CUTLASS Mediocre Build Thread

[carnutjw]

I joke with one my good friends that my memoir will be titled "Mediocre Begins With Me", both literally and figuratively correct. I have been fortunate enough to be able to do about anything I want in life, but nothing spectacularly (except maybe sarcasm and alcohol consumption, but those don't pay very well). Hell I'm not even very good at documenting my projects thus far. I get too into it and forget to stop and take pictures. Sooooo, not really much of a build thread compared to the in depth, complete restorations that some of you guys do, but the story of how I got here from the filthy white turd I bought in August of 2017. Day One=

1979 Cutlass Supreme, original paint, 69,000 miles, black bench seat interior, A/C, H code 305/4brl, th200, 2.29 rear, air shocks that previous owner apparently didn't know how to bleed off, undercoated when new, mostly rust free, all original but wheels-YUCK. Had not had a good cleaning in years. Ignition timing set to 0, yes TDC, vacuum hoses dangling around carb.

 

[carnutjw]

September 2017. First up, after a good bath, wheels and tires. Ditched the 14"x oddball" width ET mags for American Racing VN501 in 17"x8" and 17"x9" with 225/50-17 and 245/45-17 tires. Somewhere around here I installed 1-1/4" front and 7/8" factory stabilizer bars too. Been rat holing those for years.

 

[carnutjw]

October 2017. Replaced exhaust with Pypes 2 1/2" MC style cat back with side exit tailpipes, street pro mufflers, a Walker 2 1/2" universal catalytic converter, and a test pipe to connect to cat back. Used the factory Y-pipe, but it needed a little persuasion to get the bolt together flange to line up. I stuck a 3-4' piece of black pipe in the Y, coupled with brute strength and ignorance to push it toward the center. Again, no picture of the final product, but one of the Y after I removed it.

 

[carnutjw]

Fall 2017. Replaced front springs with MOOG 5660's -1/2 coil and rear springs with '97 F-body's -about 1-1/4 coils, and KYB Gas a Just shocks. Replaced leaking and maintenance items along the way too-radiator and hoses, master cylinder, belts plugs, wires, filters, etc. Here's where we were Christmas 2017.

 

[carnutjw]

March 2018. Picked up some new center cap emblems at Louisville swap meet, but they were a little too big. Quicky tool to trim down, and voila new look.

Also replaced valve cover gaskets, found 305 to be remarkably clean under the valve covers.

Not much else in 2018 except three days and 900+ miles of Hot Rod Power Tour with my stepson. Our accommodations in Chattanooga.

 

[carnutjw]

Spring/summer 2019.Toro steering wheel. Ridetech shocks, the KYB's didn't have enough rebound control for the 5660 springs- all good now. Rebuilt A/C system and replaced heater core.

 

[carnutjw]

Spring 2020, the COVID lockdown-yay! Six weeks of no going to work, so extra garage time.
1) Summit upper control arms, Blazer spindles, C6 calipers with KORE3 brackets and hoses, C5 12.8" discs, Proforged +1/2" taller upper and lower ball joints.

2) Replaced body mounts with Prothane kit and bolts from Mikes Montes. Not ONE single picture, but this observation- If you think your 40 year old body mounts are good-they're not.
3) Interior projects. Installed BOSS stereo and front speakers and added rear speakers hidden under factory grilles. Pulled out headliner to re-glue it to board. It had been replaced some time in the past and just looked like they skimped on adhesive. Installed Scat Procar Rally Smoothback seats using their "bench seat" brackets. Very supportive, but the thick hip bolsters are pretty snug on the booty (I'm 5'11", 195 lbs.)

4) Installed Hedman 68608 mid length headers. Driver's side had to go in from bottom, passenger side could almost be thrown in from either side, good fit on both sides, but of course had to re route a couple of spark plug wires and change two(?) ends. Cut up my old cat back to fill the gap back to 2 1/2" Pypes X-pipe.(just mocked up). Notched stock crossmember and welded in plates.
5) Took my phone for a swim at our Independence Day (July 4th) party and lost several photos that weren't backed up-oops!

6) New tires- Toyo Extensa HPII 225/50-17 and 255/45-17.

7) Did a carburetor build in there somewhere using a Qjet from a friend and Cliff Ruggles book. Oh and an LED dome light bulb.

So far very pleased with current setup. I can hop in and go anywhere I want, do Power Tour, go Autocross, cruise ins, whatever. Still needs more power, rear gear, 200-4r, and maybe paint someday (scared to pull off that vinyl roof, but it needs repair also). Planning on doing a cam/intake swap this Spring, hoping that will help a little in the power department. Current exterior shot=

 

[Turbo Zach]

Tuned in.👍

 

[druggles85]

7) Did a carburetor build in there somewhere using a Qjet from a friend and Cliff Ruggles book.

There's a Ruggles quadrajet book? Now I feel like an *ss using a Holley carb.

 

[carnutjw]

There's a Ruggles quadrajet book? Now I feel like an *ss using a Holley carb.

How to Rebuild & Modify Quadrajet Carburetors – Cliffs High Performance Quadrajets