Value? My Father-in-laws 1971 Cutlass Supreme Convertible

[njsteve]

I posted some videos on youtube:

[RPOLS3]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Maybe I’ll hook it up (outside of the tank) to the dash wire and see what it shows in the gauge before I install it.

I did the same thing and the gauge moved up and down with the float, but when installed with gas in the tank it still reads 2/3-3/4 full when 100% full and reads empty when it actually has 1/3-1/2 tank.

[njsteve]

Interior shots:

[dykstra]

Love the bucket seats and no console.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by RPOLS3

I did the same thing and the gauge moved up and down with the float, but when installed with gas in the tank it still reads 2/3-3/4 full when 100% full and reads empty when it actually has 1/3-1/2 tank.

Since you mentioned the reading inaccuracy of the new sender, I checked the new and old sender side by side. You are correct: There is definitely a difference in the heights due to the bend of the float hangers. I adjusted the bends with a pliers so the new float hanger matches the old one. Hopefully it makes the reading more accurate this way.

Before and after (full and empty positions)

[njsteve]

Success! Gas gauge reads correctly. This is the reading after I put in 8 gallons. Long day...especially when you have to wait all day for amazon to deliver the lock-ring and O-ring that were missing from the fuel tank sender assembly.

[njsteve]

As you all know by now, the Olds sold in a matter of hours once I placed it on facebook marketplace two weeks ago. A local couple from the next town over were the first to come by the next morning and bought it on the spot. He had been looking for this exact car, in this exact color for years and wound up only having to travel 10 miles in the end to find it!

Oh, and after we checked the build date (third week of August 1970), it turns out that it coincided with his birthday, which was the day he picked the car up. He was 1 year old when the car was originally built. Now that's one of those "meant to be" events. Glad it wound up with this new family.

My wife and kids went up to the in-laws home in Rochester over the weekend and were going around the house gathering up momentos and other stuff. They ended up finding all the original parts to the Olds. Great detective work by the remote team. They found the original, August 1970, date-coded 2bbl carb, the original, August 1970, date-coded air cleaner (minus the lid), the original, date-coded distributor, and late 1970 casting date water pump (which was in great condition), the original fan clutch with correct ink stamp and fan, two sets of original valve covers, the original convertible top boot in perfect condition (don't know why he had a repro one on there), two extra distributors, a set of original center caps for the wheels, floor mats, a 1975-dated, Olds Quadrajet, and boxes of other stuff. They also collected the rest of his tools that I had missed when I was briefly up there picking up the car.

I called the new owner and he came right over on Saturday with the rest of his family to say hello and pick up all the new loot. He brought his wife, and sister in law, and friend, and one of his daughters, too. It was a fun time. They all hung out and checked out the Lincoln while me and the new owner loaded up his truck with all the goodies. Fun times!

[Too Many Projects]

Wow, treasure trove for the new owner.
Cool that the build coincides with his birthday.
The assembly date stamp on the frame of my '66 Chevelle is my birthday and the build date of my '70 is the day before and it was shipped on my birthday.

[njsteve]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Wow, treasure trove for the new owner.
Cool that the build coincides with his birthday.
The assembly date stamp on the frame of my '66 Chevelle is my birthday and the build date of my '70 is the day before and it was shipped on my birthday.

He was REALLY excited about the parts haul. He had checked out the price of a used, original 1971 2bbl air cleaner and he couldn't find one for less than $250. At least all he has to find now is the lid. I have a vintage 4bbl lid that I was going to give him but it was around an inch too big.

The only part I kept from the haul was my father-in-law's "Oldsmobile" fender cover that he used, to work on the car. Something to lean on when wrenching.

[grantprix]

Sounds like it was meant to be and the car went to the perfect home.

Very cool that the original parts were found. I would think that air cleaner lid is still hiding somewhere.

That's pretty crazy on the build date, same early 08C date as the '71 I sold recently, but it was from the Fremont Plant.