My 83 Olds Cutlass / Turbo6 build thread

[techg8]

Hi I am Ken G, thought I would start a thread for my Gbody project.

I recently acquired an 83 Olds Cutlass (Supreme?) with a cracked-block V6 in it (see the newb forum). I have a Buick 231 turbo6 in the garage from maybe 1980 and I plan to swap it in.

I suffered thru the DMV today and got plates for the Olds, so now I am on to the Engine.

The turbo6 was "supposed" to run, but when I bought it it wouldnt start....I managed to knock the price down accordingly. It turns free. I am thinking at minimum a regasket and cleanup. I will swap some things from the 83 cracked V6 like the HEI, maybe alternator.....Not sure If I will try to keep the AC or delete it. May need the room for the exhaust pipes.

before I tear it down further I am going to add a starter on the stand and do a compression check. Depending on the results I may do a re-ring.

I got some casting numbers for the block (1381623) the heads on the engine (B1257661) and the spare set of heads (B1358676R) ******EDIT: block codes to a 1967 Dauntless 225 V6/jeep , also the spare 676 heaads. The 661 heads appear to be early 3.8L v6 heads. OH and the manifolds code to a 1978 turbo setup while the carb is a 1980 turbo carb*************

The block was "supposedly from 1967. One of the sets of heads is "supposed" to be a set of GN heads. Any help with ID on these numbers will be appreciated.****see edit above****

So that is the start of the project - get the turbo 6 cleaned up and swapped in - and the car on the road. Then I will move on to the interior and exterior.

Some pics attached:

 

[techg8]

I ran a compression test on the turbo6 and results werent all that bad, excepting #s 3 and 5 where I had 0 compression. I could hear air whooshing around in the intake etc.

So I pulled the intake and heads.

I found a badly blown headgasket right between those two cylinders.

The cylinder walls look very good. virtually no ridge. No scarring of the walls or pitting. There is some discoloration however from the rings - you can tell the engine sat for a little while. I cant feel anything with a fingernail though.

I pulled the timing cover and camshaft. Camshaft looks good, cam bearings good.

When I get a chance I may pull a few rod caps to check the bearings there. Maybe I will pull the engine down the rest of the way and take some measurements.

Considering a hone and re-ring at this point, or maybe just a regasket and timing set.

 

[81cutlass]

Cool! Another carb turbo car, and a cutlass at that! You should join over at the before black section on turbo buick. Theres about a dozen or so guys with them.

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/forums ... i-tech.11/

Heres a good website for the carb turbo cars.

http://www.beforeblack.net/

You might not be able to salvage the computer controlled timing with the turbo motor. The turbo cars have a boost reference knock system and the 83 system probably wont work.

 

[techg8]

Cool! Another carb turbo car, and a cutlass at that! You should join over at the before black section on turbo buick. Theres about a dozen or so guys with them.

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/forums ... i-tech.11/

Heres a good website for the carb turbo cars.

http://www.beforeblack.net/

You might not be able to salvage the computer controlled timing with the turbo motor. The turbo cars have a boost reference knock system and the 83 system probably wont work.

thanks for the links.

yes I was splanning on just a straight carb-turbo setup with no CCC. I was thinking I will have to redo the harness into something that will work with the older setup.

Then again maybe I should look more into what it would take to implement the more modern controls. different ecm, sensors, harnesses I would think. what I have is non computer though. Is your turbo setup a CCC operation? what year was it?

I was figuring on adding some water injection to try to avoid detonation without the computer controls.

 

[techg8]

I had a chance to pull the rods, pistons and crank today.

None of the bearings were showing any copper, but the rod bearings had the beginnings of some pitting and some signs of scarring - very light.

Main bearings look much better. The crank looks perfect.

One Issue I am going to have to address is, the crank is set up for a Manual transmission. I plan on using a TH350 auto.

The back of the crank has a pilot bearing for a manual trans. I think I will need some machine work to use that crank with an auto trans.

My only other option would be to take the 3.8L crank out of the cracked-block 3.8 and try to use it in the 225 block. Anyone know if its possible?

 

[1983regal]

One Issue I am going to have to address is, the crank is set up for a Manual transmission. I plan on using a TH350 auto.

The back of the crank has a pilot bearing for a manual trans. I think I will need some machine work to use that crank with an auto trans.

My only other option would be to take the 3.8L crank out of the cracked-block 3.8 and try to use it in the 225 block. Anyone know if its possible?

All you should have to do is remove the pilot bearing nothing else should have to be done to use an automatic.

 

[techg8]

All you should have to do is remove the pilot bearing nothing else should have to be done to use an automatic.

Thanks I will take some measurements and check this out. It would simplify things if thats all I need to do.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Nice build!! I like the direction already. Yours car reminds me of mine when i got it. nice color 8)

 

[Bweavy]

If I may suggest, there are still a lot of 4.1 NA 84 Blocks out there in the yards. Also alot of guys ditching these to go V8. if your going turbo Get something with a good crank. The 4.1 will have that. they will have 6293 heads.
the 84 3.8 to 87 turbo motors run 8445 heads. Valve springs go bad prety quick. Just making a suggestion.
If no 4.1 find an 86-7 109 v6 Crank isn't as good but it has a high nickle content. Just hate to see you dump a lot of $ into something where these other parts are a little more plentiful.

 

[81cutlass]

Mine is non CCC and is an 80 motor. I run an MSD BTM box retarding .5degrees per PSI on 91 with 9PSI and alky. Mine didnt have the electronics when I bought it and somebody swapped the disributor to an NA HEI one.

And BTW, the turboed 3.8's got the turbo crank from 78 on. I built my motor with an NA crank because the old one had spun all sorta berrings on it and its been fine for 2 years.