She made the 12 X 12 book on a Blacks Website, don’t tell anyone but she even made a 9 X 9 for the Stagers.... she is a keeper, no doubt.

Ryan W31

Floor mats, can’t wait to pick these up at Bill’s!!

Ryan W31

Very Nice :)

Dan

Hi Rick, Shutterfly does offer these as well...also a few other vendors. Quality is quite good, I might add. Lynn made one last year for a Christmas present https://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books


Ryan, cool stuff buddy!! :)

Christmas Break is over.

Time to get back to finishing my punch list.

I have a potential shop selected to build a new HD 3.5 inch driveshaft. (Original has a wow in it) this will be the PSMCDR model with HD joints sans grease fittings. I may borrow Rick Nelson’s stripe-o-matic-6100 device to put purple and black stripes on it for extra MPH and reduced ET’s???

I selected a set of gauges from Summit (I can’t afford the Vintage DAY-2 stuff) I’ll get them sent to Bill’s next week. (Heads Up Bill)

My wiper motor is perfect in every way except the park tries to park and then starts again. (I will quick send it back for a touch up)

Brakes are next on the list, I have a pesky leak that needs to end right FN shortly!

I need to be set and ready to get some miles on this baby in spring so time to get back atter.

Ryan W31

You better have her road worthy for Ice Cream :)

Dan

No problem!!! Ice cream is a go!!

Ryan W31

Ryan, thought I would share a memory of a '68 Olds W31 from back-in-the-day. I graduated HS in Des Moines, IA in '75 and did a lot of cruising in various muscle cars that I owned (mostly GTOs and later a '70 Boss 302). There was one very unusual W31 in DM, a maroon post sedan with no chrome trim around the windows (maybe an F85), a black bench seat interior, plain steel wheels with dog-dish caps, white "Ram Rod" stickers on the fenders, an intact air cleaner with the under bumper intakes, and a very cool automatic shifter with a black shift ball with the shift pattern etched into it. The car was extremely clean and fast and was owned by a guy in his 20s who worked at the John Deere plant north of the city. I have always like W31s and appreciated their rarity because of that '68. Nice car you have.

Thanks for sharing, sounds like a beautiful car!!

They all make lasting impressions.

Ryan W31

Yes! She had No B90 trim :)

Dan

I have made plans to restore a friends car. Everything I learned on my car will come in to play and I predict I will learn as much again on this car.

I am really proud that Sam Grewal has trusted me to bring his new 1970 F85 W31 back to life.

Ryan W31

PS: I’ll start a new thread for this new project.

That's great. Looking forward to another build thread of yours.

We will be using your COPO Yenko build thread for reference daily!!

Ryan W31

I pulled the driveshaft to drop off this week.

I started fitting the driveshaft loop, it interferes with the X pipe, so it needs a little chop cut rebuild.

My daughter wants to go to prom in the Cutlass..... time to get my butt in gear. I work well with deadlines, so May 31st is the big day.

Ryan W31

Pictures.

Prom....Fantastic!

Why do I get the sense....that your Daughter will be the better driver :)

Dan

I fully expect my kids to do more and better in all aspects of life, including 4 speed rippin!!!

A while back, RamblerDealer casually asked me if he could teach my kids to drive 4 speed... so I guess he will give me a lesson too!!!

Ryan W31

Perfect :)

Dan

Another great looking Olds, Ryan. It's in good hands, as many of us are already convinced.
These Oldsmobiles were my introduction to the A-bodys but I've yet to enjoy ownership.
Some friends of mine were heavily into these cars as I was growing up, but my focus was on Mercury Cougars at that time. Numerous W30s, W31s and I'll never forget seeing up to a half dozen of those rear spoilers all lined up down the driveway. Good stuff! One of the brothers drug home a '68 Hurst/Olds that he was re-painting outside...remember those days? He didn't want the emblems so I ended up grabbing them. Kept them in my sock drawer for years and years until my last move where they came up missing. My last chevelle I drug home had a '68 TO rear under it, so I took that as a sign to hunt down a '68....still looking.
Another subscriber to your new build thread!

Thanks for the kind words!!

That TO rear would be a perfect second rear for my car.... :-)

Ryan W31

So I pulled a Tim the Tool Man Taylor today. If a 3R u joint is good a 1350 is better, if a 3 inch shaft is good a 3.5 inch is better @ 0.83” wall. The shop will use a spicer slip yoke for the front with 1350 but I left the stock yoke on the rear end so the rear u joint is a combo 3R one side and 1350 on the other side. This will prepare the car for more horsepower and torque and traction than I plan to throw at it. Local heavy truck driveline shop in the same town Ayr Ontario as my car was bought new...... 50 years ago March 27 1969.....

Ryan W31

Pulled my beautiful wiper motor and sent it back for some warranty work. (In the mail today)

Ordered a trio of gauges, actually ordered today. (and braided stainless hose, I will need to hide that horrendous looking upgrade) I can’t have the plastic tube leak and cause all hell)

I started to free up the door locks, I need to get a little line into them but they work now.

Marked out the driveshaft loop for some surgery. (It will be ready before the driveshaft so all good)

Decided on a shop to complete the alignment and I will see if they do the certification at the same time so I don’t need to take the car on two separate tilt load trips.

I need to work on lights next, now that these items are on the go.

Ryan W31

My wiper motor is on the way home.

I packed this up in some Webkins stuffys, I thought this was headed to Dan Vasic’s and knew he would enjoy the creative packaging. (Last year he liked the good tea towels I used to send it pre-resto)

The stuffy’s and wiper motor are on the way to Bill’s and a visit is immenent.

I need to have the car on the road soon as my daughter’s prom is at the end of the month, I get the chauffeur a couple couples!!!

I made arrangements with a shop I used for exhaust as they do alignment and safety checks. (One final ride on RamblerDealer-Terry’s tilt load)

Ryan W31

A friends daughter is getting married later in the summer and asked if she could borrow my car...... I am checking the details on this :-) maybe another chauffeur opportunity?

What a hilarious and effective way to pack a shipment. We used to be knee deep in stuffies when our kids were little... and I was crushing up newspapers?? I sure missed that opportunity.

Wipers work!!

After work tomorrow off to the shop for alignment, and check for safety.

She starts easy!! Even after sitting, spins over fast and grabs quick!

Ryan W31

I have a lot of pictures of my car on Terry’s Tilt Load :-)

Here is one more :-)

Ryan W31

The shop has been helping me get that last few details done without racking up mucho costly hours.

They will spend a few minutes tomorrow to get one more light working and she should be on the road tomorrow night.

Hagerty insurance is already in place.

Plates will be sorted out after I get the safety check paperwork.

I should be cruising this weekend!!!!! Holy-snappen-ole-snap-On-a-vich!!!!!

Ryan W31

So this happened!!!

She is on the road, Plates, sticker, insurance, safety check, all good.

Took the family for a little cruise, and now my mind is blown.

I took the kids for ice cream but will wait till my Beautiful, Cutlass loving wife can attend for my ice cream. (Momma had to go to a friends right after this video)

I want to tank my family and all my friends!! Especially those that directly helped me progress. (Progress is Paramount)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wMEkc95rsvg

Ryan W31

Nice Family Video with the car.....Well done!

Dan

Congrats Ryan on your first ride.
With the family too Awesome.
Hate to be a bugger as I don't know Olds like you do but isn't that steering wheel upside down? LOL
Enjoy many memories coming in your beautiful ride.
Reserve one night to come by my house and go to my local cruise with me one Thursday.
Cheers

I can only imagine your excitement Ryan. It has been a complete joy to watch you and your dad start this project and you and your family complete it. The video shows just what that us all about. Congratulations!

If Danny is correct on the steering wheel being upside down the likely error was in the installation of the CV cup on the topside of the intermediate steering shaft. It is possible to assemble that 180* out and that would cause your potential issue. That is the only place I can think of that will cause this.

Thanks Dan!!

Your help at every single turn has been the greatest influence to move forward over and over and over again.

I learned so much and enjoyed every aspect of the resto. (I am hooked)

Ryan W31

After Emily’s Prom this Friday I will be fixing a few glitches so she is ready for a run to your place for a cruise night!!!

Upside down steering wheel!!! You 1970 guy!!!!

Ryan W31.

I have been thinking about Dad so much lately. I am so happy he was able to be a big part of this big part of my life!!! Rest is peace Ralphy.

Danny is pulling your chain!! Olds steering wheels look upside down in 1969, and they are the same but flipped over for 1970. (1970 guys!!!)

I appreciate all the support so many people shared through this whole process!!! Especially you Rick!!

Ryan W31

'

Big congrats to you Ryan also your family plus everyone else who's been part of this whole W-31 Post car adventure!:headbang:
Are there plans yet to take the Stagers for a rip, maybe a drive out to Ayr and the original County Garage Dealership location?
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Thanks Andy for starting this whole journey!!!

Absolutely we are planning to go for a cruise with the Stagers. Step one is Prom.

Ryan W31

Prom is today :)
Have fun!
Post pics

Dan

So another life bucket list item checked off!!!

Take our daughter to prom in my Cutlass. CHECK!!

This was such an honour and there was an option to go in a Limo but she wanted to go with Daddy!!! She wouldn’t even come home in the Limo, I got to pick them up later to get them to the after party.

Note to self, check where the venue is before going... it was on a gravel road.... not kidding. Baptize the Cutlass CHECK!!

Honestly the venue could have been at the bottom of the ocean and I would have still taken Emily in the Olds.

Our kids have such great friends a whole bunch were here after the after party...

Life is good, my car is filthy, now time to start fixing the bugs!!

Ryan W31

Great Dad! Great Fun! Great Memories.

Well done!

Dan

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4z_GDwKTFnI

2 kilometres of gravel, one day of cleaning :-( :-)

Ryan W31