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  • #1

    Big body work ideas...NEED help.

    I have a 1997 Olds Cutlass Supreme four door. The car needs a hood thanks to rust through on the leading edge. I found a fiberglass replacement cowl hood. However, it only fits a two door car. I had thought for the longest time that the coupe and sedan hoods were the same. I found out the other night that they aren't.

    I know there is a lot involved in putting a coupe nose on the sedan, but I like the glass lens headlights, and the overall look better. Obvious stuff I'll need include:

    Used parts:
    All four headlight units: $30/ea
    Inner turn signals: $25/ea
    Front bumper ass'y: $100 + s/h @ approx $35
    Header panel: $40 + s/h @ approx $20
    Fenders: $35/ea + s/h @ approx $20/ea (not coming from same yard)

    New parts:
    Outer sidemarkers (GMPartsDirect.com) $50, for the pair...shipped
    Fiberglass cowl hood (CarHoods.com) $575, shipped

    That's the obvious stuff. I'm not seeing that the inner fender liners are different, but I have to imagine that some stuff is gonna be different that I'm just not seeing. If it IS that easy, that would be just super cool. Now, I am NOT doing this just to do the hood. I have been contemplating doing this for quite a while. Color isn't a problem, either, as I am hoping to get the car repainted anyways at the body shop I work at.
    \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

    1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
    1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
    1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles
    Tags: None
  • #2
    One thing to keep in mind is that the front bumper will have different mouldings than the rest of the car will have. It will look off, unless you do something custom with it.
    Taylor
    1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
    1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
    1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
    1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
    "find something simple and complicate it"

    Comment

    • #3
      Hmm...I work in a body shop, so if needed, I can have the guys figure something out. Does that parts list seem about right? Fasteners I'll have to figure out, I know, but that's little stuff.
      \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

      1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
      1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
      1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

      Comment

      • #4
        That sounds about right. There might be some minor wiring issues (headlight or bulb connectors).
        Taylor
        1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
        1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
        1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
        1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
        "find something simple and complicate it"

        Comment

        • #5
          Awesome. New parts, OE or aftermarket really aren't as bad as I thought they'd be price wise, but I'm definitely NEEDING to do this on the cheap if I'm gonna. Steel hoods suck. :P

          Thank you for your input on this. I'm just not sure how much of this I can do on my own. I'm friendly with the guys at work, so I have to imagine that I could get their assistance if need be.

          Time to shop a little more, and see if I can do better on the prices.
          \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

          1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
          1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
          1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

          Comment

          • #6
            I know how it feels to want something DIFFERENT. That is why I put the 1992-1997 body kit on my 1988, but kept the 1988-1991 hood, grills, and headlights.



            I need to redo the front bumper, but it is nice that I have something different. It is not one of those things that jumps out at you, but if you are familiar with these cars, you notice that something is "off" with it.
            Taylor
            1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
            1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
            1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
            1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
            "find something simple and complicate it"

            Comment

            • #7
              Yup...I know what you mean. I'm searching a little more, and am finding loaded header panels (with the lights and everything) in the $150 range, which is cheaper than piecing it together.

              I don't think I've seen a four door with the coupe nose on it yet, either. I just really like the way it looks. A lot meaner, and it would all be worth it for the glass lense equipped headlights.


              EDIT: At this point, the conversion costs alone total $380, and that includes shipping as best as I can guess. I've got all the stuff wrote down, so I know who to call for what. With that cost, the hood, and respraying the entire car, I'm still well under $2000. I know that is good engine money...that's the hard part.
              Last edited by DEI37; 11-20-2007, 12:44 AM.
              \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

              1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
              1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
              1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

              Comment

              • #8
                I have seen one. I will see if I can find the pic.
                Taylor
                1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
                1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
                1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
                1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
                "find something simple and complicate it"

                Comment

                • #9
                  Oh, you just had to go and burst my bubble, didn't ya? :P

                  The next round of engine upgrades are in the $1500 range, and should net me over 400HP. I want to get there, and that's the problem I'm having. But, this body is just so messed up...
                  \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

                  1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
                  1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
                  1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    This is a REALLY bad pic. Car needs work, but you can see that it is a sedan, with a Cutlass Supreme S front bumper (does not have foglights), and has different ribbing.

                    Friend of mine had shown me the pic, and I asked him to get it for me.
                    Taylor
                    1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
                    1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
                    1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
                    1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
                    "find something simple and complicate it"

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      That does look nice. I'll figure out the moulding thing, I'm sure. I like the way that looks, though. I'll have fog lights in mine, though.

                      Although...they don't work. I like 'em though. Wonder if I could rig the fogs to be on all the time with either park or low headlights, and then use the fog light switch for the intercooler pump. This has some potential!
                      \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

                      1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
                      1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
                      1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        The wiring part is easy. I can help with that. You can just bypass the button so they are in the always on setting, and they will work like normal. On with the lows, off with the highs. The only thing is, you will NOT be able to turn them off.

                        I am personally wiring in DRL's in my 1995 Cutlass Supreme, which already has foglights, but I am wiring it in in such a way that the DRL's turn on the foglights instead of the low beams.
                        Taylor
                        1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
                        1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
                        1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
                        1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
                        "find something simple and complicate it"

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Ah, gotcha. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to do, really. I'm just not a fan of electrical work. I run around with lights on all the time anyways. Either fog/driving lights if a car has those, or full blown headlights if it doesn't have fogs/driving lights.
                          \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

                          1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
                          1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
                          1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Well, the money showed up yesterday, so the car is coming up to the body shop on Thursday, and hopefully, finish tearing it apart next week. I don't know if it will be done by the end of the month, even, but it is nice to know that things are getting started!
                            \"NASCAR is an integral part of my life. A part of me died when Dale Earnhardt died.\"

                            1997 Olds CS 4-door S/C - 183,527 miles
                            1999 Chevrolet Lumina 3100 - Wife took it at 158,340 miles
                            1989 Volvo 740GL Wagon 2.3 8v - 232,050 miles

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Cool. Be sure to take some pics. I love stuff like that.

                              That is why I take so many pics of the stuff I do to my car. Just got a new 1 GIG memory card for my camera, seeing I am going to start doing the interior rewiring for the OBD2 in my 1988 this weekend.
                              Taylor
                              1988 Olds Cutlass Supreme 3100 MPFI
                              1990 Pontiac Grand Prix STE 3.1 MPFI
                              1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible
                              1998 Lincoln Mark VIII
                              "find something simple and complicate it"

                              Comment

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