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.

 

A 1966 Cadillac M/C should work nicely with the stock power booster .

 

John, that car looks better every time I see it.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 .

 

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.

 

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.

 

Nope, not me edzolz.

 

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?

 

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?

 

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........

 

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.....

 

Nice. Been a while since I checked this site but this is still my favorite build. I love a 61 in any configuration.

 

Ready to yank the 394 and slim jim.

 

 

Looking forward to the build!

 

 

Here's a guy looking for a running 394:
394 - ClassicOldsmobile.com

 

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.

 

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

 

Wow, that is impressive DIY!

 

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.

 

Still a work in progress. The long awaited engine is finally here. Im currently assembling the 9.3 with all Fabcraft guts and Willwood brakes. Maybe this is the year.......



a little bigger than a 394......

 

Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks to Fabcraft for making this easy.