rocketraider

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A weak high-tension wire in the secondary ignition circuit (coil to distributor cap and spark plug wires) can contribute to the issues you've had. As to why a near new set of decent quality plug wires corroded and broke like that, I have no idea unless you live in a humid area or close to salt water. If you can get a single coil to distributor cap wire, replace it. If not, probably ought to check the plug wires too and replace those if they're corroded. If you have an electrical test meter, check resistance on all the plug wires. 8-10000 ohms resistance per foot of length is usually good reading for a points ignition system. More than that might cause misfiring. If unsure how to do this let us know and we'll walk you thru it. Your coil tower socket on the cap should also be cleaned. NAPA used to carry socket cleaning brushes. Useful tool to have for both ignition and bulb sockets.

Oldsmobile did a sizable business with marine and industrial engines. Mostly 455 but I've heard of 350 use too. The factory-supplied ones were great- no emissions garbage on them and they got the good heads and carburetors. Tobacco farmers here wore out a lot of Olds and Buick 455s watering their crops. Run 'em wide open for days on end irrigating tobacco fields, then when they quit head to the junkyard for another one.

Opportunists. You can buy a working Atmos in very nice condition for that money. Granted you can't take it in the car, but. Waltham is not what I'd consider a high-end clock. Terry, are you by chance a NAWCC member?

"Duel" is great but I've always been a Dennis Weaver fan. It was also Steven Spielberg's first movie.

By the 1960s this would have been called "product placement" and the manufacturers would have had to pay for it. But in the 1930s it was simply "location" and "set dressing". So US Tires (pre-Royal), Willard batteries and Champion plugs probably got some free advertising from this movie as did Packard. You have to wonder if it did any good in the Depression years. But I try to read a story or movie in context of its times instead of trying to hold them to modern standards and ethics.☺️

In spite of its future stars cast and cheesy plot, another movie where the car was the star is "The Wraith" (1986). Dodge's M4S Turbo Interceptor concept. And as bad as I hate to admit it there's little doubt the Oldsmobile Aerotechs took styling cues from that Dodge.

Mine too!🤠 Hitchcock used some pretty interesting cars in his movies too. "Psycho" was heavy on 58-59 Ford products, and the 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 in "The Birds" was, to me, as well-cast as any of the actors. Though I hated seeing that Buick get incinerated... keep telling meself in 1963 it was just an out-of-style used car.

Don't have a favorite per se, but I'm always on the lookout for the cars in pre-1980 movies and tv shows. TCM is great for old car spotting. Last night TCM showed "The Children's Hour" which was heavy stuff for 1961. The rich parents of the boarding school girls were driving late-50s/early 60s Imperials, Lincoln Continentals, and Cadillac limousines. The old-money biddy who caused the trouble was chauffeured in a 40s blind-quarter Cadillac 75. The kinds of cars rural folk like us saw only in movies.

We've never been able to get Oldsmobile people into the forums AACA provides for them. Couldn't even get a mention in the two major clubs' magazines or websites to steer people to them. It's not often I give up but I got tired of beating my head against a wall. I can't even get a response from current club management about trying to revitalize the club geographic zone I'm in, and seems to me that ought to be a priority if the Oldsmobile clubs plan to survive.

Fred, sorry to hear this but the past year has taken a toll on us all, and after helping a buddy out I understand how much time and planning go into setting up at a big multi-day swap meet without the complications of a plague. Long as we can still order our blasting supplies from you it will be good! May TP Tools stay in business for a long time coming!

First thing is what platform could it be built on? Second is it would probably look like that heinously ugly SSR thing GM tried to foist on us in early 2000s. GM has certainly produced some clunkers looks-wise in the past 30 years but that fugly thing took the cake. Uglier than the PT Cruiser knockoff HHR, and that's saying something. And GM never understood why it kept losing market share. The only people I knew that owned them were poseurs who couldn't afford a Corvette.

My mother gave me one of those for birthday one year. If I've ever used it I don't remember it. Looks like something you could damage yourself with. It was the NAPA tool truck. The brand I saw in there was NAPA Carlyle. Picked up a neat wire terminal crimper. Smaller than the ones I have and should be able to get in tight spots easier than my big Klein and Gardner-Bender. And the great thing... a 13 year old boy was in there with his grandpa getting his first socket set!👨‍🔧👍

Including many who were clearly not! Whether by temperament or equipment...

Think of Rhett Butler...😏 I try to be. Don't always succeed!😃

I've noticed a lot of ads for I6 or even boxer sixes that refer to the engine as a V6. Suspect it has to do with ad site formatting and limited options for what type engine can be entered. My own idea is that if you're going to sell or even consign cars for a living you need to know what you're selling. I've also noticed that any company with "solutions" in its name is almost invariably run by a BS artist. But yes, I could consider that Hudson pickup a "gentleman's truck"! I'd own it!😺 But then I'd own a lot of cars if I had the resources and storage space...

I still say if you're making a living with tools you can justify the expense of Snap-On or other tool truck brand. For hobbyists not so much, though I know plenty who like the snob appeal aspect of tool truck brands, and most of those folks do little of their own wrenching🙄. I have some HF and Northern Tool stuff; also some Snap-On, Matco and MAC. Otherwise my only requirement is a US-made quality name brand. Meaning I find myself digging thru swap meets and estate sales to find that. A well-cared-for old American tool is treasure. I've also accumulated a lot of Borroughs and Kent-Moore Oldsmobile/GM dealer specialty and essential tools. I've actually had only a few occasions to use any of them, but I like the idea of using what the carmaker designed for its service people to use. Local NAPA is running an oil sale tomorrow with the added attraction of a tool truck. Newspaper ad didn't say whose, but it's a good way to spend part of a morning.

Those years look especially good with the Pontiac Rally II. Black or red PMD center, with or without trim rings. Was always a little more partial the 69 big Pontiac, but still a nice car to own. 69-70 always looked like they were ready to pounce. I know BOP all had to have 455s after Oldsmobile broke that gate down in 68, but I always thought the 425, 428 and 430 were better engines than the 455s that replaced them.

I was thinking Chevelle could have those too, but may be only fullsize. Good looking wheel treatment in anyone's book.

With the maroon bakelite and Art Moderne speed lines I would think late 30s-early 40s. Possibly a Lincoln sedan?

It's no secret that I like ElCaminos and Rancheros too. Any year, as long as it's not modified past an easy return to original. I even like 80s Dodge Rampages and Subaru Brats! Something about a car-based trucklet...

What E-Type and T-bird?!😺

The amazing part of this story is that the 68 survived all those years unmolested, right down to the gorgeous simulated mag wheelcovers. Kudos to Rocky and to you for maintaining its originality. ElCaminos are one of those vehicles that people can't/won't leave alone. My dad had a low-option 68 in Malibu trim. Ash Gold, black vinyl top, saddle interior. 307, 3-speed, AM radio and standard heater, air shocks and nothing else. Had it had a little less rust I'd have probably tried to restore it but at that time there was no reproduction sheetmetal and it would have been easier and cheaper to buy another one. 35 years down the road finding a good unmolested example is tough. They're ALL red big-block 4-speeds with Chevy Rally wheels, no matter how they started life.

My dad did everything the hard way, because that's how my grandpa and great-gran did things. By the time I was 15 I had made up my mind if there was something made to make my life easier, I was going to have it when I could afford it. Work smarter, not harder.

When I discovered real brake spring tools I thought I was in high cotton! Did it the hard way with pliers and screwdrivers for too long. Even sprung for a drum brake gauge and boy did that thing pay for itself quick! Couple weeks ago I bought a 5-drawer roller cart at HF. The brake tools and tuneup stuff live in it. Rolling it around beats the life out of lugging plastic totes around.