CUTLASS Ready or not here I come...

Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
What’s up? I’m kinda new to this forum, I’ve read a few threads and checked out a few pictures. I have a 78 Cutlass Supreme that I bought for $2,500.00 about 8 years ago. I haven’t done much work to her except oil changes, ball joints and lowering springs. I haven’t driven her much the last 3 years especially after Hurricane Harvey, it was flooded half way up to the door. The transmission had water but I flushed it out and drove it. I bought a house and she’s been sitting there since. I’ve fixed the house as much as I’m going to last year so I’m going to spend this year working on the Cutlass.



I guess you can say I’m mechanically challenged but I have been inspired by MJScarangella’s Monte Carlo build. I want to do a LS swap. I hope to have the majority of the work done in a year. I’ve been thinking of going with the Holley setup but it’s pricey. I want to go with the 5.3 liter and 4L60E combo. I’ve never done a swap before and I know there will be a lot of new experiences for me on this build. There are a lot of really good threads here that I have enjoyed reading and following. I’m going for Kimshaidy’s Malibu’s look. As I scroll through the forum I see a many more awesome builds.



I set a deadline for a year but I don’t see that happening, I ordered the Holley engine swap and transmission crossmember.



I can say I do want to get the show on the road but I know it will be a slow process.





When she used to be my daily driver.
2074.jpg



How she is at the moment.

20220604_161540.jpg








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20220604_161426.jpg





20220604_161339.jpg
 
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Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
My next goal is to buy an engine, a 5.3. I looked online and found one online from Summit, Chevy LS 5.3L 450 HP long block crate engine.

Which I'm really interested in.

Or save a lil money and not the same horsepower and buy one from Oreilly's.

Since I plan on keeping her for a long time I'd like to use a zero miles motor. With the difference being about $8oo I think I'm going for the Summit Long Block.
 
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Tony1968

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Jul 1, 2018
2,313
5,099
113
NW Indiana
It'd be a little less expensive to grab one from a junkyard but obviously much more work. And if you do decide on that I'd get a 6.0 or 6.2 with 4l80e. Just my opinion. Looks like it's a good starting point 👌
Do you know of a machine shop near your location?
 
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Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
It'd be a little less expensive to grab one from a junkyard but obviously much more work. And if you do decide on that I'd get a 6.0 or 6.2 with 4l80e. Just my opinion. Looks like it's a good starting point 👌
Do you know of a machine shop near your location?
I bought a 5.3 but turned out to be a 4.8, It has a tapping sound and was told it would be a lifter, so I figured I would do a cam upgrade ($1,100) and overhaul the engine ($1,800). I have a 4L60e that I bought used from the same guy. All I had planned was to do an intake upgrade, ATOMIC AIRFORCE LS1/2/6 INTAKE MANIFOLD and HOOKER BLACKHEART LS SWAP LONG TUBE HEADERS.

There are a few machine shops but most are at least 3 months backed up.

I appreciate your time and comment, your build is one I'm watching...your build, (84-cutlass-pro-touring-build) is insane!😲
 
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SS_Malibu

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2021
1,129
1,973
113
Mesa, AZ
Welcome to the GBodyForum!
Looks like you have a nice car to start with. I'm diggin' that rearview mirror. It seems you have some nice plans for it. Make a list of what you want to do. It helps if it's on paper. Yes. I said "PAPER". As you already know, there is a lot of knowledge here and plenty of LS conversions. You have the ambition so you're part of the way there.
 
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Tony1968

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Jul 1, 2018
2,313
5,099
113
NW Indiana
I bought a 5.3 but turned out to be a 4.8, It has a tapping sound and was told it would be a lifter, so I figured I would do a cam upgrade ($1,100) and overhaul the engine ($1,800). I have a 4L60e that I bought used from the same guy. All I had planned was to do an intake upgrade, ATOMIC AIRFORCE LS1/2/6 INTAKE MANIFOLD and HOOKER BLACKHEART LS SWAP LONG TUBE HEADERS.

There are a few machine shops but most are at least 3 months backed up.

I appreciate your time and comment, your build is one I'm watching...your build, (84-cutlass-pro-touring-build) is insane!😲
Thank you but my build is nothing compared to others here.
I almost got swindled into a 4.8.
Junkyard guy said it was a 5.3. I drove out there and it was a 4.8 and guy argued with me about it.
I was going to do a super charger but decided on na instead. If I had a 4.8 it would be pressurized for sure 👍
 
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doood

Amateur Mechanic
Sep 24, 2020
548
753
93
My next goal is to buy an engine, a 5.3. I looked online and found one online from Summit, Chevy LS 5.3L 450 HP long block crate engine.

Which I'm really interested in.

Or save a lil money and not the same horsepower and buy one from Oreilly's.

Since I plan on keeping her for a long time I'd like to use a zero miles motor. With the difference being about $8oo I think I'm going for the Summit Long Block.
I got an ATK LM7 crate motor (stock 98-04 truck engine) and returned the junkyard 5.3L as a core after failing to extract a number of broken exhaust manifold bolts from the heads- that might be the engine you see on Summit, Jegs, Oreilly, Jasper, etc for $2700 (was $2300 when I bought it). I think they're all distributing the same longblocks assembled by VEGE down in Mexico based on my difficulties sourcing the engine during covid (all the vendors were having EXACTLY the same supply chain problem). You mention the Holley/Hooker swap kit. Besides an exhaust segment needing rework, and an extremely tight fit between head/HVAC/firewall on passenger side, the only thing really lacking is that crossmember - the driver side connection to the frame rail is goofy AF, and in the future, I would use a gforce or something else more robust, and make it work over the vocal recommendation from Holley that the kit must be used with that crossmember for guaranteed fitment.

I drive the heck out of the car whenever there is no rain on the forecast - tank of gas every 10 days. Fuel economy was important when I built the car as a driver, and is even more relevant now. That is why I didn't select the cammed version of the 5.3L for sale for way too much markup on Summit. The recommendation with that engine was to upgrade the injectors - who knows what tuning would be needed - I just kept it stock (ECU included) and I'm glad.

 
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mclellan83

Comic Book Super Hero
Jun 27, 2017
4,201
9,300
113
Pgh, PA
Welcome, sounds like you have some good plans but expect a lot to come up while doing it. Looking forward to it coming together
 
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Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
I got an ATK LM7 crate motor (stock 98-04 truck engine) and returned the junkyard 5.3L as a core after failing to extract a number of broken exhaust manifold bolts from the heads- that might be the engine you see on Summit, Jegs, Oreilly, Jasper, etc for $2700 (was $2300 when I bought it). I think they're all distributing the same longblocks assembled by VEGE down in Mexico based on my difficulties sourcing the engine during covid (all the vendors were having EXACTLY the same supply chain problem). You mention the Holley/Hooker swap kit. Besides an exhaust segment needing rework, and an extremely tight fit between head/HVAC/firewall on passenger side, the only thing really lacking is that crossmember - the driver side connection to the frame rail is goofy AF, and in the future, I would use a gforce or something else more robust, and make it work over the vocal recommendation from Holley that the kit must be used with that crossmember for guaranteed fitment.

I drive the heck out of the car whenever there is no rain on the forecast - tank of gas every 10 days. Fuel economy was important when I built the car as a driver, and is even more relevant now. That is why I didn't select the cammed version of the 5.3L for sale for way too much markup on Summit. The recommendation with that engine was to upgrade the injectors - who knows what tuning would be needed - I just kept it stock (ECU included) and I'm glad.

Hmmm...I plan on using Holley's Terminator X system for ECU/TCM. I'm under the assumption that the Terminator X will eliminate need for tuning at a shop. I'm not going to do a cam upgrade just intake manifold and headers

I found a long block for $750.00 and I think I'm gonna do that for now...I really want to drop the motor and trans into the car.

I ordered the engine and transmission swap mounts from Holley and they arrived the other day. I appreciate the G Force recommendation.
20220614_111240.jpg


I also ordered a shirt and a few decals and I got them in a couple days ago.

20220614_111226.jpg
 
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