Gutless Cutlass

[Dinosport]

Gotcha...And living in CA I am not sure how the emissions would factor into your decision. BTW, you can buy a used truck 5.3 at LQK pick and pull with accessories and computer for less than $400. Cheap and reliable 325 hp without mods. Definitely a learning curve though...

Dam less than 400 bucks. That's cheap. Around here on the east coast that isn't so cheap.

 

[Texas82GP]

Sweet. I couldn't find any info on 78 cutlass. All i could find was 79 and newer or 77 and older. So that certainly helps. Is there a way to verify that the engine is a chevy somehow? Some indication? The only info i could find was that the VIN says its a 305 2bbl. But the guy i bought it from said it was a 307 2bbl.
Hopefully it is a chevy because that will make my life alot easier haha.

Show us some pics of the engine and we can help you identify it.

 

[theoldsone]

Oh yea for $700 that's the cheapest fun you can have for sure. The car looks great for $700. Lol Its pretty much the same here. I fix something "oh yea I deserve to go out to eat and drive it" its gratifying fixing up old junk. About the motor It really depends on what you have right now. You could stick to the roots (Olds). But if there's a chevy in there already, go right ahead. People bicker about putting this in that, that in this. If it's cheaper for you do it.

 

[Twerkman]

Nice car. Good luck with it, Power and performance options are endless. It probably more of a budget thing unless you have a specific preference. Even if it is a olds motor a small block chevy should bolt in there pretty easily. Ls is badd *ss but alot more work and money so Its all upto you. If its a 305 youd be surprised what a set of headers, intake carb and maybe even a mild cam would do. I had a 305 once in a Malibu, it came ot of 76 caprice classic. That car was ridiculously quick. Nobody ever believed me when I told them it was a 305. I had headers, edelbrock cam intake and a gone over rochester, msd 350 trans with a shift kit and 342 out back. I used to run with 5.0 mustangs all day and this was when they were pretty new. I have a 350 now with a similar set up and it doesnt even come close to that 305 I had. Maybe because it came out of caprice, it mightve had higher comp or good heads, I dont really know. Wish I still had it.

Well if its got a 305 it definitely wasnt built like the one in your malibu. But i see what you're saying that a few parts can definitely give it some get up and go. My buddy had a similar setup with a dodge dakota lol. A little v6 with headers, cam, and intake and would have fun making mustangs look bad. But i dont plan on sticking with the current engine. It would require far too much work to get to where i want to be in terms of power. It'd be more cost effective and reliable to get a new motor.

 

[Twerkman]

great looking car, before adding power I'd lift the body off the frame, box the frame and upgrade the factory welds and replace the body bushings.

I didnt even think of that. Thanks 🙂

 

[Twerkman]

Gotcha...And living in CA I am not sure how the emissions would factor into your decision. BTW, you can buy a used truck 5.3 at LQK pick and pull with accessories and computer for less than $400. Cheap and reliable 325 hp without mods. Definitely a learning curve though...

That definitely sounds like a cheap alternative but this is my first carbureted car and i wanna stick with it. Its just a coolness factor that i dont think i could get rid of. And i really dont care about emissions lol. Ill go out of state and register it to say **** california hahaha.

 

[Twerkman]

Oh yea for $700 that's the cheapest fun you can have for sure. The car looks great for $700. Lol Its pretty much the same here. I fix something "oh yea I deserve to go out to eat and drive it" its gratifying fixing up old junk. About the motor It really depends on what you have right now. You could stick to the roots (Olds). But if there's a chevy in there already, go right ahead. People bicker about putting this in that, that in this. If it's cheaper for you do it.

For the price i just couldnt pass it up. And oh the car is great. Im always smiling when. Im driving. As far as the motor is concerned, i dont care im not a chevy fan or an olds fan so im not gonna be offended by what goes into it. If someone is offended, too bad. Its not their car