88 cutlass build thread (project midnight)

[sleepycutlasscruzer]

hey guys. threw a bunch of mixed up deals that i almost had no control over i ended up with this almost mint 1988 cutlass supreme with 84k original miles , 307 v8, and i got it for $2500. you think i did ok? im still in denile about owning it. anyways this is my build thread even though this isnt going to be that radcal. its going to be a daily driven nice cutlass. let me know what you think. more pics to come SOON

 

[dogsht]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

Nice car. Hard top is a big plus so is the exterior & interior color and you have ralley wheels. With my 88 Cutty 307 200-4R 2.56 gear I got 17 avg mpg mix of hwy & city normal driving. If you don't play johnny racer and manually shift it to hold a gear and over rev it the 307 was very dependable. With exhaust it will sound good and burn tires at a stoplight but there is no bang for the buck in trying to hop it up. About the best thing is clean egr add an advance curve kit to pull out a few horsies and bring it from lazy to crisp. Well and gear swap or swap to a MCSS rear for some 3.42/3.73 gears. I swapped a MCSS rear in mine with the 3.73 and because of the overdrive my overall mileage staid the same just better acceleration.

With a timing chain & oil pump & normal maintenance 200,000 would be an expected minimum. If it does not have any serious body or frame rust you did fine at $2,500. BFG makes a 25.4 tall 205/70/14 RWL for the front and 25.6 tall 245/60/14 RWL for the rear that looks great on these cars with those wheels. Good stance and look for cheap. Also check your front end links often they need replaced on these cars. You can get poly end links cheap anywhere and helps to firm up and take slop out of the handling. If you have a mushy or missing end link rubber bushing you will noticeably feel the improvment by adding new poly end link bushings. You can change them yourself even if you are not very mechanically inclined. Last a ralley guage pack is a cheap and easy upgrade often you can find them for sale here or at one of the gbody vendors. Does she have the rear sway bar?

 

[sleepycutlasscruzer]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

i dont think it has a rear sway bar but ill more then likly put one on. the susp. is nice and tight and it rides like a new car. rust wise its pretty f-ing solid. it dosent have any hole but i does have sum bubbles in the paint down on the rockers. if i take care it soon i shouldnt have any problems. the most i plan on doing is a locker rear end w/ a little bigger gear ( 3.42 or 3.08), a nice set of stainless duel exhaust but noting to loud (no flowmaster), rear sway bar and the bigger front sway bar, and more then likly a factory replacement k&n filter. and i might do the timing advance kit that you had mentioned. ive never owned a completly stock cutlass before and i dont want to screw with it to much. i love this car but im still head over heels for my hotrod wagon.

 

[Burnhard]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

Nice car looks very clean.You could do a factory bucket seat swap with console, rally pack,and sport wheel. I like the manual windows cool.

 

[sleepycutlasscruzer]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

Nice car looks very clean.You could do a factory bucket seat swap with console, rally pack,and sport wheel. I like the manual windows cool.

buckets and a console isnt a bad idea. ive been looking for two of the rally style gauge clusters. one for my wagon and now one for this.

 

[SilverShadow87]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

i have a ralley cluster from my other car, for a column shift.. i dont need it, my 87s already got one. interested?

 

[sleepycutlasscruzer]

Re: 88 cutlass build thread (midnight)

i have a ralley cluster from my other car, for a column shift.. i dont need it, my 87s already got one. interested?

yes i am. give me a price and include shipping to detroit mi. how many miles are on the cluster?

 

[sleepycutlasscruzer]

some more pics After i gave it the first bath , also put my 17x8 wheels on it.

 

[Longroof79]

Looks like a sweet car! The wheels improve the appearance bigtime. Very nice! Invest in some anti-theft devices..or park it where you can keep an eye on it.
I guess the wagon is still hangin' in the wind...that's okay! I think you did well with this Cutlass.

 

[zuma83]

wow what a diff a set of wheels can make. look real nice