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Hi Classic Oldsmobile members, I would like finally to introduce myself and move from the fringe into the mainstream. My name is Rick (aka Stickman) I had signed up several years ago and occasionally logged in to see what was transpiring on the forum, but now stepping into the light… I hope you all are okay with my delay in introducing myself.
Background is that I spent 30 plus years as an ag and heavy equipment technician and then became an instructor and program manager at our local technical college. Way back in the mid-seventies I owned a 1969 Olds Cutlass S, 350 – 4sp… should have kept it, but life takes us in different directions.
I now do own a 1969 442 W30 Sport Coupe (Glade Green) that I acquired back in 2012. The body is in fairly good shape (repaint and re-chromed bumpers), interior original showing some wear but again fairly good and the powertrain was only fair, in need of some work… noisy M21 and some minor oil leaking from the 400.
I have moved forward with my project and would like to share it with the forum, not sure where to do it and share some pictures. Your feedback would be welcome and I have a few questions regarding the 400 engine.
Thanks for reading about me!!
Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes.
When I first got the 442 the M21 was my first task to repair, found the front input shaft bearing had lost its cage that was ground up in the very silvery oil. Nothing $$ couldn’t fix 😊.After a few years of occasional week/weekend driving and having some electrical issues, the replacing of the under dash wiring became a complete interior removal cleaning and POR of floor after removing the mouse nest under back seat. Did the repairs to speedo, electrical connections and added the U21 rally pack gauges and complete interior wiring as well as under hood and rear lighting.
This year 2020 in March when my mobility was curtailed due to CoVid-19, I decide to reseal the 400 but after doing some testing thought a refresh was needed. Didn’t have the history on the engine, but found it had been done before based on work order numbers stamped on components and my observations of the lack of carbon on the piston tops and cylinder wall crosshatch still very visible. Don’t think many miles had been put on it before I obtained it.
Once engine was out and seeing more than 50 years of dirt, oil etc on the frame and a-arms, cracked rubber bushings and suspect front-end joints; off came all suspension and steering components. I did scrape the frame from the firewall out and while looking under car decide to scrape and paint it. My fear of finding lots of rust on the floor and frame was unfounded with only a few surface spots around the body mount which cleaned up easily.
As I worked towards the back end, the diff was really coated with dirt, oil etc so I pulled it out and disassembled to replace bearings, found a few bad ones. Laying under the car one day and seeing only 8 bolts holding the frame to the body, I contemplated pulling the frame, so I utilized my connections at the technical college and had the Autobody instructor stop by and provided me with directions to safely support the body on blocks and remove the frame. Worked great! My next venture was to get as many of the suspension, frontend, and engine components along with frame and diff powder coated.
Assembly for the engine took place while waiting for the frame etc. I had found that the previous overhaul replaced the cam with one from the W32, 393859 so I got one from SpCars the 402569 to bring it back to the W30 set up. Block was .060” over so to get the end gap close to specs I installed .060” over rings from a Ch*vy 283, gave me an extra .005” diameter.
Was very pleased with the powder coating and I had finished painting the under body, fuel tank and seam sealing everything. Spent time cleaning the old spatter paint from the trunk and cleaned it up before applying new spatter paint.
Putting it all back together was a great experience, having the service manual and assembly manual greatly help along with lots of pictures taken on an old cell phone. once mobile i planned a trip to get new exhaust system installed, sure sounds sweet now!!
Have some issues with the engine and will put a new post together to gather the group wisdom on what may be a remedy.
Here are a few pictures of the project, have lots.
Cheers
Thanks everyone for you welcome comments. I will be posting later to get help with getting the 400 engine... not running well after the rebuild.
Everyone be safe!!
Looks amazing, compared to the work I have done it makes me feel like a bum. I'll probably wind up pulling half my car apart again just to really get it up to snuff.
Thanks for your comments, it was a labour of love and once I got started it seemed to take off and loved the challenge.
Interior has original seats and door panels, not in too bad shape, roof liner great shape, when doing interior floor I sound proofed and new carpet.
Cheers
Why don't you start a build thread in" Major builds and projects " section of this forum
I'm sure a lot of us would be interested in how this car came together .
After all , you do have the pictures .
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