Hello everyone purchased my 1970 cutlass supreme 350 rocket about 6 months ago been working on it since learning alot and screwing up just as much. this forum has been a big help came up alot on my million google searches so thought id join. now about the car its a dark maroon color with black bumpers. the engine has been bored over another 030 everything is great mechanically slowly going back over and replacing parts needs new front end and rear end suspension as its got a lot of steering sway and way to much give tiny bumps like to throw the car. currently getting rid of the previous owners horrifying wiring job and installing a complete 12 circuit chassis harness going well but i need some help pulling the gauges out so i can add some new lights and clean them up. Thanks alot -Thibodaux Louisiana Sam

 

I'm a 40's & 50"s Olds nut so can't help you on sourcing parts but there are several 70"s owners on the site and they will assist you with part location and advice,

Please post in progress pictures of your ride. It helps us get thru the long winter nights when are own cars are asleep until spring

 

Welcome. Its really not too hard to get your gauges out after removing the woodgrain/chrome surround, only a few screws. Once you get one gauge out you can reach in there better. I'd start with the one on the right, speedo last, there is a bracket that clips the speedo cable on the rear don't forget it.

Take a look here for a start.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ash-bulbs.html

 

Welcome, we do like pictures.

 

Welcome from another LA guy. The forum is a wonderful source of information from helpful members from all over the world. If you want to know something do a search; if the answer isn't there do a post and you'll probably get an answer. Photos are always a positive.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome will be posting pictures soon thank

 

Welcome aboard. I'm from Louisiana, too. Lake Charles area but now I live in Phoenix.
Good luck with your car! I started off with a '70 Supreme that I inherited form my dad, who bought it from the original owner back in 1977.

 

Sam, what I'd really recommend you look at is the 1970 Cutlass Assembly Manual. Yes you can view some of them on line and print them, but I've found that having an actual copy is very handy in the shop.

You can Google 1970 Cutlass Assembly Manual or use ebay to find a good deal. The book looks like this: 1970 Cutlass Assembly Manual They are produced by Millenium industries and are copies of the GM documents that were base line for car servicing and assembly.

 

Welcome from Slidell!

Hope to see another Olds on the road for Cruising the Coast next year!

 

Welcome aboard, Sam. Great to have another Cajun aboard. I couldn't agree more about the Assembly Manual (especially if you're doing a "real" restoration); but I'm also a fan of the GM Service Manuals... best money you'll ever spend IMHO.

Also, try to fill our your profile as much as you're comfortable with: it's great to have some kind of idea of who you're chatting with.

Can't wait to see the pic's....

Arrowstorm, nice Vista. I see you're a person of few words... You've been a member since '07, but only have 10 posts. How are things in "The Dell"? (My friends in Slidell have a specific variation of that term they like to use .)

 

Heres an idea of my todo list if you guys have an input it would be greatly appreciated.

1. Im installing a new chassis harness 12 circuit starting today.
2. going to do a suspension rebuild as theres a lot of sway and rough ride.
3. Ive since gotten the rear lights hooked up (having trouble with the reverse lights)
4. would really like to restore the guages with some better lights and clean up the only one thats not original and its the tach its a mallory.
5.having trouble finding header gaskets locally or online for that matter.
6. and im going to pull the rear drums off for disc to match the front.
7. cosmetic stuff is going to come last.
8. radiator recommendations anyone?
9. small transmission fluid leak.
10. i replaced manifold gaskets
11. water outlet is new just need thermostat.
12. last night was driving and the car died electrical and mechanical and then kicked on before i could pull over started right back up.
pictures on the way

 

We go every year especially now that i have this car i will be driving in it cant wait to go to bay st. louis thats where i went to high school for boarding school.

 

one pic

 

Bay St Louis is nice during the cruise, but you gotta make your way out to Gulfport through Biloxi to where people camp on the side of Hwy 90 for the weekend just to see your ride! XD

I live close enough to where that entire stretch is my Saturday morning cruise.

I haven't posted much because my Custom Cruiser runs like a champ and I've only recently gained enough mechanical education from rebuilding the 350 in my Vista to feel that I can contribute to this forum.... hopefully.

Baba, are you thinking of adding lights to the gauges or just pulling them and replacing the old bulbs? That's what I did in the 72 Vista. It's not difficult to get the panel off so you can get to the gauges. And even though my dash clock doesn't work, I still have the lights in there of course. I wouldn't think of getting aftermarket lights for the dash, it just doesn't seem natural. Lol.

 

Could be the switch connected to the shifter. Is it a console or column shift car?

I agree with the above that replacing burned out bulbs is the way to go. As for the tach, many people (myself included) install a tach in the unused clock pod location. You can make it look fairly good if it is mounted at the same depth as the other gauges and you put a lens cover over it.

I quit using header gaskets quite a number of years ago and switched to regular exhaust manifold gaskets. They have worked very well with no issues for the last 7-8 years.

What is the issue? Overheating, leaking, ugly, or ?? I never had any issues with the factory 3 row radiator when I was in LA, so if it's just your old one is leaky then I would get a good 3 row replacement core from a radiator shop. If you are having overheating issues, then you can get a radiator shop to install a high-efficiency 4 row core in the original end tanks. I did that several years ago and it has worked very well here in the desert 110+ summer temps. I can dig up the part number for the core if you need it.

 

i have exhaust manifold gaskets replaced them as soon as i got the car due to a rapid oil leak. As far as the header gaskets how can you not have them? I can see fire between the gap where the gasket is. Very small but when you give it some gas with the hood up you can see a little flame shoot down.

As far as the gauges im going to repaint the housings white and clean them up and stick with the old stlye bulbs. Question? My fuel gauge is acting up the previous owner drilled a new ground into the side of the housing but doesnt the plug already contain a ground?

Turn signals are working great and ive since pulled the old harness and im running a brand new 12 circuit painless harness yesterday and today.

Ive got new sound deading material and insulation going in along with a couple door panels and such.

New tailights went in, Headlights are on the way. Front end suspension kit is on the way and a new set of gas shocks its going to be a magnifecent Christmas!!!!!

Thanks Everyone for all your responses ive ordered the GM Manual last night expediting the delivery overnight.

I will post more pics of the finished wiring job and the new lights and panels soon.

You guys rule.

-Sincerly Babafats

 

Oh the radiator is leaking and ive flushed it 3 times and it is still rusting up the fluid so im very eager to get that off the car. its not the right size either the previous owner has it on woodblocks and the weatherstripping has about seen its day.

(the previous owner painted over old weatherstripping and let it rot to the point of falling into the car and about a 1 inch gap between the window and door jam.

ive replaced all the weatherstripping expect the window felt getting there soon.
very painfull job getting the old off and new on.

 

Welcome to Classic Oldsmobile im from Thibodaux its always good to meet another cajun this site is great very informative and remember this no question is a stupid one i went to cruisin the coast this year with my dad and cant wait to drive my cutlass through next year!!!

 

Welcome to CO Babafats! Sounds like a nice car, post more pics when you can.

 

 

Hello all!!!!

Checking in on my progress. I completed the rewiring in 5 days, works very well have fresh plugs on all ends and connectors, i took your advice on the header gaskets and used new exhaust manifold gaskets they are sealed up nice and tight, new radiator is on the way, thermostat is here waiting for new radiator before i install it. weatherstripping is done. New tailight lens are in along with reverse light lens and housing all brand new. New side mirrors are installed.

I have a question about the headlight hardware because i am replacing the housing,bezel,and chrome outer bezel, along with new eyebrow trim and grill.

Do all the headlights have a spring to adjust or is it just the High beams???

Also everywhere i looked does not have adjustment springs only 2 are availbe on ebay, i did so happen to find the adjusting screws and retainer ring screws.

If anyone knows about the headlight springs please let me know as im replacing them soon and want to make sure i have all the hardware i need.


I was driving down west main st. from Thibodaux to Houma and i pulled alongside a well done 1972 silver and black cutlass and got a excited thumbs up. The other car looks great compared to mine but shes getting there. Cant wait till i can get enough money to get rid of the 3 speed and put atleast a 4 speed. Bulletproof tranny is all good and everything but highway travel is damn near impposible and i dont want to run my engine that hard at all unless of course im burning some little RICER on LA 1.

 

Did u see that beautiful 4 door 67 for sale on St Mary????

 

Here's a thread by one of our members who refreshed his gage cluster. Brightening gages

If the fuel gage is 'pegging'? It's not likely the gage, it's more likely the ground back at the sending unit being faulty. That ground is exposed to the elements under the car, so I'd check that first. You can also check the tan wire connection coming from the sender to the rear trunk harness for any corrosion at the connector.

If you want to go with stock rads, there are a few guys on this site who likely have what you need. Closest to you are Oldspackrat (Scott) and Jensenracing77 (Eric) You can buy new rads for these cars but they are somewhat pricey - source out 'Rockauto'. They also have a discount sticky on this site.

Yes, all 4 headlights have adjustment screws. Don't use just ebay for your parts sourcing or you'll likely end up paying through the nose. There are plenty of after-market Olds vendors to choose from. Just a few are Fusick Automotive
Supercars Unlimited
In Line Tube (Olds catalogue)
Tamraz
Parts Place

I checked the Fusick Catalogue and they have all the hardware you described in your question; from headlight buckets, retaining rings, adjustment screws, etc

The headlight adjustment on the high beams is on the top side of the headlight, the low beams are on the fender side of the headlight.

Sounds like you're making good progress on the car.