Oldsmaniac

I bolted on the heads with steel shim head gaskets. The cam went in, timing set, front cover and oil pan. I primered and painted what was there with Fusick gold paint. It looks like a good match. My pushrods were too rusty to use so I thought I could use the ones out of the 403 but they were shorter than the 330 ones. With trial of the stock ones the lifter preload was next too nothing. Some new ones are on order that are slightly longer than stock. This way I can shim the rocker bridges to get the lifter preload I desire. I still need to clean the intake and paint the valve covers and get the pulleys are brackets in order.

Eddie Hansen

Glad to see you made use of the thaw, snow headed your way my friend.... man your fast

klm57

Had one exactly like it,same color,only owner had seats redone in plain smooth black vinyl!! YUCK

Oldsmaniac

Escaped the monsoon last Sunday too!

Oldsmaniac

The 66 Sfire I had, had plain black vinyl seat covers.... they werent on there long...ugly!
As for the gold paint its ok.

Eddie Hansen

Sure rub it in... lol.

Oldsmaniac

Got some parts lined up to go on this weekend and I hope to grab some pictures. Turns out I had a brain fart... After looking on ebay for about an hour for pushrods that would work I found a set of 8.375 ones that are within the range I need but they were priced at 125 bucks. Seeing other sets for as low as 29 dollars I kept looking and found some 8.380 pushrods that were 3/8 diameter but the price was 50 bucks with free shipping. I did the buy now and when they arrived I see they are a set of 8 and not 16 even though the picture showed what looked like a complete set. Guess it pays to read! Well the other 8 are on the way for another $50.

Oldsmaniac

A few pictures, even the yard cat had to come in out of the wind and freezing temps. He's on the TC about 6 ft from the pot belly stove!

oldcutlass

Looking good.

MDchanic

Hey, that looks like the yard cat my wife let in last year.

Darned thing'll sit outside on the porch at 35° in a rainstorm all day long instead of coming inside.

- Eric

DLaz70OLDS98

Looking good Joe. That cats no dummy, it damn cold out there today. I was working on the Cutlass today for a little while and cashed it in early cause I couldn't feel my finger tips. Keep up the progress.

Eddie Hansen

Drew I know joe is working indoors, I hope you are too, I wouldnt be doing anything if I had to be outside brrrrrrrrrrrr its like 28 degrees before the wind chill....

Eddie Hansen

Nice work joe ...

DLaz70OLDS98

I'm inside Eddie, but I have a very small space heater and when it's 19 degrees out it doesn't cut the mustard. Lol

MDchanic

28°? Ha. I waited for it to be that warm a couple of weeks ago so I could change an ABS sensor.

Likely going below zero here tonight, and not going above about 15° for the next few days.
28° is like living in Miami!

- Eric

Eddie Hansen

um no thanks.... I am telling ya as soon as I retire heading south its getting cold now well below 28 but I was out in the shop had the propane heater going wasnt too bad. Thing is can only do things that doesnt involve solvents....

Joe inspired me to not waste thewinter months so workingbhard at it,,,

ent72olds

I'm sure everyone out in the Northeast here does this, but when I paint in the cold I like to steal the wife's hairdryer! Works great to preheat what you are painting as well as flashing in between coats! Keep it up Joe!

Oldsmaniac

Thanks guys!!

Koda

Good thread. Could you comment on the various head gaskets available for the 67 engines? Worried that I won't have original shims available for my 400 when I take it apart.

Oldsmaniac

I have been lucky to grab the steel shim gaskets when I see them at swaps and on Ebay. I do not know if they are available new or a source. The ones I find are Mr Gasket old stock or GM or other old stock.

Oldsmaniac

Have been cleaning brackets and painting them. I rebuilt the Holley 650 spreadbore and also the alternator. There is little left to do right now on the 330. I did have to round up another distributer as the one that came with the engine fell apart when I attempted to change the vacuum advance. It was cracked and that is what was holding it together. I am anxious to get the wagon inside the workshop and start getting into it for real.

MDchanic

Nice.

- Eric

nj_cutlass72

Looks good Joe!

Oldsmaniac

Well, I thought it was about time to do something on the wagon and things have freed up a bit with other projects. I moved the wagon closer to electric and tools and heat since it is still January! Unfortunately there is no room inside so I am doing what I can for now. Since the guy I got the car from had a Pontiac engine in there I had to cut off the frame pads for the motor mounts because he moved them a bit and welded them to the frame. I see too he moved the brake junction block to the fender well so I will have to put it back where it belongs and see what else there needs attention. I cut out the rotted passenger floor pan and fitted the replacement. I also need to talk to my upholstery guy to see if I should purchase retro front bench seat covers for he sport coupe and have him adapt them to a non split front bench or go some other route. I am not aware of 4dr report seat covers for the Cutlass.

Oldsmaniac

Spent a few days welding in the two front floor pans and patched a spot on a rear pan. Since the car will be converted to stick I also enlarged the chevelle repo floor hump using an original as a guide. It came out pretty good but did not cut the floor yet for install. I removed the fenders and hood today and have better ones to put on with less dents and rot. I see the windshield will have to come out as whoever did it last time they forgot to install the rubber positioning /stop blocks and the glass has slid down. I also see a spot or two there that needs welding. Both rear side glass panels will also need to come out for rot repair. I did drop off the front seat to be redone and the turnaround was very quick. I gave the guy the repo split bench seat covers and he made them into a non split bench as they do not repro them. It came out nice.

Greg Rogers

Glad your're back at it. Go man, go!!!

Oldsmaniac

Thanks! Definitely go time!

Oldsmaniac

Will try and get some pictures, a little progress has been made. Windshield went back in while the left rear side window came out. All I can say it is a rusty rotted mess there. I would not think it would be this bad since the glass sits almost vertical. Well I have been at it and the rot is about all patched, I have not looked at the other side yet. A new firewall pad has been installed, swing pedals mounted, new heater core in. The Ac and Heat boxes have been de-moused, lubed, and put back. The steering column has been swapped for floor shift and dash prndl bezel swapped out too. There was a little rot on rear wheel well under molding and some at lower tailight right side which also has been repaired. The inside cargo area has been painted and carpet purchased for it. The rear seat has been redone and folding parts painted and ready. The front end has been gone over with all new ball joints and upper control arm bushings. I also have 4 new 215 75 14 whitewalls mounted on steel wheels. 67 hubcaps will be used. Hmmm, I guess I got more done then I thought... When the body patching is done I will switch back to the brake system and mechanicals. I am not sure if engine and trans will go in before Winter.

Oldsmaniac

A few pictures of the side glass repairs. Left side about done just a little sanding still before a put the glass back. The other side does not appear to be as bad but welding is needed.

Oldsmaniac

Happy to say the passenger side glass channel has been repaired and glass is back in. The moldings on the tailgate cannot come off unless the tailgate if opened and to do this the window must be lowered. I need to hook up some power and see if the motor works for the tailgate glass. Will look into having the moldings restored since replacements are pretty scarce. There is a guy close by that has a shop for stainless restoration. The tail gate rocket badge there is reproduced fortunately. I have my doubts the F-85 emblem there can be found nos.

Oldsmaniac

Worked on installing the rear deck carpet. To do this I had to assemble the rear folding mechanism and seat. It came out pretty good.

Ranzan

looks great

Oldsmaniac

Thanks!

Moved some cars around and put the wagon inside for some wintertime work. I am going to concentrate on the engine and trans install, should be fun!

VC455

Joe, your stainless and aluminum trim look to be in great shape.

The trim piece at the base of the tailgate window is very hard to find in good condition because people often carelessly load cargo through the window and dent it.

My Vista took about 20 years--mostly for mechanicals and wiring because I enjoyed that aspect and sourced and installed unusual parts. Paint and upholstery took 4 years out of that 20.

Yours is going faster. Keep at it!

Oldsmaniac

Thanks!! The Top tailgate piece is in nice condition to my surprise!!

Oldsmaniac

Staging things to get the 330 engine in place. I realized I did not have a throwout bearing handy but luckily Autozone had one in stock. I also need to source a dual exhaust system. Duals were not an option on the 67 Cutlass wagon but I believe the sedan system will suffice, just need to think about the tailpipe routing. I have had good results with Classic Exhaust.

RAMBOW

Just wanted to say I really enjoy watching your projects in your threads!
Keep up the good work!

Oldsmaniac

That's nice to know! thanks

Oldsmaniac

Just a picture, got the trans bolted up with some degree of difficulty getting it to slide all the way in but its there.

Oldsmaniac