57 Rustbucket 1957 Chevy Bel Air

1969 Olds Cutlass Convertible Restoration
Page 14

FOR SALE


1969 Olds Cutlass Convertible

May 8, 2016

Things are starting to really come together now. Should be driving her in no time!


Convertible top mechanism Top stripped

I've been putting off restoring the convertible top mechanism. It gives me a headache just looking at how it all fits together and folds up. But I can't put it off any longer.

I stripped all the old material from it and took dozens of pictures along the way. It all seems to be there and not rusted away.

Many moving parts Top disassembled

There are A LOT of moving parts to this gizmo. I disassembled the top and after inspection it's in very good condition. All the bushings and pivot points are solid and not worn out. I labeled everything and took more pictures.

Parts blasted Parts painted

All the components were media blasted and painted with several coats. I say it often, but they look just like new.

Parts laid out Making sense

I laid all the pieces out and began to scratch my head. Thankfully I had taken all those pictures and began to make sense.

Reassembling Folds perfectly

Miraculously it all came together and folded perfectly. That's another first for me.

Top assembled Ready for car
Top on car
Reinstalled back on the car. It's been nearly 2 years since these two have been together.
Top up Top working
Hydraulic hoses
Some final adjusting, a new set of hoses for the hydraulic rams that open and close it, and the top goes up and comes down with a touch of a button.

Automatic transmission fluid is used in the system as you can see through the clear hoses.

It's a big step towards getting this old girl finished.
Masking body Ready to paint

Now we're gonna have some fun. It's time to put some color on her. I masked off most of the body in order to paint the door jambs, the edges and vent openings on the hood and the drip rail around the trunk opening.

More masking Masked complete
Epoxy primer Primed

A couple coats of epoxy primer to seal everything up and have a uniform color to paint over.

Base color Tahitian Turquoise
Color on car Exciting

Then three coats of base color. It's pretty exciting to see the color on the car.


More painting Looking great
Clear coat prep Clear applied
Three coats clear
Followed by three coats of clear.

WOW it's really looking great!
Deck lid on
The deck lid reinstalled, along with the passenger door.
Coming together Almost there

All that's left to put back on is the hood.

It's time to clean the shop from top to bottom and turn it into a paint booth.

This is really exciting. The next update will be a milestone, I should have a car that is completely covered in Tahitian Turquoise!

Lots more to come!

Check back often.


Updates almost daily I hope!

Contact me! [email protected]