BUILD THREAD 1987 Olds 442 Project Build

oldsofb

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Dec 7, 2007
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Maryland
A tip for the tank pads, I used a set of Prothane that I milled to have my Cold Case sit like a stock unit so my shroud would fit. Since you ordered one with fans you won't have to trim the ribs that sits near the core. The overflow nipple is a size smaller than the stock size too.
WOW! I just went through your thread on putting the radiator in. I'm glad you went through and documented the issues so we can all learn from it.

"When one person struggles to cut the path, the rest can hike in peace"

Hutch
 
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pagrunt

Geezer
Sep 14, 2014
9,126
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Elderton, Pa
WOW! I just went through your thread on putting the radiator in. I'm glad you went through and documented the issues so we can all learn from it.

"When one person struggles to cut the path, the rest can hike in peace"

Hutch
Someone has to be a guinea pig on the direct fit parts & Cold Case picked me for this one. Nice thing here on GBF is we all share the learning experiance so we all can learn the best way of installing these parts.
 
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oldsofb

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Dec 7, 2007
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Maryland
I will start this by saying I'm as guilty as anyone concerning this:

It seems that the only feedback people give is when things go wrong. We always hear when the part arrived broken or it didn't fit as promised, but never a word when everything went well. I get parts delivered or purchased all the time during this whole build. The only ones I highlight are the ones that failed to meet expectation in some way.

Here's a good story for ya!

If you recall, I'm having a fitment issue with my Digi-Tails light boards fitting in my 81-83 tail light housings. I contacted Digi-Tails with my issue. Matt (the rep I've been dealing with) asked specific questions about my issue and sent it on to their tech dept.
Here's what I got back from him yesterday in an e-mail (I asked if I could post this)

OK he has a couple of options for you. You will be safe to cut it down as needed. It will not ruin them. If you try and something happens we will replace them anyway. You can send them back to us to cut them down for you or just wait for the redesigned panels to come in and we will send you a replacement set. We are very sorry about this. We have sold a lot of these but this is the first we have seen this problem.

This is what I consider great customer service!! "You can cut them, they fail we'll replace, We'll cut them for you, or we'll just send the redesign when they're ready".

I could not ask for better than that, and it was actually more than I expected.

In a world where the art of customer service seems to be circling the bowl, the companies that get it right need a little praise their way.

Great work Digi-Tails!!

Hutch
 
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69hurstolds

Geezer
Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2006
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The good thing about the stock tail light lamps....

I just have to whip out a box of GM p/n 9428902 for my "Analog-Tails" (bulbs still available from GM at $1.78 list price each) and change out any blown bulbs. For those that go aftermarket, they'd be known as 1157 bulbs. :)

CH7mWsr_fousmSN5gTvIqinSG5RRg7mCcfVZGCgwOk7VQOChpyIa6qfeSdhgrLTBRCOyEs1Xjb7u9nEJuKLh2tIerM5DVK_QZw8HiD-2dzKGDbYMNusHMuC2


But hey, that's pretty cool about Digi-Tails making good on whatever you need to do to get the tail lamps done right, they'll back you up. PERSONALLY speaking, since 1981-83 lamps aren't easy to get hold of, I'd notch them myself and if then they don't work, send the cut panels back (so they could get ACTUAL cutout size to revamp their 81-83 version lamps) and send you a newly designed set. Then send them photos of them working in your housings so then they can use that for promoting their product for those others with 81-83 lamps who come down the trail after you blazed it.
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
113
Spring, Texas
I will start this by saying I'm as guilty as anyone concerning this:

It seems that the only feedback people give is when things go wrong. We always hear when the part arrived broken or it didn't fit as promised, but never a word when everything went well. I get parts delivered or purchased all the time during this whole build. The only ones I highlight are the ones that failed to meet expectation in some way.

Here's a good story for ya!

If you recall, I'm having a fitment issue with my Digi-Tails light boards fitting in my 81-83 tail light housings. I contacted Digi-Tails with my issue. Matt (the rep I've been dealing with) asked specific questions about my issue and sent it on to their tech dept.
Here's what I got back from him yesterday in an e-mail (I asked if I could post this)



This is what I consider great customer service!! "You can cut them, they fail we'll replace, We'll cut them for you, or we'll just send the redesign when they're ready".

I could not ask for better than that, and it was actually more than I expected.

In a world where the art of customer service seems to be circling the bowl, the companies that get it right need a little praise their way.

Great work Digi-Tails!!

Hutch
That made my day. Thanks Hutch.
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
113
Spring, Texas
The good thing about the stock tail light lamps....

I just have to whip out a box of GM p/n 9428902 for my "Analog-Tails" (bulbs still available from GM at $1.78 list price each) and change out any blown bulbs. For those that go aftermarket, they'd be known as 1157 bulbs. :)

CH7mWsr_fousmSN5gTvIqinSG5RRg7mCcfVZGCgwOk7VQOChpyIa6qfeSdhgrLTBRCOyEs1Xjb7u9nEJuKLh2tIerM5DVK_QZw8HiD-2dzKGDbYMNusHMuC2


But hey, that's pretty cool about Digi-Tails making good on whatever you need to do to get the tail lamps done right, they'll back you up. PERSONALLY speaking, since 1981-83 lamps aren't easy to get hold of, I'd notch them myself and if then they don't work, send the cut panels back (so they could get ACTUAL cutout size to revamp their 81-83 version lamps) and send you a newly designed set. Then send them photos of them working in your housings so then they can use that for promoting their product for those others with 81-83 lamps who come down the trail after you blazed it.
AC Delco 1157's! Outstanding. Mike, you are a machine!
 
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mclellan83

Comic Book Super Hero
Jun 27, 2017
4,204
9,309
113
Pgh, PA
I will start this by saying I'm as guilty as anyone concerning this:

It seems that the only feedback people give is when things go wrong. We always hear when the part arrived broken or it didn't fit as promised, but never a word when everything went well. I get parts delivered or purchased all the time during this whole build. The only ones I highlight are the ones that failed to meet expectation in some way.

Here's a good story for ya!

If you recall, I'm having a fitment issue with my Digi-Tails light boards fitting in my 81-83 tail light housings. I contacted Digi-Tails with my issue. Matt (the rep I've been dealing with) asked specific questions about my issue and sent it on to their tech dept.
Here's what I got back from him yesterday in an e-mail (I asked if I could post this)



This is what I consider great customer service!! "You can cut them, they fail we'll replace, We'll cut them for you, or we'll just send the redesign when they're ready".

I could not ask for better than that, and it was actually more than I expected.

In a world where the art of customer service seems to be circling the bowl, the companies that get it right need a little praise their way.

Great work Digi-Tails!!

Hutch
Very glad to her they stepped up and didn't go with the normal "COVID" answer everyone is seeming to giving these days. My only knock to digitails was my own fault, I saw other setups running the turn signals going to the side so that is what I had been expecting. But it clearly showed on their site for some reason the Monte setup goes up and down for the turn signal. While I think it would look 1,000x better going to the side it is the way they designed them and my own fault. Other wise I love my Digi-Tails
 
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oldsofb

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Dec 7, 2007
1,368
3,962
113
Maryland
Finally got the time to clearance and install the Digi-Tails Light Boards. I felt better knowing no matter what happened Digi-Tails would be there.

I did my first clearance cut. I had to make sure I didn't cut into the circuit path as I understood it.
File Fit 1.jpg
File Fit 2.jpg


After this first cut, I test fitted the board. No go. Gotta cut some more.

I had to file the one side of the small connector pins and LED housing on both sides clean off. At this point I was sure those two LED's were DOA, and I was hoping it didn't cause a whole row to not work or maybe the whole board.
File Fit 3.jpg


To my surprise, they all worked. Even the two I filed in to.
File Fit 4.jpg


Now to finish the install. It was still tight and required some persuasion to get in, but they fit.
File Fit 5.jpg


The payoff
File Fit 7.jpg


I can't thank the Digi-Tails team enough for being willing to do whatever I needed to get this done. What a great company!

Hutch
 
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