Grandpa Car: 1979 Cutlass Thread
- Thread starter DRIVEN
- Start date
Oh no I showed her the peacocks, she is on her way to save them from themselves!
Bam! Ultra High Compression Toronado Rocket, b*tches!
Drill spot.
I picked it up yesterday in the 100* heat and luckily the guy had a forklift to load it. It's been stored outside on a pallet under a tarp for a few years. Luckily it's from the desert. It was reportedly a solid runner and the guy was going to put it in his GMC motorhome but the 455 never died so that's how he sold it. Still had the TH425 attached and he claimed that it had been converted to switch-pitch but without any evidence I'll assume its stock. Gave him $100. Hopefully it's better than scrap.
After he loaded it and I got it strapped down I ran 200 more miles to my brother's new shop where we split the TH425 off of it. He also has a FWD GMC motorhome so I gave him the starter, transmission, and exhaust manifolds. Figured as long as he has the spares he'll never need them.
Once I get home I'll throw it on the stand and evaluate it a little more thoroughly. I didn't put any type of leverage on it but couldn't turn it by hand so I'm assuming the rings are stuck. There was zero rust/corrosion at the carb or in the exhaust ports so I'm relatively confident I can lube it up and break it free. The oil level was super black but right at the full mark so I don't suspect any water in the pan. When we rolled it on it's side, suddenly and accidentally, coolant poured out green and black oil started leaking out the weep hole in the fuel pump.
Best case, the short block can be refreshed and reused. Although, as long as the crank and rods are salvageable, I'm good. I won't be using the C heads or intake -- maybe the Qjet. Really, the air cleaner is probably worth what I paid so I'm not gonna feel too bad if it turns out to be junk.
Drill spot.
I picked it up yesterday in the 100* heat and luckily the guy had a forklift to load it. It's been stored outside on a pallet under a tarp for a few years. Luckily it's from the desert. It was reportedly a solid runner and the guy was going to put it in his GMC motorhome but the 455 never died so that's how he sold it. Still had the TH425 attached and he claimed that it had been converted to switch-pitch but without any evidence I'll assume its stock. Gave him $100. Hopefully it's better than scrap.
After he loaded it and I got it strapped down I ran 200 more miles to my brother's new shop where we split the TH425 off of it. He also has a FWD GMC motorhome so I gave him the starter, transmission, and exhaust manifolds. Figured as long as he has the spares he'll never need them.
Once I get home I'll throw it on the stand and evaluate it a little more thoroughly. I didn't put any type of leverage on it but couldn't turn it by hand so I'm assuming the rings are stuck. There was zero rust/corrosion at the carb or in the exhaust ports so I'm relatively confident I can lube it up and break it free. The oil level was super black but right at the full mark so I don't suspect any water in the pan. When we rolled it on it's side, suddenly and accidentally, coolant poured out green and black oil started leaking out the weep hole in the fuel pump.
Best case, the short block can be refreshed and reused. Although, as long as the crank and rods are salvageable, I'm good. I won't be using the C heads or intake -- maybe the Qjet. Really, the air cleaner is probably worth what I paid so I'm not gonna feel too bad if it turns out to be junk.
The complete set of pulleys and accessory brackets are worth more than what you paid....
Nice find! That air cleaner is real cool. Plan to go edelbrock alum heads or something? .
Good deal too, I paid well over double that for my 425 crank and rods alone and thought that was a good deal.
I had no idea there was so many variations of the 425.
Super Rocket V8, 2-bbl, 9.0 comp, 300 hp
Super Rocket V8 H.C., 2-bbl, 10.25 comp, 310 hp
Super Rocket V8 H.C., 4-bbl, 10.25 comp, 365 hp
Starfire V8, 4-bbl, 10.5 comp, 375 hp
Toronado Rocket V8, 4-bbl, 10.5 comp, 385 hp
Good deal too, I paid well over double that for my 425 crank and rods alone and thought that was a good deal.
I had no idea there was so many variations of the 425.
Super Rocket V8, 2-bbl, 9.0 comp, 300 hp
Super Rocket V8 H.C., 2-bbl, 10.25 comp, 310 hp
Super Rocket V8 H.C., 4-bbl, 10.25 comp, 365 hp
Starfire V8, 4-bbl, 10.5 comp, 375 hp
Toronado Rocket V8, 4-bbl, 10.5 comp, 385 hp
I've seen some good chatter about the ProComps. I've got a couple Edelbrock Performer intakes in the corner. Also have that Lunati cam but it might be a little aggressive for a cruiser. I need to start researching EFI options as well.
Expect a snail's pace progress.
Expect a snail's pace progress.
If you're going the ProComp route, go through cutlassefi here or Bernard Mondello in Corona, CA. Basically, someone that buys them bare, then checks and builds them, unless you want to do that yourself.
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