Big Daddy Spo

Hello,
My name is Steve, but I go by my initials Spo. I have been a lurker on this site for a long time, but just recently joined as a Newbie.Figured it was time to post up my latest restoration activities. If you saw my newbie page, I've owned a few Oldsmobile's in my time. Last year got the bug to build another and went on the search for a 1964 Cutlass. After 5 months, I finally found this one in Southern, CA.. It is a 64 Cutlass Hardtop, factory bucket, console, pwr window, pwr seat car. When I bought it it had a 70 350 Chevy motor and 350 trans welded into it. I have been working on it for almost a year and a half and getting close to finishing. I picked up a 65 442 about 3 months ago, all original NY car 2 door post, 4 speed , 400. I'll get started on the 65 in the next year or so. Here are some photos of each, as bought. I will continue the thread with pictures of each restoration. Thanks for all the help from all on this site.
Spo.

oldcutlass

Nice

redoldsman

Those will be nice cars when they are finished.

therobski

Nice 65"post" car. They are getting harder to find. This is my 65 maroon "post" car in 1972! Just dropped in a 425/TH400 in it out of a Starfire. The car in front of was my Black 69 Grand Prix J. The bike was my buddy's Harley Sportster. Up in Milwaukee.

Big Daddy Spo

After getting the 64 into the side yard, job one was to relieve her of the Chevy motor and trans. She had factory air, but with the Chevy motor, most parts were missing. I did an initial checkout of the car to see what I had really bought. Interior was bone stock and most everything was there. Under the hood was the worst with all the factory looms missing and the motor welded in place. Tear out began and restored the cross-member to accept Oldsmobile mounts again. More to follow!

Big Daddy Spo

So, After getting the engine out and restoring the cross member to accept Olds engine pads, I went to work on the suspension, A/C delete plate and installing a front disc brake conversion. The wiring was such a mess, I ordered new looms for the engine and front lights. Time frame is August/Sept 2016.

Big Daddy Spo

Moving along the front frame and suspension components were cleaned and painted. The AC delete plate was installed and sealed. Installed the disc brake system, which has the smaller rotors so I can run 14" if I wanted, and got ready to move her to the garage for Winter work.

Big Daddy Spo

During the time of the front end rebuild, I was able to get a 68 350 from my friend Gene out of a 68 Vista he had. the engine was sent off to the machine shop for a freshen up. Engine was rebuilt to pretty much stock. .030" over pistons, .010/.010 on the crank. Overall the engine is 9.3:1 compression with a mild cam. She is running a set of the Thornton 350 Jr. manifolds for the dual exhaust. I also added Summit's lowering springs all around to bring down her stance.

Big Daddy Spo

Once I got the 64 into the garage, it was time to tackle the rusted out trunk. The paint job was a driver quality Black, so I was just focused on the mechanicals and the interior. I found a good deal on floor pans at just $40 a section from Autoplicity. They fit well, but be sure to order pans for the BOP line of cars. I had bought a 3 piece set of Chevelle pans thinking early A-Bodies were the same. The Chevelle pans were 3" shorter than the BOP pans. Cut-out, trimmed, installed and welded the sections. Finished off with seam sealer and the Gray/Black trunk splatter. I think they cam out pretty good for my first full pan resto.

Big Daddy Spo

So after getting the trunk dialed in. I moved on to what I knew would be some fun times, Wiring! The main harness was not bad, but everything else had been cut and hacked at sometime. I should have known after seeing what they did to the engine and front light harness. The ribbon wire on the floor had been spliced into so many times it was ruined. I was able to replace most, and used new components when I could. After about three months, it was finally done.

Big Daddy Spo

With the wiring complete, it was time to focus on the interior. Though the original color for this car was white exterior and black interior, I decided I could live with a black exterior paint job that the PO did in the early 2000's. Decent driver quality for now. To go with the black exterior , I wanted to do an all new red interior. Started with a repaint of the dash and A pillar metal and had the dash pad recovered. Long story short, I asked PUI for a different color than their stock Red 64 color. They said that was all they did in the 64 interior. When it showed up, it was the color I asked for, Red 30, but all the interior parts were all ready painted Red 64. Repainted and started the reinstallation.

Greg Rogers

Nice job!

Big Daddy Spo

So with all the interior pieces repainted and covered the car was sent off to a great lady in Modesto,CA, that would take on a full interior restoration. I supplied her with all the materials pre-made from PUI. Kay did front and rear seats, headliner, carpet, door panels w/fuzzies rear panels and package tray and center console carpet. She said 1 week and it would be done with a price of $1500 for her time. I was more than skeptical with her time frame and price, but I was committed. The car had no front or back windows and no engine so the car was taken to Modesto on a U-haul. After a week she called and said she would need another. I told her no problem as I was trying to set up an enclosed trailer to bring it home. I wanted my glass guy to install the windshields, but I didn't want to open trailer the car because of the new headliner. The car was ready in 12 days, top to bottom. Everything turned out great, I wouldn't say it was show car standards, but way beyond Daily Driver!, .

1967Supreeeme

Big Daddy Spo

Sounds good! I live in the Brentwood Area of the Delta. Always looking for a fun place to cruz to. Look forward to maybe seeing you at one of the events. Do you ever take your ride to the Good-Guys in P-town?

1967Supreeeme

Big Daddy Spo

Trying to get it finished up for the March meet at the end of the month, about 6 weeks away. Hoping to do first shake down run over Presidents weekend. Need to finish up the inner fender wells and give the hood some love. Not going to rush it but just might make it.

Big Daddy Spo

So as I mentioned in my earlier post I'm trying to complete this for the Good-guys meet in March at Pleasanton. Not going to rush it, but if its ready I'll be there. Up to this point I have been working on it about 18 months. My wife always says "Slow Down" but with the 65 442 waiting in the wings, I want to keep moving! Last of the up to date photos on the 64:

Gerald Nickels

That steering wheel looks just like the one I had. Keep up the good work and soon drive it to my house SPO.

Big Daddy Spo

So, time to bring this one to the table. Wan't really looking for another project, but got a call from a local fellows wife that he had passed away. I knew that he had a great fully documented 1970 W-31 post 4 speed car, but didn't really know the other cars he had. His wife new I liked Oldsmobile's, so she got in touch with me from a mutual friend. I stopped by to help her with the W-31, but knew I would never be able to afford what she was asking for it. She said Angelo had another 442, but turned out to be a 71 Cutlass convertible clone. But wait, one more under 8 car covers parked on the side of the drive way. A 1965 442, 4 speed post car from his original home in NY. He brought it out to CA when he moved in early 2000. The car had sat under the covers for 17 years. No one in the neighborhood, had ever seen it. I looked it over, checked the numbers and the rust. She wanted it to go to an Olds guy, so we struck a deal. The car is pretty much all original. He added 15" SSII rims and at some point looks like it was raced as there is an old style line-lok in place and open header "Y's" on the exhaust. I checked the rear diff and only found a 3.08 peg leg, so that must have been changed at some time. I haven't really had a chance to get started on this one. Just getting panels for the rust repair as it will need full trunk pans, inner wheel wells, lower repair on both front and back windows. The interior is in great shape, but the thread and foam is starting to break down on the bucket seats.The frame is crusty , but no rust through. I will update this thread as I move forward.

IM003729.JPGIM003731.JPGIM003732.JPGIM003788.JPGIMAG0464.jpg

Big Daddy Spo

It is your steering wheel Gerald, just with a lot less cracks!

1967Supreeeme

Well, your wheel and tire choice is bad ***. Gotta see pics of those installed. I like red line tires on the right car, and this is it for sure.

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks. They are a 15x7 rim with a G70 Bias Ply tire. I liked the Bias ply better because it had the hump that sticked out on the sidewall. I see they are making these in a radial with the same profile as the bias ply. I'll have to wait till I'm ready for tires of the 65, maybe I'll use the radials on that one. I'll post a photo when I get them on the car. Here is one with a blackwall I was using to see what would fit in the wheel well. 64-65 year have a weird hump that sticks out into the wheel well right at the top of the opening. I might need to massage this a little. Thanks again.

Big Daddy Spo

I found a couple of photos on my phone from the trial fit once they were mounted. I think they look great! I have always Liked the Hurst Wheels from the 60's, just don't have $5k for a set.
Steve

Gerald Nickels

Its late Steve so hear is what happened today after you left. my Chevy truck the water pump went out (leaking). So I tried to pull it but that big nut on the pump just would not break so I pulled pump with fan off. Try and get the fan off on Sat. I think i'll try and get a tool to take the nut off the pump. I had to take a pain pill after words. Not only is Steve working on his 64 but did lots of welding on my 65 Cutlass in the past weeks so he has been busy guy. He knows 64 and 65 real good now inside and out.
Gerald

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks Gerald. I think those fan nuts are a left hand thread for the water pump. I had to use a air chisel with the pointed awl to drive mine off. If you go to one of the local auto parts stores, they might have the right wrenches in their loaner tools to get it off. Good luck.
Spo

kjr442

Big Daddy Spo

Yes, it is. It is a little crusty and has some scale, but I didn't find any areas that were weak. I am planning on raising the body enough to roll the chassis out this spring. That way I'll be able to give it a better once over and also start the rust repair in the trunk.

Gerald Nickels

Time you get both of your pans done I might be ready for my 65 pans.
Practice
Practice
the third time should be mine.

Big Daddy Spo

I hit it hard this weekend and was able to get her moving under her own power. Everything looks and sounds good. I had to re-bleed the brakes , but seems great now. Also installed all the Hurst rims with the Bias Redlines. She looks sweet! I'm hoping the front will come down a little more with the hood and bumper installed. If not I can always add a spacer to the rear to get her level. Just need to finish up the front end sheet-metal and install the weather stripping.

Big Daddy Spo

After getting the car to run and being able to have her move under her own power, I started on the brake system. While I had her up in the air, I wanted to check the numbers on the Muncie. I found that they were 3925660, which makes it a 68-70 build. I didn't get a chance to pull it out to check the grooves or the number of splines. I kind of figured that I might not find the original, as this car was raced back in NY. I had previously found the the rear diff is a peg leg 3.08 out of a Buick. Will keep looking into her and see what else might have been changed.
Steve

Big Daddy Spo

Have been replacing all the brake components on the 65 442. Staying with all manual drums for now. I did upgrade the master to a dual system for safety. Does anyone know if the push rod out of the single reservoir MC will fit into the dual MC? I see that the ones from Inline Tube have a cup in the boot to support the rod. For $55, I'm hoping I can just use my old one and adjust a little longer.

Napoleon Solo

Spo! You’re killin’ me with that ‘64! Black with red, Hurst wheels - the whole package...
I have to hurry up and finish mine....

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks! Trying to get it wrapped up before the Good-Guys show next weekend in Pleasanton, CA. Don't know if I'll make it, but the next show is in June. So I got that going for me. I'll post more photos after this weekend.
Spo

therobski

Big Daddy SPO, I am going to have to take my 64 ribbon harness apart for some repair, you gave me some good ideas. I wish I would have chimed in earlier, a while back I bought a nice 65 ribbon harness come to find out the 64 connectors are different. If you would still like a 65 harness PM me.

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks for the offer. I think I too have a spare from a 65. I bought one not knowing the connector difference, then found out. I guess we could corner the market on them.

Big Daddy Spo

Well after almost 18 months I was able to take her out for the first drive today, after getting her dialed in last week. Went for about a 20 mile drive through all the road conditions to see how she would do. All went well with no real problems. Here are a couple photos at a local spot where I take most of my car photos on their first day out. Feels good to have her done before summer, so I can enjoy her. Next up is continuing work on the 65 442.

kjr442

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks! It's always good to get to the finish line. I like being at this stage so I can just go back an take care of all the little things I skipped over. It's fun to have the time to clean and polish knowing you can drive it!
Thanks Again for all the help from the members of this board. I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more from me as I get into the 65 442 build.

redoldsman

Great job. Congrats. Beautiful car.