Info on Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Brougham 1981 wanted!

[PistolPels]

Hi folks!

I am currently trying to get my wagon on the road here in Norway, and I just wanted to see if there is info that I dont have.

My VIN on the car pulled this from http://apps.oldsgmail.com/vin.asp :

3 - Oldsmobile Division Code/Name
H - Cutlass Cruiser Brougham Carline
35 - 2-Dr Coupe Body Style
N - 5.7L Diesel engine
A - 1980 model year
G - Assembled at Framingham, MA

From this site: http://v8cars.hu/oldsvin/decode.php I pulled this
Year: 1980

Division: Oldsmobile
Series: Cutlass Cruiser Brougham
Body: 2 seat Wagon (4 door)
Engine: 350 (5.7) V8 diesel
Plant: Framingham, Massachusetts

The engine has been changed, but i cannot find the Engine ID on the block. I believe it to be a Chevy or Olds 350, anybody got a suggestion of what to do? I tried looking it up on forums, i think i am looking at the right place, but I cant find it!!!

And: Are Hi-jackers at the rear standard equipment on these? Is this actually a G-body?

But, how is the culture on these rides around the world? Is there a lot of them running now? I was planning on making a cheap, student cruiser with Moon Discs, red rims, and whitewall tires.... Perhaps a hint off rat-look with faded black paint.

Ok guys, thats it for now, i would love some input on this. But in the meantime, you can check out some pictures of the obscenely dirty car here : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129704&id=653394412&l=7fc533b90f

 

[Ribbedroof]

35 is 2 seat wagon, 37 would be 2 door.

Olds V8 would have either 5 (late) or 10 (early)valve cover perimeter bolts per cover. (early shown)

Later versions have stamped areas for all 10 bolts, but only 5 were actually punched



small chevrolet would have 4, either 2 at top and 2 at bottom on the perimeter for older engines, or 4 in the center for later engines.
Early

Late

OK, that's a small block chevrolet you've got there. Try this link for a good picture of where to find the engine ID stamp http://www.yearone.com/yodnn/tech/Vehic ... fault.aspx

Yes, it's a G body, and No, air shocks were not standard equipment on wagons.

Just my opinion, say no to the rat-rod look. Terrible on older stuff, and just plain wrong on later cars like these...in my opinion.

 

[Blake442]

Welcome!

That is indeed a Chevy 350 in your car.

G-body wagons have been becoming increasingly popular lately, especially with drag racers.
There's quite a few of them running around still, but they aren't overly abundant (I've got a couple 😀 ).
They fell victim to all the same rust problems as the other G body styles, sending lots of them to the junkyard.

I too will discourage the "rat rod" look, but that's just my opinion... It's your car, so it's up to you what to do with it.

 

[PistolPels]

Nice!

Thanks for the help 🙂 There isnt too much tradition of these running in Norway, so only a few good men know these models.
So I was lucky to find this forum. Actually, my car does not have rust at all on it! Pretty amazing since i live on an island on the mid-west coast of Norway, with the Atlantic sea and eastcoast of USA as my closest overseas neighbour.

I like these wagons, they are smooth and bulky, like an American option to the Volvo 245, only witg a descent engine 😛

Please, send me links on anything you might find relevant 🙂

 

[carmangary]

I have a 79 Cutlass Cruiser Brougham. I am not sure what the difference is between Brougham not no Brougham but that's what I have. The color of mine looks about the same as yours. Mine is 77 (Carmine Red Metallic) but there is no metallic left. It looks pretty bad right now but I'll paint it and shine up all the metal and it should be alright for street use. 🙂 My interior needs work. II'm going to put in new carpet, seat covers, and re-dye everything that has pores. 🙂 The dashboard is very cracked so I will try my hand at repairing it. Even a bad repair job will make it look better. If it gets really bad I will put a dashcap on it and call it a day.

I have a 260 in mine. Runs like a lawnmower engine but sounds like a V8. I like it! It leaks everywhere but I plan on putting new gaskets and seals in it and seeing how long it will last.

I am new to these things but I don't see them on the road much. Actuallly, I haven't seen one at all since I got mine because I have been looking for them. I think they are rare due to their crappy construction and ugliness. They end up at the crusher. Due to that fact, they have become rare and somewhat of a collectors items for those who collect unusal things. In 20 or 30 years these cars will be gems if they are restored to nice condition. Good luck finding parts, though.

I plan on fixing mine up as best I can without spending a lot of money on it. Then I am going to drive it daily.

I restored a 69 VW to show condition and now I am scared to drive it anywhere! So, I am not going to make that mistake witht he wagon.

 

[Car Junkie]

If the VIN says the car is a 1980 (even though you posted that it was an 81) why does it have the 4 headlight header panel? I thought that was 1982 and onward and 1981 and previous had the 2 headlight header panel? Does your's look like it's been changed?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

From the looks of things, either someone changed the interior or it is not a brougham. The things that distinguish the Brougham from the more plebeian models are: Wide rocker moldings, pillow top seats, deluxe upper door panels (interior), and Brougham emblems under the Cutlass Supreme/cruiser script on the fenders. You do appear to have a bit of an oddball there though as it has no A/C, a diesel and the gauge package. If all of that is factory, it is a pretty rare car. Is it valuable? no. However, someone did you a great service by eliminating the troublesome diesel engine (GM diesels of this era are known for having problems due to a lack of diesel engineering know how and cost cutting.). The engine you do have is some sort of Small Block Chevy V8, which can be anything from a 262 to a 400 in cubic inch displacement (4.3 to 6.6 liters). The easiest way to tell is to run the codes off the block if they have not been machined off due to the block having it's deck cut during a rebuild. These would be located at the front of the engine on the passenger's side on a bit of the block deck that extends beyond the head where the head meets the block behind the alternator. It should be a 3 letter code, like "CTB", for example. Each application uses a somewhat unique code (GM sometimes recycled them in later engines than their first use). If the code exists, try running it through Google with a search term like "CTB code Chevy", for example. If the code is not there, you will have to do some detective work to figure out what you have without tearing it apart.

 

[carmangary]

My Brougham Cruiser doesn't have any special features like pillow top seats. It's a pretty plain Jane car. I'm not sure what the deal is.

 

[ponchoman49]

Actually the Cruiser Brougham wagons did not come with the pillow top luxury seats that the coupes and sedans had. The base Cruiser wagon had a plain flat seat back like the very base Cutlass sedan and the Brougham used the LS style seats with center fold down armrest and divided seats was an option.

 

[PistolPels]

Hi guys!

I haven`t got the time to do much on the car... yet. But i am trying to get it on the road for the summer, so I can cover some drift-events here in Norway with my awesome machine :lol:

Now I`m trying to identify what kind of rear-end i have so I can figure out what fluid- and how much of it I need.

Here`s a link:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 12&theater

I really haven`t got a clue, so if anybody can send me a relevant link or some info, I would be thrilled! 😛

I swapped to a Rochester QuadraJet carb (can anybody tell me something about this?), and changed door-sealings.

Reports will follow! Greetings from Norway!