'83 Cutlass Cruiser Build Thread

[liquidh8]

Blake, I am with you. Weather and holidays have really stopped the progress of actually working on the car. I have been gathering parts/materials, but no work.

I also see your r/c bodies all on the hood. Mine are scattered wherever they would fit, 😀

 

[81cutlass]

No joke, the weather almost all december sucked. If I remember right it was the 7th coldest month on record with an average temp of 2.

 

[the ghoul]

If it werent for this bad boy in my garage I would have gotten nothing done these last few months!
http://www.val6.com/products/view/kbe5s

 

[liquidh8]

Post by the ghoul on Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:02 am
If it werent for this bad boy in my garage I would have gotten nothing done these last few months!
http://www.val6.com/products/view/kbe5s

I am looking at thins now, 😀 . I may have to PM you on this one.

 

[Blake442]

We keep getting battered with frigid temps, so in the name of progress I've given up the initial plan of soda blasting the car. It's just too god damn cold... :x
At the rate we've been going, I won't have good blasting weather for another couple months.
I just ordered up a bunch of materials to start manually stripping and repairing the roof and will go from there...

 

[liquidh8]

Manual stripping is always and option. I usually use the chemical aircraft stripper, then the harbor freight/3m fiber stripper wheels. A palm sander could work good to. all of it is messy.

 

[Longroof79]

Anyway you look at It, it is a messy job whether you're using aircraft stripper or sanding. I didn't strip my car entirely, I did the doors and a few areas, but the rest I used a DA and palm sander. The stripper is pretty toxic stuff, so a well ventilated area is the way to go.

I did one of my cars with aircraft stripper, and had the doors, bumpers, and lids done in a chemical strip tank. The strip tank method is no longer being offered, thanks to EPA regulations.

Blake, the soda blasting would have been the cleanest and most effective method, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

 

[Blake442]

Making a bit more progress pulling the wagon apart.
The car still sits outside but there's plenty of stuff left for me to pull off in the mean time.
I got my materials for stripping and straightening out the roof, so once the car is inside I can get to work on that.

Here's a question for you guys...
I bought a poly body mount set a few years ago for my 442 that is still sitting on my shelf.
I'm almost positive that they're the same for coupes and wagons, but for some reason keep doubting myself... can any of you confirm or disprove this?
I'd like to put them in the wagon while it's apart since I'm clearly not ambitious enough to put them in the 442 lol...





Here you can see the rust spot I mentioned before.
Turns out this is also the source of the water leak. Once the heater box is out I should have plenty of access to repair it.
It appears to be the only leak, though I'll certainly be on the lookout for more while I have the chance...

My buddy should have the rest of his snowmobiles out of the shop shortly which will free up enough room to get the wagon inside...

 

[liquidh8]

Blake, I am going to say yes they are the same. I had used Monte SS body mounts way back when on my 83 Chevy Wagon

Also, is that rust spot at the pinch weld where the floors meet the firewall? I had something similar on the Buick.

 

[Longroof79]

Blake,
I used the Energy Suspension body mounts #3-4141. I believe they are the same for a coupe/ sedan, and wagon.