BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[Rktpwrd]

Thanks fellas, I intend to do just that, drive the wheels off it.

I’ve got a few mechanical details I want to look after before spring hits as well, but those are pretty minor. I noticed last year that it would occasionally drip a bit of antifreeze on the ground, I traced it to a leaking core in the pre-350 swap (and probably original) radiator. So I’d like to replace that as well as the stock style unknown age starter that struggles to turn over sometimes when it’s hot.

Other than that, it’s mostly going to be ensuring that it’s buttoned up weather tight, and getting most of the interior reinstalled into it. Speaking of weather tight and interior, one thing I forgot to touch on yesterday is the AstroRoof assembly. It needs to be disassembled to properly access and restore/repaint the metal outer pan, but that process is going to have to wait until better weather and the car is mobile again.
That whole assembly is just so big I don’t have enough room to set it up on a stand for tear down and restoration with both cars in there.
Olds Cool will have a semi-permanent hole in the roof for a while yet but that won’t affect the ability to drive it!

Interesting idea on compiling an album on it Jared, I’ll have to give that some more thought. I should probably wait until the car is is in finished paint as well before I do that, as I’m sure there’ll be many more things I’ll come across yet...

I’ve got some interesting ideas and things I’m going to experiment with and try coming up here pretty soon, mostly pertaining to the belt line trim. I’m looking forward to sharing them with you all and seeing your reactions when I get there. That, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some color in areas and having parts going back on instead of coming off!

D.

 

[Jimmy]

Great build. The attention to details is very commendable.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Great to see progress. Champion makes an affordable all aluminum rad, get the two core with 1" tubes, about the same price as the Spectra aluminum plastic from your Auto parts store. Get a mini or heavy duty replacement starter.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Great to see progress. Champion makes an affordable all aluminum rad, get the two core with 1" tubes, about the same price as the Spectra aluminum plastic from your Auto parts store. Get a mini or heavy duty replacement starter.

You read my mind Christian, both of your suggestions are exactly what I planned to do. I got the starter covered, I can get a high torque mini from any number of places either local or through Summit, but where do you recommend getting a Champion rad from for us poor souls north of the 49th?
Summit doesn’t carry them and I’m not a big fan of fleaBay.

 

[olds307 and 403]

Going by Champion's website calculator, it costs $50 US to ship it. It is a $209.95 US for the 2 core with 1" tubes. I bought their 3 core rad from eBay for my 88. No leaks and well made but with a 160 high flow thermostat, it ran between 195 and 205 on the highway, towing was 220-235 and in town was 185 or so with my 8 to 1 403. The 2 core with 1" tubes is $25 cheaper and should cool better than 3 core an maybe even the 4 core due to airflow. How is the fan shroud attached on your car?

 

[olds307 and 403]

https://shop.championcooling.com/index.php?route=checkout/cart

 

[Rktpwrd]

Going by Champion's website calculator, it costs $50 US to ship it. It is a $209.95 US for the 2 core with 1" tubes. I bought their 3 core rad from eBay for my 88. No leaks and well made but with a 160 high flow thermostat, it ran between 195 and 205 on the highway, towing was 220-235 and in town was 185 or so with my 8 to 1 403. The 2 core with 1" tubes is $25 cheaper and should cool better than 3 core an maybe even the 4 core due to airflow. How is the fan shroud attached on your car?

Yikes, that’s starting to get a little spendy by the time you factor in shipping, duty, exchange and taxes. Definitely on the upper limit of what I was hoping to spend on one.

The shroud that’s currently in the car is the factory one for a 305, one piece unit that bolts to the top and bottom of the rad support. It’s not the radiator top plate if that’s what you’re thinking, although I do have one in case I ever want to upgrade to electric fans.

 

[olds307 and 403]

The Spectra G body Plastic/Aluminum or the other one Canadian Tire offers should cool your 350. The single core plastic aluminum cooled as well or better then the Champion 3 core with my 403.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/a...gQ2FwICBGYW4gTW90b3IgJmFtcDsgU3dpdGNoIn19#srp
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/a...gQ2FwICBGYW4gTW90b3IgJmFtcDsgU3dpdGNoIn19#srp

 

[olds307 and 403]

The same rads through Summit. Canadian Tire has the CU 162 as the heavy duty replacement but the CU570 is slightly wider and the same size core.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sgt-cu162/overview/
https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/sgt-cu570/overview

 

[Rktpwrd]

Score!

After scouring the local online classifieds for several months, I had pretty much given up on finding a narrower set of front tires for Olds Cool.

I currently have BF Goodrich Radial T/A RWL 235 60 R14’s on my restored aluminum 442 rims on all 4 corners, but with the front lowered 2” on drop spindles the front tires would rub pretty hard on a good compression bump. Thus, I’ve been watching for a decent set of narrower tires for the front since last season.

It’s hard enough to find 14” tires anymore these days, never mind finding some the exact same brand as what you’ve already got. After having no luck finding any local to me in the classifieds, last night on a whim I decided to see if any were available new.

Imagine my surprise when, after a bit of searching, I found 2 in the exact size and make I’ve been looking for at a big box tire store a mere 20 minutes from my house! To add icing to the cake, they were also discontinued and on clearance! I tried not to get to excited or get my hopes up today, but after work I swung by there to see if it was too good to be true.

After waiting a couple minutes for them to find them and a mere $88 a tire later, I was on my way home with these new beauties!

At 215 wide and 60 series, they’re considerably narrower and an inch shorter than the 235’s on there now. This should really enhance the old school look I’m going for on this car as well as eliminate my rubbing issues!
Great night!
🙂