BUILD THREAD Sweet Johnny & Gina: A Love "Two Large" To Fail

[08Malibu]

Nice

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

Nice

Thank you. I'd say she has a bit of "character".

 

[08Malibu]

Thank you. I'd say she has a bit of "character".

She’s a work in progress. Looks like she’s getting better every chance you get.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

On that note I'd like everyone's opinion on something since it could mean even more progress on this car. In addition to the Speedway tubular control arm set I recently acquired there's a pile of parts built up for my El Camino that hasn't even started in years. The pile has taken years to make as well.

I have UMI double adjustable rear UCA, rear control arm braces, shock tower brace, LCA drop brackets, Lakewood Lift Bars & their brackets, Russel braided stainless brake lines, StreetFire ignition, TRE 255lph pump & Delco pickup for '95 Impala SS (need the tank), vacuum operated exhaust dumps, etc., etc. but it all does no good sitting on the shelf. And to top it all off the El Camino frame is twisted too.

How many of you would just go ahead and utilize all of the parts now and worry about the backsliding Elk later, and how many would refrain from stealing parts from one project to feed another since that doesn't tend to end well?

 

[SoFloG]

On that note I'd like everyone's opinion on something since it could mean even more progress on this car. In addition to the Speedway tubular control arm set I recently acquired there's a pile of parts built up for my El Camino that hasn't even started in years. The pile has taken years to make as well.

I have UMI double adjustable rear UCA, rear control arm braces, shock tower brace, LCA drop brackets, Lakewood Lift Bars & their brackets, Russel braided stainless brake lines, StreetFire ignition, TRE 255lph pump & Delco pickup for '95 Impala SS (need the tank), vacuum operated exhaust dumps, etc., etc. but it all does no good sitting on the shelf. And to top it all off the El Camino frame is twisted too.

How many of you would just go ahead and utilize all of the parts now and worry about the backsliding Elk later, and how many would refrain from stealing parts from one project to feed another since that doesn't tend to end well?

If you haven't used the parts after years already and the Camino is the worse of the two, I'd sieze the opportunity to utilize them on the new project. Especially with the momentum you got going.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

If you haven't used the parts after years already and the Camino is the worse of the two, I'd sieze the opportunity to utilize them on the new project. Especially with the momentum you got going.

Good input, thank you. I posed a similar question back in November but it was more of a general question about modifying her vs staying 100% stock, especially in the area of performance. I'm trying to change my decision making process since seeking perfection often keeps me from starting due to overcomplicating things, and I hate to take anything away from a project but right now those parts are just $$ going to waste.

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

So here's what I'm considering stealing from Karma (Camino) and giving to Gina, nearly all brand new parts:

Shock tower brace
Control arm braces
Rear D.A. UCAs w/Roto
Russel stainless brake lines
Pro Forged tie rod adjusting sleeves
K6187T Idler arm
Polyurethane spring isolators (frt/rr)
330# front coils (6310)
Street Fire CDI box (used)

* Not Shown
130# rear coils (5401)
Lakewood Lift bars
Spohn 22mm Pro Touring rear sway bar (used)
Speedway tubular front upper/ lower CAs

** Not yet acquired
Shocks. Possibly Bilstein AK1043 or KYB KG4513 (what I had picked for Karma)

Thoughts?

 

[Rktpwrd]

 

[Sweet_Johnny]

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It probably wouldn't be hard to talk me into it, honestly, though I've always been against robbing parts from projects. I've also never had one stall out for 15 years- that's beyond paint jail.

 

[L05edSS]

Good evening everyone, I hope you're having a great weekend so far. I started my new work schedule yesterday and was too worn out afterwards to focus enough to get this thread going like I'd hoped. I think I can pull it off tonight, please read on and find out. I swear on my life that every word of this story is absolutely 100% true, and honesty is a cornerstone of the life I'm trying to build for myself.

I recently acquired a 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham for the paltry sum of $2k, A.K.A. "two large" from a nice gentleman who actually lives a mere 5-10 minutes from me depending on your level of excitement (Haysville, Ks). Having had no luck with my other potential purchases I decided to buy this G Body if it ran well, and would much prefer to drive it home as renting a VW Passat was getting expensive and working on old GM cars is something I'm halfway decent at. They're also much, much cooler. Here is the description and the pictures from the listing on Facebook Marketplace.

"Everything is there on the car it just needs to be freshened up hasn't been started in years... has a 305 Chevy engine from the factory... sunroof too...."
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I messaged the seller and learned that it would need a battery, and most likely more to run as it had been sitting near a tree for quite some time. It would definitely need more to be what most consider good enough to drive daily.

That's it, that's all it took to provoke me to grab the battery from my El Camino, hop in the rental car I hated and go look at an old G Body that didn't run and was probably going to be absolute trash at $2k. I've seen fairly lofty prices on some complete dumpster fires, so I was hopeful but staying realistic. My battery tested bad so I left it behind, and I was late to look at the car for the first time because I rushed out the door mistakenly thinking I knew exactly where it was. With no phone service I had no way of finding it aside from driving around, which I did for a while before heading home to figure it out. Once I found the address I quickly surveyed the body, interior, engine bay, peeked underneath (noting a hole in the floor that you could fit a ButterBall turkey through) and made a decision. This whole process took under 2 minutes, and the car still didn't even run! That's when you know you've got something special. There was just something about this car that said "We'd be great together. You just caught me at a bad time, I promise."

Derek (the seller, great guy) and I spoke for about 10 minutes, and we agreed that I'd come back the next day and we would try to breathe life into a dimming star when he got off from his first job. I tried to play it cool and said that hearing the engine run and seeing the car move were a must before the sale, but that I was a serious buyer with cash. He probably saw right through me, and if he did he played it perfectly because it was like I was talking to a friend. In addition to that, he honestly wanted me to be happy and comfortable with any agreement made. Again, great guy.

Once home, I noticed that I received the following photos from Derek, who had only known Gina for a couple of weeks, and I mean that literally. He got the car in Augusta, Ks. from a 98 year old lady named Gina who very clearly cared a great deal for this Cutlass-- for 39 years. And bless her for it! I'll post pictures that will make you say "Wow, that's impressive" later on as the story unfolds. The title in Gina's name was issued in Butler County, Ks. on February 16, 1984. It's in an envelope postmarked Feb. 17, 1984 and a lien was issued 3 days prior to that. That lien was handled by the Augusta White Eagle Credit Union (in Butler Co.) and taken care of way back in August of 1990. I was given the release slip, of course. It seems that both Ginas have resided in Augusta since at least then.

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I went back the next day by way of my father, and we took a bunch of my tools, some gas, etc. with us. A new battery (I spent money on a car I didn't even own yet, but rationalized it by saying I'd use it in the El Camino) and some starting fluid spurred signs of a will to live, and me pouring gasoline from my water bottle followed. The carb bowl refused to fill without me, and Derek and I suspected the fuel pump immediately over a simple blockage. I didn't take a big enough wrench for the fuel filter, and holding it with the available self adjusting flat jawed pliers wasn't going to cut it. My father and I dashed home where I planned to rob a pump off another engine and get more tools, but during the drive we talked and decided to call a tow truck instead. Up until now he could only assume I would buy it because I kept pointing things out to him every time Derek wasn't near, but I hadn't made an official statement out loud yet.

If you look closely in the pictures you may see a chain link fence, a house, and a chain link gate, (Capris not shown) all in close proximity. You had to walk sideways to get by the car on either side, and were basically standing on the Capris to get under the hood of the Cutlass. I think that Capris owes me at least $1 for the view.

Changing the pump just wasn't going to happen- It was starting to rain like crazy, and Derek had a 2nd job to start so I felt it was time to go home with or without a car. I told Derek that I believed the backstory and had faith in the engine and transmission after what I had experienced with all 5 of my senses. My wonderful and loving father spotted me the dough for the tow, so nothing that follows this would have happened without him. Thanks Dad!

I've got to work again in 4 hours and haven't slept yet so I'm done for now, but I'll be back to share more soon. I just thought I should get this started like I said I would.

i'm not a fan of the gbody 78-80 era EXCEPT for the cutlass. in that era the malibu & monte were bottom of barrel at that time but if done right like in mov training day or a low rider (when comes to montes). in recent yrs that basic boxy boring BU i will say been kinda growin on me like a fungus. now back to your cutlass, i like those most even above after 80. i judge cars like do women, aint so much the face (which those weren't too bad) its always the @$$ that grabs me, also the HIPS..... lol man those slim yrs of the cuftlass rear quarter, sexiest thangs on earth after the opera windows, it makes this monte guy drool where i cant with the 87/88 cuz @$$ just too flat. lol