Supreme68

Just wanted to say hi. I have a 1968 Cutlass Supreme. It was my first car and had it since I was 16. Im now 27 and decided to finally restore/customize it and complete the project I started. I currently drive a Honda S2000 and although its an awesome car to drive, its just not practical as a daily driver. Ill most likely sell it this summer, get a truck and have the cutty as my project.

Last time I had the car running coolant/water was defintely mixing with my oil which leads me to believe I have a blown head gasket.

Also, I havent started it in a while. What should be the first steps to get the car running again?

Ive been pondering the idea of changing it from auto to manual. How much will that run me alone?

And finally I just wanted to make sure I restore it correctly, would this be the correct way to do the project:
1. Engine, Tranny, Suspension
2. Body, paint
3. Interior, carpet, seats, headliner, ICE

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard

Before you do anything buy a Chassis manual for your car, then read, read, read.

There are plenty of people to help ya here. Personally, I buy most of my restoration parts from Fusick but there are several others

Supreme68

Thanks buddy... yeah Ive bought one for every car Ive had so far, so this will be no different... I guess Year One is one of the most popular, but probably one of the most expensive...

Jamesbo

When you're yacking with Year One you can be talking to a Cheby guy, when you're dealing with Fusick's they're Olds people.

Bye the way WTH is ICE?

cutlassgal

Welcome to our site. You don't say when you last had it running, but if it were me, after you're done reading the manual, per Jamesbo's instructions, I'd change the oil and check the coolant before I attempted to start it....and make sure there are no "nests" of any kind where there shouldn't be!

Supreme68

Ohhhh thats good to know... Ill definitely have to check them out...

And ICE is In Car Entertainment... stereo, speakers, etc.

Its been a few years... its mainly sat in my parents garage and hasnt moved since... yeah I def have to make sure no mice, or anything like that is burrowed...

Jamesbo

I see

Back in my day ICE meant a hot chippy at the Drive in

cutlassgal

It's ok Jamesbo.... I never heard that one before either! LOL!!!

Supreme68

haha too funny... i guess you could have that in your car as well :P

Jamesbo

Thanks Sandy,

Where the heck is citcapp dis mawn'in. He must be finishing up his new kitchen counter tops. I'm the only ole phart up I guess.

Hey Newbie Supreme. How 'bout post'in some pics of your car?

cutlassgal

Yeah.... he's sleepin in over there on the left coast. Isn't he supposed to put some pics on of the new counter tops??? HEY CITCAPP..... WAKE UP!!!!!


....Hey Newbie Supreme. How 'bout post'in some pics of your car?


What Jamesbo said!!! We like pics!

Supreme68

yeah im a bit of a pic ***** myself... too bad the only pics I have are all hardcopies... I dont have any digitals up yet... Next time I visit the parents Ill take some... Im gonna have the car towed to my house very soon so Ill start working on it... Ill be taking pictures of the progress...

lshlsh2

Welcome I had a 68 s for awhile. I would put brakes high on the todo list.
Larry

Oldsguy

Welcome to CO.

VI Cutty

All depends on how extensively you're getting into it, and whether you plan to drive it during the restoration.

If you're going to drive it, then you definitely want to handle the mechanicals first. Also depends on how much of it you'll be doing on your own, and how much will be farmed out.

If you're doing a ground up rebuild and farming the work out, a lot of it can happen concurrently.

And budget, of course!

Supreme68

Thank you... yeah I was defintely going to upgrade them to discs all around... any good recommendations???

TY

No I dont plan on driving it at all during the resto... Itll sit in my garage while I work on anything that Im capable of doing... And when I finally get this project going, Ill have around 4-6K to start... then as the project is moving, ill have steady income to put towards it...

Jamesbo

Well this thread will help ya spend about 1/2 of it.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...to-manual.html

Supreme68

i expected it to be that much... brakes im sure will cost around $1000... suspension another $500 and prolly another $500-1000 for the engine...

so thats pretty much the start up money... im anticipating spending around $2000 for the interior and around $2000 for the body and paint...

So when everything is said and done around 10K... thats not bad at all for a 40+ year old brand new car...

citcapp

Glad to have you aboard, You'll find lots of help here.

Bluevista

Welcome.

You're order for resto sounds good, most people do it the opposite.

Are you plan on doing this work yourself?
Those estimates are a little low, double them and add half and you may be in the ballpark.
If you plan on somebody else doing the work triple it at least.

In car entertainment?... I married her almost 30 years ago.

The car is the entertainment, who needs distractions?
"Is Car Entertainment"

Supreme68

Thank you sir... from the looks of it, i think i will...
Thanks... yeah i do see a lot of people do it the other way as well... i guess they are impatient to see the car look good and want to paint it right away... I plan on doing most of the work... I have a buddy that does top notch body and paint... so ill def get hooked up there... im still looking around for someone that does custom interiors... theres a few places by me that produce good work, just got to see how much there gonna charge when the time comes... i can def do the brakes, most of the engine, and the ICE (haha) by myself or with the help of a few friends... the only pita i see coming my way is the manual conversion...

And what disc conversion kits do you guys recommend?

And although this will be the last on the to do list, what are some good rim companies to choose from??? Im looking for something other than the popular crager SS style... Id like something in a 7-10 spoke design...