1940 Oldsmobile Barn-Find Restoration by Erndog

3 minute(s) of a 39 minute read

Made new brake lines all around. Found a major kink in the fuel line, so started repairs on that. May go ahead and make a whole new one. Installed a new wiring harness for dash and engine compartment. The old one was in shreds. The only thing that I think I goofed up on was that the clock light is always on. Easy fix. Found the original trunk key in the seat. If I had found it earlier, I would not have had to ruin the perfect original cardboard dividers that go behind the back seat.

Tried to get the engine to fire with just some gas in the carb. It did, but I will need a real fuel supply to get it going right. Pulled the left rear fender and removed the gas tank. It is full of rust, has some bad old repairs and is starting to get pinholes in it. Repairs have been estimated to be an easy $400. Therefore, if anyone has a spare gas tank in good shape for this car, I am interested.

5-7-2011

Well, way overdue for an update! 

Tried to locate a tank for over six months. Evidently, they don't exist or nobody is letting them go. Cleaned up our tank and took it to be reworked in January or so. Still waiting on it. Should be ready next week, as the previous several weeks. 

On a better note, we had the radiator rodded out and returned to as-new overall, and then installed it. 

Worked over the passenger side front suspension and shock absorber; hadn't been done yet. 

Cleaned, regreased, and reinstalled the front wheel bearings. Installed the brakes all around. Front slave cylinders were fine after rebuilding, but the rears needed to be replaced. Brakes work great!

Took a lot of doing, but finally got the emergency brake cables freed up and usable. 

Reinstalled front fenders.

Reinstalled the hood and the shined up grill with new red accent stripes. 

Painted and installed one parking light grill. Other still needs stripes painted. -painful.

The starter was kicking out early, so we installed a new drive gear assembly, and reinstalled the starter. Haven't tried it, yet.

Removed all four doors and installed new weatherstripping. all door trim panels are off for redoing when ready. Installed proper weatherstrip for trunk. 

Reinstalled the headlights.

Located and bought a replacement piece for the big trim at the rear license plate.

Rebuilt both rear shock absorbers. What an education! Both were frozen. Discovered that we broke the screws that hold the two pistons together in one. Didn't realize they existed until the pistons would not relocate after stroking. Replaced screws. All better now! Rear of car bounces approximately 1 and 1/2 times or less, as per design.

Been cleaning and painting underside in preps for receipt of gas tank.

Sandblasted all four rims (spare is still in original condition in the trunk) for free at work (-$) and painted them. Had new tires installed on the rims and put the front wheels on the car. Backs are waiting for gas tank. 

Looks nice with those big 4" whitewalls!

Still looking for new muffler, horn ring, and a few small items.

Getting closer!!

Pictures forthcoming.