CUTLASS Project "In between"

84dragcutlass

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Aug 20, 2009
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North Vernon IN
So I picked up a parts car last weekend for parts for the orignal diesel cutlass and my black cutlass. The front clip, doors, and trunk lid will go to the original diesel cutlass and some misc. Parts to my cutlass. Also the interior will go to my son's cutlass el camino project. However once I got it home it was too nice to not at least enjoy a little until I need the parts. It's mostly clean and straight except for damage on the passenger quarter. Story is that the old man that had the car since new backed a small tractor into it and tried to fix it with filler. When that didn't work he started to have the car fixed up nice and had the engine rebuilt. Apparently he died before he could put it back in and the guy I got the car off of didn't want the V6. So I have a clean car with a spot for the crappy 350 that came in my old el camino when I bought it back. So I'll have a Gbody to cruise around while working on the others.

Engine candidate
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Fairly clean car
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Interior Is really nice also
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Representing
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84dragcutlass

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Aug 20, 2009
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North Vernon IN
Update on the little project in between car, since my son got his engine completely tore down and ready for the machine shop we started finishing up the tear down on the olds 350 diesel to haul in with it at the same time. That got me thinking "well that's just not fair where is my engine build" so i got ahold of a 1997 vortec 350 and it will be going to the machine shop with the others for a 383 stroker build. I know in this world of high hp LS engines this thing really wont be much however if i can build it up to maybe 450hp with the vortec heads and pump gas friendly compression i think on the skinny tires of that blue cutlass it would be a riot. The permanent home for the engine will be in my el camino once all the parts are swapped over, but in the meantime while me and my son are rebuilding his 260 i figured its as good a home as any. Updates to come as the build progresses.
 
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scoti

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Sep 5, 2019
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I'll take an old school torque-build for a daily driver all day every day. Sure an LS swap is nice & way better vs. a stock, low compression 305/worn out 350 but there's nothing wrong w/a proper well done old school motor either. They're just not as efficient.
 
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84dragcutlass

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Aug 20, 2009
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North Vernon IN
(y)Your parts car is probably in better shape than my project car

Yeah it was too nice to just start tearing apart, my son is getting attached to it so its his car at this point im just enjoying it a little for now. He still has a few more years till he gets his permit.
 
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84dragcutlass

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Aug 20, 2009
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North Vernon IN
I'll take an old school torque-build for a daily driver all day every day. Sure an LS swap is nice & way better vs. a stock, low compression 305/worn out 350 but there's nothing wrong w/a proper well done old school motor either. They're just not as efficient.

Yeah exactly, besides just being way cheaper as well. Can get it into fairly good shape for just a couple grand.
 
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lilbowtie

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Jan 7, 2006
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You can get 450HP w/o a problem. I've got a old L-82 stock short block w/ some good 2.02 iron chevy heads, cam, and a Vic intake that pulls that.
Solid Cutlass !!
 
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84dragcutlass

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Aug 20, 2009
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North Vernon IN
So to catch up on my son's car, he's really excited. We are going to be taking it to the Gbody classic in July so he's working hard to get his engine back together. Right now the short block is together and I'm pleased to report that he did the work himself. Here are a few pictures of the short block assembly and him putting on the rings and getting the pistons in.
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So with all this good progress he's also working on the body work. Now this car doesn't look all that bad and we have no plans to paint it, but it did have a huge amount of bondo in an area I was told the original owner backed a tractor into. So once we got the bondo out and saw the size of the dent out came the stud gun to start pulling it out. We haven't fully gotten that finished however it is looking better than it was
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So making progress on that, the metal is at least moving for us which is a plus. Will for sure need a little filler to be smooth again. Summer break just started for the kids so I'm sure the boy and I will have more time to get it done. Will keep the thread posted with updates on it.
 
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