$900 bucks (Pics of Engine Bay and Whole Car Soon)

[86CutlassUCF]

Ive got a 307 in an 86 cutlass salon. So Im looking to put about $900 in parts in to my engine and transmission. Any suggestions? Im not really looking for a a high performance engine. Its got about 95k miles on it and i just want a nice weekend driver.

 

[kustomkyle]

If you want to keep the swirl port 307, you might have similar intentions as to what I had.
http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7021

I don't know about the transmission though. I think if you keep the engine that is in it now you probably don't need to do anything to it, unless there is something wrong with it. Maybe just change the fluid if it hasn't been done yet. I read in a magazine article that periodic fluid changes prevent converter failure (Buyer's Guide for 1983-1988 Monte Carlo SS, "Hemmings Muscle Machines"). You could add a shift kit too, but I don't know too much about this kind of stuff to tell you the truth.

 

[Mr. Brezz]

Do you have tools and general knowledge of the engine?

If you do there are LOTS of things you could do for improvements. Upgrading the heads, pushrods, rockers ect... The transmission probably just needs to be flushed and filter changed, which is not expensive at all. With $900 you could do that and then maybe even add some "dress up" products, such as Air filter housing, Valve covers, PCV breather, timing cover ect...

Hope this helps

 

[86CutlassUCF]

so far im thinking about buying

-a quality regasket kit
-new radiator
-new water pump
-new camshaft (dont know where to start with that one)
-maybe rebuild carb?
-remove AC + AC delete plate
-nice air chrome air cleaner assembly with k&n filter
-basic tune up

any other things? i believe with all that im around $500-700



oh and i love loud engines that kind of have that tick tick sound like its about to turn it off (hope that makes sence) not sure if its even possible to make a 307 sound like that but what could i do to give it that sound

 

[kustomkyle]

Yeah, you just have to get a radical cam to make it sound like that. In a 307 though, it is kind of pointless. You would have to change so much other stuff to make the engine last, let alone get any real power. More or less you could get a lazy 350 Chevy (non-performance) in good shape and have the same, if not more power, than the best 307 Olds from the factory.

Your best bet if you want to keep the 307, but increase the power a little bit, is to just upgrade it with VIN 9/H.O. parts. The H.O. engine is supposed to have a more "muscular" exhaust note because of the different cam (as opposed to the VIN Y). This would be a different cam, which would then require different valve springs. There is a few other things that could be changed too, but I haven't found any real info pertaining to their effectiveness. I'm actually trying to piece all of this information together right now, in the link I gave you previously. I too, have a 1986 car with a VIN Y 307.

 

[Mr. Brezz]

Just lookin for sound, little more performance?

Add new headers and Glasspacks w/ 3" tubes and you will get a MEAN sound.

 

[86CutlassUCF]

Well i made a list of parts after a visit from my mechanic and some price estimates after surfing the internet (some prices include shipping)

water pump- $35
engine gasket set - $60
Radiator -$125
EGR Valve - $100
Fuel Filter- $3
Throttle Posistion Sensor- $40
Chrome Air Filter Assembly (no idea which one actualy fits my car but i dont plan on spending more than) - $45?
New Belts- $50
Time Chain Set- $60
Engine Degreaser A LOT- $20
Anti-Freeze- $30
A/C Heater Box Delete panel- $70
Rebuilt the Carberetor(another thing i have no idea on where to go or what kinda of cost it may be) - $250?


So thats what I plan on buying to show my 1986 cutlass salon with 94k miles that i care any suggestions on things i should add or take out?

 

[86CutlassUCF]

Also I told my mechanic that I would like to take all the A/C equimpent off and also the thing under the ac compressor that i guess has to do with emmisions since its not even hooked up to a belt now anyways off too.

What affects will doing this have on my engine? Any important things i should know before doing this?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Why take the A/C off? If I read your screen name right, you go to the University of Central Florida. Orlando gets pretty hot in the summer, and eliminating the A/C will not make the car noticeably faster. Unless you are building a race car that runs faster than the 11's in the 1/4, keep the A/C.

 

[Mr. Brezz]

Just to clean up things

If you dont drive it that often and more then likely it will be nice out when you do, then this is a reason to remove it and clean up the bay. Thats wut I took mine off for.