My (newish) 81 olds cutlass

[81cutlass]

I'm new here. Been looking around for a week or so and thought I'd join. Was wanting a regal for my HS car but a Cutlass is just as good. Needs some work but I have all summer before I can (legaly) drive alone. It's and 81 cutlass with a 455 olds! Previous owner never got around to finish the project. The motor will be swapped out for something smaller and more streetable. Be nice to have a FI 350 or something but I think a 307 would be cheeper. Anyone got any other engine advice? Any idea what color this actually is?

The good-
No rust!!!!!!
No dents!!!!
No faric top!!!
Everything's there

The bad-
No headliner
Hog of a 455 motor
No AC pump or condensor
Front seats flat
Loose windows
Rotten weatherstripping

Not a fan of the door panels

Needs a headliner

Why yellow??? I don't know!

 

[shotgun]

That has to be the first time I ever saw a 455 in the BAD column (even a yellow one)!

Times they are a changing.

You should be able to get a good deal trading it for a small block , Olds or otherwise.


What are you trying to do with the car?

 

[81cutlass]

Im trying to build a daily driver honestly. Might try to keep it off the extremely salty roads as much as I can in the winter. Won't ever bring it to the track or anything but I'd like it to be sporty with decent fuel milage.

Kinda wanting to put a center council in it along with a rear wing and some trans am snowflake rims for the visual stuff. GNX weels are WAY to pricey unless I find a great deal on GTA wheels.

 

[78mali350]

well you should be able to get a decent olds 350 to drop in there. although the 307 looks appealing for price i think the 350 would still help you more in the end

 

[Blake442]

Keep the 455!!!

Where in MN are you from?

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Looks like a great starting point.

 

[dudeface]

keep mentioning this..............wrong grills for 81

why does every one put 86 grills on every cutlass?

peace

 

[Blake442]

Those grilles were used in '81, as well as being re-used in '86.
There were two styles available between the Cutlass Supreme and Cutlass Calais in the '81 model year, if I recall correctly.

 

[81cutlass]

The 350 as a motor sounds good to me. Does anyone know the difference in fuel milage between a 350 or 307?

Blake442- I'd love to keep the 455 but It probably gets about 2mpg :lol: I'm about 60 miles south of Morhead.

 

[dan2286]

The 350 as a motor sounds good to me. Does anyone know the difference in fuel milage between a 350 or 307?

Blake442- I'd love to keep the 455 but It probably gets about 2mpg :lol: I'm about 60 miles south of Morhead.

It really depends on how the engine is built. I really dont think its that hard to get 18+ mpg out of a 350 with a q-jet and a 200R-4 trans and still make decent power.