BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Rktpwrd]

I just wanna say thanks for documenting your build(s). This thread is invaluable to people like me. The detail and explanation of the process is top notch. It took me a couple weeks to get caught up. I have question regarding the 3m clean n strip wheels. I can only find black ones locally. Is there a difference between black and purple? The black works great it just burns up so fast. Thanks

My pleasure, 100%.
It always fills me with satisfaction when guys like you post up comments like that. It lets me know that all the time, labour and frustration (both in building the car, and writing the updates) was all worth it. So thank you for that.

The black Clean n Strip wheels do work great, I used them for years myself. But as you’re finding, they don’t last all that long. That’s why I switched to the purple ones, they seem to be a bit harder, wear better, and last longer. If you can’t find them locally, you might have to see if you can get them online.

 

[motorheadmike]

I’m perfectly fine with bringing original items back to life with a lil elbow grease, rather than replacing everything.

Where I am happy slapping mostly functional parts back on with a little rattle can treatment. 😉

 

[69hurstolds]

Ahh yes, but not everybody wants to buy the same car twice over, with the second one being at 150% markup from vendors on ebay.
😉

That’s why it’s called a “restoration” Mike, and not a “replacementication”.
🤣🤣🤣

I know. That's why I said I was taking the lazy route. I don't have the skills to do what you've done to that car body, and that car will be a work of art when you finally buff off that paint of the final first coat of dried wax.

I totally get why you do what you do. It is, after all, a G-body. Ok, technically an A-body, but it's still virtually the same car. You're pouring money into a generally value-less car to the rest of the world, but it's your car and your work, and nobody can take that away from you.

Keep doing what you're doing, Donovan. You're teaching a lot of folks a lot of good things, even this old codger.

 

[Tony1968]

Is it a concern? Sure. It always is when you start swapping non-original body panels. But ya gotta do the best you can and align them with what ya got.

Look at it this way: Would you refuse to shower just because you’re having a “great hair day”?? Of course not. All you can do is hope you get your hair looking as good (or better) than it did before your shower. Personally, I’m terribly over-anal retentive when it comes to panel gaps. They’ve gotta be as close to perfect as I can get or it eats at me. On The Juggernaut, I welded and filed all the gaps to within 30 thou, but this isn’t that kinda build. I’ll just get them as best I can with what GM gave me to work with.

The real saving grace believe it or not, is that both the door and fender are off at the same time. This means I can move and shim them around till my heart’s content, or at least until they look half decent. If your panel gaps are off, there’s nothing keeping you from adjusting them to look better. Your time is all it costs.

Understood! Thanks again. I've watched many videos of guys welding a bead the length of the door where it meets rear quarters and I don't know if I have the talent it takes to do it. But I will align and shim the best I can.
Thanks again D.

 

[Rktpwrd]

I don’t really feel like writing a big long update with a bunch of text today, but I still want to keep everyone current on the latest developments. So here’s what happened this week.

Got the sandblasting of some small parts done...

Received my eBay purchase of some beautiful new NOS Calais grilles (thanks InjectedCutty and 69HURSTOLDS!!)...

Re-bushed, re-pinned and rebuilt the driver’s side upper and lower door hinges...

Painted some of the small blasted parts...

Made a purchase of some new and very good quality Mahle valve cover gaskets for a future alteration...

And this morning started doing this:

We shall see where the last two pictures will take me today, it all depends how well it goes and how motivated I am. It is Saturday after all.

D.

 

[Jeff Blagden]

Man you do great work I told my wife last night if I have a heart attack you get first offer on my olds amazing stuff you paint better than I can decorate wedding cakes Jeff from Winnipeg

 

[Rktpwrd]

Man you do great work I told my wife last night if I have a heart attack you get first offer on my olds amazing stuff you paint better than I can decorate wedding cakes Jeff from Winnipeg

Thanks Jeff. That’s some pretty hefty praise and a glowing endorsement, I’m flattered! Thank you.
But just don’t have that heart attack, them lovebird newlyweds all need their wedding cakes!

 

[Rktpwrd]

Hmmm. It would seem I exceeded my expectations for today, now it looks like I’m gonna have to shoot this thing simply out of principle!

Stay tuned...

 

[O. D. Showtime]

As per usual great work Donovan! Love the new shiny grilles!

 

[69hurstolds]

Walk in, f**k shiit up, and walk out... OOPS! Sorry! Eh...heh heh. It'll buff out.