Oldsmobile has a new home!

[purplebargeken]

There may be a cunning plan forming. Possibly.

[purplebargeken]

Maybe. Will see

[purplebargeken]

Well hopefully this will be collected from Michael's place on Thursday and dumped at the barn for further pondering

[purplebargeken]

I emailed Rockauto and DVAP to see if they had anything. Nada.

 

Do any of our American cousins have any contact details for breakers that might be able to assist? Nothing better than local knowledge

[purplebargeken]

Well, the Yankshite mobile is safely tucked up in the barn and will receive some attention shortly

 

Huge thanks to all concerned. AS really is more than it is.

[cort1977]

I emailed Rockauto and DVAP to see if they had anything. Nada.

 

Do any of our American cousins have any contact details for breakers that might be able to assist? Nothing better than local knowledge

I will have a scout around the yards here next time I am up that way.   Did we get a definitive list of the models and years that fit?

 

The car is a 93 Olds cutlass supreme and a 92-93 Chev Lumina spring will also fit - is that correct?

 

Got to say that this is getting a little old for most of the yards but I will also look at Craigslist.

[cort1977]

This is not a million miles from me.  

 

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5170536346.html

[purplebargeken]

It is a 91 car but Lumina up to '93 has stuff that will fit so I believe.

 

I spent some time with the car today, stuff to follow....

[michael1703]

Google says w platform

 

Which is

 

Buick Century

Buick LaCrosse

Buick Regal

Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet Impala Limited

Chevrolet Lumina

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Oldsmobile Intrigue

Pontiac Grand Prix

 

But... I don't think they all share the usage of that spring.

[michael1703]

There's also

 

http://www.dbmotors.net

 

http://www.yanktanks.co.uk/carpartsales/partsUK.htm

[purplebargeken]

Cheers for that Michael, some possible sources to follow up. Much appreciated

 

 

I had a look through the info folder and saw that the car had some work done to it in 2006 at a specialist up north (the details are in the i10) so that is another possibility to check out.

 

I took some pics today and will stick them up later. I just wanted to run through the stuff that I found today.

 

I'll start with the bodywork:

 

As Wuvvum said there are patches of knackered lacquer on the boot, roof and maybe somewhere else (I will remember shortly).

 

Obvious rust seems pretty much limited to a smallish patch on the front drivers side wing and is very fixable without too much hassle.

 

Bits of external trim are worse for wear but are mostly limited to small strips of rubber whose purpose seems unclear/minimal.

 

The drivers door handle has some broken trim around it.

 

A good clean would help but the lacquer issue does spoil the car. No big deal.

 

Interior is seemingly all there but the rear drivers side door carpet trim has come adrift - easily glued back. The headlining material has come adrift above the sun visors and also at the rear of the headliner. I have plenty of spray adhesive and it appears to be an issue with a lot of late 80's and 90's cars, think Saab/Jag et al.

 

The drivers seat squab has a tear and a slit in it. Should be repairable. Seat sponge is a bit soft but to be fair the car has a tad over 157,000 miles on the clock.

 

There are bits of trim missing from where the seatbelt pops out of the top of the door trim (where most push down/pull up pins normally go).

 

The carpet needs a bloody good vacuum and clean. There are a couple of patches of wear but again nothing major. 

 

Engine - a basic service would not go amiss. Possible coolant temp sensor and possible injector. The car ran fine when warmed up and sounds in rude health. Engine bay looks solid but dusty, etc and will get a good clean.

 

Boot - no idea, could be a body in there, could be anything in there However the lock is kaput due to snapped key unhappiness - a replacement with key is very cheap).

 

All the windows work, central locking makes closing and opening noises.

 

I eventually remembered how to start the car (doh). Worked out how the footbrake operated and also found the release lever. Buttons pressed, levers pulled - all seemed to work. radio did its thing, not sure if all of the speakers are working - no big deal.

 

The hazard switch is in a weird place and is fiddly to operate. 

 

The 'hood' release pull is broken so I might have to have a think about that one. 

 

The grill is broken but again just an observation.

 

Tyres/tires look ok, lights light. Plastic headlight lenses look a little dull so they will receive some attention. Audible warning stuff makes appropriate noises

 

Windscreen wipers are strange but seem to work. Not sure what the cable ties are for, I will figure it out.

 

The window seals look untidy but still seem to be sealing. 

 

I guess it all hinges on finding a transverse spring. Once found I will focus on the other bits.

 

For now I will clean and tidy as appropriate. 

 

The car will make an interesting change, also handy for popping over to Europeland I suppose. 

 

The setup inside is simple and pretty 'clean looking'. The car is comfy.

 

Should be a worthwhile project.

 

[purplebargeken]

Morning folks, some good news. Tony from Birchsprings has emailed me back and they do a 3 leaf replacement spring. He is going to find out some figures for me. 

 

I haz potentially happy face (until I get the price). Postage will be the bitch.

[danthecapriman]

Great news! Hopefully it won't cost too much.

So it'll be on the road soon then...

[purplebargeken]

Photos!!!!!

[oldcars]

There may be a cunning plan forming. Possibly.

Are you going to hammer a Reliant Robin over it?

[Bren]

Well done.

 

Everybody aspires to owning a yank that is V8 powered - problem is even shite ones attract premium prices.

 

Will be interesting to see how it compares to euroboxes of the same vintage once it is roadworthy.

[purplebargeken]

Gotta do the Dolly first!

 

No. Never, especially as it is a stupid Del Boy'alike. 

 

Hello!

 

 

Have some rust, only a little mind.

 

 

The wipers hide and then leap out at you when you are not looking. They are a bit tired. Like me actually. Damn, I am a 90's Oldsmobile.

 

 

Mirror, mirror on the Olds, who is the fairest of them all? Fuck off bellend and sort me out!

 

 

Could be a new design for door handles. Or maybe not.

 

 

There is a very unpleasant and somewhat sticky steering wheel under there.

 

 

Who would have thought it. The seats are blue!!!!

 

 

 

 

Bastard

 

 

Someone loved it once. Screen seals tired but seemingly doing the job.

 

 

Door trim making a break for it.

 

 

Headlining trying the same, too late you fucker, I have you!

 

 

The arse end.

 

 

Moar later. I have things to do you know.

[jonathan_dyane]

What a wonderful vehicle! I can't wait to see it back on the road

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What a horror, great work trying to keep it alive

[eddyramrod]

Well done.

 

Everybody aspires to owning a yank that is V8 powered - problem is even shite ones attract premium prices.

 

Will be interesting to see how it compares to euroboxes of the same vintage once it is roadworthy.

Me included, or even especially! 

 

As for how it compares, I've had a 91 Lumina as well as other Yanks of the same generation, and I do still love them, despite my recent Mercury traumas.  I'd much rather be driving these than, for example, a 1991 Audi 100 or Honda Legend, which are probably the nearest equivalents.  Or even Rover 800!  When I had my Lumina, it alternated on daily-driver duty with my 1987 Volvo 740 estate, and everyone knows how I love those!  I'd have slung the Volvo in minutes if I could have got my hands on a towbar for the Lumina.  I've also owned the previous generation, in the form of my 1980 Buick Century, which was roughly the same size but RWD and built on a proper chassis, with a 3.8 V6.  These things are so plush.  You can rely on an American auto to feel much more luxurious and special than any other nation's products, with the added bonus of a slight loosely-built feel.  Only the Japanese come close, but what market were they building for?  Yes, the US.

 

For me, there's no contest, buy American every time, if possible.  Says the man with the Saab....

[danthecapriman]

I agree 100% with what Eddy said.

I'm no way near as experienced with american cars as Eddy and some others on here but I can say that comparing my early 70's Mercury against anything European of the same age (like my other cars) the yanks were doing very well. Cars over here just can't come close to them, they were streets ahead in terms of comfort, trim and options. They are also a lot easier to drive than most cars from this part of the world inspite of the LHD thing (who cares, no big deal!)

A lot of the criticism of american cars was in build quality but I can't say I've got any complaints. The fit and finish on mine is easily as good as any European or jap car I've ever had. There's a good deal of things about them that are actually better in this respect, everything seems big and heavy and built to last.

Ive always loved american stuff but now I've actually had one I'd never be without one now, I love mine and really miss it since it's been away having it's engine rebuild.

 

Your Olds is a lovely old thing and it's got the added bonus of not being too big and thirsty to use regularly. It doesn't look like it'll too much work and expense to get it up to a good standard, mostly cleaning. I'd actually quite like something similar as a daily myself.

[Lacquer Peel]

For me, there's no contest, buy American every time, if possible.  Says the man with the Saab....

 

GM Saab.

[purplebargeken]

I'm hopint the other major components are ok. The engine sounds fine but have not checked the transmission side of things myself. Wuvvum/Michael, anything come to mind other than the leak?

[Felly Magic]

You see loads of American chod around here, but there are hundreds of US squaddies living in the area. Sadly there does now to be a lot of modern Eurotoss being driven by them, saw a US spec Bini Cuntyman on UK plates the other day and shuddered. They clearly have no taste

[purplebargeken]

Shame as there is so much they could choose from. 

[purplebargeken]

Oh, I knew there was something else.

 

Dave, was there a problem with the drivers side door lock when using the key?

[D Spares & Tyres]

That is one ugly car....

 

I approve

 

They look like early Proton door handles

[purplebargeken]

Last spending of this month sees a full set of GM workshop manuals (3) heading my way from the States

[purplebargeken]

The excitement of faffing round with this car is mounting. I really do like it.

 

Which is lucky really as I now have this email:

 

Morning Ken 
 

Shipping on the spring will cost you $180 and the spring itself will cost you $280.  Total price with shipping is $460 canadian dollars which is roughly 230 pounds.

 

Do'able but just not yet, maybe when rover goes. 

[michael1703]

That's not too bad, thought it would be double that at least