My new 84 cutlass project

[LewisL230]

[img=http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5135/picture056pg2.th.jpg]
I bought this little gem about 2 weeks ago, and plan to turn it into a bracket car. Dont get worried Im not cutting it up. Im gonna put a cam and headers and a gear in the 307 thats in it for right now and down the road put a 350 and a better rear end. I paid $2300 for it and I think I got a pretty good deal what do yall think. Its an 84 cutlass calais, 307, 200c trans, bucket seats with center console, 90k miles, t-tops....I love this car.

 

[KrisW]

That's a pretty clean looking car. I don't favor T-top models, but yours looks nice.

Remember; these are just my opinions...

There are a few things that need to be addressed now before cam and headers and such. The transmission has got to go if it is a 3 speed with no overdrive. The 200C is, BY FAR, the weakest rear wheel drive transmission ever built by GM. Luckily, thanks to GM interchangeability, you are not without hope.
You can swap in a 2004R overdrive trans the easiest. You will just move your crossmember back to the next set of holes on the frame and that's it. Everything can be re-used and bolts right up. To make it perfect, you will need a 4 speed shifter.
You can swap in a 700R4 Chevy trans the same way but with an engine adapter plate. It's not a big deal (I have done it) but I like the 200-4R better. The first gear in a 700 is 3.08 versus a 2.76 in the 200. If you use a 700R4 from 82-84 or so it will use your torque converter. The newer ones use a different one but the transmissions are also better designs as the years get newer, so it's usually better to get one from 1990 or newer.
You could swap in a turbo 350 if you get the proper tailshaft length. That means you need a TH350 from a B-body (which is not super common) with the long tailshaft or you get a chevy truck/car longshaft transmission and put the tailshaft housing and output shaft into your B-O-P trans. This means you have to take apart the transmission or you can run the chevy trans behind your engine with an adapter.

The rear can take a lot of abuse with strong replacement axles and a limited slip or locking diff.

If your engine is running well, you would do well to get the transmission ready for what is about to hit it hard.

Good luck on your car. It's beautiful.

 

[Tony_SS]

Look good ------ and if it ain't broke.... BREAK IT! theeeen replace it. 😉

 

[beeterolds]

very nice! hopefully youll stick an Olds 350 in there!! even tho Chevys are cheaper...the 350 SBO is a direct bolt in! you wont be disappointed !

 

[78mali350]

looks like a very nice car to build off of. a good solid starting point

 

[Peter]

damn i wish i had a t-tops car, thats really nice, it would look a lot better if you lost the landau though, it looks cluttered on the roof with all that stuff. I actually thought that if you had t-tops it meant it wouldn't have the landau, i guess not