BETTY RUMBLE - '87 Cutlass

[gearhedjon]

much bashing, hammering, grunting,head scratching, and creative applications of vices, impact sockets, and ball-joint-tools later, I finally got all the bushings out and have the uca bushings done. The lowers I'm still trying to get the last 1/4" or so of the long ones to go in. I may have to carefully hammer them back out and take a hair of material out of the hole with a dremel or emery cloth or something. I dunno what the deal is. Both sides are acting the same. I don't have the correct spacers anyway to keep the arms from collapsing if I did have the press power I needed. Managed to make do with the vice and some chunks of 2x4 so far. Cripes my back and lats and arms are dead. You'd think I was on a chain gang bashing rocks or something. ++ I can only get a couple hours in in the morning before that damn shop heats up and my specs get full of sweat.

The press I got has proved nearly useless, the opening is too small to get the entire arm in, and the way it sits on the bench you can't just swing it underneath. And when I can get stuff in there, it doesn't seem to have enough leverage to get the job done. I may end up selling it when I'm done and getting a hydraulic one just because its pissing me off with its uselessness. Then I get to touch up all the new paint I've messed up thinking it wouldn't be this tough a job.

Have to have this drivable by the 26th since I pre-reg'd for a local show. argh.

View attachment 71829

Saw this tool on TV and looked it up on Summit's website. There is a set of tools for installing the upper bushings as well as installing the bottom bushings. Works like the C clamp ball joint installer. Real easy to use.

 

[GP403]

Will definitely look up that tool for next time.

Well she's back on the road. Took her down one of the county roads (45) and back on the main highway (70). No pulls. No vibrations. No funny noises. I'd call that a win. Will still take it in for an alignment before the cruise but I figured it's be pulling or something.

I honestly can't say that it's sitting much lower. That's how wiped out the old front was. But handles 6900% better. Not floating around or plowing the corners. I think the poly was squeaking a bit when I first pulled out but it seemed to settle in. The old springs sounded like somebody jumping on an old bed.

Doh pix didn't make it. Try again.

 

[Clutch]

Will definitely look up that tool for next time.

Well she's back on the road. Took her down one of the county roads (45) and back on the main highway (70). No pulls. No vibrations. No funny noises. I'd call that a win. Will still take it in for an alignment before the cruise but I figured it's be pulling or something.

I honestly can't say that it's sitting much lower. That's how wiped out the old front was. But handles 6900% better. Not floating around or plowing the corners. I think the poly was squeaking a bit when I first pulled out but it seemed to settle in. The old springs sounded like somebody jumping on an old bed.

Doh pix didn't make it. Try again.

View attachment 72816 View attachment 72817

That looks really good. Glad to hear that you got it back together I so long to drive mine

 

[GP403]

They say you can't polish a turd, well, didn't stop me from trying. Hit it with the rubbing and polishing compound with the polisher... then waxed by hand with old-fashioned turtle brand carnauba wax. I had done patches of this last year to see if it did any good, now with the cruise coming up its time to buckle down. Did the roof, trunk, rear bits, and drivers side. The roof polished up pretty good, but even after two coats its still not smooth enough. Probably won't be. The trunk didn't even fare as well. Still stained up pretty good. The side cleaned up real well, feels real smooth apart from the scratches and chips lol. Not even going to bother with the hood because you definitely can't polish an alligator.　　I'll do the passenger side and front end tomorrow, then put it inside and wax the whole thing again in the shade, since my Karate Kid moves aren't what they used to be.

I mean you can almost see a real reflection in there. almost.

 

[Clutch]

They say you can't polish a turd, well, didn't stop me from trying. Hit it with the rubbing and polishing compound with the polisher... then waxed by hand with old-fashioned turtle brand carnauba wax. I had done patches of this last year to see if it did any good, now with the cruise coming up its time to buckle down. Did the roof, trunk, rear bits, and drivers side. The roof polished up pretty good, but even after two coats its still not smooth enough. Probably won't be. The trunk didn't even fare as well. Still stained up pretty good. The side cleaned up real well, feels real smooth apart from the scratches and chips lol. Not even going to bother with the hood because you definitely can't polish an alligator.　　I'll do the passenger side and front end tomorrow, then put it inside and wax the whole thing again in the shade, since my Karate Kid moves aren't what they used to be.

View attachment 73574

I mean you can almost see a real reflection in there. almost.

Looks good man

 

[Clutch]

They say you can't polish a turd, well, didn't stop me from trying. Hit it with the rubbing and polishing compound with the polisher... then waxed by hand with old-fashioned turtle brand carnauba wax. I had done patches of this last year to see if it did any good, now with the cruise coming up its time to buckle down. Did the roof, trunk, rear bits, and drivers side. The roof polished up pretty good, but even after two coats its still not smooth enough. Probably won't be. The trunk didn't even fare as well. Still stained up pretty good. The side cleaned up real well, feels real smooth apart from the scratches and chips lol. Not even going to bother with the hood because you definitely can't polish an alligator.　　I'll do the passenger side and front end tomorrow, then put it inside and wax the whole thing again in the shade, since my Karate Kid moves aren't what they used to be.

View attachment 73574

I mean you can almost see a real reflection in there. almost.

Looks good man

Looks good man

I have an affinity for blue cutlasses I know you've seen my 78 but have you seen my 87? It was almost your cars twin when new

 

[GP403]

I am officially re-naming her to "Betty Rumble." Yes there's a theme going on. Back in the day I had a "Bam Bam" keychain on the Grand Prix rear view. It got lost when I had the windshield done. I recently found the whole Flintstones set from that period. So the Grand Prix gets Bam-Bam back, this gets to be "Betty Rumble"

...and I'm picking up Dino later today.

(and the 4Runner gets Fred, and the girls can fight over who gets Wilma and Pebbles LOL)

 

[Injectedcutty]

So what's Dino? Or are you gonna hang us along all day?

 

[GP403]

So what's Dino? Or are you gonna hang us along all day?

all will be revealed in time.


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[GP403]

so. I had a thought.

would any of the Olds purists among us be offended if I put my blue PMD buckets in the Cutlass? I'd have to dig them out to see how they look, but they basically look like this. only blue. Have the matching rear seats as well. May have to get some SEM and tint them a little darker but yeah. I think I might go there. They may be in rougher condition than I remember....