Projects New Project: 1953 Oldsmobile

Now, have someone hold throttle to the floor. Working at the carb linkage, are you able to pull the TV cable out further? Or is it tight?

It should be tight.

 

Definitely no more room to pull the cable with foot to the floor. It also has tension with throttle closed.

I’m feeling at least confident enough for a test drive now. Just gotta add fluids and double check that everything it tightened down.

 

Test drive was a success! Made it to a local cars and coffee this morning. Feels like the car is shifting a little late, but I’m also not used to the new gearing. I expect it to go into overdrive sooner than it does, but when 4th hits, it would have bogged down if it had shifted any earlier. Haven’t had the car last 55 yet. Need to get more drive time in to work out any kinks.

 

Those headlight shields make it look sleepy.

 

Id say they make it look like its just laid out there & chillin like it just dont give a damn... The TV cable setup "looks" ok. Use that*****on adjustment to move the cable in or out one click at a time. That will adjust the shift points just a small amount. Enough to get the right feel but not burn the trans down.
Otherwise they sell a weight & spring kit to use on the governor to really adjust the shift points if you cant work it out with just the cable.

 

Man, I just can’t believe it, but I got to, since I was there when it happened.

I put down about 30 trouble free miles on Baloo yesterday! Everything feels great. The ride is smooth, the car is tracking straight, no weird vibrations, and I can cruise 65 without a second thought!



A friend caught up with me at a gas station and checked to make sure the car wasn’t dog tracking as well, he said it looked good!



The road noise is a little much since everything is still wide open in the back.

Even drove Baloo to work this morning! It was nice to see him back in his spot.



I’m going to take a short break from working on the car and just enjoy driving for a bit. Let the bugs and kinks get worked out. I’m planning to take a 60 miles cruise after work today. Going to drive out to the shop that rebuilt the transmission and have them triple check the Tv cable for me.

I think the cable might be too tight. Under acceleration, everything is perfect and shifts when it should. I can feel the torque converter locking up when it should as well. Leaving neighborhoods is weird. It revs out pretty far until I hit about 18 mph. I have to almost complete let off the throttle for it to shift before that point.

Anyway. Guys, I’m so excited. It’s so good to have my car back.

 

I saw your post on IG, the car looks great even with the open back floor

 

Driving is the BEST!

 

Been back at it! I was hoping to get way more done this last weekend, but been too freaking cold.

Did a little here and there over the last couple weeks. Got about half of my flooring done and the air management put where I want it. Going to keep most everything hidden behind the back seat. Once it heats back up, I’ll finish the floor under the back seat.




Also let my daughter (15) drive Baloo down the street the other day. Pretty sure I saw my car’s life flash before my eyes.

 

I think my daughter was 14 maybe 15, driving my ragtop down the highway.

 

That Olds is Badass

 

IM SO FREAKING CLOSE!

Most of the floor is now done. I just need to finish the patches above the upper links. Looks like my back seat is going to fit back into place just fine too.

If you’re interested in the chaos that happened before starting on the floor, here’s a Facebook/Instagram video I made:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/RyCyxaTKYu1Gi8VF/?mibextid=WC7FNe

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2VRQMdPvVR/?igsh=MW53d3UweGF0dzE3

I did finally fix the gauges and speedometer.
And here’s the progress I made on the floor so far:

 

Baloo is done!

Well, you know what I mean. Everything I set out to do 8 months ago is finally finished. Engine refresh, new transmission, 4 link, flooring, and all of the air ride. Interior is back in too. All done.



I can finally get back to daily driving! Took a quick cruise to O’Reilly for a few little things. Speedometer works (a little off, but doesn’t bother me), car cruises smooth, and with the floor in the ride is actually fairly quiet (well, for lake pipes).

It feels so good to have this major project finished. A project car is never done, and there’s still plenty to do. Next major project will probably be the interior. I think I’m going to take a stab at doing it myself. Currently thinking a navy diamond pattern on the door panels and white pleated vinyl for the seats.

 

I'm really digging the hood on that. Also it's a shame Chevy didn't use the same roofline on 53/54 hardtops

 

I hate pictureless posts, but gonna have to this time. Only picture I took had the underglow on.

Anyway, put 150 miles on Baloo on Friday! Rode absolutely amazing. 80 like its nothing. Gas mileage still blows at that speed, but I imagine I'd get a lot better if I kept the speed around 65.

 

It’s been so good to have my car back. Already been out to Austin and back in a day. Car cruising 80/90 like it’s nothing.

I do have an oil leak. I haven’t had the heart to get under the car to find it yet. Hopefully just need to tighten some stuff up. Been putting lots of miles on it and enjoying every second.

Mildly OT, but wanted to share. I’ve been working on my garage the last few weeks. The chaos from Baloo really took a toll on it. I can actually get three cars and the bike back in!

 

Playing with some interior ideas. Tried my hand at seeing some seat covers. Only did the folding fronts for now. I’m worried the material I used won’t hold up for long. I’m happy with the look, but far from perfect. I’m going to give them a few weeks to see how they hold up, then I’ll finish the rest if they do ok.

Also, is window tint considered OT? I’ve been considering it with summer coming up. I honestly don’t like the look on classic cars, but it would keep the interior cooler and keep my cloth from fading.



Also while I’m here, my son and took Baloo camping. Got a few pictures while we were out in meridian state park.

 

Not liking the Mexican blankets. Save your money, that car needs real upholstery.

 

I have a mexican blanket on my front seat, big safety pins holding it together. I just got back into the car yesterday and realized that the seat itself is shot. It will need foam and covering, the basic structure is good. The plan is to sort it out soon and send the front seat and door cards out to be done.

 

Yeah, I hear you. I kinda dig the look, but I really need something that can withstand 4 large dogs. haha Been eyeing some pleated vinyl material from amazon. May order some and try my hand at that. Going back and fourth between white and navy blue.

My backseat is in ok shape, my front bench needs a ton of work. I'm not qualified to do interior work, but gonna try anyway. haha

 

"Going back and fourth between white and navy blue."
With 4 large dogs I would think white is out!

 

I'm not even going to try... I'll shop a couple of places, price and delivery. Something I should have done in the fall. I'll push it off if it is going to take too long.

 

Well, did the interior. I’m happy with it for now. Not sure if it will hold up, but we’ll see. A real upholstery job is still on the someday list.


This is a little OT, but wanted to share. I think I’ve posted about the black lights in my garage before, but I finally updated to LEDs. Makes everything fluorescent glow really nicely. I’ve had an Olds metal sign I picked up at the round up last year having for a while, so my daughter helped me paint it to take advantage of the black lights.



Ok, last bit. I’m super excited about LSRU. Front tires have been wearing super hard on the outside, so I took the Olds in for an alignment. Now the car is pulling super hard to the right. Like, it’s bad. Was tracking straight before. I tried rotating tires diagonally, but it’s just as bad. It’s going back to the shop tomorrow for a recheck. I told them the rear is fully adjustable as well, but by my measurements, it’s fine. Hopefully they can figure it out.

I just don’t understand how it was tracking great before and now it’s way off. I wouldn’t think correcting the toe would cause that much of a pull.

 

Did you sew a backing to the Mexican Blankets?
I find they will hold up better when sliding in and out of the vehicle if you stich material behind the blankets as a backer for the woven material.

 

No, afraid I didn't. That crossed my mind too. For now, just going to try and be careful with it. I was mostly in a rush to have something ready to go by LSRU. Kinda why I waited to put them in the week before. haha

 

Did they do a 4-wheel alignment? Now everything comes off the rear wheels unlike the old 2-wheel alignments. On the front, the pull will be on the side of the leading upper ball joint. It will be the side with the most negative caster.

If the car has shims on the upper arm, you can move them back and forth (equally) and not impact the camber. You want to kick the upper ball joint backwards. I would go one full shim, about 1/8" to start.

 

Got the alignment set! Car is tracking perfect now.
Pretty sure I’m all set for the round up. I did a plug change a few days ago because I had a miss. Ran great for a day or so, but feels like I’ve got a miss again this morning. Must be fouling a plug. Going to roll with it for now.

Dog just because I don’t like pictureless posts. Carly discovered the optimal location to enjoy the vent window.

 

Roundup was amazing as always! Still heading back, but posting this while stopped at an ihop.


Cars has done great so far. 80/85 all the way here. Hoping for the same luck on the way back.

Took about 200 pictures Friday, but with the meh weather yesterday, I kinda sat out. I’ll look for a roundup picture thread and add mine later.

I did give in to an impulse buy. Found a visor for $200. Wrong color and doesn’t fit, but feeling confident about modifying it. I’ll mess around with it more when I get back.



Also got a hotel room with a good view.


Overall, amazing weekend. Even if something blows up on the way home and I have to tow it, it’s all totally worth it.

 

Back home with no issues!

Already playing with my new visor. I think this will be amazing if I can make it work. Going to post a few pictures, throw out a few ideas, and see what you guys thing.

I know my thread is older and gets kinda lost in the grand scheme of things, so might post a new thread later just for the visor.

I think I like where it sits like this (got my kids to hold it for me):

That route gives me two sold places to mount bolts into the roof. I’m thinking I could either make a bracket for the lower two holes, or maybe pie cut the visor and fill the gaps after.
The center support is an issue. I don’t have split front glass, but any reason I couldn’t use a 54 Chevy center mount?


Open to ideas. I think this will look killer if I can do it right.

 

That looks like an easy style bracket to make. Get some plate and start fitting it up. Hard part will be drilling holes in your car.