PROJECT " LAID BACK 2 " - 1978 SALON 2 DOOR AEROBACK

[565bbchevy]

Bottom grill for better airflow. Top one will help keep the bigger bugs out of your AC condenser though.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Bottom grille for me...but then i like the 80 Malibu grilles over the 78/79s,,,which most people prefer

Maybe black out the horizontal bars and leave the verticals silver

 

[JAMCAR223]

What are you planning on doing all week with out your wife is the question I want to know?

I've got today... I'm hoping to get back to the shop to do some harness restoration, but I've got alot of chores to do since she's not here. I work Sunday, Mon, T, W, so there's that. Thursday is a round trip to Dallas and back, witch takes about 10.5 hours. I probably won't get too much done on the car until this coming Friday 🙁.

And for TURNA... no I don't have a girlfriend 🤔.

 

[JAMCAR223]

Thanks guys for all the replies about the grill. It was unanimous ( top one ), until the last couple votes. I had intended to use the top one since I like that look the best, and since there's no ornament ...BUT the aluminum hood has the center "spear" trim, and the original hood ornament finishes/compliments the trim on the hood. So do I fill the holes on the hood, and delete the "spear" on the hood? OR do i use the bottom header with the ornament hole, and try to find just the "tip of the spear" to finish/compliment the hood? I don't want a traditional spring loaded hood ornament. On the front of the header, I plan to use the "Cutlass Salon" center emblem, and make my own sticker "insert" with a Rocket logo. I will black-out the grill insert, and restore the OLDSMOBILE logo to match the NOS trunk logo, that was donated from 69hurstolds.
Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, for any reason 😊.

 

[69hurstolds]

BTW, if you run across GM p/n 559183 new in the box, grab it. It's the front Oldsmobile emblem that goes in the egg crate grille. Easier than restoring one, but if you can't find one, well, gotta work with what you got. The emblem looks similar to the trunk emblem, except it's made of metal, not plastic.

Cutlass Salon emblem- finding this new is problematic, obviously. But if you find it, it should be GM p/n 560511.

 

[Texas82GP]

Since you are painting the car, I would delete the hood spear. If I was painting my car, I'd delete a lot of trim.

 

[JAMCAR223]

BTW, if you run across GM p/n 559183 new in the box, grab it. It's the front Oldsmobile emblem that goes in the egg crate grille. Easier than restoring one, but if you can't find one, well, gotta work with what you got. The emblem looks similar to the trunk emblem, except it's made of metal, not plastic.

Cutlass Salon emblem- finding this new is problematic, obviously. But if you find it, it should be GM p/n 560511.

Thank you for the part numbers. I would like to find both of them.

 

[JAMCAR223]

1978-1979 OLDSMOBILE GRILLE EMBLEM NOS

Found the grill emblem... $100

 

[JAMCAR223]

Since you are painting the car, I would delete the hood spear. If I was painting my car, I'd delete a lot of trim.

If the hood was steel , I wouldn't think twice. I have never welded aluminum... just buy the correct aluminum wire for the welder, or maybe use fiberglass to fill the holes?? Maybe Donovan will chime in on this.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Welding aluminum sheetmetal is not an easy task to master. I actually got I-CAR tested/certified for aluminum MIG just so the shop I work at could meet State Farm's requirements to stay on their DRP program.


It's a totally different ballgame than steel MIG work

Surely you can find a hood without spear...I mean, unobtanium seems to find you pretty often! 👍