'88 cutlass project

[brettlaage03]

Re: Gettin a new cutlass this weekend

I put in the heater box last week, and still need to seal it. I found out it needs the ducts from the non a/c car cuz everything is different from a/c to non a/c. I also put in the jeep steering shaft yesterday. I also had to get a brand new fuel pump cuz both the others were bad. I'm still cleanin up some wiring mess. I think the starter and alternator are both bad. I think the alt. is wired different than factory. The lights pulse. the bearings are shot in it anyways. The starter makes a loud bang noise on and off while cranking. It sounds like its engaging and disengaging on and off.

 

[brettlaage03]

I got the ducts for the a/c delete setup the other day. Today I unbolted the dash and removed the old a/c ducts. I am thinking of cutting holes in the ductwork to add the sidevents back in. If you didn't know, the a/c delete only has the center vents in the dash and block-off covers for the sides. I don't have the block-off pieces so I thought of doing that. I broke some of the plastic on the back of the vent covers and some other plastic parts. I'm tryin to figure out whats the best product to use to repair them. I'm gonna make a new glove box cuz the donor one is very brittle and is crumblin apart. The old one won't fit and needs to be shallower. I'm gonna just make one outta some aluminum at my dads shop sometime. I am also getting a 3 speed floor shifter and cable bracket from another board member. That will replace the 4 speed unit and hopefully shif through the gears correctly. I'm not sure yet. I pickedup a newer battery for it as well, since the old one died

 

[brettlaage03]

Tomorrow I'm planninig on picking up an Olds 350 from a '75 h/o for my cutlass. I can't wait! I know it's not the best year for them, but I just wanna street cruiser that can break the tires loose. I'm basically just swapping a '79 chevy 350 for it. It comes w/ everything but the air cleaner. If I end up getting it I post up some pics . It needs to be cleaned up, but runs. Kinda sucks I don't have a BOP trans!

 

[Rasheerh]

Nice!!! Gotta say I love a cutlass

 

[HDFXR1991]

Ah.... an Olds heart for an Olds Cutlass. Good combo!
Good job. Keep up the work.

 

[brettlaage03]

Thanks. My wonderful wife picked up my olds 350 w #8 heads today. Looks like they are crappy smog heads. Oh well. It's a good start. It has recently a reconditioned q-jet too. Gotta clean her up and paint her one of these days.

 

[mitchmo]

sweet build man-any new progress to report?

 

[Indycutlass]

Hey, nice cutlass! What did you do with the euro front end? Do you want to sell it? Please let me know.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[brettlaage03]

I still have the euro front end and I think I'm gonna keep it. My dad is getting another one for me for $30 I need the passenger grille and thats about it. I'll see if he actually gets it and I'll let you know. Tomorrow I'm gonna get a TH400 with a BOP bellhousing for my Olds 350. I Put in a new starter and wires for the starter and alternater. I got a carter quadrajet from a friend at work that works good, but my new carter fuel pump leaks around the fitting where its welded to the bottom of the pump. I finally figured that out earlier after messin with it for all of this week. The carb runs rough until the engine gets warm, so after I get another pump i'll have to tune it up. Also I took off the rusty rear bumper to put on a little less rusty one and found out the whole rail was basically held together with expanda foam!!!! Now I got another prob to fix!!! I love old peices of junk! Also I put on the lower alt. bracket on since the previous owner left it off. The lights pulse when car is running so a new alternator is in the near future. I want to drive it so bad but there is a lot that needs to be fixed.

 

[88hurstolds]

Very cool you found an 88 Cutlass with T-tops, looks really nice.
I've been looking for one with a sunroof (if they even exist), t-tops are very rare on these cars as well... around 27,678 were made in '88 with roughly 11% getting t-tops. On a side note approximately only 9% remain of all the 1,913,963 2 and 4 door 81-88 Cutlasses ever made. Most of the 442's and Hurst's still remain, probably 60-70%, probably more Hursts since they're collectors, 442's tend to get parted more for their rears...