windshield will be one of the things I will have to do. The crack grew 1/2 inch when I took it to the alignment shop.

 

Are you going to put juice in the washer jar?

 

Very Impressive

 

Very Impressive

 

I plan on it. I still have to add the hoses and nozels for the washer.

 

Looks great very impressive

 

Man Eric, that car is almost too pretty to drive! It looks great, and I've learned so much by following your build thread. Thanks for sharing so much detail.
Rodney

 

Outstanding work, car looks awesome. Impressive restoration of the red wells!!! It's making me motivated to get started on mine.

 

Thanks guys.

I have my first big bug to figure out. My front parking lights and side marker lights are not working correct. I thought it was a ground issue but turns out that I have something wrong with the repop wire harness for the forward lights. I think it is an issue with the plug that bolts on to the main harness. If it is I will likely have to pull the driver side inner fender back out. This light harness is one of the ONLY things I did not test during assemble. Go figure....

I glued on the NOS foam seal and installed the washer hoses and nozzles. I didn't like it but I opened my NOS seal plates and installed them. I wanted to keep them in the package and not use them... To late now.

I may not install any of my decals till I have a little time on it.

With the wiring issue I did not get as far as I wanted to tonight. I may have a late night tomorrow to get done what i want to.

DSCN2686_zpsvvnliina.jpg

 

looking great. don't let this little thing get you down.

 

Took me a while to figure out my electrical bug. I took the forward light harness loose from the firewall. Then unhooked all lights so I would not get something back feeding while testing. I had continuity everywhere I should from the firewall plug except for the brown wire at the passenger side parking/marker light plug. I started to think it was a bad wire inside the harness but couldn't imagine that being the case. I decided to stick one of the two brown wires with a pin just behind the plug and then test it. Perfect reading. Turned out that they forgot to strip the insulation off the wire before they crimped it. I got that herness form Lectric Limited. I sure wanted to smack someone around when I found the problem. I cut it off and crimped on another correct end and it works perfect.

Loaded the car and took it to my parents house. I had my dad help adjust the back bumper a little better and then took it for its first test drive. It is not done yet and may not get finished till after vacation now. The test drive went EXCELLENT! I think it should shift slightly harder into second gear but not sure. I thought I remember my 72 shifting a little harder? When I step on it it shifts just like I remember.

No rattles or squeaks of any kind. Drives smooth and straight and suspension works smooth. Have enough vacuum that the power brakes work very nice (I was nervous about that one). No leaks that I can find so far. The idle is nice. About 100 RPM higher than I want in neutral but it has to be there to idle nice in gear with this cam. This may still be an issue when i turn the A/C on. I hit it a little harder than I should have this soon but it pulls very nice. I was rolling about 20 MPH and hit it about 3/4 and instantly broke the tire loose so i lifted. I can tell that the 3.23 is holding it back though. With the little tires it won't much matter anyway.

I get the exhaust tips welded on in the morning then want to paint inside the scoops. After that I have to detail it and get ready for the Local cruise in. Very few local car guys know about this project.

 

Got the exhaust tips welded on and inside the scoops painted. I used flat black inside the scoops. Also did some other little details. I still can not call it done but it is very close.

Drove it about 30 more miles. Everything is working great other than the turn signal is blinking to fast. Everything checks good so it must be a bad flasher? I did find a noise that needs some attention. My front driver side brake pad is rattling a little. I will take it apart and glue it on.

 

Congrats Eric! She's beautiful.

 

Eric it looks fantastic.

I don't think I've been able to tell from any of the photos you've been posting, I'm wondering what style clamps did you find on your heater hose? Wire pinch type or flat strap pinch type?

 

To be honest I don't know. I used a style like Inline Tube part number INL10813 but they were more like original. Inline Tubes clamps have an extra little tab and the set I used don't. I just can not remember where I got them from. They may have came from Fusick? I did not like them and was worried they would come off or leak. I ended up using RTV on the hoses and then clamped them. Now they do not move at all. I just hope I never need to remove them. I may have to cut them off.

 

Absolutely stunning, Great Job!!

 

I purchased some Inline 13080 (I think that was the number, there was some confusion in filling the order---surprise). They sound like the ones you used, without the extra tab. I haven't gotten to install them yet, however, just like you I was concerned how they may seal.

The previous owner of my car used wire style clamps, but I'm not sure that is correct for 1970.

 

Very nice.

Id leave the stripes off, and add some Wide Ovals. Car is too nice to not have them.

 

I can not stand driving on bias tires. I will likely have a set on it for the nationals.

 

love the car..but it needs the stripes...just not a W30 with out them, (just my opinion)

needs white ones...(again..just an opinion..not advice)

 

Between you and Joe, you finished first.

 

Very nice Eric! Congrats!

 

There are so many 442s with W30 stripes but very few W30s without stripes. This car is unique and should stay that way. Once the stripes are on it becomes just like every other W30 and 442 that guys added stripes to.

 

Thanks, It is starting to grow on me. This car had door edge guards and was not sure if I was going to put them back on but I am about 90% on installing them. I just want to add a little something in that area to break up the blue just a little.

 

Impressive build and nice job, been following it for a while.


I agree with TK-65, I would leave the stripes off. I have only seen one other 70 442 W-30 w/o stripes and that was a gold with black interior one at the Dearborn Nats in 2008. If I remember correctly the gold one was documented as not coming with stripes. Really thought it stood out. Plus I am purist and like to keep as they came, hence why my 69 still has it's original 3 speed manual in it and a black interior in a convertible - ouch!

 

This would be the one.

 

Correct ! Beat me to finding pics. Here is close up of the fender and a little of the hood.

 

I love unusual cars but I like the stripes. I don't have any plans to add them at this time. I don't have any documents that it is a stripe delete car but I have original pictures that you can see have no stripes. I also have the original right front fender. It still has the original paint under the repaint and if you sand it you will not find any stripes.

 

In that case, I'd leave the stripes off. But it's not MY car.

 

I parked this car in a safe storage place and not looked at it for over a week. Now I am gone on vacation and not going to look at it till the weekend. Between work and this car This vacation is MUCH needed. I may not even go finish it for another week after I get home. Boy do the Smoky mountains look great! My wife is amazed because I have not even been looking to hard for Oldsmobiles while down here. I did not know how much I needed this but it sure feels good.

Got to see the Synchronous fireflies at Elkmont. That is incredible. Thousands of fireflies flash at the same time. The longer they flash the more coordinated they get. Seen many waterfalls and some great eating. Still have 3 days left!

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/u...psdrsrr8af.jpg

 

More rare doesn't mean more desirable. Most people got/have the stripes because they look awesome. But then again, there is definitely a beautiful thing about keeping the care "pure". I don't know what I would do. Good think I don't have that car!

 

If you are around Pigeon Forge TN and Cherokee NC. I always enjoyed eating at the Applewood Farms Restaurant. I love their Apple Fritters. It is simple country food, but the place is always packed.

Very Very nice work on the W-30. Congratulations.

 

Well, After vacation I got the front windshield replaced and a couple very minor things finished. I took it on another short drive and parked it again. I have been enjoying freedom from working on and dealing Oldsmobiles. I am going to have to get busy selling parts soon but I am just not in the mood. I just found that my detached garage has some major roof issues that need attention. I am going to have to get some stuff sold or the Nationals will be out of the question. I may have a buyer for my W-27 so as long as that happens I will be good.

 

I may not make the Nats., as my foot will probably still require me to wear a boot for awhile longer, and it's my right foot, so driving that distance is out of the question, no word if one of my buddies is going to go. I was hoping to see your car as well as a couple others from this forum.

 

I evacuated and charged the A/C today and took it for another drive. The A/C is ice cold and works great. I lost the high speed fan while I was charging it so I will have to figure out that bug. I don't think it is the relay. I am so happy with how this car performs. No rattles or squeeks and runs great. I drove it for about 10 minutes in stop and go traffic with the A/C on and not even a hint of overheating! No detination when you step on it. The only issue I have is that with the A/C on I need the idle bumped up just a little but then with the A/C off it is a little to high.

I have now drove this car 92 perfect miles. I have a guy coming Saturday morning to buy an engine but after that I hope to drive it on a 100 mile run. After that I have to get it finished and cleaned up for the nationals.