Here from AZ
April 10th, 2013, 08:00 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Superstition Mountain, AZ
Posts: 39
Here from AZ
Hi All,
Joined here because I need my Olds fix and I'm tired of waiting for another Olds site to come up and stay that way. I was born in Lansing, MI, across Washington Street from the REO factory, and across the river from the Oldsmobile headquarters. No more Michigan for me, though - I moved to Arizona in 1997, and after an 8 year break in Iraq, I came home to live east of Phoenix on enough land for a big garage and plenty of cars.
I have a '67 Cutlass Supreme convertible with the original 330 and a '79 10th Anniversary Trans Am with the original 403. Both engines are out or coming out for repair.
I bought the '67 from a junkyard in Virginia when I was in the Navy, then swapped out the 2-speed auto for a nice TH350, rebuilt the entire suspension with new bushings and ball joints, rebuilt the brakes, swapped in an HEI, and slapped some paint on it before driving it from Michigan to Arizona.
Back in 2000 or so, I rebuilt the engine and replaced the original 2bbl carb & intake with a correct '67 Quadrajet on a Performer intake, then used the car for my daily driver until I left for Iraq in 2004. During my absence, someone overheated it and stuck a valve, resulting in a bent pushrod and a failure to pass emissions. I currently have the heads off to replace the valve guides, and I'm doing a little cleanup of the AIR bumps and filling the crossover passages while I'm at it.
The '79 T/A is a beautiful car that I bought to drive and not have to work on, but it developed a crack in the driver's side exhaust manifold. When I went to replace the manifold, the center three bolts broke off in the head (in spite of 1/2 hour of heating and spraying with PB Blaster prior to putting a socket on them).
As soon as the convert is back together, that engine will come out. I'll probably put flat top pistons in it (in lieu of replacing the heads - I'd like the external appearance to remain stock). Those heads will also get crossovers filled and all new machine work, plus true dual exhaust pipes and a decent cam to see if I can make the car go as fast as it looks.
Here are a couple of pics to complete my introduction:
Joined here because I need my Olds fix and I'm tired of waiting for another Olds site to come up and stay that way. I was born in Lansing, MI, across Washington Street from the REO factory, and across the river from the Oldsmobile headquarters. No more Michigan for me, though - I moved to Arizona in 1997, and after an 8 year break in Iraq, I came home to live east of Phoenix on enough land for a big garage and plenty of cars.
I have a '67 Cutlass Supreme convertible with the original 330 and a '79 10th Anniversary Trans Am with the original 403. Both engines are out or coming out for repair.
I bought the '67 from a junkyard in Virginia when I was in the Navy, then swapped out the 2-speed auto for a nice TH350, rebuilt the entire suspension with new bushings and ball joints, rebuilt the brakes, swapped in an HEI, and slapped some paint on it before driving it from Michigan to Arizona.
Back in 2000 or so, I rebuilt the engine and replaced the original 2bbl carb & intake with a correct '67 Quadrajet on a Performer intake, then used the car for my daily driver until I left for Iraq in 2004. During my absence, someone overheated it and stuck a valve, resulting in a bent pushrod and a failure to pass emissions. I currently have the heads off to replace the valve guides, and I'm doing a little cleanup of the AIR bumps and filling the crossover passages while I'm at it.
The '79 T/A is a beautiful car that I bought to drive and not have to work on, but it developed a crack in the driver's side exhaust manifold. When I went to replace the manifold, the center three bolts broke off in the head (in spite of 1/2 hour of heating and spraying with PB Blaster prior to putting a socket on them).
As soon as the convert is back together, that engine will come out. I'll probably put flat top pistons in it (in lieu of replacing the heads - I'd like the external appearance to remain stock). Those heads will also get crossovers filled and all new machine work, plus true dual exhaust pipes and a decent cam to see if I can make the car go as fast as it looks.
Here are a couple of pics to complete my introduction:
April 10th, 2013, 09:06 PM
#3
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Welcome to C.O.
Cool story about the rescue of the 67 from the boneyard. It looks to be in really nice shape. Your TA looks awesome; and that it's got T tops is just a definite plus!
Sounds like you did several tours. Thank you for your service, and I'm glad you made it back in one piece.
Cool story about the rescue of the 67 from the boneyard. It looks to be in really nice shape. Your TA looks awesome; and that it's got T tops is just a definite plus!
Sounds like you did several tours. Thank you for your service, and I'm glad you made it back in one piece.
April 11th, 2013, 04:58 AM
#5
Rodney
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,368
Welcome!
Welcome to CO.
I too was born & raised in Michigan, but now reside in the great state of Texas. I came here for work and college in the '80s and fell in love with the TexMex food. I've got some family scattered between Prescot and Phoenix, but I've never been out there to visit. There is something to be said for a lot of space and a good workshop.
Your cars are sweet! I'm partial to the '68-72 cars but your '67 looks great in those wheels and that paint color. There are a few guys (that I know of) on this site that build the mid '60s car so you will find camaraderie and support here.
Thank you for your service to our country!
I too was born & raised in Michigan, but now reside in the great state of Texas. I came here for work and college in the '80s and fell in love with the TexMex food. I've got some family scattered between Prescot and Phoenix, but I've never been out there to visit. There is something to be said for a lot of space and a good workshop.
Your cars are sweet! I'm partial to the '68-72 cars but your '67 looks great in those wheels and that paint color. There are a few guys (that I know of) on this site that build the mid '60s car so you will find camaraderie and support here.
Thank you for your service to our country!
April 11th, 2013, 06:58 AM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 361
Welcome...
I lived in Arizona from 1999 thru 2005, first in Scottsdale and then in Tucson and loved it there. I was a regular at the Pavilions in Scottsdale almost every Saturday.
The best part of life there, as far as the car hobby goes, is being able to plan to attend car activities and never worrying about what the weather's gonna be!
I lived in Arizona from 1999 thru 2005, first in Scottsdale and then in Tucson and loved it there. I was a regular at the Pavilions in Scottsdale almost every Saturday.
The best part of life there, as far as the car hobby goes, is being able to plan to attend car activities and never worrying about what the weather's gonna be!
or I would own one
April 16th, 2013, 04:31 AM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Harrison, Michigan
Posts: 4,758
Welcome, Nice cars, I also appreciate your service. I am still in Lansing and know where your talking about. Here it is April 15th and we're just starting to warm up- had snow last week! Don't blame you for leaving,though we do have beautiful lakes,etc
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