Hey Everybody,
So I've run into a bit of a problem and I have a little bit of a story to tell, if you wouldn't mind hearing.
I own an '84 Cutlass Supreme. It's got a V6 and 3 speed automatic. It was the first car I ever got (had a few in between but this one's always been by my side). The engine, although lacking in power, was always reliable cold or hot or having sat for a few months at a time and did it's job with very little maintenance. The car was originally given to me by my sweet, old, childhood neighbor who's driveway I would shovel and lawn I would mow every year from when I could barely lift a shovel full of snow. As she grew older she lost the ability to drive and it so happened that at about that time I had obtained my learner's permit. Being such a sweet, old lady, she decided to give the car to me. The car was slow, a bit musty, and well, a bit of an ugly duckling (but boy do those G bodies grow on you), but the car was old (older than anything any other kid in school had apart from my buddy who was able to obtain an '84 GNX) and reliable, and well, free. I appreciated it. I took it, and learned to love it, even with it's manual door locks and windows, and it's AM radio that only sometimes worked - these features having been specially ordered from the factory by my neighbor. I even have the original bill of sale, showing that the caring older lady paid extra for these manual features, as well as an impressive amount for the Brougham package. The car has been with me (or at least next door to me, as a child) all of my life, and so you might understand that I have a bit of a connection to it, and would hate to lose it.
This brings us more to present day. A few nights ago I was driving home and began hearing a fairly loud clack noise. I was fairly close and so I attempted to get it the last couple miles - figuring whether it broke down or not before I got home I would still end up having to get the car to my mom's house (my stepfather has a garage in the back and has restored quite a few cars in the past - although no G bodies). And so onward I went but within a mile I was losing power, the clacking got a bit louder and the engine up and quit on me. The whole time I've been driving I've had AAA and this is the first time I've actually had to use it. Anyhow, I think I've got a spun bearing, although the engine really doesn't want to turn over at all.
This problem may be a godsend of sorts however. Ever since I got the car I always said I wanted to swap the lazy V6 with a 350 but the damn thing was so reliable I didn't want to fix what wasn't broken. Well apparently it wasn't that reliable, since the damn thing only has about 77,000 miles on it.
This may be giving me an opportunity to do the swap I've always wanted. I know there are plenty of threads regarding these swaps but the information is spotty and kind of all over the place.
I was hoping I could get some tips. Also what exactly I will need to change out and any issues I may run into.
The point of this is to get a carbureted Chevy 350 in there. I don't have anything yet, so once I yank the V6 I'm pretty much starting from scratch - Any help would be greatly appreciate!!!
To start, I know I'll need a new radiator, a new transmission, motor mounts, and I'll need to beef up the front suspension. Would anybody care to help me out on what exactly I should be looking for parts wise? I know a big part of this is how much you're willing to spend - lets assume I'm willing to spend as little as possible this second to get the car back up and running for now.
Will I have to screw with the rear end? The one that's in there is like the size of a softball.
Like I said before, any help would be greatly appreciated.
So I've run into a bit of a problem and I have a little bit of a story to tell, if you wouldn't mind hearing.
I own an '84 Cutlass Supreme. It's got a V6 and 3 speed automatic. It was the first car I ever got (had a few in between but this one's always been by my side). The engine, although lacking in power, was always reliable cold or hot or having sat for a few months at a time and did it's job with very little maintenance. The car was originally given to me by my sweet, old, childhood neighbor who's driveway I would shovel and lawn I would mow every year from when I could barely lift a shovel full of snow. As she grew older she lost the ability to drive and it so happened that at about that time I had obtained my learner's permit. Being such a sweet, old lady, she decided to give the car to me. The car was slow, a bit musty, and well, a bit of an ugly duckling (but boy do those G bodies grow on you), but the car was old (older than anything any other kid in school had apart from my buddy who was able to obtain an '84 GNX) and reliable, and well, free. I appreciated it. I took it, and learned to love it, even with it's manual door locks and windows, and it's AM radio that only sometimes worked - these features having been specially ordered from the factory by my neighbor. I even have the original bill of sale, showing that the caring older lady paid extra for these manual features, as well as an impressive amount for the Brougham package. The car has been with me (or at least next door to me, as a child) all of my life, and so you might understand that I have a bit of a connection to it, and would hate to lose it.
This brings us more to present day. A few nights ago I was driving home and began hearing a fairly loud clack noise. I was fairly close and so I attempted to get it the last couple miles - figuring whether it broke down or not before I got home I would still end up having to get the car to my mom's house (my stepfather has a garage in the back and has restored quite a few cars in the past - although no G bodies). And so onward I went but within a mile I was losing power, the clacking got a bit louder and the engine up and quit on me. The whole time I've been driving I've had AAA and this is the first time I've actually had to use it. Anyhow, I think I've got a spun bearing, although the engine really doesn't want to turn over at all.
This problem may be a godsend of sorts however. Ever since I got the car I always said I wanted to swap the lazy V6 with a 350 but the damn thing was so reliable I didn't want to fix what wasn't broken. Well apparently it wasn't that reliable, since the damn thing only has about 77,000 miles on it.
This may be giving me an opportunity to do the swap I've always wanted. I know there are plenty of threads regarding these swaps but the information is spotty and kind of all over the place.
I was hoping I could get some tips. Also what exactly I will need to change out and any issues I may run into.
The point of this is to get a carbureted Chevy 350 in there. I don't have anything yet, so once I yank the V6 I'm pretty much starting from scratch - Any help would be greatly appreciate!!!
To start, I know I'll need a new radiator, a new transmission, motor mounts, and I'll need to beef up the front suspension. Would anybody care to help me out on what exactly I should be looking for parts wise? I know a big part of this is how much you're willing to spend - lets assume I'm willing to spend as little as possible this second to get the car back up and running for now.
Will I have to screw with the rear end? The one that's in there is like the size of a softball.
Like I said before, any help would be greatly appreciated.
