BUILD THREAD Nothing Special build thread

Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
1,515
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South Central Pa
I've been meaning to get this going. So here is is. My 1986 Olds Cutlass Supreme that I like to call Nothing Special. This car will be for cruising, the occasional car show and maybe a few trips to the ice cream shop with family. Its just a 307/200c trans. I bought this car back in 2012 or 2013. It had 72,000 miles and was in pretty good shape. Pretty original, but you could see that it had a few mishaps in the past. The roof and trunk had surface rust showing through and it had been keyed on both sides. it had been repainted at one time, but it shined up pretty good. No rust on the body except the surface rust. Frame was good, only 1 broken body mount bolt on the right rear behind the tire. She was my daily up until 2017/2018. Here is when she looked her best back in 2015 with so rims I had just bought used for $40.
 

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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
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South Central Pa
2015 is when life got in the way. Separated and got divorced from my 1st wife. It was some thing I can now look back on and say was a good thing. Started over and got back up on my feet. Met my current wife after I got my head straight later that year. We got married in 2017 and my daughter arrived shortly after that. I had been hording parts here and there as I knew the car was getting tired. When we got a Explorer for the family in 2017, she finally got a rest. by that point the cat back exhaust had fallen off, the paint on the hood was getting tired, 2 more rear body mount bolts had broken, and I had several small holes in the rear frame rails in the usual spots. I moved half way across the state. Luckily my brother in-law has his own car trailer and hauled her out for me. She has been sitting in back yard since we moved last March. I stated to slowly work on the car last summer, but then my Dad got sick and passed away in a matter of 3 months. So she was on the back burner again. Now I am full force working on her as time allows. The plan is to get the suspension and undercarriage back up to par, and get her back on the road safely this summer. then next summer do paint and body. Here are pictures of her current state taken this morning
 

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Doug Chahoy

Comic Book Super Hero
Nov 21, 2016
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Definitely looks like drivers side hinges need attention. Looks pretty good though.
 
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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
1,515
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South Central Pa
So like I mentioned I have a pile of parts for the car. I got another set of front lower and rear upper and lower control arms for the car( thanks chophead), the fronts already had energy suspension bushings installed ( thanks ssn696) . I got matching lower bushings for the fronts, stock for the rear. Found made in the USA moog upper and lower ball joints ( amazon shockingly ). They are all currently getting the new bushings and lower ball joints installed. when they are finished I'm going to plate them and have them blasted. Then paint and install. Going to do the rear suspension in one shot then the front. So my game plan is to fix the frame 1st. got the passenger side done, just got the tank dropped and the templates traced out on the metal just have to find the time to cut them out and weld them in. After that I will clean up under side from the axle back and seam seal seal and coat with truck bed coating. The tank and straps look, just need to go over with a wire wheel and repaint. I have a new sending unit as well. Inside of the tanks looks great to my surprise. Then replace the hard lines and rubber hose on the rear. I found a deal on FB marketplace for $50 - new backing plates with new shoes, hardware, and wheel cylinders ready to bolt on. I got new 7/8 s10 wheel cylinders to swap in. Going to clean and paint the rear. I have new Energy Suspension body mounts, I have got new body bolts from Mikes Montes, and I have six new nuts and frame washers. I only need 1 washer that I know of, and 3 cage nuts. Thankfully they are all in the rear. I have new rubber fuel line and clamps for on top by the tank and over axle. Gonna see how the brake/fuel line look, but I'll prob just replace them. Body mounts are next. Stay tuned !
 
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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
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South Central Pa
Almost done with the gas tank, had a small pinhole to repair and got the bottom painted and cleared. Ran out of paint and have to touch up a few spots on top and clear. Got the rear bumper and all lenses out, and started going through the reverse lights. Got them apart and cleaned, a few cracks, but they will work for now. Thinking of converting to LED. I have 2 15" white strips that i'm thinking of inside.
IMG_2129.jpg

before picture
 
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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
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South Central Pa
PROGRESS!! Gas tank complete! Next on to the straps.
 

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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
1,515
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South Central Pa
Starting to get the big stuff done and out of the way. Here’s the before on the frame. I’ll have the after soon. Gotta dress the welds, they are very ugly. My welder is on its last legs and would not give me consistent wire speed. So just a sh*t ton of spot welds. I used 1/8” plate to make the patches. Probably double the thickness of the stock frame!
 

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mclellan83

Comic Book Super Hero
Jun 27, 2017
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Pgh, PA
Welcome, glad to see a fellow PA guy still plugging away
 
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Flyers9928

G-Body Guru
Jul 30, 2014
597
1,515
93
South Central Pa
More progress! All the control arms are DONE! Energy poly in the front with moog ball joints (made in the USA). Rears are stock replacement. Now I just have to wire wheel, reinforce, paint and install.
 

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