1983 Cutlass Calais “The Cripples Cruiser”

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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
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Tampa Bay Area
So my dad had a 1980 cutlass Calais before he had to sell it so we could move that was swapped with a SBO and tubbed. And then he got an incurable nerve condition that only gets worse once we got to Florida and has been wheelchair bound for 24 years up until not too long ago he was still somewhat capable of working on cars unfortunately his disease has finally taken that away from him so it’s up to me to continue our father son project that I’m daily driving.

The car is a 1983 cutlass Calais with all power options that had I believe 73k miles with a seized 3.8 we have since swapped that for a 1968 350 that has been bored .30 over with #5 heads and the factory trans with a TCI unit

Part choices and purchases were done by him though please refrain from any truly negative comments other than feedback by time we had money for the project he had been out of engine building etc from the disease for 25 years and unfortunately the disease effects his memory somewhat.

Extreme budget build and will be used by me as a fun daily I am very familiar with mechanical work though mainly did all my work on obd 2 vehicles and am learning as I go especially through the forums. I have never actually built an engine but have done plenty of tear downs to short block for internal work.

Parts list:
1968 350 bored .30 over
#5 heads
New pushrods, valves, valve seals, lifters, bearings
Completely unknown pistons [emoji52]
Guessed to be Keith black cast unfortunately
Summit mv8600 600cfm carb
RV cam completely unknown specs [emoji58]
Edelbrock 7111 intake
Edelbrock heatriser block offs sealed with quiksteel
Bolt in Mondello windage tray
W30 retro exhaust manifolds
MSD ready to run distributor
MSD blaster 3 coil
AC Delco plugs gapped .34 I believe
Newer 3 core radiator
rotella t6 full synthetic 5w40
Wix filter 51258 hopefully I bought the right one.
Milodon 7 quart oil pan
Edelbrock valve covers
Newer airtex mechanical fuel pump
Newer four seasons compressor
Newer tuff stuff 100amp I think alternator
New summit drop base 4 inch air cleaner

TCI TH350 street rodder package
TCI 1700rpm stall non lockup converter
TCI trans cooler
TCI max shift trans fluid

Stock 7.5 rear end and drive shaft no idea of ratio tag is missing and tube code is covered with undercoating
All new moog front suspension including coils
New rear coils and shocks
Newer lower steering shaft
New brake hoses to all wheels and the rear center
SSBC front discs and calipers
New Dorman wheel cylinders waiting to be installed

17 inch wheels still have to get the size with Michelin defender tires

Pioneer premier single din head unit with Bluetooth

Yet to be installed
Alpine type R used components
Pioneer 3 way 6x9s
Possibly a single Rockford Fosgate 12 with amp

plans:
Probably rebuild and change to 7.625 gears in the rear unsure what ratio though probably in the 3’s
Maybe one day swap for 700r4
Remove landau top
Restore or possibly tint tails
Dye or wrap interior plastics
Fix drivers seat fabric
Change exterior color
Possibly change grills I’m not sure I like these
LED lighting all the way around
Rear wheel spacers
Remove all chrome trim
Modify center console to make a cupholder
Leather boot for shifter
3 motor power seat set up
Maybe retrofit cruise control back in
Find new washer fluid jug
Get slop out of the steering
Maybe electric fan conversion
Make more power either in the form of a 455 or putting the correct pistons in the motor


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
In the process currently of resealing the intake with felpro metal gaskets
Resealing valve covers with felpro rubber gaskets
Blocking the exhaust crossover with Edelbrock plugs
And retuning hopefully to be completed by tomorrow
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In addition to the plugs I was considering using the old Mondello plates as well to ensure the block just worried about the gasket sealing properly.
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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Well got started again today the quiksteel seem to have set up ok but honestly not what I was expecting so let’s hope no rattles or I’m gonna be really angry. I almost have them as flat as I want them I suck at sealing gaskets so I’m super paranoid about making everything level and smooth which takes forever considering these are literally just hunks of metal. Although I am blessed with a large compressor with an air grinder if I didn’t have that this definitely wouldn’t be happening it was hard enough with my nifty tools.

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Finished sanding and clear coating the second valve cover and since I already had the clear out I did the breather as well. Will probably paint the new water pump gold since I have to work between rain storms

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sunshine state is bullshit more like constantly wet state you’re either sweating to death or it’s so humid there is condensation everywhere or it’s raining on you.

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my valve covers are like an ugly girl they look good until you get close but they only took all of 20 minutes or so.

Thinking about printing some Microsoft office script and cutting it out to use as a spray paint stencil to surprise my dad with the cripples cruiser or cutlass on the air cleaner I’m just not sure if I have the motivation and obviously there is a good chance I’d screw it up and not care to fix it so may leave that out I’m still not sure


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Thanks I appreciate it I’ll have to get a price are decals a better option rather than painting it on?


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Well my skills are lacking in paint and decals so sounds equally chancy


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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
Houston it seems we have a dry fit intake problem the bolt holes are lined up but the drivers side has a larger gap between the head and intake than the passenger side and comes up on the head slightly higher looks like I need to locate what is too big and shave the intake down a bit or something.

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Stupidquestionspro

Master Mechanic
May 23, 2019
369
107
43
Tampa Bay Area
There we go much better just had to sand the bottom of the intake and flange just slightly and tighten down the Mondello windage tray a tweak more much better.

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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
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I've got no input on the intake but I really like where you're headed. That's gonna be a fun car.
 
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