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Keep track of everything if you can. I have one in cameo white that I'll be doing the same too and I will have many questions. I've had it for about 22 years and have hit many obstacles getting it off the ground. In September I picked up a 71 Viking Blue Cutlass Supreme Conv't because I got tired of the wait. Finally got the engine and trans done. Trans is in the Cutlass due to the TH350 not shifting. Soon 445 going in temporarily so I clean up the 350 rocket. Once that's done the 455 comes back out and I will start to reassemble the chassis. The W-25 hood was the way to go. It makes the look of the car. Glad you had good experiences with Thornton, years ago I heard some negative feed back about them. I've heard positive lately and that's the route I will go as well. I've looked for an original but haven't found anything worth the $2,500 sellers where asking. Didn't make sense to buy something & put more money into when I can get new and modern materials for the same price. Mine is not a W-30 either so NOS wouldn't matter. We don't take on these projects out of necessity, it's a labor of love. No doubt it's cheeper to by already done, but what's the fun in that? I love the way it's coming along, it's inspiring. Keep up the good work. There are worse things to spend money on.
Why on earth would you take the 455 out just to put the 350 back?? A good TH350 bolts up to a 455 and should work just fine unless you're going to pound the living crap out of it.
FYI, the W25 was a factory RPO and the car could be ordered with it regardless of the engine configuration. It was also readily available from the dealer as an add on. There are more 70-72 Cutlass models with W25 now than were ever built with them from the factory. It is a popular option to add, but pricy. Are you also planning to pop for the underhood components?
Don't want to cut in on Johnnie5's post more than I already have. It wasn't my intention, sorry, so I started my own post. 71 Cameo White 442. This post has given some long needed inspiration. I'll answer Allan R's question there. Thanks.
The new paint looks great and the project is coming along nicely. Not a big fan of the larger rims - they look distorted to me. Personally, I would go with the reproduction SS-1 rims in 15x7 and add the trim ring to give them that stock look.
The new paint looks great and the project is coming along nicely. Not a big fan of the larger rims - they look distorted to me. Personally, I would go with the reproduction SS-1 rims in 15x7 and add the trim ring to give them that stock look.
I was Going to keep the 14" and have them repainted and buy new beauty rings and center caps, but after tallying up the price for everything it was more cost efficient to buy the 17" kit. I was at yearone and the cashier showed me a pic of his 1970 442 w30 from a photo shoot with the 17s and asked what do i think, and the car was beautiful. Then i went in the back of the warehouse and they have a red 72 cutlass with the 17s and and I was sold. I personally like the bigger wheels, but if i was to sell it I know to include the stock 14s. Everybody taste is different.
To each their own as they say. Seems Year One, which was one of the premiere "restoration" companies now pushes the new so-called touring look - to me, keep the oversize wheels for the newer cars.
Oddly, the same type changes that were done to the 30, 40, 50's cars to hot rod them, using parts for or from newer cars, is now being applied to the 60 & 70's muscle cars, which were factory built not needing those things done since it was either standard or available as an option.
I actually like the look of the bigger wheels, besides the reason when I went bigger at first was to make clearance for front and rear disc brakes. I attached the picture so everyone can judge. Besides that the completion is about a week out and I am getting the car ready for sale and when sold I am including the original wheels.
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QUOTE=anthonyP;931053]To each their own as they say. Seems Year One, which was one of the premiere "restoration" companies now pushes the new so-called touring look - to me, keep the oversize wheels for the newer cars.
Oddly, the same type changes that were done to the 30, 40, 50's cars to hot rod them, using parts for or from newer cars, is now being applied to the 60 & 70's muscle cars, which were factory built not needing those things done since it was either standard or available as an option.
The paint color looks great. Do not see many in Sienna like yours or the Bittersweet color. What color stripes are going on the 442?
I personally would had went with the reproduction 15" SS-1 rims with a trim ring to give it that factory look, with either 70 or 60 series tires.
To me, the factory style rims in the larger sizes look distorted, and the short sidewalls do not look correct in the older cars with their deep set and large wheel wells, unlike the newer cars where the tires and rims extend right to the outer edge of the wheel well.
The paint color looks great. Do not see many in Sienna like yours or the Bittersweet color. What color stripes are going on the 442?
I personally would had went with the reproduction 15" SS-1 rims with a trim ring to give it that factory look, with either 70 or 60 series tires.
To me, the factory style rims in the larger sizes look distorted, and the short sidewalls do not look correct in the older cars with their deep set and large wheel wells, unlike the newer cars where the tires and rims extend right to the outer edge of the wheel well.
I am going with black pinstripes, not the w30 lines but the 442 pinstripes. I already have the black rally stripes on the hood.
=anthonyP;944004]The paint color looks great. Do not see many in Sienna like yours or the Bittersweet color. What color stripes are going on the 442?
I personally would had went with the reproduction 15" SS-1 rims with a trim ring to give it that factory look, with either 70 or 60 series tires.
To me, the factory style rims in the larger sizes look distorted, and the short sidewalls do not look correct in the older cars with their deep set and large wheel wells, unlike the newer cars where the tires and rims extend right to the outer edge of the wheel well.
Me too! The only thing is that I keep dropping money into it. That's what I was trying to avoid by selling it. After all I am happy how it's turning out. I can enjoy it for the summer and if I sell it, I had a chance to play with it.
