So NAPA had fittings but not the right ones. He had the fronts but they were for front disc apparently so they didn't work in my 4 wheel drum setup. However, I did manage to get the old ones cleaned out (still have one more to do) but I need to put grease on the threads of the bleeder valves to keep fluid/air from going thru the threads when I'm trying to bleed the brakes.

 

Great story so far. I re did my 68 myself as well. It was my uncles wifes aunts. Only had 38k on it when I got it but sat outside uncovered for 15 years. Put it up on jackstands, threw out the wheels and tires and swore and it wouldn't go back down on the ground until it was done. New tank, shocks, springs, brake lines, front power disc conversion, rebuilt motor and trans, new headers, mini torque starter, new trans cooler lines, new radiator, new power steering lines, new carpet, all new emblems....well you get the idea. Did this over 1.5 years then sent off for paint. I'm 32 and enjoyed every second of it. Not many 68's around me at all so it turns heads all the time. Keep the white..thats what I have. Everyone loves the white. Good luck with this journey...its awesome and especially cause it was dads car. Very very cool!

 

Thanks! Sounds like your car has a pretty cool story behind it too. I'm planning keeping the white but I'm not sure about the vinyl top. Its crunchy under there in some spots so I'm worried if I take it off there'll be rust holes and then since I don't have a garage, water will get in the inside and make it worse OR if I leave the top on, it holds moisture, and makes the rust worse, so I'm not sure what to do.

 

I had to put a new top on mine because it rusted under the vinyl top. You will probably need to do that too. You can always get a tarp or car cover and put over it. I did that for a couple of years until I had a garage with room.

 

I do have a tarp which I keep it under now, I'm just afraid of what I'm gonna find when I rip the top off if its bad enough to need a whole new roof, and I sure as hell can't install one or afford to pay someone to, I dunno what I'm gonna do.

But I got the brakes bled and working good and I added a couple more gallons to the tank. If I had plates I'd say TIME FOR A ROAD TEST! but no plates because our insurance and licenses are still registered to our NC address (we still have the house) and haven't gotten around to transfer it all and start a new policy in NY. I don't have paperwork for the car and registering it in NY doesn't require a title, so that makes it easy peasy, WHEN we have all the other paperwork done so no driving until then, aka god only knows when

 

If its still in your dads name cant you just renew the tabs and pay late fees/fines without registering it again? My dad got a car from my grandpa and just left it in his name and simply renewed the tabs.

 

Its been parked in a barn since 1988, I'm not sure if he de-registered it or what when he parked it but I do still have the plates from it (both matching). Biggest problem is he can't find the title or anything and I don't know that after 25 years it'd still be in the DMV system? actually registering it won't be a problem the problem is you need a NY license and insurance to register a car in NY, and we have NC licenses and insurance because technically we live in both states and NC is still set as our primary

 

Why not just try and renew it under the NC plate and registration? If thats your main residence it shouldnt matter if your in new york.

 

Ah, see, you've got it backwards. The car, is and always was in NY. It was registered in NY with NY plates, never having been in NC. We moved to NC in 01, and are in the process of moving BACK to NY right now, therefor, the car, is an NY car and was regg'd in NY and us having NC licenses and insurance cannot register the car in NY with NY plates. I also cannot register it in NC, because in NC you are required to have a title, which I don't have for the car. The car can be registered in NY no problem once we transfer all our insurance and licenses to NY, so we can register it as an NY car in NY with NY insurance and the driver having an NY license

 

Vehicles older than 1972 were and are not issued titles in NY state. They were issued transferable registrations. There's no use in looking high and low for a title for the car, as it likely never had one. It may be as easy as your dad walking into a DMV and requesting a new registration if he is the last known owner of the car. Just make sure the new registration has the word "TRANSFERABLE" on the front.

Pulled this directly from the NYS DMV website:

Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles - model year 1972 or older

The acceptable proof of ownership is a NYS transferable registration or the acceptable proof of ownership for that vehicle issued by another state.

NYS does not issue title certificates for 1972 and older vehicles. NYS DMV normally issues a transferable registration for proof of ownership for a 1972 or older motor vehicle. The owner can use the transferable registration to transfer ownership to another person. If the proof of ownership is a NYS registration document, make sure the registration document is marked "transferable" on the front. The person whose name appears on the proof of ownership must sign the transfer section of the proof of ownership.

Different states issue different documents for ownership and transfer of older vehicles. To make sure that an out-of-state document is the acceptable proof of ownership, contact the DMV in the state that issued the document.

 

I understand that, didn't mean to confuse anyone with the use of the word title, I've been using it for the last 12 years so its a hard to break habbit. I've bought and sold a couple cars in Ny already so I'm pretty familiar the transferable reg. When I said that I can take the VIN to the DMV and get registration thats what I was saying, my dad was the last registered owner, so like I was saying I'm not worried about that part. I've got it figured out, its just a waiting game until we get a new insurance policy, and transfer our licenses from NC to NY. I don't have to worry about using an out of state document because I will be registering it in the state it was always in, and theres no sense in me transfering insurance and license to NY, getting Ny registration, then transfering it all back to NC, getting a NC title, and then selling the house, coming back, transfering it all back.


BASICALLY what I'm saying is, don't worry about it guys, I know how this all goes and I've got it figured out, I wasn't saying I'm lost or anything I'm just giving you guys an update on why I haven't registered it yet.

 

I've managed to start a big ol' storm of confusion lol. No worries guys, I'm not having problems registering it, I'm just in the process of moving to another state and dealing with the fun that goes with different states requiring different documents and transfering licenses. If you ask my opinion, the DMV should be a national federally controlled thing, so no matter what state you move to, you have an AMERICAN license not an NC license or NY license and you can go where you wish and all the god damn registration and licensing laws would be nationwide not state wide. Its stupid, its like back in the 1800s when each states had different currency and didn't accept each others, It was a useless and utterly retarded system and have state controlled DMV's and licensing and all that bullshit is exactly the same

 

Alright, yeah i had it wrong never mind. Ive never been able to resist a test drive, you just need a good story if you get caught.

 

I have NY plates for it that were on it 25 years ago so I could fool the cops but I live right on the side of a state highway with a 60 MPH speed limit with a lot of traffic and I'd rather not jump right in for the first test

 

Good thinking man. Easy does it.

 

Just checked out the vid in your signature, how tough was it to get that 4 speed in there? I know atleast on olds 350's you have to drill the crank out to get a 4 speed in, not sure about 455's. I want to swap my car to a 4 speed but from what I hear its a big PITA and a money pit if you don't have a donor car. I'm considering a 350 SBC w/ a T5 and keep my numbers matching motor/trans in the corner of the shed for safe keeping

 

Don't bother with the small block. Do a 455. You'll want one eventually. Just do it to begin with. I spent a lot of money on my small block before making the switch. The swap is a piece of cake. I have a Tremec TKO 5 speed now. It has a .64 overdrive. Like that a lot. Just make sure you make a parts list and have everything ready to go and within your budget. Good luck.

 

Good point. 455's and 454's are much harder to come by in my area but they do turn up every now and then.

 

Sorry for the lack of updates guys, not much to update on. it recently started getting REALLY cold here in NY and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the car for winter (no garage) I'm thinking a car cover and put it on blocks. But, for now, I'm wire-brushing the floors and got a free can of grey rustoleum paint and I'm gonna brush that on the floors to keep them from rusting. Eventually I'll get new carpet but until then This'll look a lot better. Its surface rusty but solid under the back seat, luckily. The front seat frame is rusted and snapped one of the feet off. That seat will get yanked eventually when I get far enough into painting. Plan so far is a cheap set of Cavalier bucket seats or similar. Maybe racing seats if they turn up cheap on CL

 

As you know by experience, sitting outside for 25 years let alone one winter is not an issue.

 

Very good point. but I'll buy a car cover, just to be safe. A friend of mine is storing a 1972 Dodge Charger that way.

 

Just make sure this does'nt become a permanent shelter for the car. I looked at a Mach I the other day that had been under a tarp for 25 years. The owner thought he was preserving it. What a mess. The tarp held all the moisture under it. The car was beyond reasonable repair.

 

Yeah I hear ya, its pretty terrible. Theres a 1970 Camaro local that suffered the same fate. Poor thing, 20 years under a tarp. Rot in the strangest places. Its only $1800, I've considered getting it but I just don't want to replace door jambs and rockers and A-pillars, ect. Damn shame, 1970 Camaro is one of my favorite cars

 

Well guys heres an update. I finally got around to wire-wheeling the floorboards to see what I'm working with and boy am I pleased, their super-solid despite looks. Only 2 little pin holes. Tomorrow I'm gonna buy paint and paint the floorboards. the can of grey I got from my grandfather is like 8 years old and no beuno anymore

Before:
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After:
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And the seat finally out:
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The seat will be replaced with buckets but I'll keep it around.

 

Newest update guys, I've been working on painting the floors but I don't like the way its coming out so I'm probably gonna use Por15 (white car, black floors? ew. I'm undecided). Anyway, I picked up a set of cavalier bucket seats for $30 with brackets and sliders locally, SCORE! They were super easy to mount, 4 bolt holes all flat and even, and they were spaced will enough that 3 out of 4 were on the raised seat-mounting portion of the floorboard. The bench seat double-bolthole rear outer mounts actually are perfectly spaced. Bolt the one corner of the seat in with the stock bolt and go from there lining it up. I really like these seats, my friend had them in his blazer. They hold you really well and their super comfy. Anyway, heres the pics:
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So what do you guys think?

 

I guess most people don't read my thread anymore lol. Either way, I got a new master cylinder tonight
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Also heres a general-update on the cutlass from a couple days ago before I got the new seats in:

And heres the newest video from today, basically about my old master cylinder and how I mounted my seats

 

Good stuff overall dude. I'm not a fan of the seats personally (comfy yes but I dunno) but keep goin dude!

 

Thanks. I was skeptical about putting those seats in but at $30 with the kind of budget I have I can't complain. The stock bench seats were trash and GM A body buckets sell for $600 in good shape here, so screw that. $600 is much better spend on go fast parts . Cavalier buckets are comfortable and supportive and they hold you in the seat really well. Hell, the seats are nicer than the car they came in . My buddy had them in his S10 blazer, and they worked really well for the off roading and donuts, powerslides, burnouts, ect. When I put new black carpet in and change the door panels to black, and a black rear seat they'll look better.

 

Yeah I had a 97 cavalier z24. I remember those seats well.

 

So last night I went to autozone and got a reman'd master cylinder for $24 after turning in my core.
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Today I went out and put it in, I made sure to bench bleed it. Since I don't have a bench per say, I just bolted it to the booster and used the bench bleed kit, worked good. Now shes all in and pretty

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Drove it around the yard, stops much better now, shes good to go from a brake standpoint
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I'm following but not a fan of the seats. I understand working on a budget. I have a $25 seat cover on my bench.

 

Thanks for reading the thread, I like documenting my projects

Yeah if the bench wasn't so rough I woulda left it in. one of the feet of the mounts broke clean off the frame so it wasn't supported. The others weren't far behind. I hope to eventually get a seat of actual racing-style seats and a roll bar. but thats for when I sell my other cars

 

I enjoy reading about your progress. I accept your reasoning for the front seats.
Keep on posting!

 

Thanks!

I'm actually heading back to north carolina for a week to check on/sell my other cars and all that so I won't have any updates for a week or so. But, hopefully I'll return with a decent amount of cash and can make some more real progress

 

To think this was your Dad's car is really pretty cool. My Dad bought a 67 Camaro convert new in 67. I wish that was still around. I think if he could see the cars I have now he would approve. I'm sure your Dad does too.

 

Yeah, thats the main reason I've wanted to fix the car up for so long, besides the fact that 68-72 Cutlass's are beautiful cars. He parked it in a barn in 1988 expecting to come back from Oregon 4 years later and continue driving it. He came back 8 years later, married my mom, and forgot about the car. Hes happy to see it running and driving now though for sure. He helped me work on it a few times when he wasn't busy at work and I could tell he was happy to be working on it after all those years

Thats a cool story. Driving out of a dealership in a brand new 67 Camaro convertible must have been a pretty good day!

 

Yeah, I was 5. I remember riding in it but that is about it. He has been gone for a long time now. Enjoy your Dad. You won't regret it. I never did.
I remember pulling a 69 442 I had stored over the winter one year. He came to help. It wouldn't start. Cranked just fine, had spark and fuel. He said, "Pour some gas down the carb. That will get it going." I was like, yeah right. I know what I'm doing. Something is wrong with it. Well, guess what? After diddling with it for a half hour he poured some gas down the carb and it fired right up! LOL! He just looked at me. I can still see it in my minds eye. A good memory of him. Miss him.
Keep up the good work. I bet you're having a ball doing that stuff.

 

Sorry for your loss

I hear ya though, my dad's the one who got my started working on this originally. taught me most of what I know, hes a great guy and one of the most important people in my life. Its great spending time with him, sadly working a full time job 60 miles away 5 days a week to put food on the table keeps him busy. But, somehow he always finds time. Just waiting for the snow to fall so we can get some sleds and go snowmobiling .

 

Now you're talking! Have fun. That is all we have in life. Well, that and Oldsmobiles!

 

Very true