BUILD THREAD Project Olds Cool (Recognition!!)

[TURNA]

I know.

It is very useful info.

And it is awesome you take the time to show and explain everything you do.

Most of the time I do read the text, but this morning at work I was busy so I just glanced at it.

 

[Texas82GP]

Hahaha, yeah I figured as much.
I know there’s usually a lot of text in my updates, but it’s there for a reason, and it’s usually useful.

You know, so you don’t look like a dork asking silly questions!

I though he was just being a smart *ss.

 

[sportriderOK]

I had that tool in my 80 Monte Carlo. I'm sure its still in the glovebox, since the guy I sold it to in 1993 immediately parked it in a field and never touched it again. That is if it hasn't rusted away by now.

 

[69hurstolds]

You know, so you don’t look like a dork asking silly questions!

Oops. Too late!

 

[Supercharged111]

Please pardon my laziness as I did have a bit of a build thread binge over the holidays and some sort of blur together. Those look like Vortec 350 heads. With so much focus on the awesome bodywork, I've lost track of what powers this car.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Please pardon my laziness as I did have a bit of a build thread binge over the holidays and some sort of blur together. Those look like Vortec 350 heads. With so much focus on the awesome bodywork, I've lost track of what powers this car.

No worries.

The drivetrain in this car is all the best parts of a 442 minus the underwhelming 307 in front. 8.5” 10 bolt in the rear with 3:73 gears and a rebuilt posi waiting to go in, a rebuilt 200R4 with a stage II Transgo shift kit and a Grand National D9 converter.

Good eye on the heads, they are indeed brand new GM Performance Parts Vortec. A mild little Comp Cam kit and springs with modifications to the heads to run over .560” lift, which I’m close to with Comp 1.6 roller tip rockers. I’m also using the thinnest Fel-Pro head gaskets you can get to bump up the compression ratio a bit.

The rest of the short block is stock GM 350, and I’ve added an aluminum intake manifold and Weiand water pump. Stock QuadraJet carb has been fully gone through, re-jetted and modified to handle the engine modifications.
All painted GM Corporate Blue to hide the go fast parts and look like a dressed up 305.
😉
Headers are on the list of future upgrades to help it breathe a little better through the 2 1/2” dual exhaust.

It’s a little pocket rocket that looks mostly stock but has surprised the crap out of many unsuspecting challengers!

 

[Supercharged111]

Sounds healthy, probably a good 350 crank or so after headers? Even with a weak dick marine cam like my truck has they're supposed to make around 300 or better with headers and full exhaust.

 

[Rktpwrd]

Sounds healthy, probably a good 350 crank or so after headers? Even with a weak dick marine cam like my truck has they're supposed to make around 300 or better with headers and full exhaust.

Yep, I haven’t had it on a dyno but that’s my guesstimate. Somewhere between 300-350 horse. And it’s an old school (hence the name) easy and relatively low dollar engine build.
Just enough to be fun!

 

[Turbo Zach]

I missed a couple days and holey cow. You are almost done. I am betting you are getting pretty excited for paint? As always, good work!

 

[Rktpwrd]

Still rollin’ right along.

Saturday night I got the rest of the car completely tore down, anything that was extraneous, bolted on, or in the way of block sanding the car now was removed and set aside. All the hardware got carefully bagged and tagged so as to keep track of everything and make reassembly easier.

Some of the parts (but not limited to) included:

Front windshield trim
Stainless cowl trim and windshield wipers
Rear window trim
Drip rail trim
“A” pillar trim
Door glass weatherstrip
Door glass weatherstrip channels
Door locks
Door handles
Door belt mouldings
Door mirrors
Front marker lights
Rear marker lights
Rear quarter to bumper filler panels
Trunk lock
Trunk trim along bottom edge
Front bumper
Rear bumper
Taillight bezels
Taillight lenses

...and the list goes on and on.
By the time I was done I had an entire bench full of parts and hardware! No pictures of this, but I did take a couple really short videos and posted them up on my Instagram page. Search for “@rktpwrd5” if you’re into that kinda thing.

Today was supposed to be garage day at Mike’s working on his ‘57 Chevy, but he texted me first thing this morning to say he got called out to work. Bonus for me! So instead I filed my tax return and was pleasantly surprised to be getting more back than last year.
Double bonus!
There should be enough set aside now to purchase the paint, clearcoat, any misc supplies, and a brand new paint gun to lay down that perfect finish.
😊

This afternoon I gave the roof a thorough cleaning and several wipe downs with wax and grease remover in preparation for starting the final block sanding process, then applied some dry guidecoat.

Here we go...!!

After a couple hours, I have all of the flat sections of the roof including the AstroRoof insert completely blocked out in 220. Found a couple of areas that will need some minor attention, but no big surprises thankfully.

She’s not quite smooth as glass yet, but it’s the first major step to getting it there. I’ll continue to block the entire car out in 220, then go back and spot prime any areas that need it before moving on to 320.

That’s it for now guys, I’m headed back out there to continue making progress!
Till next time,

D.