Fakser

Hello all,

I just bought a 1969 Cutlass Supreme Holiday Coupe, I got it for 1000 It's all there but the body has some serious rust. There is a corner of the roof that has rusted out and I have been looking for roof panels. All of the roof panels I find say they arent for the Supreme model though, Does anyone know of a manufacturer or a way to repair this. I am not a body repair specialist so not sure if the corner can be cut and repaired or if I need to find a shell to cut and replace or if I can buy a new roof skin. Thanks guys. I'll try and get some pictures of the rust hole on here so you can get a better look at it.

Oldsguy

Welcome to CO. There aren't any reproduction panels available to my knowledge. Posting pictures of the damage is a good idea though because it may help someone to make a recommendation. Good luck.

joe_padavano

The Supreme model used a different roofline for model year 1970 and later. In 1969 the Supreme used the same body and roof panel as any other 2dr Cutlass hardtop. The repro panels fit fine... well, they'll fit just as well as they do on any other Cutlass of that year, which may or may not be "fine" depending on the quality of the Chinesium repro.

A good original panel is preferable to repro if you can find one.

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard

X 2 Joe P knows his Oldsmobiles

silverriff

Yeah like Joe said the 70+ Supreme is commonly called a "knotchback" as opposed to the sloping "fastback" or as my sister calls my Cutlass the "fat bumblebee ***".

OLD SKL 69

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the site. Definitely post pictures of where your rust is and what you need. I am sure someone here may have what you're looking for.

derek nesdoly

Any 69 Olds is a great car!! Send us your address and pics of the rust damage areas and the bodywork specialists on this site will guide you through yor resto with great sugestions and options.Please comment on the condition of the glass , interior and drivetrain. Derek 1969 442 post coupe

2blu442

Welcome to the site! When your ready to make the leap and do the body work post a parts wanted ad with your location. I've got a good roof in Oregon and I know there are others on the site with spare parts. As Joe mentioned some reproduction sheetmetal isn't real good so solid used may be your best bet. John

Olds64

I think you should pop rivet old coffee cans into the rust hole and slather a big ol' glob of bondo onto it and smooth it out. That is the most economical way to fix it.

Fakser

K guys sorry it took so long to get back but thanks for the info. I found that I can cut the front lip of the roof skin and fix it that way but before I but that I'm gonna keep searchin for a cut up parts car.

Ok I'm not trying to open the can of worms and you probably know whats comin but I'm gonna ask it because I'm having difficulty with this decision. I already have a SBC 350 with a serpentine system edelbrock carb and intake....its pretty much done that I was gonna sell. After tearing down my BOP 350 I've discovered that it can be saved but will cost a pretty penny to make it happen. Selling the SBC is proving to be a bit difficult for the price I want considering the parts that are on it.

I have a 700r4 that I can swap out for the TH350 in there or order a conversion plate

Don't get me wrong I dont want to turn this beautiful piece of Americana into a mechanical mutt but the wife is budgeting me on this one and by the time I get done with the suspension interior and body its gonna be a lot of cash invested. Granted I am spreading this over years but trying to take the cheapest route.


Be gentle guys I'm new
Before you guys start tearing into me which I understand i fully deserve for this sacriligous question I'm just gona say "Happy wife, Happy Life" you know what I mean.

Olds64

Tell us more about the Olds engine in your car. Why are you considering swapping to the SBC? As long as the Olds engine runs I say keep it.

Fakser

Im gonna have to replace the heads when I took it apart there are cracks along the bottomand small ones near the valve ports but the biggest is the crank it has a lot of pitting and scoring it may be salvageable but havent gotten it to a machine shop. The block is good but it's not a meaure of whats better I want to keep the BOP because in my opinion its a better engine for low end torque and just keeping the originality of the car is important, the dilemma I have is budget since I already have the SBC sitting around complete swappin it will be the cheaper route to keep the wife budget wolves at bay.

This car is going to be for my son to drive during his senior year in high school. He is not into the whole originality that I am and driving a frankenstein will not make a difference to him. I live near Paso Robles and have visited the Mondello site since they operate out of here but they seem a bit pricey.

Still no decision if you have any cheaper ideas please let me know.

Olds64

I hear you. I've never bought Mondello parts because you can get the same thing from Summit cheaper.

FWIW, you might take your heads to a machinist and see if they can be repaired. Did you find the cracks by magnafluxing the heads or by using a dye penetrant? If not, then definitely have a machinist check them properly. In additon, if your Olds heads aren't salvageable you can always get a cheap pair of SBO heads from the salvage yard for less than $100.

Fakser

Well looks like I'm keepin the BOP of all people the wife found me some new heads. May get to sell that SBC after all probably dump that money into this Cutlass. I'll try and get some more pics up Im traveling for work but should be back in a week Big Army keeps me movin.
The cracks in the head were visible that was how I saw them it was all bad, I still havent sent them to a machine shop I'll probably take the whole enchilada to the machine shop after the 1st.

Olds64

What do you do for a living? I work for a US Army contractor that develops and trains new software for FireFinder radars.

Fakser

for my first 12 years in I was an Infantryman but I recently reclassed to Wheeled vehicle mechanic and am an instructor at Camp Roberts in CA. I miss the Infantry but the wife didnt want me to go on anther deployment so I picked up this gig I like it though definetly a change of pace but I am gettin a bit old and being a grunt is tough on the body. I just passed my 13th annivesrary 7 more and I'm done!

Olds64

Awsome! I was in the Army for a few years as a 94M Radar Repairer. I was just a dirty leg!