81 Cutlass build thread

[Blake442]

Bummer dude...

Would've been fun if we could've met up at car craft.
Maybe I'll finnaly get to make a run out to Rohner's sometime soon.
You'll have to bring your car back down for the show next year and show it!

 

[81cutlass]

Put in a new coil this morning and it didnt start. I made sure I had grounds and power and tried startin the car again and it started. I don't know if the coil did it or my wiring was bad. At least it runs now. 😀

I think I will show my car next year. I just wanted to check the show out first and was almost overwelmed with how much was there. I was suprised at the amount of G bodies were there. I didnt know if this was for high end show cars but theres enough daily driver cars there for me to fit in.

 

[tc1959]

Put in a new coil this morning and it didnt start. I made sure I had grounds and power and tried startin the car again and it started. I don't know if the coil did it or my wiring was bad. At least it runs now. 😀

I think I will show my car next year. I just wanted to check the show out first and was almost overwelmed with how much was there. I was suprised at the amount of G bodies were there. I didnt know if this was for high end show cars but theres enough daily driver cars there for me to fit in.

The joys of MSD 😳

 

[81cutlass]

Well other than driving it ive dont nothing. My trunk latch broke so my trunk doesnt latch but I never got a set of shocks to hold it up and the lid is so heavy theres no way it will go up. Gotta weld it back on. One of the spot welds broke and part of the metal broke on it. Ive got a few rock chips in the paint already, which is OK because that means I am driving it and it isnt stitting around.

My MSD box went out a little over a month ago, so natrually it was out of warranty by a few months. Call MSD and they tell me to send it to Texas and it will be fixed. Anywhere from $20-$60 to fix it. Ok thats fine. Send it, 3 weeks later it shows back up. Read invoice "Read note customer included, tested box, OK". Im thinking fantastic, they didnt do anything. Undo my splice in the car and re plug it in. Still doesnt run under 1400 RPM. It was advances it under 1400 RPM. Maybe I dont have 12 volts to the box? Wire in 12 volts right off the battery, still wont run under 1400 RPM. I made it clear what was wrong, and the tests I did so they could fix it but they didnt do squat.

The only possible thing thats wrong is the box itself, but MSD charges $25 and says its OK so it must be ok right! Dont feel like spending that much on a new one either when its barely over a year old. Fantastic. Im done spending money with MSD unless i find something else.

 

[Blake442]

Where did you mount the MSD box on your car?
I'm sure you're well aware of how vulnerable they are to heat...

Usually after people burn up their first one, they end up inside the passenger compartment... :lol:
I have mine opposite the battery where the vapor canister used to be, with the hopes that it'll get some air movement. Haven't had any problems yet... *knock on wood*

 

[81cutlass]

Well its a BTM box so it pulls like a degree of timing out for every PSI of boost. So not a true MSD box but its by MSD.

It has been mounted inside the passenger kick panel since the day it was installed. Hopefully I will either find out whats wrong or just buy another one. :evil:

 

[81cutlass]

So I thought Id update this.

I did get lucky and put my old module in and it ran like a top. Turns out NAPA echlin modules either dont have enough power to run a BTM box or something wierd like that.

I picked up a 2004R for the car. Cleaned it up really good and am planning a mild rebuild on it. Shift kit, new clutches, seals, maybe some other stuff. I am building it myself though.

 

[81cutlass]

Been a while since i updated this. I picked up a posi carrier and have a set of 3.42's on the way. I also have pulled off the cast manifolds for the 84/85 hot air headers I have.

The plan was to build the trans in my basement when it got too cold to work outside but its been so nice. 😀

 

[Blake442]

Those 3.42's are gonna make a HUGE difference!

 

[drogg1]

I agree with blake. Those 3.42's coming from a peg leg 2-series is a major difference! I went from 2.29's to 3.42's with a posi and even with a 305 it felt fast.

I just wanted to say that I think your project is pretty sweet. We joined the forum around the same time and I envy the progress you've made with your car. Mine is so far from drivable it makes me kind of depressed to think about it :lol: