Other Oldsmobiles Anything not listed above, such as F-85 (1961-1963), Firenza (1982-1988), Starfire (1961-66 and 1975-80), Omega, etc.

1961 Starfire Holiday Hardtop

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 6th, 2020, 08:05 AM
  #161  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Originally Posted by cherokeepeople
love the old school offy valve covers.
I know, they are beautiful. 😊

Installing them meant losing the road draft tube and neccetated installing the PCV, losing the rear PS bracket and I moved the 67 Cadillac PS cooler to the drivers fenderwell.



Last edited by 61Bat; May 6th, 2020 at 08:31 AM.
61Bat is offline  
Old May 6th, 2020, 08:09 AM
  #162  
Phantom Phixer
 
Charlie Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,673
Originally Posted by 61Bat
Next item on the agenda will be installing a dual pot master cylinder.
A 1966 Cadillac M/C should work nicely with the stock power booster .
Charlie Jones is online now  
Old May 6th, 2020, 10:01 AM
  #163  
Registered User
 
Don R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,168
John, that car looks better every time I see it.
Don R. is offline  
Old November 15th, 2020, 01:26 PM
  #164  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Heres a tease on the rear Starfire Holiday Hardtop custom rear panels. Convertibles had one full and 1/2 "U" shaped trim piece on the rear panel for comparison.

Using the same 1/8" pvc foamboard as the front panels and unfortunately sacrificing the upper section of the factory Dynamic 88 rear panels. Also new window fuzzies. I ordered extra embossed metal from SMS to match the front panels.
61Bat is offline  
Old December 13th, 2020, 02:47 PM
  #165  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478

61Bat is offline  
Old December 24th, 2020, 01:38 PM
  #166  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478

Still a few wrinkles to iron out and install new window fuzzies....but you get the idea. Excited to see what they look like in the car.
61Bat is offline  
Old January 2nd, 2021, 05:38 AM
  #167  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Interior complete



Here you can see the wider filler panel between the seat and the side panel. Also you can see the gap between the narrower convertible seats and arm rest. Perfect storage for your Glock.

I may be biased but........i love it.
61Bat is offline  
Old January 2nd, 2021, 09:36 AM
  #168  
Phantom Phixer
 
Charlie Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,673
I love it too .
Now all you need is a set of Jaswest panels and side trim .
And you will have a " one of none " '61 Starfire coupe .
Charlie Jones is online now  
Old February 10th, 2022, 04:20 PM
  #169  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Well I gave it a chance. I'm going to start accumulating parts this year and the 61 is going under the knife. Plans are a full front frame stub to faciitate modern suspension, steering and brakes. And then a heart transplant. Details to follow.
61Bat is offline  
Old February 23rd, 2022, 07:13 AM
  #170  
Registered User
 
edzolz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Red Oak, Texas
Posts: 2,968
By chance, were you in the Dallas TX area two weeks ago? I saw a black 61 Bubble top near Baylor hospital looked very much like your car.
edzolz is offline  
Old March 22nd, 2022, 01:20 PM
  #171  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Nope, not me edzolz.
61Bat is offline  
Old March 22nd, 2022, 01:23 PM
  #172  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
https://www.scottshotrods.com/spring...placement-ifs/

This is the front IFS system I am going with. I've talked with Justin the owner and I'm really impressed with his products. I plan on attending the open house he is having in May, looks like a good time! I guess I'm most impressed in that it is not Mustang II stuff. I'm going for the power rack and pinion and then thinking of starting off with the 12" disc brakes so I can keep my 15" wheels for now and upgrade later.

Any thoughts?

Last edited by 61Bat; March 22nd, 2022 at 01:25 PM.
61Bat is offline  
Old March 23rd, 2022, 10:06 AM
  #173  
Registered User
 
Don R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,168
Originally Posted by 61Bat
https://www.scottshotrods.com/spring...placement-ifs/

This is the front IFS system I am going with. I've talked with Justin the owner and I'm really impressed with his products. I plan on attending the open house he is having in May, looks like a good time! I guess I'm most impressed in that it is not Mustang II stuff. I'm going for the power rack and pinion and then thinking of starting off with the 12" disc brakes so I can keep my 15" wheels for now and upgrade later.

Any thoughts?
Wow, that is a big step. Is this system specifically designed to fit into your frame or do you have to figure that out yourself? Will the coilover shocks support the car weight sufficiently to provide a decent ride? What are your plans for the rear suspension?
Don R. is offline  
Old March 23rd, 2022, 01:23 PM
  #174  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Talking

Originally Posted by Don R.
Wow, that is a big step. Is this system specifically designed to fit into your frame or do you have to figure that out yourself? Will the coilover shocks support the car weight sufficiently to provide a decent ride? What are your plans for the rear suspension?

Scotts has built complete frames for 61 Oldsmobile but what I'm going with is his spring pocket frame replacement; so Scotts has all the frame dimensions rendered in CAD to make my frame section. Modifying the frame in this manner lets me keep all the factory body and core support mounts. Alden offers different spring rates for the weight of the car. Rear suspension will stay stock for now but eventually I see myself replacing the 9.3 with perhaps a Dana 60 with disc brakes. This is only the beginning.

This is not a 61 Olds but you get the idea


Last edited by 61Bat; March 23rd, 2022 at 01:27 PM.
61Bat is offline  
Old March 26th, 2022, 10:03 AM
  #175  
Registered User
 
Don R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,168
Originally Posted by 61Bat
Scotts has built complete frames for 61 Oldsmobile but what I'm going with is his spring pocket frame replacement; so Scotts has all the frame dimensions rendered in CAD to make my frame section. Modifying the frame in this manner lets me keep all the factory body and core support mounts. Alden offers different spring rates for the weight of the car. Rear suspension will stay stock for now but eventually I see myself replacing the 9.3 with perhaps a Dana 60 with disc brakes. This is only the beginning.

This is not a 61 Olds but you get the idea
Cool, keep us posted - these pics will not enlarge, can you repost?
Don R. is offline  
Old March 30th, 2022, 08:18 AM
  #176  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
https://www.scottshotrods.com/spring...placement-ifs/

Those images and more here^^

Also looks like i'm going to do 18x8 and 18x9 Detroit Steel Wheels D-towns w my stock poverty caps and then run 13 inch Wilwood discs on the front. I'll need some big brakes to slow down the 540. oops........
61Bat is offline  
Old September 24th, 2022, 10:23 AM
  #177  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478


18s are on. I went w 18x8 all around for now but probably going w either 18x9 or 20x9 on the rear when the new motor goes in. All the front suspension from Scotts Hot Rods showed up last week and my friend Mark at Bielman fabrication says he'll be ready for the car in January. More to come.....
61Bat is offline  
Old January 4th, 2023, 05:26 AM
  #178  
Registered User
 
MichiDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 186
Nice. Been a while since I checked this site but this is still my favorite build. I love a 61 in any configuration.
MichiDan is offline  
Old February 12th, 2023, 10:44 AM
  #179  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478

Ready to yank the 394 and slim jim.
61Bat is offline  
Old February 12th, 2023, 10:47 AM
  #180  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478

61Bat is offline  
Old February 14th, 2023, 11:22 AM
  #181  
Registered User
 
Don R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,168
Originally Posted by 61Bat

Ready to yank the 394 and slim jim.
Looking forward to the build!
Don R. is offline  
Old March 19th, 2023, 04:36 PM
  #182  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478



61Bat is offline  
Old March 19th, 2023, 07:07 PM
  #183  
Phantom Phixer
 
Charlie Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,673
Here's a guy looking for a running 394:
394 - ClassicOldsmobile.com
Charlie Jones is online now  
Old March 21st, 2023, 01:19 PM
  #184  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478
Thank you Charlie, but I sold my 394 the day after I pulled it. It went to a guy putting it in a red 64 Dynamic 88 2 dr ht. He sent me a video of it already running in the car.

The Offenhauser valve covers went to someone else. Almost paid for the new wheels. I ended up putting the Detroit Steel Wheels on my 83 GMC shorty.

Also, if not obvious, I'm going to do all the crossmember surgery myself.

Last edited by 61Bat; March 21st, 2023 at 01:21 PM.
61Bat is offline  
Old March 24th, 2024, 12:42 PM
  #185  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
61Bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wentzville Mo, Chuck Berry RIP!
Posts: 478

So its hard to believe its been a year since my last update. The front clip is finally complete. I ended up doing it all myself.


Firewall and floor modifications were necessary. I hated cutting my rust free floors. The floors are 80% complete....my Gear Vendors OD arrives Tuesday and i need to check clearance before i finalize the floors.



Once the floor is complete, then its really plumbing and wiring.

Good shot of the Wilwood 13 inch rotors and 6 piston calipers. My first safety wire job!
So.....here we are a year and 3 days later. Much progress has been made. The front end is complete. I need to source some longer bolts for the R&P because I needed to space it out 1/2" and i'm getting the sway bar powdercoated red. but all the welding and painting is done. I've reassembled it for (hopefully) the last time. Everything is greased and torqued.

John
61Bat is offline  
Old March 26th, 2024, 12:04 PM
  #186  
Registered User
 
Don R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,168
Wow, that is impressive DIY!
Don R. is offline  
Old April 4th, 2024, 03:50 PM
  #187  
Registered User
 
therobski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth
Posts: 3,115
Wow, such FAB work. If I was closer to St. Louis I come and bug you- and learn some fabrication skills! And turn some wrenches with you. Over and out.
therobski is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mjmyaire
Other Oldsmobiles
115
August 12th, 2020 06:56 AM
darksidemxer
Parts For Sale
21
November 11th, 2015 07:09 AM
Skylinerwjmc
Other Oldsmobiles
3
May 21st, 2015 03:41 AM
Tom442
Cars For Sale
3
May 31st, 2012 03:55 PM
rlafash
The Newbie Forum
6
September 24th, 2010 09:39 AM



Quick Reply: 1961 Starfire Holiday Hardtop



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:22 PM.