Oldsmobile Body Holes, Steering, and Brakes

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON MUSCLE CAR WE'LL SHOW YOU A PILE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLUG THOSE PESKY TRIM HOLES IN YOUR SHEET METAL. THEN OUR OLDS RESTO MOD GETS A HIGH END STEERING SYSTEM. FLASHBACK LOOKS AT WHAT SOME CONSIDER TO BE THE COOLEST AMC EVER BUILT. AND THEN WE CHECK TO SEE IF OUR BIG OLE BRAKES WILL WORK

WITH OUR BIG OLE ROLLERS.

(TOMMY)>> HEY GUYS, WE'RE MAKING SOME PRETTY GOOD HEAD

WAY HERE ON OUR OLDSMOBILE AND THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA HIT ON THE DAY IS REPAIRING THESE TRIM HOLES ON THE FENDERS.

NOW IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH AT HOME, THE CHANCE OF YOU RUNNING INTO HAVING TO FIX SOME OF THESE THINGS IS PROBABLY PRETTY GOOD. NOW THIS IS JUST YOUR TYPICAL OLE TRIM HOLE. AND IT'S NOT TOO INVOLVED TO HAVE TO REPAIR OR FILL SOMETHING LIKE THIS ONE. WHERE THIS ONE ON THE OTHER HAND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. YOU CAN TELL THAT SOMEBODY'S DONE SOME FILING, PROBABLY TO ADJUST THAT CLIP TO GET THE TRIM TO LINE UP JUST RIGHT. SO I'VE GOTTA DO A LITTLE SHAPING ON THIS THING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO FILL. NOW OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS FILLING THESE PLAIN JANE HOLES. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS I WANT TO SHOW YOU, Y'ALL CHECK IT OUT. NOW THE FIRST TECHNIQUE I'M GONNA SHOW YOU IS USING A PIECE OF COPPER PIPE THAT WE FLATTENED OUT AND MADE WHAT I CALL A SPOON. YOU PLACE IT UP AGAINST THE BACK SIDE OF THE PANEL AND IT LETS YOU FILL UP THE HOLE REALLY EASILY BECAUSE THE STEEL FROM YOUR WELD WON'T STICK TO THE COPPER. A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF GRINDING CAN CLEAN UP THE WELDS, AND YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.

THE NEXT TECHNIQUE WE'RE GONNA DO IS WELD IN A PLUG, OR A PATCH, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. I'M GONNA USE THIS OLD PIECE OF SPEAKER DECK THAT COME

OUT OF THE OLDS BECAUSE IT'S THE EXACT SAME THICKNESS AS THE BODY AND IT'S FREE, SO I CAN SAVE A

LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. WHAT I'M GONNA USE IS THIS LITTLE CRIMP PUNCH TOOL THAT WE'VE GOT FROM MATCO. IT MAKES THESE PERFECT LITTLE CIRCLES THAT IS IDEAL FOR THIS SITUATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT MAKES PERFECTLY ROUND PLUGS THAT YOU CAN USE ON YOUR PANELS. WELL OUR PLUG IS A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG, SO WE NEED TO OPEN IT UP JUST A BIT WITH THAT STEP DRILL,

CHAMFER THAT HOLE, GIVE ME A NICE SPOT TO WELD IN, WE'RE READY TO GO.

A COUPLE OF TAPS WITH A HAMMER WILL COUNTER ANY PULLING THAT THE HEAT FROM THE TACK WILL GIVE YOU, THEN BURN IT IN. NOW I'VE SHOWED YOU A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO KINDA DO THE SAME THING, BUT THIS ONE IS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF ITS ODD SHAPE. COME OVER HERE AND LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. NOW YOU COULD TAKE THE TIME AND CUT THIS ODD SHAPE OUT BUT REALLY AND TRUTHFULLY THERE'S A BETTER AND FASTER WAY TO DO THIS. FIRST I'LL USE A STEP DRILL TO MAKE A NICE, UNIFORMLY SHAPED HOLE INSTEAD OF THAT OLD ODD BALL ONE THAT WE HAD BEFORE. THEN I CAN CREATE MY OWN PLUG BY DRAWING IT OUT FROM THE FRONT SIDE WITH THE REPLACEMENT METAL

ON THE BACK SIDE. THE CLOSER TO THE PROPER SHAPE THAT YOU CAN TRIM IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF WORK AFTER IT'S WELDED IN.

NOW THE LAST WAY I WANT TO SHOW YOU IS TAKING AN OVERSIZED PATCH OR PLUG, SLIDING IT ONTO THE BACK SIDE, AND TAKING THE WELDER AND FILLING THE HOLE UP.

IF YOU CAN'T HOLD IT EASILY WITH A CLAMP, TRY A MAGNET TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.

NOW FROM THIS SIDE THERE'S DEFINITELY NOTHING

WRONG WITH THE PANEL.

THE PROBLEM IS IF ANYONE WAS TO EVER TO LOOK FROM THE BACK, IT DON'T LOOK THAT HOT. NOW SOME OF THIS SHEET METAL WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TODAY,

A FEW OF YOU GUYS MAY BE INTIMIDATED BY IT, BUT REALLY AND TRUTHFULLY IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OLD SAYING. IF THE TURTLE NEVER STUCK HIS NECK OUT, HE WOULDN'T NEVER GET NOWHERE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP WE BUILD THE STEERING FOR OUR OLDSMOBILE AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT A CLASSIC AMC WRAPPED UP IN THE GOOD OLE RED, WHITE AND BLUE.

(TOMMY)>> WELL I'M GLAD YOU GUYS MADE IT BACK. WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN CHOPPING SOME CABBAGE WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING ON OUR OLE OLDSMOBILE. THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS MOUNT UP

OUR STEERING COLUMN. NOW AS FOR THE COLUMN ITSELF WE WENT ALL OUT. WE CHOSE AN I DID IT STEEL RETRO FIT COLUMN. THEY'VE ALREADY DONE ALL THE HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING FITS JUST RIGHT. I DID IT ALSO OFFERS ALL THE GOODIES THAT MOUNT UP YOUR STEERING COLUMN. LETS SAY YOU'RE GOING FOR THAT STOCK LOOK.

THEY HAVE THESE THAT GIVE THAT FACTORY LOOK. OR IF YOU'RE GOING THE CUSTOM DIRECTION LIKE WE ARE, THEY HAVE THIS POLISHED DOUBLED SHAFT AND THE SHINY JOINT. CHECK THIS OUT RIGHT HERE. WE ALSO GOT THEIR TOUCH AND GO KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEM. NOW ALL YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE IS A KEY FOB CLOSE TO

THE CAR AND YOU CAN START IT WITH THIS COOL LITTLE PUSH BUTTON. NOW TO MOUNT UP OUR COLUMN HERE ON THE TOP SIDE I'M

GONNA USE THIS STOCK UPPER BRACKET, BUT OUR PROBLEM ISN'T THERE. IT'S DOWN HERE ON THE BOTTOM WHERE WE MADE THIS CUSTOM FIREWALL. I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE EXACTLY I NEED TO PUNCH A HOLE IN SO WE CAN STAB THE COLUMN THROUGH IT. THEN I USE A PIECE OF EXHAUST TUBING AND I BEVEL THE END OF IT. THAT WAY WHENEVER IT SLIDES IN IT'LL GO FLAT UP AGAINST THE FIREWALL. ALSO USING THAT LONG PIECE OF TUBING YOU CAN TELL IF THAT COLUMN'S LEANING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE. NOW LOOKING AT THE INSIDE AT THE FIREWALL WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF ROOM ON THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM. WE COULD COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT OR UP A LITTLE BIT IF WE NEEDED TO ADJUST.

THERE'S ONE OTHER THING YOU NEED TO CONSIDER.

THAT IS WHAT'S GOING ON OUT HERE. NOW OFTEN TIMES YOU RUN INTO SOME TYPE OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADER, INNER FENDER, OR EVEN THE FRAME RAIL. WHAT YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS FIND THE BEST ROUTE TO GET FROM HERE DOWN TO YOUR STEERING GEAR BOX OR RACK WHICHEVER YOU HAVE. NOW THIS IS KINDA WHENEVER THAT CALIBRATED EYEBALL

COMES INTO PLAY, RIGHT ALONG HERE PER SE AT THE EDGE OF OUR FRAME RAIL. THE DIAMETER OF OUR STEERING COLUMN IS APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES.

SO SAY THAT'S ABOUT AN INCH, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER INCH. SO OUR STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE IN BETWEEN THERE. I'M GONNA DRILL THROUGH THIS SIDE WITH AN EIGHTH INCH DRILL BIT. THAT WAY I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO DRILL FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

THE FACTORY BRACKET BOLTS RIGHT IN THE SAME LOCATION ON OUR I DID IT COLUMN, AND WE CAN BEGIN INSTALLING IT. THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER IS THE LOWER COLUMN MOUNT. NOW WHAT I'VE USED SEVERAL TIMES IS AN OLD PIECE OF EXHAUST TUBING AND A HOSE CLAMP.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIMPLY SLIDE IT ON ALONG WITH THE HOSE CLAMP, TIGHTEN THIS THING UP A BIT. WHAT YOU WANT IS THIS THING TO JUST BARELY BE KINDA OF SNUG ON THE COLUMN.

NOW IF YOU'RE GOING WITH A COLUMN THAT'S PAINTED YOU WANT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE LOOSE. THAT WAY WHENEVER YOU PAINT IT IT STILL FITS IN THE HOLE.

YOU CAN SEE WHENEVER WE START SLIDING THIS THING UP, IT STARTS PUSHING OUT ON THE TOP OF THERE. SO WE NEED TO OPEN THAT UP JUST A BIT.

LOOKS LIKE OUR SLEEVE FITS. NOW I JUST NEED TO TACK IT INTO PLACE. I'M GONNA PULL OUR INNER FENDER OUT TO MAKE A LITTLE ROOM TO WORK UP FRONT. AND WITH THE COLUMN REMOVED, A TRIP AROUND THE SLEEVE

WITH THE BODY SAW USING A HOSE CLAMP AS A GUIDE WILL TAKE OFF SOME OF THE EXCESS TUBING. NOW ONCE THIS LOWER TUBE GETS COMPLETELY WELDED TO THE FIREWALL, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE THAT CLAMP, LOOSEN IT UP, SLIDE IT UP, AND WITH THAT SLIT CUT INTO THE TUBE IT'LL TIGHTEN UP AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN

GIVING US A GOOD SOLID MOUNT. THAT'S ALL IT IS TO MAKING A GOOD STURDY SUPPORT FOR YOUR COLUMN.

(ANNOUNCER)>> STICK AROUND AND FIND OUT HOW AMC WAS LOOKING TO EAT INTO THE BIG THREE WITH ITS REBEL MACHINE. AND THE OLDS GETS A SET OF MONSTER DISCS FOR BIG STOPPING POWER.

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY'S FLASHBACK, A 1970 AMC REBEL MACHINE.

(MANK)>> MUSCLE CARS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SYMBOL OF AMERICA'S REBELLIOUS SPIRIT AND TO DRIVE THAT POINT HOME THE FOLKS AT AMC LOVED TO WRAP THEIR CARS IN THE GOOD OLE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE. IN OCTOBER 1969 THEY ROLLED OUT THEIR LATEST PATRIOTIC PAVEMENT POUNDER, A SLICK MID SIZE CAR WITH PLENTY OF FIREWORKS UNDER THE HOOD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE MACHINE.

(TOMMY)>> AMC TOOK THEIR ORDINARY REBEL AND SUPED IT UP WITH A BORG WARNER T-10 FOUR SPEED PULLING A SET OF 3.54 GEARS. EXTRA STIFF REAR SPRINGS, AND ANTISWAY BARS FRONT AND REAR GAVE IT GREAT HANDLING ON THE ROAD BUT THE REAL STORY WAS UNDER THE HOOD. A 390 VEIGHT PUMPING OUT 340 HORSEPOWER. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE USED IN THE AMX BUT IT GOT 15 MORE HORSES THANKS TO ITS FREE BREATHING DESIGN. THE RAM AIR SCOOPS COMBINED WITH A FREE FLOW INTAKE, DOG LEG HEADS, AND LOWER RESTRICTION EXHAUST MADE IT ONE OF THE BEST BREATHING ENGINES AMC EVER OFFERED. IT'S ALSO THE MOST POWERFUL IN AMC HISTORY. A HOOD MOUNTED TACH HELPED KEEP TRACK OF ALL THAT POWER.

(MANK)>> TIRES WERE E-60 BY 15 POLY GLASS WRAPPED AROUND SPECIALLY DESIGNED STEEL WHEELS. MACHINES WERE ALSO UNIQUE FROM THE STANDARD REBEL IN THE FACT THAT THEY USED THE GRILL FROM THE '68 MODEL.

(TOM)>> I HAVE WANTED THE MACHINE EVER SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD. I WOUND UP BUYING THAT FIRST CAR FOR $150 BUCKS. I ACTUALLY TOOK DELIVERY OF IT ON MY 16TH BIRTHDAY. THIS PARTICULAR CAR MY BROTHER FOUND FOR ME. HE KNEW THAT I LOVED MACHINES FOR A LONG TIME, SO HE CALLED ME AND ASKED ME IF I WAS INTERESTED IN IT. I TOLD HIM ABSOLUTELY I WAS INTERESTED IN IT AND I SPENT

ABOUT FIVE YEARS DOING A GROUND UP RESTORATION ON IT.

(TOMMY)>> THE FIRST 1,000 OR SO MACHINES ONLY CAME IN THIS RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SCHEME. AFTER THAT YOU COULD GET ONE IN ANY FACTORY COLOR BUT ALL THAT FLASHY STYLE ENDED ONCE YOU CLIMBED INSIDE.

(TOM)>> IT LOOKS LIKE A TAXI CAB.

(MANK)>> THE SPARTAN INTERIOR CAME ONLY IN BLACK AND GAUGES, WELL THEY WEREN'T ANYTHING SPECIAL EITHER. HIGH BACK BUCKET SEATS WITH A TRICOLOR ARM REST WERE THE ONLY AMENITIES. THE REBEL MACHINE WAS AMC'S ATTEMPT TO FURTHER ATTRACT YOUNG BUYERS INTO THE SHOWROOM. ORIGINALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE A MORE MENACING BLACK CAR WITH BLACK WHEELS BUT AMC DECIDED TO GO WITH A MORE EYE CATCHING LOOK SIMILAR TO ITS SCRAMBLER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. LIKE THAT CAR, IT WAS DESIGNED AS A LIMITED EDITION AND ONLY 2,326 WERE SOLD. THIS IS ONE OF ABOUT 500 STILL AROUND. THE REBEL LINE ENDED UP GETTING SCRAPED IN 1971 AND REPLACED BY THE MATADOR. YOU COULD ORDER THE MACHINE OPTION ON THAT CAR BUT THE ENGINE WAS DOWNGRADED AND ONLY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE CHOSE THE PACKAGE. JUST ONE IS KNOWN TO EXIST TODAY. AMONG COLLECTORS THE '70 REBEL MACHINE IS CONSIDERED

TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST CARS AMC EVER PRODUCED.

IT'S A CAR WE CAN ALL AGREE DESERVES A SALUTE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR WHEELS FOR CLEARANCE AFTER A BRAKE INSTALLATION.

(MANK)>> WELL WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM IN THAT DIRECTION.

(MANK)>> OKAY GUYS, YOU CAN SEE WE GOT THE OLD CUTLASS BACK UP IN THE AIR AGAIN, AND HERE'S THE REASON WHY. UP UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END WITH EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT ON

OUR CHASSIS NOW AND OUR DRIVELINE, WE'VE GOT TONS OF CUSTOM MADE MOVING PARTS. SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOCK UP THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT END JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING FITS WITH NO INTERFERENCES. ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE GONNA DO THIS MOCK UP ON THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE SUSPENSION IS BECAUSE OF THESE SPACERS WE'RE GONNA USE RIGHT HERE. THEY'RE MADE OUT OF BILLET ALUMINUM AND WE'RE PUTTING THEM INSIDE THE CAR IN ORDER TO WIDEN OUT OUR FRONT TRACK. THE REASON WE WENT AHEAD AND WIDENED OUT THE TRACK WAS BECAUSE WE WANT A BETTER FIT OF OUR WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATION UP INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. NOW WHEN THE SUSPENSION TRAVELS UP AND DOWN AND TURNS ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT AND ALL THE WAY TO RIGHT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BOTH AT THE CHASSIS AND OUT HERE ON THE SHEET METAL. SO WE'LL MOCK IT ALL UP, STACK ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER, AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT WE END UP WITH. THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE PARTS WE'RE GONNA USE TO MOCK UP THE OLDSMOBILE, AND JUDGING BY THE SIZE OF THESE THINGS THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US PLENTY OF STOPPING POWER. THIS WILWOOD BIG BRAKE KIT INCLUDES FOUR PISTON CALIPERS FOR THE REAR, SIX PISTON CALIPERS FOR THE

FRONT, AND THEY'RE ALL GONNA CLAMP ON TO THESE BIG 14 INCH DRILLED, SLOTTED DIRECTIONAL ROTORS. THIS PARTICULAR KIT IS BUILT FOR WHEELS THAT ARE 17 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND LARGER. AND OURS ARE 19, SO WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. BUT WILWOOD ALSO MAKES KITS FOR WHEELS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 14 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THESE PARTS ARE ALSO GOOD FOR RACING APPLICATIONS. AND CERTAIN SANCTIONING BODIES REQUIRE THAT THE BOLTS WE SAFETY WIRED. AND IN CASE YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, THEY COME PREDRILLED AND READY TO GO. BUT LUCKILY FOR US IT'S GONNA BE A STREET CAR AND WE'LL JUST LOCK TIGHTEN THEM, AND THEN WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO. AND ONE OTHER THING YOU GUYS MIGHT WANT TO KNOW, MANY OF WILWOOD'S COMPONENTS COME IN DIFFERENT FINISHES SO YOU CAN MATCH THEM TO WHATEVER LOOK YOU'RE GOING FOR WITH YOUR CAR. WE NEED TO PULL OFF THE SPACER SO THE ROTOR CAN FALL IN BEHIND IT ON THE SPINDLE. THEN I CAN START MOUNTING THE BRAKE HARDWARE BEGINNING WITH THIS CALIPER BRACKET. SOON WE'RE READY FOR THAT BIG OLE ROTOR AND I'LL SIT THE CALIPER ON TO SEE HOW IT ALL FITS. RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT THE CALIPER PUSHED DOWN ONTO ITS BRACKET AND I CAN FEEL THAT THE CALIPER'S JUST TOUCHING THE ROTOR.

SO THESE KITS COME WITH SHIMS FROM WILWOOD THAT'LL ALLOW US TO SPACER THE CALIPER OUT SO IT DOESN'T CONTACT THE ROTOR WHEN WE'RE PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

STILL JUST A LITTLE MORE. WITH THE ROTOR MOVING FREELY AND NO INTERFERENCE FROM THE CALIPER, THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT OUR FIT DOWN AND THE SPACER CAN GO BACK INTO PLACE.

NOW WE'VE GOT TO TEST THESE TIRES AND SEE IF THEY TURN AND SPIN FREELY IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

WELL WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM IN THAT DIRECTION. AND WE HAVE OVER A HALF AN INCH OF CLEARANCE IN THIS DIRECTION ON THE CHASSIS. SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY. SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WHATSOEVER WITH EVERYTHING MOCKED UP THE WAY IT IS. NOW THAT WE'VE GOT ALL THE COMPONENTS ON, EVERYTHING STACKED UP, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. WE GOT ALL THE CLEARANCE THAT WE NEED. WE HAVE ONE SMALL ISSUE THOUGH. TOM LOOKS LIKE WE MAY NEED TO CHANGE THE STUDS. THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE TOO SHORT.

(TOMMY)>> WELL YOU PROBABLY OUGHT TO WRITE THAT DOWN CAUSE WITH YOUR OLD AGE AND ALL MAN, YOU'RE BAD ABOUT FORGETTING.

(MANK)>> I FORGOT MY PEN.

(TOMMY)>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE MINE, I FORGET ALL THE TIME.

(MANK)>> AH YOUNG KIDS, I OUGHTA! IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING YOU SAW ON THE SHOW TODAY.

(TOMMY)>> GO OVER TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.