My name is John and I have been working on my `61 Bubbletop for two years. So far I have tubbed it, put in air ride, installed 18"x8" and 20"x15" centerline wheels with MT tires, disc brakes, installed pontiac bucket seats seats and a Jet-Star council, installed 6x2 Offenhouser intake and 6 Holley 94s, and have painted it. Tomorrow I pick up my Turbo 400 from Ross Racing and have an appointment for custom headers in September; but, I am missing a few trim parts and I was hoping for some help. I am in need of:

1-Drivers Side inner headlight eyebrow cover,

2-Front turnsignals, and
2-Rear turnsignals,

I am in the San Francisco Bay Area and I would be grateful for any help in locating these parts.

 

Sweet
Looking good.

 

Welcome, fine looking ride. Love the engine.

 

Wow! Looks great.
Welcome.

 

Go Jonny Go That thing is look nice How will you finish off the inside ?

 

Hey John looks great. I am in the middle of restoring my 61 super 88, but going completely original except the front brakes. I noticed you did the disc conversion on yours, what kit did you use, Kanter? and do ya like them, or have any problems? Many thanks, ans keep up the good work on you ride, looks fantastic.

 

I used a scarebird conversion https://scarebird.com/ and it worked out great. It used 12" ford thunderbird rear discs but everything else is GM. I ended up using a willwood master and 8" booster. Looks great, but since the car is not running yet I can't say how well it stops

 

Hey thanks, I am unsure if I want to do the fronts only or both. Kanter sells a complete kit, master, booster, prop valve, calipers,hoses, rotors, everything to complete the front for $1,100.00. Was wondering what you have in your set up total. I also looked at the ones your running, looks good as well.

 

Awesome! love that car and the color.

 

Looks very nice, keep the updates coming!

 

kick *** project

 

I only did the front and the conversion was right around the $1100 range but in using scarebird I was able to use the Wilwood master. I think that it just looks like a more high dollar set up.

 

It will look stock but it will not be. Bucket seats out of a 63 Pontiac and a center console out of a 63 Oldsmobile.

 

 

Car is turning out nicely. I see you took a turn in a different direction for the engine setup.

 

Awesome build. I have been tossing around the idea of putting bucket seats and console that I got out of a 62 Starfire. What compression ratio you running under the blower?
Pat

 

Very cool, don't know how I missed this one! Now subscribed.

 

So exactly how much power are we looking at here? Looks intimidating.

 

Good gravy! Can wait to see how you'll fit the hood around that!

 

You are doing an outstanding job on your '88'. I absolutely love that blown 394 Olds sticking way up there in the air, that's way cool!

I consider myself to be an expert at "modifying" these 61 Oldsmobile's. I have built two Pro Street versions since back in 1994. I recently reacquired the first one I put together and I am currently going through it to get it back into Show condition. I must admit, keeping an Olds motor in this one was not a priority. I stuffed a Big Block Chevy in it.

Here are a few pictures of it:









That car made it into Hot Rod Magazine's Top Ten Cars of 1995. Won Grand Champion at the Street Machine Nationals in DuQuion IL that year. That used to be THE SHOW for all the crazy Pro Street guys back in the day.

After I sold that one, I missed it so badly I went on a search for another Bubble-Top in order to to it again. I found a 32'000 mile original beauty and tore into it again. On this one I stuck with the 394 and was lucky enough to find an old Hilborn stack type, direct port fuel injection manifold for it at the Oldsmobile 100 year anniversary Car Show in Lansing, MI in 1997. I had it converted to EFI by Fuel Injection Engineering. Once again I tubbed it out and this time used full Air Ride from Ridetech.

Here are some pics of that one:






Once again I sold that Bubble-Top also (wish I never did!!!) Now the current owner wants $125K for it...I will never be buying that one back unless I win the Lottery.

At any rate, I think yours is stunning, and can't wait to see to final product. These Olds "Bubble-Tops" are a designers dream. They are "custom" really, right from the factory. When you line one up beside a Chevy Bubble-Top, the Chevy looks kind of plain.

 

Awesome cars

 

That second car is why I purchased mine.

 

I agree, awesome cars and an inspiration for me too! I loved the looks of the 61 I bought as soon as I saw it. Just bought a pair of those Offy valve covers for mine.


Johnny, can I ask about those door panels and seats? They look perfect in there. I'm debating doing a totally stock red interior or buckets and console but they have to look period.