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My name is Ed and I have a 68 442 Convertible that was given to me by my dad about 6 years ago. It's been in the family about 18-20 years. I'm looking into lowering my ride a couple inches and putting a new set of wheels on it and engine dress ups. Would love to see some pics of yours that's been lowered with custom wheels installed. I was thinking 18x8 on the front and 20x10 on the rear. Just don't know which way to head. I'll add a pic of one that I love the look of and one of my blue lady. Any thoughts sound be appreciated Olds Fsmily!
Nice looking 68, and it's refreshing to see one with the stripes and emblems in the correct place. I can't help with the wheels, but your grill emblem needs to go up one row on the grill.
Nice looking 68, and it's refreshing to see one with the stripes and emblems in the correct place. I can't help with the wheels, but your grill emblem needs to go up one row on the grill.
Thanks!
And thanks for the tip. I don't thinky dad ever knew that about the grill emblem. Lol.
Nice looking 68, and it's refreshing to see one with the stripes and emblems in the correct place. I can't help with the wheels, but your grill emblem needs to go up one row on the grill.
Thanks!
And thanks for the tip. I don't thinky dad ever knew that about the grill emblem. Lol.
Agreed the blue with SS Cargars look stunning. Dont touch it. Stick or Automatic???
Welcome and keep pictures coming. Im quite partial to the 68s. You have come to one of the few sources for correct Olds specific information.
You are gona have three camps to answer this thread.
Keep it looking stock, hate on the big hoop look, and do what you want to do.
IMO it looks as good as it can get right now with those wheels.
If you decide on hoops/rubberbands and want to unload the Cragars please sell em to me!
Engine compartment correctness is nice, especially if it's a number matching car? You can devalue things.
Most of the mainstream over-the-counter dress-up parts available are cheap chineasiun junk, don't fit well, and generally cheapen up look....K-Martishness.
Please keep all stock parts labeled and boxed for the future. If you need new mechanical replacement parts such as water pumps alternators master cylinders etc always keep the parts. Don't turn them in as cores. Rebuilding said parts is always a far better choice today,
Several companies offer brake and control arm kits. One of the biggest improvements you can make to the already great FE2 chassis is a larger front sway bar and tight ratio steering box. Make sure the control arm bushings are fresh front and rear. Good shocks. Then think about A-arm and rear control arm upgrades.
Ok I will play devil's advocate here, We don't know how young you are but I imagine you find the Crager's dated looking. I have stock 15" SSII's on mine and I wouldn't put Crager's on mine either. The two rides you use as examples are pro touring cars so I assume that is the look you connect with. If you ae going to lower it you should go with a complete front and rear suspension upgrade kit from a reputable manufacturer. I would go with Hotchkis or Global west suspension they lower it correctly and also correct a lot of the short comings of the A body suspension along the way. You might as well upgrade the brakes while you are at it and down the rabbit hole you go. Welcome to classic car owner ship. lol
btw very nice car.
Agreed the blue with SS Cargars look stunning. Dont touch it. Stick or Automatic???
Welcome and keep pictures coming. Im quite partial to the 68s. You have come to one of the few sources for correct Olds specific information.
You are gona have three camps to answer this thread.
Keep it looking stock, hate on the big hoop look, and do what you want to do.
IMO it looks as good as it can get right now with those wheels.
If you decide on hoops/rubberbands and want to unload the Cragars please sell em to me!
Engine compartment correctness is nice, especially if it's a number matching car? You can devalue things.
Most of the mainstream over-the-counter dress-up parts available are cheap chineasiun junk, don't fit well, and generally cheapen up look....K-Martishness.
Please keep all stock parts labeled and boxed for the future. If you need new mechanical replacement parts such as water pumps alternators master cylinders etc always keep the parts. Don't turn them in as cores. Rebuilding said parts is always a far better choice today,
Several companies offer brake and control arm kits. One of the biggest improvements you can make to the already great FE2 chassis is a larger front sway bar and tight ratio steering box. Make sure the control arm bushings are fresh front and rear. Good shocks. Then think about A-arm and rear control arm upgrades.
Awesome welcoming and feedback brother!
Mine is a 4 speed with Hurst Shifter. Power windows, A/C. It currently has a 455 in it instead of the 400 originally.
What engine dress up kits would you recommend, if any at all? Do have a particular manufacturer for the upgraded suspension parts you mentioned?
Ok I will play devil's advocate here, We don't know how young you are but I imagine you find the Crager's dated looking. I have stock 15" SSII's on mine and I wouldn't put Crager's on mine either. The two rides you use as examples are pro touring cars so I assume that is the look you connect with. If you ae going to lower it you should go with a complete front and rear suspension upgrade kit from a reputable manufacturer. I would go with Hotchkis or Global west suspension they lower it correctly and also correct a lot of the short comings of the A body suspension along the way. You might as well upgrade the brakes while you are at it and down the rabbit hole you go. Welcome to classic car owner ship. lol
btw very nice car.
Thanks for the input. I am 48 and do enjoy the look of the pro touring series but also the way mine is now since it was this way when my dad gave it to me. I do have the original sport wheels in gray. The Cragers are from 2004. Was just thinking if chanting it up
You are welcome.
You should find we pride ourselves as a step or two above the, shall we say, a bit more unrefined sites. We're here to help and learn not to bicker and belittle.
As mentioned Global and Hotchkis for the chassis and Baer, Wilwood, and Brembo for the brakes. Nothing like modern handling with old-school style.
As far as engine dress-up kits I haven't seen any that don't Kmart the engine bay. The parts are chineasium, ill-fitting, and don't last. Custom water jet and one-off well-engineered pieces are the only things I have seen that are tasteful and high quality, Maybe chrome valve covers & air cleaner and colored lighting tubes(plug wires).
Keep in mind if it's an original stick shift 68, vert with a 344 in the vin it is one of 1518 total cars made in that configuration.
You are welcome.
You should find we pride ourselves as a step or two above the, shall we say, a bit more unrefined sites. We're here to help and learn not to bicker and belittle.
As mentioned Global and Hotchkis for the chassis and Baer, Wilwood, and Brembo for the brakes. Nothing like modern handling with old-school style.
As far as engine dress-up kits I haven't seen any that don't Kmart the engine bay. The parts are chineasium, ill-fitting, and don't last. Custom water jet and one-off well-engineered pieces are the only things I have seen that are tasteful and high quality, Maybe chrome valve covers & air cleaner and colored lighting tubes(plug wires).
Keep in mind if it's an original stick shift 68, vert with a 344 in the vin it is one of 1518 total cars made in that configuration.
Thanks for so much good feedback in such short time. Good to know about the total units in my configuration. It is a 344 out of Lansing, Michigan with original 4 speed. I wonder how any is still cruising today. My thoughts were to make it my own from dad's, but I want it to look clean inside and out. Its overall in great shape and I've won awards from shows since owning it. I want to give it a mean look, stance. Not 100% set on doing it yet. It will never be sold since it was my dad's, I will leave it to my grandson. It currently has edlebrock intake, 4 b carb. I do have the original rockchester card, intake, heads, rally wheels, extra interior parts, engine parts.
Now i wonder how many had facrory air and power windows?
Welcome, beautiful '68.!! 4 speed is a nice touch. As others have said, wheel choice (like exhaust sound) comes down to personal taste. I've seen trends come and go over the years, and used to dislike Cragar SS's but those look killer on your ride.
Beautiful car! I love it the way it is now. A '68 442 convertibe 4 speed is a rare beast. It will get much more attention the way it is now because it is rare. Engine dress-up...meh. Like others have said, aftermarket dress-up parts are not likely to add to the package. Cragars do look good on that car though! Drive it and enjoy it. You have a gorgeous and timeless car.
Welcome, beautiful '68.!! 4 speed is a nice touch. As others have said, wheel choice (like exhaust sound) comes down to personal taste. I've seen trends come and go over the years, and used to dislike Cragar SS's but those look killer on your ride.
Beautiful car! I love it the way it is now. A '68 442 convertibe 4 speed is a rare beast. It will get much more attention the way it is now because it is rare. Engine dress-up...meh. Like others have said, aftermarket dress-up parts are not likely to add to the package. Cragars do look good on that car though! Drive it and enjoy it. You have a gorgeous and timeless car.
Great feedback! I really appreciate everyone's honest opinions.
The 70 with the 68 stripe is a Foose/Overhaulin production (S7:E5)... so you could literally see what they did.
Maybe it was just me, but it was painful to watch Foose put that 68 stripe on the 70 especially when he said something like "Most people don't realize that the real W-30 stripe was vertical on the fender," or something to that effect.
That is gorgeous! I wish my dad had that taste.... and passed it on to me. Beautiful color, I like it the way it is but there are lots of nice wheels out there and it is yours to enjoy!
Steve
That is gorgeous! I wish my dad had that taste.... and passed it on to me. Beautiful color, I like it the way it is but there are lots of nice wheels out there and it is yours to enjoy!
Steve
Welcome! Beautiful '68, my favorite year. I agree that it looks fine now as it is, but if you did want to increase the wheel size, my personal choice would be the 17" SSIIs that Year One offers (or 17" SSIs). They offer a staggered set of 4 and the SSIIs look really authentic until you get out your tape measure (the SSIs are also nice, but they don't replicate the original look as well). These would also allow you to do the suspension and brake upgrades you are likely thinking about. As far as engine bling, chrome valve covers are about as far as I'd go. Paint the rest of the block the same bronze as the 400s and no casual observer will know that you have a 455 packed in there. Keep us posted on your upgrades!
Post pictures. Hopefully it won't be too over the top. 20's in back is pretty gangsta, though. You're very smart not to do anything that can't be undone.
Post pictures. Hopefully it won't be too over the top. 20's in back is pretty gangsta, though. You're very smart not to do anything that can't be undone.
Question: Is your dad still with us?
Yes he is still with us. I've seen a lot of Pro Touring rides with 20's in the back. I like the mean and clean look.
April 3rd, 2022, 10:32 AM
