rocketraider

The 79 wire caps will fit but aren't correct if you want it back like it's s'posed to be.<P>You had several wheel treatment choices in 1970: dog bowls, standard stamped stainless steel full wheel covers, deluxe diecast full wheel covers, wire wheel covers and two mag-styled steel wheels, the stainless and chrome Super Stock I and the painted Super Stock II. Get yourself a factory shop manual and it will have pics of all the wheel options. Plus it will prove invaluable when you need to work on this car. You can find them at swap meets, mail order, or e-bay.<P>Is upholstery cloth or vinyl? Vinyl will be easy to repair, most trim shops will have the correct Madrid or Elk grained vinyl yardage in stock. Cloth may be a bit harder to find. SMS Auto Fabrics in Oregon or Harry Samuel Interiors in Michigan are good sources for Olds body cloth, but be warned- the stuff may be expensive and with old cloth you have to worry about dry-rot.<P>I'm glad to hear someone is trying to save a four-door. Too many people view them only as a parts source for a 442.

Some noise is normal in a power steering system. If fluid level is normal and it still howls, there may be air trapped in the system. With engine idling, turn the steering wheel hard against the left and right stops for a few seconds. Repeat this a few times, then check the fluid level and add if needed. If it squawks loud when turned hard right or left the belt is loose. You'll have to loosen the pivot bolt underneath the car and the adjuster bolt behind the PS pump pulley. Pulley should have some access holes to get a socket on the adjuster bolt. You'll see a tab on the water pump side of the PS pump bracket. Use a stout screwdriver or skinny pry bar between the pump snout and this tab and pry the pump out till belt is tight as you want it, just don't pry on the pump reservoir housing. It'll bend and the pump element will hit it and raise all kinds of fuss, if it doesn't lock the pump.<P>The warning lamp is the GEN lamp. On a 76, one belt goes around both PS pump only and the second one goes around PS and alternator. If it's loose, alt won't charge and the light will come on. Alt bearing seizing may be the noise you're hearing.<P>Instrument cluster warning lamps:<P>Left of shift quadrant, top to bottom:<P>GEN OIL<BR>BRAKE<BR>LIGHTS ON (warning package cars only)<BR>AIR CUSHION (airbag cars only)<P>Right of shift quadrant, top to bottom:<P>FASTEN SEAT BELTS<BR>HOT (flashes, uses special bulb) LOW FUEL<BR>EXTERNAL LAMP (lamp monitor cars only)<BR>LOW COOLANT (warning package only)<P>Hope it helps. GW

Seems like Mrs. Edward Ragsdale's similar reaction to convertibles brought about the original Riviera hardtop... my gawd, hairdressers have to make a living too, and ragtops help that.

See my reply in AACA section.

Stop and think- the ancient Romans liked to watch gladiator shows in the Colosseum.<P>And some of us are modern Romans...<P>A story- when I bought my 1976 Ninety Eight, I went to look at it intending only to put out a lead on it. I get there, and here sits this near gorgeous big Olds with all the docs back to MSO, and a build date of 1st week September- #1808 off the Linden NJ assembly line that year. I figured the old guy was gonna want $3500 or better for it, and having just bought the 74 Hurst, didn't need, want or have anywhere to put another car. He sez "I won't take a dime under $800 for it, and somebody has offered me $600 for it to put it in a demolition derby".<P>I found somewhere to put another car.<P>Demolition derbys are low-grade entertainment for low grade people. If I've stepped on toes, get over it. I don't like destruction for destruction's sake , not that I believe anyone on this DF does, either.

ST line: 72 is year (1972)<BR> 3 is Oldsmobile Division<BR> 42 is a Cutlass Supreme<BR> 57 is a notchback <BR> Holiday coupe (2d hardtop)<BR> LAN is Lansing body assembly plant<BR> 266139 is the sequential Fisher body<BR> plant number (not the VIN)<P>TR line: 979 is saddle tan interior trim<BR> 50 is Cameo White exterior paint<BR> F is saddle tan vinyl roof cover<BR> PNT simply means paint<P>OC sounds like a time built code. C will be 3rd week of the month. See if there's another # with the "0".<P>A65 is notchback bench seat with center fold down armrest.<P>B85 is wide exterior belt molding (which most Supremes had).<p>[ 03-24-2002: Message edited by: rocketraider ]

Have you thought about trying Coker's redline radials?<P>I got into this same thing in 1996. My 69 Toronado had a set of Goodrich radials that had about 13k on them since installed in 1988. Olds Nationals were in Atlanta that year, in August. Even though the tires were nowhere close to worn out treadwise, they were dry-rotted in the sidewalls. And I thought, do I dare drive this car, fully loaded with three of us and gear, 6 hours at interstate speeds in 90 degree heat? Common sense kicked in and I went after tires, and naturally on Friday before we were to leave Tuesday, there were no 255/70R15 BFG tires to be had in this city. And no chance of getting any before Tuesday afternoon. So I dropped a size and decided to contend with speedometer calibration when we got back.<P>And here I am, six years later, with a set of BFG tires, 10k on them and developing small sidewall cracks, and me thinking of driving this car to Lansing in August! The 1976 Ninety Eight needed new shoes last year. I bought mid-priced tires for it, knowing I'd never wear them out before they rotted.<P>There's times I think old cars have dry-rotted me brain...

Get the ones for a V8 Monte Carlo and also get a V8 MC parts car. If the current engine is a 307 you're better off putting an Olds 350 or 403 in it. Lots less work and crap trying to make everything fit.<P>Besides- why would you want a Chevrolet powered Oldsmobile? GM got into a world of hurt when they did that back in 1977. Cost 'em millions when the lawsuit dust had settled.

I know what you're talking about but for my life I cannot remember what Buick called these cars. Had a bird- an eagle or a hawk, and seems like there was a reference to "Spirit" of something. It may have been part of the 1976 Pace Car replica package. <P>A few years back, a 76 Pace Car showed up in a local junkyard that was notorious for crushing. The car was complete except QuadraJet- the roof trim, spoiler, it was ALL there. I told the guy give me a day or two to call some Buick friends, and one of them drove two hours the next morning to get there when the place opened, and the sob had already crushed it. I've seen the guy crush- gets a wild gleam in his eye when he's doing it. His wife (the brains behind the bizness) would set aside pre 1975 cars in a special area, knowing she could sell to hounds like ourselves. She and the kids took off to the beach for a weekend, came back and this ass had gone in the pre-75 area and crushed over half of them the three days she was gone.<P>He also takes the crusher on the road. Several years back a garage about an hour from here called him to come pick up some cars, he put the crusher on the road and went to crush cars. Put a 1974 Plymouth in it and about time it was half flattened, the car's owner came out and asked him just what the hell was he doing. Turns out it had just been tuned up and was parked outside waiting to be picked up!

None that I know of. Yer best bet will be one of the southwestern US junkyards. Which pieces are smashed up? Be aware that each series has different fender trim and you might have to drill or fill mounting holes.

The W31 cars had aluminum intakes, and I think a few 1980 350s had them too. They were common on mid-80s 307s but these had EGR and small ports, and were used strictly as a weight saving. But then the W-350 intake was also identical to the cast iron intake of the same year, just lighter.<P>A true Oldsmobile performance aluminum intake will have OLDSMOBILE W-350 cast into it between the thermostat and carb.

Should be the same across the board for GM B&C body cars unless car has tilt-telescope steering wheel or cornering lamps. The difference in cornering lamp equipped cars is that they have three extra terminals in the "harmonica" wire harness connector at the base of the steering column. A cornering lamp t/s switch can be used in a non-cornering lamp car, but not the other way around.<P>There were also two manufacturers those years, Delco and Boyne, and don't think they interchange.

In this city blocking a driveway or street front garage entrance, even if it's yours, is grounds for a parking ticket with attached $100 fine. If you have a written lease, that is considered to be legal use of the property and gives you certain rights to use of it. I think the cop was blowing smoke up your ass. Check with city attorney's office and file a complaint against the cop if what he told you doesn't jive with the CA's office. Believe me when I tell you a city cop doesn't always know the laws he's sworn to enforce.<p>[ 03-20-2002: Message edited by: rocketraider ]

Dave- whatever works. If we have to be vigilante to keep the feds away from our toys, we do what we must when vigilant doesn't work.

I hate to hear about another Toronado getting parted out for the engine, especially if it's a nice running original car. And especially if its a W34 (70 will have GT badging on hood and a notched dual exhaust rear bumper). Those are just too rare to chop up, and will deliver performance comparable to any 442 except the W30. I know- I have a 69 W-Toro that regularly spanks ass on the 442s in Mid Atlantic Olds Club, and on the occasional errant Mustang that is stupid enough to tangle with something he knows nothing about.<P>Do the Toronado and Oldsmobile worlds a favor- sell the car complete to someone who'll appreciate it, and get yer 455 out of a junker.

The intake and chrome valve covers are probably aftermarket, if it were a W31 350 it would have OLDS W-350 cast in the intake.<P>Could have come out of any number of cars and 350 were made 1968-80. Gold tells me its a 68-74 block. Look on the lower left corner of the heads facing them, there'll be a number cast into them. 1,2,3,4 indicate a 330 cid engine; 5,6,7,8 are a 350. If a 350, look on left front side of block behind the alternator mount and there is a machined pad that will have the VIN of the car it was originally installed in, but all that can really tell you is the year of the engine and the assembly plant. 330 has this same info stamped into the front of the block just below the right head.

You might be surprised how beautiful those early 50s metallic greens can be when they're fresh, glossy and polished so slick it looks like you can dip yer hands in it. I'm thinking you've got either a late built car with a Springtime color code (they did that frequently those years) that your paint chips didn't update, or you have a special ordered Caddy or Olds color. I don't have paint references that far back so I can't help as far as naming the code 42.

I agree with having a radiator shop do it. Prior to that you can use a radiator flush chemical, Prestone and SolderSeal Gunk come to mind, that will clean the crap out of the block and heater core.<P>Is it just this town, or do others run into shops who don't want to touch old stuff? Took the 64 Olds radiator in to repair a seam leak and the guy says, I'm not responsible if it leaks worse or the core comes apart, and I can't get a replacement. This from supposedly the best shop in town?! Man, I brought the thing to you to be repaired!<P>But since his dad died, this guy has gotten notorious for wanting to sell a new one instead of repairing stuff.<P>Also be aware that in those days GM was prone to overkill on holding stuff in. The aforementioned Olds has a bolt tab at the bottom of the fan shroud that necessitated dropping the sway bar to get at it. When it went back together, the bolt hole is now slotted to allow pulling the shroud up and off without pulling half the car apart.<P>

The best I can offer is that all the 1968 GM B-body sedans use the same inner door structure. So ventshades for one marque will fit the other three. 1968 B cars are Chevy Impala/Caprice/BelAir/Biscayne, Pontiac Catalina/Executive/Bonneville, Olds Delmont/Delta 88, Buick LeSabre/Wildcat.<P>I assume you've checked parts stores to see if their warehouses or suppliers can get them from obsolete stock? The VentShade Company itself might still have some laying around.<P>It's possible that 1965-70 upper door frames might be the same on these cars. Anyone have a Hollander handy to see if window glass is identical?

Limited, I thought Christine was a Plymouth! <P>Dennis, if you have delay wipers the problem will be in the pulse timer or park relay, which are both inside the wiper motor. Your best bet may be to get a junkyard wiper motor and see if the problem goes away.<P>My 83 Custom Cruiser quirks like this sometimes in cold weather, say 30 or below. The wipers won't start but you can hear the motor buzzing. Turn 'em off and back on using the wash paddle, and then they'll work.<P>Had to replace the column mounted wiper switch a couple years back. The thing locked up tight and couldn't move it. Replacing it was an adventure too.

Another long-term dealer: Wyatt Buick Sales Company (now Wyatt Buick-Pontiac) here in Danville. Opened in 1924 and still has Virginia automobile dealer license #5.

Coker Tire should have something suitable. <BR>These cars came with bias-belted double-pinstripe whitewalls, usually F orG78-14. You can also put a repro wide-oval raised white letter tire on an SX and still be correct. Goodyear, Firestone and Uniroyal were OEM tire suppliers to GM in the early 70s.<P>Expect to pay in the neighborhood of $800 for five tires and shipping.

Even in a code 9 307 HO as used in 442 and Hurst/Olds of those years, overbore won't affect the cam used. It still won't be a powerful engine, but I have to say they're among the most reliable and trouble-free engines I know of. It's not unheard of for one to go 300,000 miles with no major repairs or oil consumption if reasonably maintained.<P>The Oldsmobile 307 has nothing in common with a Chevrolet engine except it was built by General Motors. The 305 used in Monte Carlo et al was a miserable little engine. No power, soft cams, prone to detonation, and notorious oil leakers. But they were cheap to build and Chevy had plenty of engine building capacity, so they went into millions of GM cars. Their one saving grace is that the heads have small combustion chambers and can be used to up compression on SBC- like they need anything else to promote detonation.

I got the ones for my 74 Hurst/Olds Pace Car from Auto Decals Unlimited. Ain't cheap though. 602-220-0800 was the number 2 years ago.<P>To answer yer question on why the Pace Car decals are more readily available for Camaro pace cars than the Olds Pace Cars (yes, the capitalisation on Olds and not Camaro is intentional)- Camaros are common as dirt, is why. More market share means more stuff available, and I can almost promise you half the Camaro pace car replicas out there are bogus.<P>It's generally accepted that only the two Indy 500 Pace Cars had the W30. Y74 should be on data plate. If it's Y74 and W30, unless it has the paperwork to back up actual Pace Car duty, it's been fiddled with. Must also have a Lansing VIN, which you have.<P>442.com and the Oldsmobile Club of America will be your best source for info on any of the Oldsmobile Pace Cars. The REOlds chapter of OCA is also a good source, and they've made several Pace Car t-shirts for their annual Homecoming show in Lansing.<P>Glenn Williamson<BR>the Rocketraider<p>[ 03-15-2002: Message edited by: rocketraider ]

The Olds History Center in Lansing can furnish some information on your car, but I can never remember the address. HydraMatic wasn't that rare on an Oldsmobile, most had it since the Rocket people pushed their invention hard on the sales floor. It's a four speed unit and if working properly will snap your head back when it shifts, even with the 6 cylinder engine. No mushy Dynaflow or Powerglide here.<P>You have an interesting car. Is this the dark grey one that shows up at the Thursday night High Point cruise-ins ever so often?<P>Keep in touch- would like to have you as a Mid Atlantic Olds Club member. Pre-1955 Olds aren't at all common in our group.<p>[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: rocketraider ]