krissiibabii

I recently inheireted a cutlass that has been sitting out under a carport for 19 years and is still in EXCELLENT condition and everything is inside along with perfect seats and door panels and everything. but im new to fixing classics and i do have someone who has worked on classics helping me but is there anything i should look for or anything special i should check if its still there. Also, did it originally come with seat belts and 2 side mirrors or 1?

stlbluesbrother

Hi and welcome to Classic Oldsmobile! Sweet - a '69 convertible and you didn't even have to pay for it.

Most cars came with 1 side mirror unless an option was chosen to add a 2nd mirror on the passenger side at time of purchase. My car is a 1970 convertible and it came with seat belts (Deluxe) for the front Strato buckets and 3 standard lap belts in the back.

Making the car safe to drive is the first line of order. Upon acquiring my car I had all belts and hoses replaced in the engine compartment; radiator hose, vacuum hoses, brake line hoses, etc. Also, changed the air cleaner filter. Check the brake to see if they are safe, too.

I'm sure other will chime in.

Oldsguy

Welcome to CO. I moved your thread to this forum, I believe you will get many more responses here. Sure sounds like you got yourself a nice find too. I agree that safety will be paramount before you actually drive the car, brake system being number one on the list.

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard

Ya got the right year there.

There ya go, ya already go the advice to get started putting her back on the road.

New fluids, hoses and check the brakes. I'd also dump the ole gas and oil and start fresh there.[Oh yeah I guess gas and oil are fluids also.]

Take it slow and inspect the wiring to make sure no critters been chewing on it.

And keep a fire extinguisher handy at first. Just in case. I bought one that sum Yahoo had put the hot wire to the starter right over the exhaust manifold.

Post sum pics please

gearheads78

Before you think about driving it replace the fuel lines between the tank and the chassis line.

joe_padavano

As noted the driver's door outside mirror was standard. The passenger side was optional. A 1969 convertible came standard with lap belts only. Shoulder belts were an available but rare option.

Assume ALL rubber parts on the car are suspect. I just went through this with my 62 that was sitting in the desert for 30 years. Had to rebuild all the brake hydraulics, replace all the rubber hoses in the fuel lines, and drain and flush the gas tank. Assume the carb needs a rebuild also.

krissiibabii

The date is wrong and i have all the chrome and grills. the back bumper is inside of it laying on the front seat. There are also parts in the [locked] trunk. Hiring a locksmith and ordering an engine rebuild kit tomorrow. Also the engine is a 455 im pretty sure.


back.jpgfront.jpginside.jpgunderthehood.jpg

Bluevista

Sweet.

Not bad for nothing.
If the critters living in it pay rent you could really make out on the deal.

Sitting on cinder blocks on dirt like that I would check the brake/fuel lines, gas tank and frame closely.
I wouldn't crawl under it sitting on those cinder blocks like that to check anything, in fact... I wouldn't even lean on it.
I highly recommend you purchase the 1969 Olds chassis service manual, 1969 Fisher Body manual and 1969 factory assembly manual so you know how to take it apart and put it back together and know what it's supposed to look like when it gets done.
Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets work well for critter control, you take the box they come in and fill it with rocks then beat the things to a pulp with it when you see them, works good.

cutlassgal

Welcome to our site!! Blue.... you are too funny, lol!

jaunty75

Wow. After seeing those photos, I'm kind of wondering which part of your car is the "excellent" part?

More seriously, it does look like you have your work cut out for you. The engine bay looks like it needs every single soft part (wires, hoses, belts) replaced. I would imagine every soft part everywhere under the car as well needs going over and replacing. It looks like a radiator hose is missing as well as there is an opening on the water valve right above the water pump. That carburetor will certainly need to be rebuilt if not replaced as it looks quite rusty in the photo.

That alternator looks like it'll have to go, too, as it looks to be covered with rust.

You say the seats are "perfect," yet the front seat looks heavily mildewed to me. No matter mow much you clean it, I think it's going to be difficult to completely remove the mildew and the odor that goes with it. In the end you might need to have the seats reupholstered.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted on your progress.

krissiibabii

I've been inside of it and i didn't fall through so im just thanking god for that. Worst case i get under it and its junk and ill have to see everything. I have the original chrome in great condition and the grills, lights, seats, bezels so atleast its not a complete loss i would love for this to be my first restore though. Everyone in my family thinks im going to just sell it anyways.

krissiibabii

"You say the seats are "perfect," yet the front seat looks heavily mildewed to me. No matter mow much you clean it, I think it's going to be difficult to completely remove the mildew and the odor that goes with it. In the end you might need to have the seats reupholstered."


I cleaned seats yesterday and that wiped right off.

Oldsmaniac

Engine sure looks like a small block to me....

jaunty75

Given what you paid for it, if you're at all interested, you should at least see what will be involved in the restoration. I'm glad to hear the seats cleaned up nicely. If the frame is in good shape, and if your chrome is in decent shape, the issues with the engine can be cleaned up reasonably easily. The carburetor can either be rebuilt or replaced.

In short, if the car is restorable, I think you should restore it. You will get a tremendously wonderful feeling when, after having gone through it all and rebuilt or replaced things, you start the engine for the first time.

krissiibabii

I was going off what someone else [who obviously has no clue] said. Ive never repaired a car. to be honest this is my first car ever [im 16]. but my dad is a mechanic and can help.

Jamesbo

Guard the chrone that goes over the rear quarters with you life. It's tuff to find.

jaunty75

Just out of curiosity, based on what?

krissiibabii

how would i be able to tell what kind of engine it is?

70 cutlass s

Casting numbers, look behind the water pump on the flat area. You will see a group of numbers that is the casting numbers.

Post what you find.

Also you never want to order a engine rebuild kit until you take the engine apart and find out what has to be done to it. Plus knowing the engine size really helps.

krissiibabii

557265 are the casting numbers. so its a 403?

cutlassgal

Well you picked a great car to be your first one! My first car was a 72 Cutlass and I've never lost the love for them. You should rebuild and restore her. They are great cars, and you won't regret it. Just a little at a time so you don't get overwhelmed. These guys on here are great and will help you, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

citcapp

Have fun with the restore. Do a little at a time and complete each task, before you know it, you will have a completed car. Ask questions on this site there are quite a few people who have completed or are currently working on drop top restorations.

stlbluesbrother

Per www.442.com, you are correct - a 403 cid produced in the late 70's

krissiibabii

But are 403's good engines?

lshlsh2

They are fine engines unless you want crazy hp. and 9 sec quarters.
Larry

krissiibabii

should i keep and rebuild my 403 or just buy a 350 chevy crate small block?

stlbluesbrother

If it were me I'd check Craigslist to see if someone has a rebuilt 350 rocket or 400 cid for sale (produced in late 60's/early 70's). And/or join an Oldsmobile club in your hometown and see if someone has an Olds engine "laying around" for cheap. Rebuilding that 403 may take some work and money.

Putting a non Oldsmobile engine into a cool Cutlass may cause dissention on this forum. That is a heavily disputed topic - see other thread with lots of hits. I personally wouldn't mix and match, but there are others out there (with no shame ; just kidding) were it might be a necessity.

krissiibabii

i have my friend bucky [who owns a junkyard] looking for a 350 rocket for me but im just looking for something to get it running first, i can always swap it out later.

Oldsmaniac

The engine has an intake manifold that appears to be narrow and the distance on each side of the carb to heads. A BB has a wider intake. That is why it looks like a small block to me.

jaunty75

Thank you. This helps the rest of us learn the differences.

krissiibabii

I have another question :S

what does the original steering wheel look like for my car? my mom doesnt think this one is the original.

jaunty75

It's round.





Post a photo of it! Why does your mother think it's not original? Is it wrapped in something? The plastic steering wheels of the day often are shrunken and have resulting cracks in them by now, 30-50 years later, and, as a cheap fix, people will wrap them with those imitation leather wrapping kits you can buy at pretty much any auto parts store or the automotive sections of department stores like Target or Walmart.

krissiibabii

**** man, Mine's a trapazoid. :P JK

joe_padavano

Mom would be correct.

krissiibabii

I have a hard time believing my mom she didnt even know what kind of car it was. She told me it was a 69 pontiac gto.. then i told her it was an oldsmobile.

jaunty75

They always are!

stlbluesbrother

You can learn a lot from some of the gallery pictures posted on this site. 'Gallery' is the 2nd option along the menu above and has a directory for Cutlass. A majority of the albums are titled with the model year. I can't speak to a 1969 Cutlass, but the '70 came with a couple type of steering wheels - a standard and a custom. The custom one is pretty wicked for that "muscle" look.

krissiibabii

the piece that goes along the trunk and surrounds the trunk keyhole?

LI Olds

the pieces that go over the wheel wells

krissiibabii

Oh ok thanks, I have them.