BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[JAMCAR223]

Simply GREAT work being done over, and over, and over again.

 

[TURNA]

 

[1evilregal]

Looks great as usual!

 

[Canon_Mutant]

After consulting my 1980 Body by Fisher service manuals, I found the section pertaining to adjustment of the glass and made the necessary adjustments.
Fits and seals the way it’s supposed to now:

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🤔 Imagine that? A factory service manual that was actually helpful?

The GM Cutlass FSM for my 87 is like:

Removal Power Steering Pump:

Remove all nuts and bolts holding the pump on.
Slip belt off pulley.
Remove hoses.

Installation Power Steering Pump:

Installation is reverse of removal.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Once the epoxy had cured overnight, I resumed work by sanding and leveling out the repaired areas with 180 grit:

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I probably should’ve gone a little further with progressively finer and finer grits, but it’s really not required here as no one will ever see these areas again once it’s reinstalled.

Once the repaired areas were sanded, the entire topside of the cartridge was scuffed and then painted with several coats of VHT satin black Chassis and Roll Bar paint. Being that this is inside the car and protected from the elements, spray bomb paint was sufficient here. Plus, this particular paint is epoxy based, so that’s a plus.

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No more damage or pits!

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Flipping the whole cartridge over, I had also treated and epoxied the repaired stud area and a couple other spots that looked suspect. Here’s a look at the overall underside. The crap all over it in the foreground is spray glue, it’s unclear whether this is factory or was done by someone trying to possibly repair a sagging headliner.

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The epoxied areas:

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Following the same procedure as the topside, today I got the underside sanded and painted.

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Looks 100% better!

In other news, I’m a little hesitant to share this with you because I know some of you won’t like or agree with it. But at the end of the day, it’s my car and I like ‘em, so tough t*tties!

I kind of “impulse purchased” these beautiful valve covers at my local speed shop Saturday:

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Last night, I removed the stock 350 truck valve covers that I had painted Corporate Blue, and installed the new ones on the car:

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Now I know many of you won’t like this particular change, but I wanted an upgrade over the stockers, and to add a little bit of under hood appeal. The challenge was to do this without sticking out like a sore thumb or overwhelming the rest of the engine bay. I think it’s about the best I could do given the circumstances.

The exhaust manifolds I blasted and repainted are starting to look a little raggedy, so also slated for this year is to remove and replace them with a set of headers I picked up a while back. So keep an eye out for that upgrade soon too.

I can foresee under the hood becoming more and more serious and less and less stock looking as time goes on!

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That’s all for this week gents, now
My eyes, oh how they burn🙂. Those are a nice cover, I just don't like what they say.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I finally caught up with reading the latest updates from the last few months. As usual, fantastic work!! Impressive!

Question: What type (brand) of epoxy filler did you use (the "whitish" stuff that was used to fill the pit marks)?

Thanks, and good luck for the next hurdle.

Thanks very much!

The epoxy I use is not a filler, it’s a DTM (Direct to Metal) primer. It can also be used as a sealer by modifying the mixing ratio slightly, and will isolate or “seal” off underlying substrates.

I’ve used several different products over the years, including Sikkens, Glasurit, and a few others, but now my go-to manufacturer is PPG. The epoxy primer is PPG’s DP50LV.

I find epoxy primer to be a nearly invaluable product for restorations such as these, as it’s easy to work with, has excellent corrosion resistance, and is low VOC as well.
I hope this adequately answered your question. Thanks for your interest and questions, I always welcome them.

Awesome work Donovan! I like the valve covers. They provide a nice contrast. They would look good in Corporate Blue with natural letters as well.

Thanks Jared. I was a lil concerned that the guys would give me a hard time over them, “Chevy in an Olds”, “they don’t match the build”, etc etc but most of you seemed to have taken it in stride.

As for color matching them Corporate Blue to the block, I briefly considered that, but for some reason I’m having a hard time visualizing it. Good news is, if I decide I want to go that route in the future it’d be easy enough to do. Just a little scuffing, masking, and paint them myself.
I’ll have to keep that in the back of my mind, thanks!

I'm just trying to figure out why ***** is a related term?

Hahaha, I saw that too! And I’m with you, I have no idea!
😅

Simply GREAT work being done over, and over, and over again.

Thank you James. I sincerely appreciate that. I’m just trying to do the best I can with what I’ve got, and not rush things. Some days it’s easier than others.

Looks great as usual!

Thanks Darin!!

🤔 Imagine that? A factory service manual that was actually helpful?

The GM Cutlass FSM for my 87 is like:

Removal Power Steering Pump:

Remove all nuts and bolts holding the pump on.
Slip belt off pulley.
Remove hoses.

Installation Power Steering Pump:

Installation is reverse of removal.

I know, right? I have also come across many service manuals that describe assembly/disassembly procedures the same way, and not just automotive ones either. Compressor manufacturers manuals aren’t much better, I swear at least half of them were written on a bar napkin at happy hour.
🙄

While I was able to find and discern what I needed in the end, the process of figuring out what they wanted you to do in the Fisher manual was complicated as all get out. I had to reference at least three different assembly diagrams on as many pages, all while reading the procedure on a fourth. Good ‘ol GM.

Try doing that with a digital copy...

olds307 and 403 said:
“My eyes, oh how they burn🙂. Those are a nice cover, I just don't like what they say.”

I know you don’t Christian, as I’m sure Bruce and a few others probably don’t either.

But hey, look at it this way: I’m an equal opportunity hot rodder!
😉

I’ve had Oldsmobile Rocket gold flowing through my veins since I was old enough to drive, and will always be a diehard Olds man. This little mill in Olds Cool is just a means to an end, a cheap and easy way to have some fun while I’m building The Juggernaut. It’s just that it’s pretty hard to argue about the bang for the buck an OG SBC provides.

These are extremely nice covers, it just blows my mind that the aftermarket can’t (or simply won’t) build a similar cover for Olds engines that won’t bankrupt a guy.
Anyways, rant over.

Thanks everyone for all the great comments and questions, and all the positive feedback. As always, I don’t take it for granted and really appreciate it. You guys prove again and again that you’re the best.

D.

 

[Kiko]

The epoxy I use is not a filler, it’s a DTM (Direct to Metal) primer. It can also be used as a sealer by modifying the mixing ratio slightly, and will isolate or “seal” off underlying substrates.

Thanks for the pointer and the info! Much appreciated.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Thanks for the pointer and the info! Much appreciated.

You’re most welcome!

 

[fleming442]

You know I'm just razzin' ya! You Canucks get a pass since that's all the General offered. I'll stop there.........

 

[joesregalproject]

Looking fantastic as per usual! Those valve covers look great!