On the long road

[Jeffxxo]

Greetings everyone, Im new to the site. Im hoping to get alot of info from all of you, maybe make my night not so full of cursing. Ill jump right into it. I still own my first car. An 87 Olds cutlass salon. I have owned it for about 11 years now. Its time to build it the way I want. Here is what I have in mind.

Total projected cost: About 20k (I know, it wont happen)

Torn between a Chevy 572 Crate motor, (750HP,Torque 775 ft/lbs,runs on 92 octan. (would like to keep it streetable, in a sense) Or Build my own 455.

Have a 350 turbo, but may have to go to a 400.

And a new rear end, the current one I know will not hold up. its a 10 bolt and the gearing is crap was told something like 2 73's.

My goal, Sleeper, vett killer. I have a personal vendetta :evil: So figuring that a Zo6 vett is 505hp, and very light. I think im close to where Ill need to be.

Ok this is where all of you chime in and tell me what you think. As far as rear end, transmission, Motor options, what is all of your recomendations? Ill try to post a picture of my car its in the garage. Off to find the camera.

 

[85t5mcss]

Oh, wow.
Strengthen the frame, rear suspension, and brace the front end. Box in the frame undernaeth the doors, box tubing or even angle iron to tie the front frame rails together, tie the rear frame rails together, use and underhood brace to help strenghten the firewall area (like the factory stuff in the late 70s early 80s, it bolts to the cowl and then to each side of the core support at the fenders). Weld a brace into the factory lower triangulating brace from side to side. Now that the chassis is better suited to hold some power without as much flex, what do u want? Straight line speed only or a good handling car, too?
U need to be honest with yourself when u answer this or u won't be happy with the results. My car isn't a screamer but it handles real well and I don't need Big Block power on the road course.
Assuming u mean straight line speed (read as Big Block) get tubular LCA for the rear, use Del-A-Lum or LS1 bushings in the rear, a Currie 9" would be sweet.
And this is just the beginning.

Or take a look at the ZZ383-500HP GM crate.
http://www.enginefactory.com/
http://www.goautocenter.com/383_small_blk.htm
Start with a plan on each area of the car u want to work on then go from there. Sorry to be so vague, but there is going to be lots of info and opinions on this.

 

[RedHotRegal]

I'd look at a 427 sb bolted to a T6 transmission. That combo would scream. Its lighter then the BB and the T6 would let you run 4.10s for the rear gears and still have top end on the highway. The 427 sb is a world product block I think.

 

[Jeffxxo]

Well, I would like it to stay straight on the track. But I actually want to be able to tear up the backstreets too. The reason for a BB, Displacement. I know after a few years It will be a track car. Thats the reason im thinking 572. I know its not good for say a local track event with a bunch of imports. But im keeping in mind where I will be in the future. But in the mean time. Here is a setup I was thinking of. http://performancesuspension.com/ It seems to be about what Ill need for now. But your right about beefing up the frame and rear. Im going to take the car to a local shop in the next few weeks and see what all I need to get done. I have alot of options, and I could go with a SB and save alot of money, to put elsewhere. But the motor will be the last thing purchased. Thanks for the input I have been looking through a bunch of sites to see what they offer for g-bodys. It is quite a bit more than a few years back. I remember not being able to find anything. Keep the comments comming!

 

[85t5mcss]

Never used any of there stuff, but I've heard good things about them. Keep us updated with your decisions and definitely the progress. And when u go to the fab shop, right down all of their suggestions, please. That way u can share with the rest of us.

 

[Jeffxxo]

Wish I knew how to just make it where you could see my photo album, but here is a few pics. Where is a good place to pick up some new carpet, and a few pieces of interior parts? There is a few pieces showing some age.
Also, I'll keep you posted as I go taking pictures along the way too. But since im waiting ill start with a few interior pieces. Let me know how the pictures look. A few look a but fuzzy to me. Im not a photographer by any means.

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=264
Pic3

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=263
Pic2

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=272
Pic11

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=271
Pic10

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=274
Pic13

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=262
Pic1

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=265
Pic4

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=266
Pic5

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=267
Pic6

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=269
Pic8

http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=270
Pic9


http://gbodyforum.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=273
Pic12

 

[85t5mcss]

Thats a nice looking Cutlass. And sorry, I'm not sure where to get Cutlass interior pieces. I know much more about the Montes. But I still like that Cutlass.

 

[Jeffxxo]

Thanks, I always love hearing that.