'83 Cutlass Cruiser Build Thread
- Thread starter Blake442
- Start date
Well here's the story of my weatherstripping replacement on the wagon.
This is what I started off with. The Texas heat did a number on it...
Before:
After:
The seals needed a little help around the front lower corners and the front upper corners on both the front and rear.
The front lower corner on the rear passenger side door wants to sit like this:
But it should sit like this to seal properly:
In order to get it to sit right when you first close the door, you can reach in from the front to hold it back like this:
Watch your fingers...
Here on the front upper corner it needs some help from the backside to sit properly...
The front doors needed help on the exact same spots, but since you can't assist with your fingers like on the rear doors, some masking tape will do the job.
I don't like to put the tape directly on the weatherstripping, because during removal of the tape, it can damage the delicate outer surface of the seal. Instead, I'll take a piece of tape about 8 inches long or so, and then take another piece about 4 inches long, and put that on the middle of the sticky side of the longer piece. That way, you'll end up with a piece that is sticky on both ends, but won't stick to anything in the middle. Put that area over the seal, and then tape it down and you don't have to worry about harming the new weatherstrips.
I did the driver side doors on Friday, and after just a day they had trained themselves into position quite nicely, but still needed a little assistance in that front upper corner on the rear doors. I did the passenger side seals on Sunday, and decided to take the car out for a test drive.
I fired up the car and headed out to the carwash to give the seals the ultimate test. Wind noise was pretty minimal, but I only got up to 50 mph at the most.
Noticed a couple drips of water on the first pass, but it leaked less and less with each pass of the machine. Nothing major.
I was expecting leaks from the heater box, but suprisingly there were none!
I did use a lot of strip-calk to seal it all up when I put it together...
All in all I'm very happy with these seals.
So if any of you other wagon guys are wondering what brand of seals to get, I'd recommend these for sure.
And just for fun, here's some pics of the car when I got back from the carwash.
This is what I started off with. The Texas heat did a number on it...
Before:
After:
The seals needed a little help around the front lower corners and the front upper corners on both the front and rear.
The front lower corner on the rear passenger side door wants to sit like this:
But it should sit like this to seal properly:
In order to get it to sit right when you first close the door, you can reach in from the front to hold it back like this:
Watch your fingers...
Here on the front upper corner it needs some help from the backside to sit properly...
The front doors needed help on the exact same spots, but since you can't assist with your fingers like on the rear doors, some masking tape will do the job.
I don't like to put the tape directly on the weatherstripping, because during removal of the tape, it can damage the delicate outer surface of the seal. Instead, I'll take a piece of tape about 8 inches long or so, and then take another piece about 4 inches long, and put that on the middle of the sticky side of the longer piece. That way, you'll end up with a piece that is sticky on both ends, but won't stick to anything in the middle. Put that area over the seal, and then tape it down and you don't have to worry about harming the new weatherstrips.
I did the driver side doors on Friday, and after just a day they had trained themselves into position quite nicely, but still needed a little assistance in that front upper corner on the rear doors. I did the passenger side seals on Sunday, and decided to take the car out for a test drive.
I fired up the car and headed out to the carwash to give the seals the ultimate test. Wind noise was pretty minimal, but I only got up to 50 mph at the most.
Noticed a couple drips of water on the first pass, but it leaked less and less with each pass of the machine. Nothing major.
I was expecting leaks from the heater box, but suprisingly there were none!
I did use a lot of strip-calk to seal it all up when I put it together...
All in all I'm very happy with these seals.
So if any of you other wagon guys are wondering what brand of seals to get, I'd recommend these for sure.
And just for fun, here's some pics of the car when I got back from the carwash.
Time for an update!
On Monday, I was driving along in the Caprice, and started hearing some nice clunking and rattling noises from underneath. Looks like a bad bearing in the rear axle, haven't had a chance yet to tear into it.
So since I sold my Buick wagon to SquirellMaster, and with my daily driver parked, I was forced to fix a couple items on the wagon so I could drive it.
First, I had to take care of the rear tires rubbing on the lip of the outer wheel well.
I took off my molding and pounded the sh*t out of it to roll the lip over. Clears fine now...
Then, I re-made the fuel line that ran across from the driver side to the pump on the passenger side.
I'm too broke and too lazy to run a whole new line up the passenger side of the car.
This works fine, and doesn't touch anything (the old line slightly touched the center link).
The front end is finally settling down now that I've put some miles on it since last summer when I swapped the springs.
The rear on the other hand sits too low, even with the cargo coils that are in there.
It still needs rear shocks, so I think I'll put a pair of air-shocks on like I was planning to.
Been a couple days now and it's been serving me well as a daily driver, though it's having some trouble with hot starts. Seems the starter is getting heat soaked, which is weird, since I never had any problems with those same headers on the SBC I had in my 442 a while back. As long as I can let it sit for an hour or so, it's fine, but if you try and start it up before that, it cranks slow and won't fire. Maybe a heat shield will remedy the problem.
Otherwise, the car starts right up with one pump of the gas, and runs like a top.
Glad to be behind the wheel of a wagon again!
On Monday, I was driving along in the Caprice, and started hearing some nice clunking and rattling noises from underneath. Looks like a bad bearing in the rear axle, haven't had a chance yet to tear into it.
So since I sold my Buick wagon to SquirellMaster, and with my daily driver parked, I was forced to fix a couple items on the wagon so I could drive it.
First, I had to take care of the rear tires rubbing on the lip of the outer wheel well.
I took off my molding and pounded the sh*t out of it to roll the lip over. Clears fine now...
Then, I re-made the fuel line that ran across from the driver side to the pump on the passenger side.
I'm too broke and too lazy to run a whole new line up the passenger side of the car.
This works fine, and doesn't touch anything (the old line slightly touched the center link).
The front end is finally settling down now that I've put some miles on it since last summer when I swapped the springs.
The rear on the other hand sits too low, even with the cargo coils that are in there.
It still needs rear shocks, so I think I'll put a pair of air-shocks on like I was planning to.
Been a couple days now and it's been serving me well as a daily driver, though it's having some trouble with hot starts. Seems the starter is getting heat soaked, which is weird, since I never had any problems with those same headers on the SBC I had in my 442 a while back. As long as I can let it sit for an hour or so, it's fine, but if you try and start it up before that, it cranks slow and won't fire. Maybe a heat shield will remedy the problem.
Otherwise, the car starts right up with one pump of the gas, and runs like a top.
Glad to be behind the wheel of a wagon again!
Im a little curious, did you get the car with a 307 or what was it powered by before you put the 350 in it. Glad to see that hood still fitting in. Havnt got a chance to get a set of tires for the vectors yet. Really want to put them on there and see what they look like.
It originally had a Buick 3.8 V6. I put the poochy Chevy 350 in just cause I had it, and a ton of parts laying around.
I want to build either a rowdy Olds DX 350 for it, or maybe just go with another 455...
The aluminum hood fits great, but I noticed a large dip in the center of the passenger side. Since there's that other perfect aluminum hood out at Rohner's, I think I might end up going back and grabbing that hood as opposed to fixing this one.
Until then, I think I'm going to strip the paint on this hood and polish it!
When I test fit those Vectors on my 442, I had a pair of 275/60's on them, and they looked like they'd be really close to the wheel well lip, and the lip would probably need to be rolled...
I don't know if it'd be any better if you went with a 255/60 instead. That's what I have on the wagon, and those rims are the same width and I think they even have the same backspacing. I guess there's only one way to find out!
I want to build either a rowdy Olds DX 350 for it, or maybe just go with another 455...
The aluminum hood fits great, but I noticed a large dip in the center of the passenger side. Since there's that other perfect aluminum hood out at Rohner's, I think I might end up going back and grabbing that hood as opposed to fixing this one.
Until then, I think I'm going to strip the paint on this hood and polish it!
When I test fit those Vectors on my 442, I had a pair of 275/60's on them, and they looked like they'd be really close to the wheel well lip, and the lip would probably need to be rolled...
I don't know if it'd be any better if you went with a 255/60 instead. That's what I have on the wagon, and those rims are the same width and I think they even have the same backspacing. I guess there's only one way to find out!
Well, been over a week now that I've been driving the wagon, and I've managed to rack up about 600+ miles on it so far.
Car runs and drives great, but I still need to order up a heat shield for the starter...
Only had to pour some gas down the carb to start it twice, and both times it was kinda low on fuel, other than that, it's fired right up everytime.
I did some poking around on the Caprice to try and figure out where the noise was coming from.
The car ran and drove fine, so I originally suspected the rear axle.
Pulled the cover off, slid the axles out and everything looks good.
127K miles, and that was the first time anybody had ever pulled the rear brake drums. Still had the retainers on the lug studs. Shoes looked good too...
Put it all back together and drive it again.
Noise is now only in 1st gear, shifts to second fine and the noise stops, but it doesn't shift to 3rd, or 4th.
It will wind 2nd gear as high as you want, and the second you let off the gas, the torque converter unlocks and it drops down to idle speed. Put your foot back on the gas, it searches for the gear for a second and then grabs it.
I've had this car since '03, and it only had 30K miles on it, put on by my grandma, who bought it new.
I beat on it a little bit, but nothing too hard... lots of city miles. Guess I thought I'd get more miles out of the trans before it gave up on me. But other than a waterpump, the radiator tank on one side, and a couple alternators, the car has been really good to me, so I'm not too upset about it. Unfortunately it means it might sit in the driveway for a bit while I save up enough money to rebuild the 4L60E... Wish I had the money to swap a T-56 into it...
Car runs and drives great, but I still need to order up a heat shield for the starter...
Only had to pour some gas down the carb to start it twice, and both times it was kinda low on fuel, other than that, it's fired right up everytime.
I did some poking around on the Caprice to try and figure out where the noise was coming from.
The car ran and drove fine, so I originally suspected the rear axle.
Pulled the cover off, slid the axles out and everything looks good.
127K miles, and that was the first time anybody had ever pulled the rear brake drums. Still had the retainers on the lug studs. Shoes looked good too...
Put it all back together and drive it again.
Noise is now only in 1st gear, shifts to second fine and the noise stops, but it doesn't shift to 3rd, or 4th.
It will wind 2nd gear as high as you want, and the second you let off the gas, the torque converter unlocks and it drops down to idle speed. Put your foot back on the gas, it searches for the gear for a second and then grabs it.
I've had this car since '03, and it only had 30K miles on it, put on by my grandma, who bought it new.
I beat on it a little bit, but nothing too hard... lots of city miles. Guess I thought I'd get more miles out of the trans before it gave up on me. But other than a waterpump, the radiator tank on one side, and a couple alternators, the car has been really good to me, so I'm not too upset about it. Unfortunately it means it might sit in the driveway for a bit while I save up enough money to rebuild the 4L60E... Wish I had the money to swap a T-56 into it...
Time for another update!
The wagon is kicking *ss as my new daily driver, and has even been getting around 15 mpg!
I took the 442 out saturday nite, and after I got back home and put the car away, the wagon wouldn't start. :x
I bought that starter in the summer of '08 when I was putting the car together, but it sure didn't last long...
I'm more than familiar with the fact that every once in a while you get a bad rebuilt part, but it sucks balls when the warranty has long since expired and you only got about 3 weeks worth of use out of it.
Good thing the new one was only $45.
Replaced the starter today, and it's good as new. Not only that, but the hot start problem is gone!
I knew it was weird since the 442 never had any problems when it had the SBC 350 and those same headers.
I still ordered a heat-shield just to be sure, but it's a load off of my mind to not have to worry about waiting 45 minutes before I can start it again...
The wagon is kicking *ss as my new daily driver, and has even been getting around 15 mpg!
I took the 442 out saturday nite, and after I got back home and put the car away, the wagon wouldn't start. :x
I bought that starter in the summer of '08 when I was putting the car together, but it sure didn't last long...
I'm more than familiar with the fact that every once in a while you get a bad rebuilt part, but it sucks balls when the warranty has long since expired and you only got about 3 weeks worth of use out of it.
Good thing the new one was only $45.
Replaced the starter today, and it's good as new. Not only that, but the hot start problem is gone!
I knew it was weird since the 442 never had any problems when it had the SBC 350 and those same headers.
I still ordered a heat-shield just to be sure, but it's a load off of my mind to not have to worry about waiting 45 minutes before I can start it again...
I got a Duralast starter for my truck for $20. Lifetime warrenty, and my truck is a stick so I'm not too worried about.
Love the wagon, lucky you getting rust free sheetmetal!
Love the wagon, lucky you getting rust free sheetmetal!
It was definately worth getting the car from Texas for the clean sheet metal!
Over 2500 miles on the wagon since I've started driving it now, and it rocks! Runs and drives awesome.
Pitman arm seal started leaking on the steering box, which I'm really not suprised by.
Just a couple drops every night, nothing to worry about just yet... maybe when it's dumping the full PSF reservoir every other day like the Malibu was I'll get around to it... :lol:
Couple other odd little gremlins popping up here and there...
When my headlights are on, and I turn my windshield wipers on, all the dash lights go out. Which makes it really easy to tell how fast I'm going. That's the only real issue that bugs me.
Honestly, the biggest complaint I have is that since there is no headliner, the headliner trim above the 1/4 windows ****ing rattles, and it's obnoxious as hell... Other than that, it's been a kick *ss daily driver for the past month and a half!
That being said, I wish I could drive the Caprice so I could enjoy my only car with A/C...
Over 2500 miles on the wagon since I've started driving it now, and it rocks! Runs and drives awesome.
Pitman arm seal started leaking on the steering box, which I'm really not suprised by.
Just a couple drops every night, nothing to worry about just yet... maybe when it's dumping the full PSF reservoir every other day like the Malibu was I'll get around to it... :lol:
Couple other odd little gremlins popping up here and there...
When my headlights are on, and I turn my windshield wipers on, all the dash lights go out. Which makes it really easy to tell how fast I'm going. That's the only real issue that bugs me.
Honestly, the biggest complaint I have is that since there is no headliner, the headliner trim above the 1/4 windows ****ing rattles, and it's obnoxious as hell... Other than that, it's been a kick *ss daily driver for the past month and a half!
That being said, I wish I could drive the Caprice so I could enjoy my only car with A/C...
Been neglecting this thread for a while, but there isn't much to report other than the car is running great!
Almost 4000 miles on it now, and it's even been getting an average of 16 mpg. Hard to complain there...
Haven't had to do any work other than put on this fancy steering wheel I got from my buddy Lue.
Came of an '83 Cutlass Calais, and it's even the right color. Sorry for the shitty cell phone pic...
Almost 4000 miles on it now, and it's even been getting an average of 16 mpg. Hard to complain there...
Haven't had to do any work other than put on this fancy steering wheel I got from my buddy Lue.
Came of an '83 Cutlass Calais, and it's even the right color. Sorry for the shitty cell phone pic...
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