Fools Rush In
#1
Fools Rush In
Well, let's hope not. Here's the story.
It's not my story but my son is too shy to post a lot, it's his car. He inherited an old car of another make. He isn't really crazy about the car but it's got him interested in the classics. Now anything that get's him away from that dam X-BOX is fine with me. On the way into town there's a 68 Cutlas sitting by the side of the road that he's always liked the look of. Well suddenly there's a for sale sign on it and we check it out. After a little dickering, the boy owns it. I'm sure he paid way to much for it, ( it's a project car ) but around here you just don't find these kinds of cars available. So now the journey begins.
We're hoping to grab it today if the weather stays good. Now we don't know squat about cars other than driving them. Actually son is even too young to have his license yet. If it wasn't for the internet I don't know if I would have encouraged him. Hopefully we can find a lot of help here, and I do mean a lot.
Signed, Well meaning dad.
It's not my story but my son is too shy to post a lot, it's his car. He inherited an old car of another make. He isn't really crazy about the car but it's got him interested in the classics. Now anything that get's him away from that dam X-BOX is fine with me. On the way into town there's a 68 Cutlas sitting by the side of the road that he's always liked the look of. Well suddenly there's a for sale sign on it and we check it out. After a little dickering, the boy owns it. I'm sure he paid way to much for it, ( it's a project car ) but around here you just don't find these kinds of cars available. So now the journey begins.
We're hoping to grab it today if the weather stays good. Now we don't know squat about cars other than driving them. Actually son is even too young to have his license yet. If it wasn't for the internet I don't know if I would have encouraged him. Hopefully we can find a lot of help here, and I do mean a lot.
Signed, Well meaning dad.
#2
Welcome, I'm sure you find all the help you will need. Post some pics when you get it home. Take it slow and at first don't try to much. Start with some small easy projects before some of the larger harder ones. It will all have to get done sooner or later.
First thing you should do is get a service manuel and maybe a fisher body manuel for a 68 olds. You can find them pretty easy on ebay or maybe someone here has one.
Larry
First thing you should do is get a service manuel and maybe a fisher body manuel for a 68 olds. You can find them pretty easy on ebay or maybe someone here has one.
Larry
#3
Well Hi there, and welcome to our site - both of you!! I know what you mean about the video games, lol!! My daughter is the same way. Congrats on being the proud owner of an Olds!! My guys on here are the absolute best, and will be happy to help you out, so ask lots of questions! This is the best place you could be for info and tips. Lots of knowledge and experience on here.
Where are you located? Does the car run? Any pictures of it?? This will be a great project for you guys!!
Where are you located? Does the car run? Any pictures of it?? This will be a great project for you guys!!
#11
Welcome to CO. Did you find the car in S. Alberta cause if you did then it may be in not too bad of shape? My 69 came from Saskatoon originally and the body and floor had no holes , almost no rust. You will get lots of help from the guys on this site and lots of knowledge about the 68 cutlass. you can check on ebay or Fusicks to find a service manual , i have one for the 69 as well as a fisher body manual and if you plan on doing work yourself along with your son then you should invest in these manuals in that order.
there are a few albertans on the site as well so they may also be some help to you. Cheers
there are a few albertans on the site as well so they may also be some help to you. Cheers
#12
http://www.oldsnorthernlights.com/ based in Alberta. Ken (442much) is a knowledgeable regular here.
The 68 is a simple car to understand and repair, it just may be a little more difficult to find reproduction parts. 68 seems to be a forgotten year sometimes. But I will admit it's my favorite year Cutlass.
The 68 is a simple car to understand and repair, it just may be a little more difficult to find reproduction parts. 68 seems to be a forgotten year sometimes. But I will admit it's my favorite year Cutlass.
#13
1968
Welcome to the site! There are several people who have 1968's here so when the questions come just post them! And there are several Canadians including a few in Alberta, although I know that's a big place! You may be able to network with some Olds people close to you. John
#18
Okay let's see if this works.
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The Olds trip will have to wait till next year as I found out about it to late. We are headed to Lethbridge this Sunday though for a show and shine. We live just a little out of Medicine Hat.
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The Olds trip will have to wait till next year as I found out about it to late. We are headed to Lethbridge this Sunday though for a show and shine. We live just a little out of Medicine Hat.
#21
Hi there; It looks like you have a '68 Supreme (342878) with a Cutlass 'S' hood...you'll have a great time trying to find all that lower trim, and Vista's have the same trim... air filter housing looks like Chebby
#23
Yup it's got bucket seats. Finding the trim was easy. It was in the trunk. A few boxs of stuff in the car. The chrome emblems, what might be the original air filter housing, bunch of stuff like that. I guess the new owner will decide about the bottom trim. The only place that has a real rust problem is the bottom edge where the trim goes. One of the reasons I don't like a lot of trim even on new cars. The under carriage looks to be in pretty good shape as far as rust goes. Also that airbag blew out the drivers window. Actually that was vandalism.
Apparently we have to get my shop cleaned out imediatley according to the new owner. Man do I have a lot of "stuff" in there. I need to redo the shop walls and of course vehicles in there will be a slight inconvenience. Does anyone here use those dollies that you set the wheels into? Do they work okay?
Apparently we have to get my shop cleaned out imediatley according to the new owner. Man do I have a lot of "stuff" in there. I need to redo the shop walls and of course vehicles in there will be a slight inconvenience. Does anyone here use those dollies that you set the wheels into? Do they work okay?
#24
Welcome, and great story. My dad and I started restoring a 1957 Olds 98 back in 1977 (when I was 7 years old), and we took 1st at OCA nationals in 1982 when we were done...Now, I'm 40, and we're still into Oldsmobiles, but he's in Ohio, and I am in California. We're planning on going to the OCA Nationals together this year! Great hobby!
#26
Get in touch with 442much on this site he runs this Alberta olds club
http://www.oldsnorthernlights.com/
great guy to know his name is Ken
http://www.oldsnorthernlights.com/
great guy to know his name is Ken
#28
If you have all the trim you didn't get hurt at all here. The rust spot on the front fender is common, it wasn't really affected by trim, it was a design flaw that trapped dirt and water between the fender brace and the outer skin. Simple fix. It might be an adventure finding all those moulding clips though.
Other than that this car looks really straight, and an excellent restoration candidate. Something to be said for those dry western prairies, eh? I'm also guessing y'all are a farming family?
Supremes had a silver paint accent between the trim and the edge of the panel. Some like it, others don't. I always thought it dressed the car up a lot.
The door glass is common to all 1968 GM A-body 2-door hardtops- Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, Skylark. The F85/Cutlass also shares other stuff with these cars which makes life somewhat easier. If it's a Canadian-built car, there's tons of documentation available from GM of Canada.
Good luck, good score. Tell yer boy to speak up and talk with us, we don't bite!
Well, maybe Sandy (cutlassgal) does...
Other than that this car looks really straight, and an excellent restoration candidate. Something to be said for those dry western prairies, eh? I'm also guessing y'all are a farming family?
Supremes had a silver paint accent between the trim and the edge of the panel. Some like it, others don't. I always thought it dressed the car up a lot.
The door glass is common to all 1968 GM A-body 2-door hardtops- Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, Skylark. The F85/Cutlass also shares other stuff with these cars which makes life somewhat easier. If it's a Canadian-built car, there's tons of documentation available from GM of Canada.
Good luck, good score. Tell yer boy to speak up and talk with us, we don't bite!
Well, maybe Sandy (cutlassgal) does...
Last edited by rocketraider; July 17th, 2010 at 01:18 PM.
#29
Thats a nice car!!! Your son is going to enjoy this project,I use the wheel dollies on three of my cars and they work just fine.I purchased them from PRINCESS AUTO and they did require a little tweaking (one wheel wasn't round) and I'm pushing 63-98s around my shop.
Good luck with the project!!
Steve
Good luck with the project!!
Steve
#30
Yellowstatue, what makes you say it's a Cutlass S hood? Is it just the front emblem or is there something else? It looks like the car was a project at one time for sure. That not the original paint color. Also the hood doesn't close well but one hinge isn't bolted tight to the car. I also noticed the hood doesn't seem to open very far even though the hinges are extended as far as they can go. Is that normal for the Cutlass?
#31
Yah, 68 hoods always seemed to open a little "short". You need to watch the head! Just be glad it ain't a 69 or 70 with their "tooth".
The Supreme hood does not have the simulated vent chrome trim on it.
The Supreme hood does not have the simulated vent chrome trim on it.
#32
Got it. Probably belongs to all the other parts that came with the car. The trunk was full as well as the back seat. One disappointment was the missing trim for one wheel well. We'll have to come up with that as well as the missing and brocken front end pieces. The boy says he definitely wants all the chrome as opposed to filling the holes.