hello all, i'll try this posting again and make the message shorter.
Introduction: i'm Dave and for my day job i work for the local school district as a technology manager and I'm also in the Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot. when i'm not doing either of those i'm home working on the "honey do" list. I'm in the process of buying a 72 Cutlass Supreme Convertible. My son and I are planning to restore it or at least get it road worthy over the next few years. The present owner has started the restoration and has agreed to sell it so we can complete it. It needs a new top, upholstery, body work and probably engine and transmission work.
i'm looking for any info on where i can either purchase the parts and get some of this work done by someone who knows how. My son and I can do the engine and transmission and maybe a little of the other stuff but the rest i want professionally done so it doesn't look like a monkey did it.

thanks, dave

 

Welcome aboard!
I am sure you will find a few '72 verts around here...
Spend some time browsing around on here and you will find heaps of good info on parts and resto tips and procedures.
Drivetrain and chassis parts can be had at Rockauto and Olds specialty places like Fusicks and OPG supply other resto parts. Legendary auto interiors is best for seats and soft trim.

Sounds like a good project you are getting - post some pics and progress threads when you can!

 

I have seen some very talented monkeys' work

welcome!

 

Welcome aboard

Hang in there the 72 guys will be right with ya.

 

Nothing like a 72! Drop top or not! Welcome!!

 

Yes, There is somthing about 72's...Welcome aboard and I am sure you will find lots of great info.

 

Welcome to CO, I'm a pilot myself (fixed wing). Lots of '72's around here. Browse around and ask questions, you'll be surprised what you can do yourself. Good luck and post some pics.

 

Welcome, you'll find plenty of help here.

 

Sounds like a great father/son project.

 

Working on restoring my 72 Supreme Hardtop as well. Have found some good and some bad parts from numerous suppliers. I have used OPG, Legendary Auto Interiors, Fusicks, Gold Eagle Classics, Supercars Unlimited, The Parts Place, The Paddock and USA parts supply. I agree, Lengendary has quality interior soft trim and quality customer service. Tore one of my bucket seats upholstery and they fixed it for free. They also sent me the wrong headliner and promptly shipped me a new one. Fusick has good service, but have had some issues with parts. The good thing is, if your not satisfied, they will make it right. The Parts Place not so good, but they have a lot of parts. Brothers Automotive (BAP), is another Oldmobile parts supplier but you will find a lot of guys that have had problems with their service. During my restoration, I have gotten frustrated with the quality of a lot of these "foreign made parts" Most of them are not as good as the original GM parts. I recommend you restore as much of the original parts as possible and stay away from cheap remakes. They don't look the same, are not made the same and almost never fit the same as the originals. A lot of guys on here also sell parts. Check the "parts for sale" forum. And E-bay is also a good source. Good Luck. Great group of guys on here willing to help!

 

Good luck on the 72....I have a 70 Cutlass SX convertible and a 71 442 W-30 convertible recreation car. I am a droptop lover for sure...Nothing like dropping the top and rumblin the pipes....Good luck with the acquistion....I always have a certain formula I work with for a car of this lineage....455....turbo 400....Front disc brakes....air conditioning....power steering and power brakes....everthing else is pure fluff after that list.....good luck with the droptop......Oldsdroptop

 

Welcome. I am partial to 72 Cutlass droptops. I have had mine for 17 years and it is the second one I have owned. My brakes have been out for about 3 years. I have a disk brake conversion for the front and Vista Cruiser brakes for the rear thank to Eric (Jensen Racing) on this site. I just need time and less things to take up my time. They are great cars and you will always get compliments every time you drive it. It will be great father/son project. I have always had good results from Fusicks. They are great folks.

 

Picked like a nose Jamesbo.
Welcome Dave. Looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.
Parts are easy even from this distance but cheaper from your end so you & the son should have it finished by Xmas

 

Glad to have you with us Dave. I hope we can help you with the project and in turn you can share the progress with us.

 

everyone, thanks for the warm welcome and the info for parts. i'll be taking some pictures in the next few days and post a few as soon as I can. we cant wait to get it home and get started. But due to my earlier mentioned priorities it will probably be a few months before we have any time at all to work on it.
one question, since it is coming to us stripped down and already painted would the next step be to get the top and interior done or get the engine an transmission in shape first?

 

In an ideal world, do the engine and tranny first (get it drivable and reliable), then the suspension (if needed) then the top, then the interior.

Of course this depends on where the car is stored, and the immediate budget.
The top really should be done before the interior, as the rear seat and trim will prolly have to come out anyway and the risk of damaging a fresh interior is high (esp. if hydraulics are replaced).

If you have never done a top before, i would leave that to a trim pro. It would easier if you could drive it there and not trailer it.

The seats could be another pro job (do try the back seat yourself first), but the rest of the interior (carpet, door panels, etc) should be able to be done by yourself.
I have a thread "interior makeover" that will help you see what's involved with the 72 vert interior.

 

I'm working on a 71 vert with my son. great fun. Ours is drivable. Work will ressume in the winter. Try and do one big project in the winter(how big depends on money, this year I hope to be able to do more than replace the air in my tires). If its drivable it makes it alot more fun. Start small and don't try to much at once. Brakes should be must do. stopping is important.
Larry

 

I sure hope you did not get rid of the ORIGINAL air!

 

I used an air compresser to recycle the orginal air back into the tires

The orginal air is out there all you have to do is find it.

Larry

 

thanks Rob for the info and the rest for your sense of humor. I'll keep you posted.
Dave

 

i think i'm ready to advance from the newbie forum but not sure how this all works yet. anyway i'm trying to upload a couple of shots of our proposed project so lets see if this works. i'm waiting for the present owner to return home so we can make the deal final. then we can get it back to our place so we start starring at it and scratching our heads.

 

Cool!! Wait until you get your "mightaswell" list going, lol!!

 

Nice looking paint - looks like a swell project.
You can start a new thread in the major projects section for a complete resto thread, or separate threads in each of the more specific catagories if you want to.

Yep, it needs a top for sure, although you will quickly discover that it is used mainly for just storage...

 

Where can i find OEM rims for my 72 cutlass? the ones that came with the car are not pretty.
also repair manuals such as chiltons and/or is there such a thing as a body and drive train manual?

thanks, dave

 

Don't waste a dime on Chiltons/Haynes/Motor manuals. Get the factory Chassis Service Manual and Fisher Body Manual for your car. These are year-specific and used originals (which I prefer) are available regularly on auction sites, usually for $25 each or less. If you prefer, reprints and CD versions are also available from restoration specialty houses, usually for more money. Your call.

 

The factory manuals are the way to go when you buy one dont buy a real pretty one for top dollar, your going to be using it while working on your car so its gonna get greasy fingerprints on the pages just make sure its not missing any pages. Get both the chassis service manual and the fisher body manual if your ever stumped on something you can refer to a page number and folks here can look it up in thier book and help you out! GOOD LUCK!

 

Try posting an on this site in the Parts Wanted forum. The 72 came with bolt on center caps. NOS caps and trim rings are expensive so try and get a good used set which should be fine for a driver. I will third for fourth what the others have said on the manuals. You have a lot of work to do on this car so they are the way to go. Get the body manual because you are going to need it.

 

You'll need one of these.


I've got a shed full. I'm always heading up there to 'Get A Round Tuit'

 

Just picked up a 72 vert myself about a month ago. All original survivor. Good luck with your restoration. You will find everyone on the site to be very helpful. Welcome!!

 

welcome --great thing for son n dad to do as a project
AND you are already onside with CUTLASSGAL so looking good .

I love helicopters --spent a season culling deer ,shooting from a Bell and even had a few turns with the net gun and then leap on em from the chopper when doing live capture .Big buzzz ,great fun ,no insurance
mike

 

for the manuals I found several options. one is a Bishko or Detroit Iron, which contains both the chassis service manual, Fisher body manual and Parts book on CD for $25. Or buy the manuals separate for $54 and $42 respectively. which do you guys suggest? if you think i'll be happier with the separate ones then let me know.
after this question i'll start a new thread in the project section.
thanks, dave
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/rafr...417924-1071487

 

OPG has reprints of the original manuals for under 30 each for their summer sale.
Of course they get you with shipping, but maybe they have other stuff you need too.
I hate CD manuals cause it is hard to take them under the car with ya if needed, or quickly reference something while you are dripping with sweat and oil.

 

I like having the manuals in my hands to reference when I'm out in the garage, I plop down in the chair, and flip through the pages to see what I need, usually have a couple to compare the info.

 

Dave, thank you for your service in both Education and Defender of Freedom.
Believe me, if you can fly a helicopter you can put this car together and have it look like pro did it. I would only recommend that the motor machine work (block and heads) be done by a highly qualified machine shop. Everything else is/can be the fun part. Search, Post, or PM with any questions.
Keep us up to date.