'83 Cutlass Cruiser Build Thread

[Blake442]

I love the stance as well, but with the wider front tires, it rubs at the top of the wheel arch. I knew I should've gone with a skinnier size, but they just look so good, I couldn't help it. They are the stock V6 springs, and I don't think they like having the extra V8 weight on top of them... I know of quite a few people that still run them with V8's, but none of them that I have seen have wider tires up front like me. The plan is that it will hopefully pick it up enough to where it doesn't rub. I'll also be giving it a slight 'massage' with a baseball bat to roll the edge.

I actually started on it today after work, and got the brakes, shocks and sway bar links off. The nut for the lower ball joint came loose with no problem, but without a pickle fork, I was unable to separate the lower ball joint from the spindle. I soaked it with some penetrating spray and rapped on them with a hammer a bit, but no luck. Then I got a call asking to fill in at a trivia gig, so I threw the rotors and wheels back on and set the car back down on the ground, got cleaned up and took off.
I'll snag a pickle fork from work tomorrow, and hopefully I can get at least one of them in after work, before I have to go to trivia again.
I've got my fingers crossed that I can get it apart without ****ing up the boots, because I really don't want to mess with that stuff right now, I just want to take it apart, and put it back together...
I'll need to buy new shocks, since I broke the tops off to get them out, and sway bar links, which suprisingly came apart. The lower control arm bumpers are smashed, but I think I have a set laying around that I snagged off of the same MCSS from work that I got the springs from. I was thinking of just turning the rotors, but now that I looked at them today, I think I'll just replace them, and get some new pads as well. Calipers and hoses I already have, and I guess that means I should check the rear brakes too...
I just wanna drive the thing!

 

[Blake442]

I was going to go to the Back to the 50's show but had other stuff to do. I went up sunday for a twins game and 80% of the cars from the show that passed were actually driving in the rain :shock: I was expecting a bunch of trailer queens. Might have to try and make it up next year....

You should!

Even if you don't go to the show, it's still worth it to hang out on University.
Are you going to go to Car Craft next month?

 

[foxtrot]

I missed the V8 part -- I remember reading about the v6 when you bought it! So many threads to read, so little time...

One more thing (Columboism)... Isn't it a good idea to also raise the back if you're raising the front?

 

[81cutlass]

I was going to go to the Back to the 50's show but had other stuff to do. I went up sunday for a twins game and 80% of the cars from the show that passed were actually driving in the rain :shock: I was expecting a bunch of trailer queens. Might have to try and make it up next year....

You should!

Even if you don't go to the show, it's still worth it to hang out on University.
Are you going to go to Car Craft next month?

Theres a chance. I am not that great at planning ahead I might be working on the cutlass then. Theres a lot to do on it to get it running (well legal) by mid August.

 

[Blake442]

I missed the V8 part -- I remember reading about the v6 when you bought it! So many threads to read, so little time...

One more thing (Columboism)... Isn't it a good idea to also raise the back if you're raising the front?

Yeah, the car had a 3.8 originally, but I bought it as a roller with no motor or trans.
The rear already has a set of replacement cargo coils courtesy of the previous owners, so other than a fresh pair of shocks, I'll be leaving it alone.
I don't invision the new springs raising the front too much, but as long as they're stiff enough to keep the tires clear over bumps, I'm happy.

Too damn hot (92* and 75* dew point) to work on the wagon today, plus I have job #2 to run off to in a couple hours, so I just mowed the lawn instead. I did remember to snag the pickle fork from work though, so if it either cools down a bit in the next day or two, or at least gets less humid, I'll be able to get it done.

 

[foxtrot]

It was overcast and ~65 degrees farenheight here in the Northeast today!

Nonetheless I have the same dilema as you, not enough time for my auto projects. I work ten hours a day, am married and have two kids. Always feel that I'm stealing time from somewhere when I'm working on my Olds Regal...

 

[Blake442]

Well I took advantage of the beautiful weather and finally got the front springs swapped on the wagon today. Careful as I was, I did end up tearing one of the lower ball joint boots with the pickle fork, but I was planning on rebuilding the front end either this fall or next spring, so screw it for now.

I didn't get new shocks for it yet, but I'm fairly confident that there won't be anymore rubbing(knock on wood).

Before:

After:

 

[Blake442]

Got my new shocks installed today, but still need sway bar links, rotors and pads. I hope to get the brakes gone through this week so I can take it for a drive and hopefully the front end will settle down a bit. Rear shocks seem fine, but I'll pull the wheels and inspect the brakes.

I also suspect there may be a dried fuel line somewhere, as starting it is often difficult, like it's sucking in air. Pour a little gas down the carb, and it lites right off, and runs like a champ.

Few other odds and ends to sort out, but shouldn't be too much now...

EDIT: Today marks one year since I've had the car!

 

[Blake442]

Got a few things done on the wagon this weekend...

Started off small with some interior detailing, and spiffing up the interior plastics. Everything cleaned up quite nicely, even the top of the dash that I had feared had been too beaten by the sun. Other than a few small cracks in it, it looks like new.

Then I decided to swap out the vent windows in the rear doors because both of them had broken at the base of the swivel. I got one off eBay last winter and the other from a fellow forum member (thanks Kevin!).
I managed to break a majority of the door panel clips, but enough of them survived to get the panels back on. While they were apart, I cleaned the dirt out of the bottoms of the doors, and removed the tint from the glass.
Driver side was smooth sailing other than the broken trim clips, and is all back together. Passenger side didn't want to cooperate. The window channel that slides into the vent assembly was petrified, and crumbled as I attempted to remove it. I hope to be able to remove the channel from my Malibu and use that, since I don't have any money to get new stuff, and it's just gonna end up coming back apart in a few years when I paint the car anyways...
So the passenger side is just in place with the small 3" chunk that didn't crumble for now, and I'll have to come back to it after I can harvest the stuff out of the 'bu.
Still have to remove the tint off the 1/4 windows and lift-glass, but I think I'll put that off for a little while longer.

Spent the rest of the weekend tinkering with the 442... Too many projects, not enough time!

 

[Blake442]

Snapped a new pic with more window tint removed and the new vent windows in...