Come laugh at the New Guy!!!

[YoungGun001]

OK....I have a gutted '86 Cutlass Supreme. Im done with the Chevy 350 (Disassembled, cleaned, painted, added chrome accesories)....I have the headers Im using ('83 Malibu Longtube)....I have the transmission Im using (700r4)....And Im cleaning out the engine bay to re-paint....<exhale>

Here's where you laugh :lol:

Im cleaning out the engine bay, which you know what that entails, and I come across something that "I dont know what it is" and it needs to come out to be cleaned and painted behind. Im going through my Haynes Repair Manual and Im looking for a picture of this part. Im digging, Im digging, I cant find it! So before I ask my mechanic buddies what that thing is coming out of my firewall :shock: And wait to get laughed at....Could someone tell me what this is so I can pull it and save myself the "Are you Serious Looks etc"?

**********************Please HELP***********************

 

[Blake442]

I'll only laugh a little, j/k...

The black part on the firewall is the power brake booster, and the part in front of that with the lines going to it is your master cylinder.

I'd just leave it on there and clean around it if I were you, but I'm lazy...
I didn't take mine out when I did my engine compartment. One less thing to have to **** with, and I usually don't have somebody around to help me bleed brakes...

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

While you are in there, you should tighten the A/C box to the firewall, and check to make sure nothing leaks water inside the car. Anywhere you removed sealant is likely to become a leak, so stream some water down on those pieces. Don't spray with high pressure, but rather use the hose with the nozzle removed and see if any water gets inside the car. If so, buy some strip caulk from your local body supply shop and go to town. After all, a firewall without leaks makes for a happy (and rust free) floor pan!

Also, I would not remove the booster unless you have to. Just mask it off.(That's what I did) If you remove it it could cause a water leak inside the car that you would have to contend with. There is also the possibility of damaging the hard lines taking it off, plus you will have to bleed the whole brake system when you go to put it back on.

One final thing: Since your car was originally powered by an Olds 307, you will have to switch the harness over to a passenger's side starter orientation and battery mounting. When you do, be sure to properly splice the wires, and don't just use crimp connectors and call it a day. Put a heat shrink tube on the wire, then crimp the two halves with a solder style crimp connector followed by solder then slip the heat shrink sleeve over the joint and shrink to fit. Remember that you are dealing with the main terminal bus for the entire vehicle electrical and charging system and it is crucial to do this right. The better alternative would be to use the engine harness from a car with a Chevy 305 or V6 in it, but this has minor issues too. If you have the rally gauge cluster, the 305 harness may or may not have all the same pin outs for the gauge sending units. I am having to modify my 305 Grand Prix harness to get them to work in my car by adding 2 wires to the bulkhead connector on the engine side.

 

[hp3445]

The only stupid question is the one that you don't ask.. That's how people new to the field learn..

But seriously.. if you didn't know what that was... don't attempt big projects without alot of help... 🙂

 

[YoungGun001]

Thanks guys. Im going to mask it off and worked around it. But now I know how to approach the brake booster/master cylinder in the future. Thanks for all the additional info on my ride "85 Cutlass". Definately going to reseal everything (a/c heater unit etc.) because guess what....I do have a leak! "Blake" youre always the man with the plan. Ill be putting up all new pics sooon! Dont work too hard guys. Weather sucks here in Florida (100 degrees till 2pm everyday, then it RAINS for the rest of the day for the past 2 weeks) So....thats where Im at. But I'll be on the street soon!

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Whereabouts in Florida are you? Just curious, and I know what you mean about the weather lately! It is either hotter than the surface of the sun, raining or night time. It's been holding me up on my car since I can only work on it in the pre-dawn hours most days.

 

[YoungGun001]

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

 

[Longroof79]

Yeah, I must say, summers in Florida are not too conducive for outdoor car working activities.
I envy the guys who have A/C in their garages. Although having a nice big fan to push air is the next best thing.

Jack

 

[HurstOlds]

Sunday's heat index was 110 with 77% humidity, just south of Chicago.

That's hawt! 8)