Lets Try this again: Cutlass Edition

[Sodee]

So while I was playing with the wiring, I was starting to spend a LOT of time on Facebook marketplace just browsing and came across something interesting. I had been thinking to myself, the 7.5" rear, probably wont last long with whatever I plan on doing.. So, I found another alternative. Foxbody 8.8. Scored it for $150 wheel to wheel.. The plan is to swap out the 2.xx gears for something around the 3.55-3.73 range later, with a 31 spline carrier from an Explorer.

Now, $150 for the rear, $400 for the engine/pedal/computer/harness, $15 in Misc wiring (fuse boxes, wires, etc), $30 for the Kemso 340 fuel pump, $30 for the ICT setback plates, $20 for the SBC frame mounts, clamshells were free.

 

[Sodee]

That’s a steal for a flex fuel ready engine.
What’s the plans for performance? Cam? Turbo(s)?

Cam and Turbo, or Cam and Nitrous... Or all 3. Lol, depends on what I can find for cheap haha

 

[Sodee]

Next up.. Trans. I wanted either a th400, CD009 or 4L80e. I decided against going manual, although i enjoyed its gearing from my 350z. So really, it came down to needing overdrive or not. I wanted to be able to run a decent gear so 80e it is. Here in AL, trucks stay on the road forever so 80e pricing isnt budget friendly but i want what i want..... so I did some research on what these came in and went searching. I looked for a week and found my gem in a 95 2500 in a u-pull it yard. The truck had been there for a while so surely the trans was gone.. Luckily, it wasnt. so I was out the door with my 80e for only $83. Got it home, cleaned it up and painted it. I also grabbed a Gforce crossmember (or maybe its one someone made? I dunno but its large like the Gforce ones ive seen). Picked it up for $100 or so, scuffed it and painted it satin black as well.

Next up, addressing the oil pan and flex plate situation. The 5.3 pan and flexplate just wont work.. Instead, I need a flat one and a new oil pan that wont sit on the ground...

 

[Sodee]

Now we're coming to the expensive part of the build aside from the engine. The oilpan, fuel system and driveshaft are usually the parts that are the most costly.. But im determined to do it on a strict budget, while not doing it in a way that makes it so that I have to redo everything. Im ok with having to add an additional pump, but having to replace big ticket items over and over is not what I want to do. I decided before getting any of these items next, i wanted to grab a radiator -- the v6 one wont work with my swap so I grabbed a used WS6 LS1 radiator off ebay for $30 picked up.

I happened to have Fbody fans already from my Monte, so I just put them together with a $4.32 upper truck hose that I grabbed on a random junkyard run.. It all fit together well and I threw it under the hood of the car but noticed it still looked like *ss under the hood. Determined to do something about that, I took some of the sand paper I had, and a few cans of Satin Black VHT and went to work. The results are pretty nice for a scuff and spray job. I also made a radiator stay with $7 in metal from Home Depot and grabbed a Jeep staft to replace the rag joint shaft for $15 from another local yard. Flat S10 PCM mount for $5 and I think I am nearly ready to pull out the v6 mounts...Ill find a lower hose later or make something work from what I have already.

 

[Sodee]

I also scooped up some Fbody seats for $50 in nearly immaculate condition. I like the bolstering. Ill dye them dark grey later to match my desired color scheme, after I address the floors.. The floors arent perfect, but not too terribly bad either. Just need a couple patch panels that I will remove from another donor that I've scoped out with perfect floors and Ill be good to go 🙂

 

[Sodee]

Ok, I'll upload more progress tomorrow, I have to be at work in like 5 hours and im kinda tired 😴

 

[83StreetMachine]

Awesome work and progress!

You're lucky you have the junk yards you do! I'm jealous...

Keep the updates coming

 

[Sodee]

Awesome work and progress!

You're lucky you have the junk yards you do! I'm jealous...

Keep the updates coming

Thank you! I’m just glad I have a functional car now lol. We do have a lot of yards, but also keep in mind that I drive 140 miles per day to work. There’s a few yards within that kind of range so I’m always browsing. I’ll admit, I have a yard that’s close enough to look around on lunch breaks 😂

 

[Sodee]

I really am cheap but didn’t want any problems with the oil pan. I considered cutting it down and having someone weld it but I really didn’t want to have the bottom end exposed or have to wait for it to be welded.... so I made a purchase.

It’s not bad, it’ll work for my purposes. Now, I need to figure out oil return before I throw this thing on the car. Im thinking either having the return welded Into the pan or into the timing cover. Still haven’t decided but will pick soon, probably the pan.

 

[Tony1968]

The timing covers with threaded ports aren't expensive at all