BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Rktpwrd]

Thanks for the update Donovan...and great work as usual!

Awesome as always!

Thanks gents!
It’s certainly not the post I had hoped to be making, I wished it was of a successful trial fit of the light in the fender, and obviously with it still on the car. But meh, it is what it is I guess. Can’t always be in the win column first time out.

I did work on it some more last night after the update, and I’m pleased to report that I successfully got 95% of it straightened and levelled back out. I’ll fuss with it a bit more tonight to get it as close to perfect as I can, and then I should be able to cut out the openings and test fit the light for the first time.

I’ll report back real soon with how I make out with that.
Till then,

D.

 

[oldsofb]

This thread is a walking talking "How To" do it right. Love the detail of explanation along with the detailed photos. It's like reading a CarCraft article.

With the amount of talent here, I often wonder what a group of GBF guys working together in one shop could accomplish. Imagine a custom shop that just did GBody cars. (enough day dreaming)..........

Great work as always.

Hutch

 

[pagrunt]

This thread is a walking talking "How To" do it right. Love the detail of explanation along with the detailed photos. It's like reading a CarCraft article.

With the amount of talent here, I often wonder what a group of GBF guys working together in one shop could accomplish. Imagine a custom shop that just did GBody cars. (enough day dreaming)..........

Great work as always.

Hutch

 

[Rktpwrd]

I'm curious as to how you latch the turn signal signal to light the cornering light. I know some 80s Frods had this feature, but no idea how it was wired.

You raise an interesting question there Bruce. Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for you as I’ve never studied the wiring diagrams for turn signals with the cornering light option.
The pigtail and the bulb for the cornering light comes out of the same split loom as the signal light, but obviously they’re separate circuits or the cornering light would flash with the signal. There’s gotta be a switch somewhere that supplies a constant 12V signal to the cornering light when the signal is activated.

Awesome as always!

Thanks Jared! I appreciate the support man!

This thread is a walking talking "How To" do it right. Love the detail of explanation along with the detailed photos. It's like reading a CarCraft article.

With the amount of talent here, I often wonder what a group of GBF guys working together in one shop could accomplish. Imagine a custom shop that just did GBody cars. (enough day dreaming)..........

Great work as always.

Hutch

Hutch, thank you very much.

I take your Car Craft article comment as very high praise. Since day one, I’ve strived to make both of my build threads exactly like that: Just like reading a magazine article. It takes a fair bit of time and effort to write my updates the way that I do, I want them to be entertaining and informative at the same time instead of just saying “hey look, I did this”. I’d rather know HOW that was done personally.

The fact that you remarked that my updates are just like that is very satisfying and rewarding. If the information I provide helps even one person gain the courage to attempt something or helps someone out with a tip or method they may not have thought of, I consider that a success.

Appreciate it sir.

 

[Rktpwrd]

It’s getting late and I’m running out of time for tonight, but just a real quick update.

Finally starting to put a couple things in the win column, first of all I got the much despised bumperettes removed from the front bumper. I also removed the white pinstripe from inside the impact strip. Just subtle little changes, but I think it’ll make the car look a little more streamlined and a little less “old man”.

Then, as I mentioned earlier today, I got the patch hammer and dollied back out so things are nice and straight again. Once that was done, I felt confident that I could finally cut out the openings for the lenses.

After MANY, and I do mean MANY test fits, I got the light to fit the openings snugly. It was an extremely time consuming process, very small amounts of material had to be removed at a time. If I removed too much from one spot at one time, It woulda been game over. I realistically estimate I probably test fit and shaved the openings around 100 times or so.
But, when it finally fit into place like it was supposed to, it was all worth it.

First successful fit:

From there, it was time to shave the raised edges of the lenses down flush, and remove the casting numbers and letters at the same time. Started out with 40 grit on a sanding block, and once I got close to the surface, switched to 80 and then 120:

I still have several more steps of grits to go down through before I get the lenses fine enough to polish, but like I said I was running short on time and wanted to at least see how it’d look flushed up to the surface of the fender.

Here it is, overall view...

...and down low looking across the surface:

It’s still rough and dirty, but I’m really happy with tonight’s progress. I think it’s gonna turn out just fine!

D.

 

[ssn696]

Better than fine. That looks awesome. I admire how easily you take on each new idea and work it through it with no apparent fear. Keep up the inspirational work.

Oh, and I just binge-read the last five pages. Those appear to be Vortec heads on your engine, based on the triple sawtooth in the front end of the casting. Pardon if you already described the engine build, but what exactly is lurking under there?

 

[Martin S.]

Amazing work; i´m speechless.........................................................

 

[fleming442]

The flush mount and cornering light are stuff that I love- subtle touches of custom!

Well, I was just thinking (haven't tried it yet), but the rear turn signal at the column might be latched off the switch. I know the front goes through the flasher first because they're tied to the dash indicators...... just some food for thought.

 

[Injectedcutty]

 

[BuickOldsPontiac]

Great work Donovan!

You beat me to that!