Oldsmobile Restoration Guide

Oldsmobile is a classic car brand with a long history and a loyal customer base. Produced by General Motors since 1908, Oldsmobile has also become a favorite of vintage car collectors all over the world.

With over 80 models developed in 107 years of operation, there is an abundance of classic Oldsmobiles to choose from. Whether you prefer a Cutlass from the 1960s, or an Aurora from the 90s, no two collectors will have the same requirements for keeping their beloved vehicle on the road.

If you’re planning a full restoration project, you’ll need the appropriate shop manual for your specific model and production year. However, for maintaining the performance of your classic car, here are the most common restoration tasks for four popular, classic Oldsmobile models.

Common Restoration on Vintage Oldsmobiles by Model

Just like their collectors, no two cars are alike, even when they come from the same brand and manufacturer. To ensure your vintage vehicle continues to provide the ride you invested in, keep an eye on these common candidates for replacement or restoration.

Replace the ECM on Your Oldsmobile Alero

As your classic car collects mileage, it becomes more likely you’ll need to replace the Engine Control Module (ECM). This is particularly common for owners of the Oldsmobile Alero.

Fortunately, they’re easy to maintain. Be sure to clean contact points and exposed terminals regularly, and check that connectors aren’t loose or broken when you do. You can also disconnect and reset the connections to loosen and, potentially, remove corrosion.

Using a voltage tester, confirm that your wiring isn’t subject to intermittent shorts. This is also a great time to ensure that none of your wiring is frayed or broken.

Eventually, you may find that these solutions become gradually less effective – or don’t alleviate your ECM issues at all. If that’s the case, it may be time to replace it, but the good news is that it’s inexpensive and simple to do at home.

Substitute the Thermostat on Your Oldsmobile Aurora

If the engine of your Oldsmobile Aurora is starting to overheat, then the thermostat may be failing to properly read the engine temperature. It’s important to fix this quickly to avoid potential damage to the engine.

How to Replace the Thermostat on an Oldsmobile Aurora

1. Remove the radiator cap on the engine of your Aurora.
2. Don’t forget to place a drain pan below the radiator drain plug located on the bottom of the radiator.
3. Using a wrench, loosen the drain plug and drain just enough of the coolant to expose the upper radiator hose, then tighten the drain plug once more.
4. Locate the thermostat housing by following the path of the upper radiator hose.
5. Using a flathead screwdriver, remove the hose clamp on the thermostat housing.
6. Disconnect the hose.
7. Using the wrench, remove the mounting bolts from the housing; there will be two.
8. Remove the expired thermostat and safely dispose of it.
9. With a putty knife, scrape off the old gasket.
10. With a rag, clean the thermostat housing.
11. Insert the new thermostat.
12. Situate the new gasket on the housing.
13. Return the housing back to its original place.
14. Re-insert the two mounting bolts.
15. Using your wrench, tighten the mounting bolts.
16. Reattach the radiator hose to the housing.
17. Reattach the hose clamp.
18. Using the flathead screwdriver, tighten the hose clamp.
19. Refill the radiator with coolant.
20. Replace the radiator cap.
21. Start the engine to ensure that there are no leaks.

Change the Fuel Pump on Your Oldsmobile Cutlass

Without a fuel pump to deliver the fuel into the combustion chamber, your Oldsmobile Cutlass is little more than a decoration. To keep your Cutlass at its optimal performance, you should keep an eye out for these warning signs that your fuel pump is going bad.

Is it Time to Replace the Fuel Pump on Your Oldsmobile Cutlass?

You may need to replace the fuel pump of an Oldsmobile Cutlass when:

• Your Cutlass “hesitates” to start up or move
• The engine sputters, makes noises, or backfires
• The engine “chokes” and exerts itself to maintain speed
• The engine overheats
• A “Check Engine” light accompanies any of the previous issues

Find Parts to Restore Your Classic Oldsmobile

Of course, to maintain a classic vehicle, you’ll definitely need access to high-quality and dependable classic car parts. At Collectors Auto Supply, we have the classic car parts catalog, and vintage vehicle restoration experience, to help keep yours running for years to come. If you want to know more about how to keep your classic Oldsmobile in top shape, contact our team today.