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Hey guys, I’m Kevin. My dad bought the “Olds” when he was 24 in Calgary and delivered it by trailer to me in Ontario just before I turned 25. He is turning 72 this year. The car is in decent shape mechanically but the body has many rust spots and lots of cracking bondo. It has been uncovered on and off in the Calgary weather for the last 40 years and sat unused since my graduation in 2012. I will post pics soon. I am very excited to start its second generation in the family, and look forward to the restoration.
Welcome Kevin.
Another car from Alberta... to Ontario. sigh... At least the Calgary climate isn't quite as brutal as most people think it is.
Good luck with your project. Your dad was quite the forward thinker to save that car for you. Keeping a car that long is gotta be a sign of a true collector.
She may be a bit worse for wear but considering it hasn’t seen the inside of a garage for 40+ years it’s not bad. Still fires right up! Is it possible to locate a new wheel? She fits in the garage with about 10 inches to the garage door. Sometime late 90s my oldest brother decided to find how fast he could get er goin... not sure if I will need to get it rebuilt or replaced Original seats I believe... a long ways away before I’m getting these redone
Yep, once I get it all outta there I’m going to see if I can either get the steel where it should be or get a welder and put some new stuff where I need it. I don’t have any bodywork experience so I’m learning as it happens
Kevin, repairing that speedo would be easier than finding one in a salvage yard. If you could find one it may need repairs too.
BTW, you might consider taking an evening auto body course. That's how I redid my 71 98. It saves money over taking it to a shop and you get to learn a skill.
Looks like a good start. Find out where the Bondo ends and the rust begins it looks as if some one has tried to fix a rust issue with Bondo in the long past. There are speedometer specialist listed in Hemming News that will get that speedo going again, not a big problem. Keep us informed as you get it together, we are interested and willing to help...... Lost in the fifties ...Tedd
With regards to that front fender, do yourself a favor and take the time to locate and purchase a quality rust free replacement. I'm sure one can be sourced from somewhere in the southwest. It's a huge and technical job, but I might consider replacing the quarter panel too. Any body part you can unbolt and bolt on a better replacement- do it. I'm sure the parts are out there.
Wow, nice buggy! That's actually 8 years older than my 64 -F-85 that actually I may say from your pictures, was in worse shape. As mentioned above about taking some evening courses. I took some welding courses, this car needed new floor and trunk braces and thus new floor and trunk pans etc.. I sourced out replacement doors, left front fender and the section between the tail lights. If I not have decided to do this I would have never taking this project on. It would have been many $$$$ involved. I have tons of pictures off the process in this Club.
Thanks for all the info and support guys, I am definitely going to look into some body work courses before I get too involved in the body restoration. I work full time and don’t get much chance to spend time on it. My plan for the first year is to pick away at the mechanical side and get it prepared for a safety. The master cylinder is shot I believe as the power brakes lose pressure after half a second. It’s going to be a long restoration process, but one thing at a time, it will get there.
That steering wheel looks rough but in a jam you could make it some what better with epoxy filler and a lot of sanding, I've seen worse restored.
On E-bay 55-56 steering wheels come up from time to time, some are rough like yours other they want a kings ransom for a restored example. Take your time and find a example you can live with. Don't pay much attention to what color it is now as it can be painted to what ever you want.....Tedd.....https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...dsmobile+parts
There is a ton of knowledge on this site and a few of us that know a little about these old cars and some that know a lot. The 54-56's have a lot in common. The 56 had some significant changes over the 54 and 55 with the most significant being the Jetaway transmission, The brakes are the single most important thing on the car and you are wise to tackle that first. Feel free to post any questions and we will be glad to see if we can help. We have all been there. That will be a great car when you are done.
I've restored a few steering wheels some pretty bad, none as bad as Kevin's. I used almost everything that is in that Eastwood kit by happenstance but I bought it just over the counter. The only thing I would change is that I would use PC 11 rather than PC 7 because of color and I would top coat everything with a a automotive finish with a hardener. Seems I have paint remover that comes from my hands and my first job the steering wheel finish became soft.
I agree brakes first pretty stuff later. If you are capable Fusick has a rebuild kit for your master booster. If you haven't gotten acquainted with Fusick now would be a good time. They have a lot of hard to find parts all in one place, Lots of pictures but not necessarily the cheapest but very handy...... Tedd....https://www.fusickautomotiveproducts...nts.asp?dept=8
Last edited by Tedd Thompson; Jun 17, 2019 at 08:07 AM.
