1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

[DanStokes]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

John -
I'll be up in St. Paul April 8th. or so for a few days. My GrandKids and their adults live there. Did I ever tell you how remarkable my Grands are?????.........

Anyhow, I heard that there is some kind of super burger joint up there. Want to hook up when I'm there? PM me your number and we'll chat - like to meet as many Junkies - er - BS'ers as possible.

Dan

[NAS Backyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan on going progress

I was going to put the pass side window back on it's track so it would roll up and down. And you really can't repair windows properly without buying new channel at least ,so I stopped buy the local glass shop to see if they had any window channel. I thought maybe 30-45.00 for the 4 pieces I needed. 91.00! OUCH!(It's been 10 yrs since I bought this type of stuff), but I just sold some stock Mopar steel wheels for 80.00 so I had some funding. I had to order 2 of the pieces and later discovered I need the 2 wipers also. but I discovered the track was gone and no where to be found . So I went over to Charlies and got lucky finding a 61 Chevy door with the glass broke out. Hauled away at no charge. Although it's from a 4 dr, I was sure I could get some usable parts. After dismantling the door I found the track to be in good shape but the channel was rusty. The 2 channels are alot different in size but the tracks were only a few inches apart. After installing the 4 dr track on the 2 dr regulator it was determined it would work fine and stay in the track on the full up and down cycle. The 2 dr channel was a little rusty so I took it off the glass and sand blasted it. It's still usable. I was trying to decide how I was going to attach it to the track mounts since I was out of gas on my mig welder till Mon(and that stuff is out of my budget till next month). I've decided to drill and tap it for small screws, that way I'm not trying to weld to partially rusted chrome plating and I can move it if needed. I will eventually find the correct track when I go up to Redbluff for parts. I won't be replacing the wing window rubber, not because it doesn't need it, because it's 150.00 for the pair!!! WOW! my 53 Suburbans were 49.00.It's cheaper to just leave them closed. I lubed the rubber up with some silicone grease for now. Thats something I can deal with later, maybe when I find some nice complete wing assemblies with good rubber from a 2 or 4 dr parts car.I also cleaned,scraped, vacuumed,rust convertered and primed the inside of the door.The trim around the top of the door is a light blue. I was able to find almost a dead on match at the parts store . I tried it on the piece of trim above the taped area. Anyway, hear are some pictures.

4dr track and channel below the 2 dr channel


2 dr channel before sandblasting



Repaired, need to cut the screws off

Primed with Rustoleum

These little clips hold the channel in, I need to R&R them into the new piece

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Another needed repair to check off the list is done. It was really alot easier than I had anticipated.The guy at the glass place gave we the glass channel rubber and the window wiper piece. Now my GF won't be afraid to shut the door and worry about the glass breaking. Going to the auto parts tomorrow and pick up a new speedo cable for 15.00. Looked it up on www.rockauto.com and got the part number and paid about the same if I had it shipped. Pics are a little blurry due to low batteries. Anyway..................
cleaned the glass

Measure twice, bend once

installed in newly painted door frame

wiper and glass in place

we have a working window

let it rain

[milner351]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

another great project! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. I love this car more every time you show more pictures of it!

[62-impala-ss]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

another great project! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. I love this car more every time you show more pictures of it!

X2

What a nice simple low buck build. You are a master!!

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Thanks for the comments, maybe a master of potential disaster! I'm getting to be a little more creative on this project. I drove it to work last night and today with my trailer attached with my riding mower on it, I got a few stares, especially from the huge 4X4's pulling simular trailers.It just keeps getting better and better .Next projec is the speedometer cable, can't even get my hand up under the dash. Then I really need a front end alignment which I may have to try myself. I think my tire guy knows he will lose his a$$ on that job! Also may take a ride to a friend in Napa Ca. who has 2 more stock wheels for me.

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Haven't had much to report on the Olds lately. I've been busy doing a full restoration on an evaporative "swamp" cooler on my house. It's been out of service for a few years and I was going to remove it for central air but decided to start using it again. www.rustbullet.com to the rescue. I did install a new speedometer cable in the Olds, what a challenge fishing it through the 3 different holes in the firewall/floor. I strung some bailing wire with the old cable and duct taped it into a point. After getting it through the floor I installed the factory splint that holds it in a bend. And when it was all said and done....the speedometer still didn't work. >. The cable was broke though so the work wasn't in vane. I will need to tackle the speedometer at a later date. I have been driving it to work alot and realized I really need to get the frontend alignment done so I dropped it off at the tire shop tonight and their going to work on it in the morning ;D If all goes well the next job will to be change the transmission fluid. Here's some pictures for your viewing enjoyment. It turns a few heads but no one has called it a Galaxie yet.







Rained out cruise night at A&W where my son works

On the front end rack.....finally

[SuperBuickGuy]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

I had a truck that I replaced the speedo cable to get it to work. Turns out the speedometer was frozen, and as a lesson to me, it broke the cable again >
Perhaps disconnect it from your speedo until you get to the repair?

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Yes, I removed it to check it and left it unhooked.

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Well the alignment went well and it's all dialed in now. It took a couple of hours. The same guy did my Roadrunner. He hooks these things to all 4 wheels. It cost me 70.00 and I gave them some Pizza vouchers for a tip. They even left it in the shop after they were done because the doors don't lock. On to the next project, get my extra wheels from my friend Terry in Napa and a couple of tires and change the transmission fluid and filter.

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Did a drain and fill on the transmission fluid and it was VERY dirty. Still need to find a filter. I'll do a flush when i do that. been driving it around town alot. Was at the Mopar Spring Fling on sunday and found these new SW gauges for the Olds. I've been looking for a set like this and only paid 30.00. Got them installed when I got home. 35 psi oil pressure for a tired engine isn't bad. Working on getting some seat covers this week and that will be my next big project.

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

After a couple of months of trolling ebay for aftermarket NOS seat covers ,I finally won some. I saw several sets that were really close in color but couldn't either get a confirmation on the application or the seller wouldn't post any decent measurements.The measurements on these are dead on to my seats so that will be a big plus. I was really hoping for some blue or silver ones but I settled on these because the price was right (61.84) delivered, they are heavy in construction, the seating area is cloth, and they are close enough in color to dye a Black/light blue with SEM. I will be installing them myself and posting as I go. I'm hoping to be in this job for under 100.00 total. Stay tuned.

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

I also scored this NOS Replacement rubber floormat, probably from the 60's, from my friend Charlie. I also got several others if anyone needs one. It was listed for a 57-58 Olds. It even smells new. Need to use the heat gun on it to get the 40+ years of wrinkles out of it.

[milner351]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

Man this car rocks!
going to be better than new before long for less than it cost new, in non adjusted for inflation dollars!

LOVE IT

[NASBackyard]

Re: 1961 Olds 88 2 Dr Sedan sneak preview

I get home from work this morning and theres a box on the table, seat covers, woo hoo! Gotta slip em on and get a visual. WOW! I'm not dissapointed! They fit like a glove . I don't think I will even try to mess with the colors, their too nice. Heavy Duty construction. These would easily be 350.00 covers if bought new today. I can't wait to get them on. I still need some hog ring pliers and foam though. Shouldn't be too hard to install, especially the rear. heres a sneak peek.