Our F85 Power Tour Project

[PhillipM]

Okay time for an update!

Yes as usual we are preparing for HRPT... So trying to fix some annoying things on the car and apparently some necessary items to boot!

The other day when I was under the car still trying to identify the cause of our driveline vibration I noticed this...



Yup. You are seeing correct. That is the frame torn right up the middle above the pinion. Now those who have read this whole thread will know that I did this notch in order to get more axle travel. Well I really didn't think the center of the frame was under that much stress especially because we've got support bars running from our upper trailing arms down to the lower trailing arms to take the load. Well. I was wrong! We really noticed something was funny when our body mounts were coming loose, all the time! I would tighten the snot out of them and then they'd be loose again after like 2,000 miles.. Well. Yeah. if the frame is sliding around i'm sure they have trouble staying tight!

Here is what I did to fix the situation back there.. Shouldn't go anywhere now! Ha-Ha.











Also, in this process I have been really scientifically trying to get to the bottom of this driveline vibration. I have been working with some guys who have been down this road and I will hopefully report back soon with positive results. As for now I've got the Moser apart for the second time..

[andrewb70]

Subscribed...:-)

Andrew

[PhillipM]

We had a Ron Davis radiator in there from the beginning however apparently when you solidly mount them top and bottom they crack. So, after dealing with it for a while and waiting 11 weeks for a new one here is what we did. I finished this up about 2 days before we left for the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour.. Here are some photos!

[PhillipM]

And with the previous post just made please morn with me as all that work goes to waste..

After 5,000 + miles of driving and having fun on HRPT 14 all came to an end on the 235 in Des Moines, Iowa. My Dad was driving back to his hotel in the evening and had a deer run out in front of him. So far I've located about 80% of the parts that are needed but I'm just really not looking forward to doing the work again. I felt like I had just gotten the car looking the way I wanted it. However such is life. Here are some photos of the carnage. Luckily everyone (except the deer) is okay.




















Yesterday I took a long lunch and ran up to DVAP here in Phoenix. I was able to locate a nice front clip. The hood has 1 ding in the front corner but it was the nicest they had. That's just Arizona surface rust so all should clean up nicely. I haven't seen our car in person yet so I bought everything in front of the firewall that they had. I'm still in need of a front bumper and headlight bezels if anyone is hording any I would appreciate the help. Thanks.

[R32Jordie]

I was just about to commend you on the fabrication work you did around the radiator. Sorry for your loss.

[andrewb70]

Man, that blows...

But how did the CV driveshaft work out for you?

Andrew

[PhillipM]

Man, that blows...



But how did the CV driveshaft work out for you?

Andrew

Still vibrates. Might have it narrowed down to a loose 5th/6th gear cluster in the back of the transmission. I found a few posts on ls1tech that describe our vibe almost to a T.

[WallaceMFG]

It's things like this that make me hate deer even more, sorry it happened to you. But you're right about AZ, you can find solid body parts all day long.

[driveit]

Sorry to see that. I know how that feels. I just gotten my car to where I was driving it and was getting it looking pretty good, then a guy t-bones me in the passenger quarter panel and totaled the car. Got it fixed back now, but has a salvaged title. I'll never sell that car as long as I live. Good luck with the repair work.

[therobski]

Phil, I heard about the deer from Mark, at least Paul is okay and you can rebuild! It was great seeing you all East of Dallas on your way to start the "Power Tour" I am almost certain the 65 headlight bezels are one a year-the 64's will fit but the pattern of those bars in between the bezels will not match the 65 grill.

[PhillipM]

Yeah like everything else on the car. 1 year only. We'll find em. Just have to be on the look out. I ran across a 64 pair at the yard. Would have grabbed it but 1 had a ding in it.

[kevin_L]

Sorry to hear about the damage, Dad has a 65 f85 and I think he has a second set of bezels. I'll check with him tomorrow and get back to you.

Here's a pass. side

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-Oldsmob...2f7a8c&vxp=mtr

and partial set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-65-CUTL...725450&vxp=mtr

[PhillipM]

Yeah I've seen those on there. Trying not to piece them together but if I have to I will. Sometimes being patient is a virtue. I would really appreciate you asking thx!

[therobski]

Phil, Paul my 65 in 68-69! and my 65 442 post car in 72. The other car in the picture is the drivers qtr. of my 69 Grand Prix SJ. The bike was my buddy's sportster-at the time he was driving a 67 442 W-30!

[PhillipM]

Well we put some time in and started mocking up the new front end pieces. Really need to get this stuff blasted so I can start working with it all.

[Dc2x4drvr]

Looks good, you'll be done in no time

[therobski]

X2!

[PhillipM]

Needs minitubs! Haha

[mcalvo]

See what your going through makes me realize i am not the only one with terrible luck. I had a freak accident and totaled a freshly restored car. She now rests in pieces but complete and just waiting for the the time and money to go back together. Nice to see your progress.

-Michael

[PhillipM]

While we wait for the new radiator to come from Ron Davis we've continued to switch the car over from air ride Ride Pro E2 to a Ride Tech HQ single adjustable coil-over system. Of course you cannot do anything to this car's rear suspension and have the parts fit. The car is so low in the back I've had to lengthen the upper arms to get the pinion angle correct so that means stuff doesn't fit like the aftermarket company may have intended. This continues with the rear coil-over kit. I had to build new upper shock mounts to offset the mount to the rear 3/4" so the coil spring would clear and not hit the axle housing. Here are some pictures. We've obviously since painted the brackets black however these shots show best unpainted.