I'm thinking of ways to change up my wagon. But want to know what you guys think first, since you are the experts on all things wagons. Its super original and I don't want to lose that, but I really want to add a few things to it. 1.) A roof rack, it doesn't have one now, but it would be nice having one. Do they have kinds that just attach to the car and no drilling is needed? 2.) I want to add some driving/fog lights to it. Not the tiny little ones from Wally world but some decent ones. Like a set of Marchal 750's. (which I do have, along with most of the wiring.) 3.) A radio and CB. As some of you know its a radio delete, and don't worry I'm not going to hack up the dash. I'll either attempt to find a radio plate or mount it under the dash. Along with the CB. What do you guys think? Would any of the exterior mods be worth it?
If its really so original, then don't go drilling any holes anywhere on it. I don't know of any decent looking (and permanant looking) roof rack that wouldn't require drilling. As for fog lights, maybe you could clamp them to the lip of the opening in the bumper without drilling. If the under dash wiring harness has never been touched, I would resist cutting into it at all costs. If you can wire in your radio or CB without cutting into the wiring harness, without hacking the dash and without drilling any holes for antennas, then go for it. if you want to dress up the exterior appearance, then maybe consider finding a set of original Olds ralley wheels, painting them the correct body color and installing those (but keep the original wheels and dog dish caps).
I agree with Jim. Adding a roof rack the "right" way involves drilling, installing the captive nuts etc. along with taking down the headliner to do the job. As to wiring that's a bit simpler but still a little time consuming. To wire the lights, depending on the law the fog lights need to be tied to the low beam circuit and switched separately with a relay. A relay is a must. The radio and CB are simple as well without cutting or splicing wires. Since the car is not fully loaded with options there are unused segments of the fuse panel. Simply tap in to that with the hot wire. For the radio you want power only with the ignition on and accesory on. Same for the CB. Using available portions of the fuse panel there's no splicing in to the existing harness and it will stay neat with the appropriate fuse protection. The radio fuse will be identified on the panel. It just takes a little more time to think it out and avoid mucking with the factory wiring. Skip the roof rack unless you just have to have it to use, not just for looks.
I agree with every thing Jim's saying. It is so stock factory original, I wouldn't change a thing to it. I love it the way it is, but if you are looking to dress it up a little the wheels that Jim is talking about would make an amazing difference without permanently altering the car. If you're dying to get a luggage rack on it, I would say absolutely find and install the one that the factory would've installed on it back in '77. It's much too nice of a survivor to start adding non Oldsmobile stuff to it, but then that's just my opinion.
I am the wrong one to ask on a wagon that nice. luggage rack - do you need it (you frequently haul more than will fit in the car?) fog lights - why? radio - I am with you on some tunes. My car does not have a radio yet, but my plans are to build a nice little box, about the size of a big shoebox or so, mount a remote control am/fm cd and a couple of small speakers then hide it either under the front seat or behind the back seat. You ask. I am not familiar with your wagon but the photo on this thread indicates that is too nice of a wagon to go hacking on, but it is yours. Rodney
too nice of a wagon to go hacking on, but it is yours.-----------Yes, it is yours. But once it has holes where holes were not there before, and once wires are cut, it is no longer original. This is a very nice station wagon. Forget the roof rack. Forget the fog lites. You won't need or use either. Take the advice given and tap into a blank fuse terminal and add a radio into the original radio delete space. Remember, you asked and glad you did!-Now get the Sawzall and torch and chop that sucker.
I agree with...forget the roof rack if yours did not come with one unless you find the year corect one for youe wagon....but then again, I wouldn't go drilliing holes etc in a perfectly good roof for that. I added a roof rack from a doner wagon to my 83 Fox body LTD..... I'd never do it again...maybe! It was as mentioned, remove headliner, lots of work to do it rite but at that time we were younger and needed the roof rack to carry things as it was our only "going for a trip" car. Do you neeed a roof rack, or just want? If you have a radio delete plate, IMO I would never remove that and as you mention under dash or hide the radio/sterio you want to put in. But, it's your wagon, have fun with it. Personalizing a car is a great thing if done with taste.
I agree with Jim's comments, I would keep a 25yo vehicle that has managed to remain stock all these yrs....stock. The radio delete is really interesting and I would try to retain that if possible.
All good info, I didn't realize you had to take down the headliner to do the roof rack. So I'll forget about that one! But speaking of drilling holes, my Grandpa stuck a crappy Nissan (yes Nissan, I think it was off his pickup) mirror on the passenger side. So I'm stuck with that, but I'm going to try and fab up a "delete plate" for that one. From my gathering finding the plate to put a radio in it is proving a tough task, If I did do it, it would be done right. Just not a hack and install. Same with the CB. But thanks for the input! But from the consensus it seems that I best be leaving this alone! Again, my car I'll do what I want, but I do agree that its to nice to go cutting into.
You might be able to find a correct right hand mirror on line or at a junk yard to you can dump the Nissan mirror.
My $.02: Get a radio with a remote control, and mount it somewhere inconspicuous. I have a radio in my truck with a remote and I love it. If you need to, you can run a jumper wire for an mp3 player somewhere convenient (jockey-box, or just poke a hole in the carpet/floor mat). Forget the roof-rack unless you are going to go all the way with a stock one. Forget the fog-lights unless you need them for safety reasons. I don't have any on the hearse, but every other rig I own has 'em!
I agree. My 67 Coronet convertible had matching aftermarket mirrors on both doors when I bought it. Obtaining the factory correct reproduction mirrors and installing them, hid the incorrect holes completely and I was glad to have the correct factory style dual mirrors. With any luck the optional factory right side mirror will have a base large enough to hide the Nissan mirror holes.
You might want to look around, my parents bought a new 77 cutlas and they ordered a am/fm/cb radio, it was cool and my friend at school had a 76 pontiac grand prix that had a am/fm/cb radio in it from the factory to, i dont know how hard it would be to find one , but if you had one you wouldnt have to cut dash out. I love your wagon.
