Judging a book from its first few posts, Ima say you'd have better luck with a 350k mile Honda.
Reliability, ease of work, enjoyability?
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Here's my thoughts on what your plans are:
If this were 1985, I would say yes, the 1985 Olds Cutlass was fairly reliable (V8 models anyway) and you don't drive it like you stole it. The paint was crappy from the factory and they did run out of V8s in 84 and put a limit on putting V8s in the 84 Cutlass for a while (except H/O). This did for some reason temper the V8s in the early 85s. So there's a good chance it's a V6. Not a terrible engine, but the car is sorta heavy for it. Of course, they only built 365 MILLION G-body Cutlasses (I exaggerate to clarify) so you can always find a decent deal somewhere on a clean one with a V8.
That said, it could be real PITA if you had any, and I mean ANY, wiring/emissions issues. RUST- be careful on this one. Depending on where it lived, the rear frame sections rust BADLY. To the point of being unsafe. Thank goodness you can remove frame from the body. It if has T-tops, you might be in for a real treat if it sat outside for 30 years. That's for any G-body. T-tops were prone to severe rust problems. E-Carburetors are a crap shoot to get right on one of these. Not that it can't be done, but the OBD1 is not the best system in the world. A vacuum leak could drive you nuts with all the emissions spaghetti.
If you want a daily driver, unless it's a pristine, grandma car that's spent its entire life in the garage and has had regular maintenance, this ain't it. If no rust and straight body/frame, it's got great potential for a fun project car. Sky (or your wallet) is the limit then.
If this were 1985, I would say yes, the 1985 Olds Cutlass was fairly reliable (V8 models anyway) and you don't drive it like you stole it. The paint was crappy from the factory and they did run out of V8s in 84 and put a limit on putting V8s in the 84 Cutlass for a while (except H/O). This did for some reason temper the V8s in the early 85s. So there's a good chance it's a V6. Not a terrible engine, but the car is sorta heavy for it. Of course, they only built 365 MILLION G-body Cutlasses (I exaggerate to clarify) so you can always find a decent deal somewhere on a clean one with a V8.
That said, it could be real PITA if you had any, and I mean ANY, wiring/emissions issues. RUST- be careful on this one. Depending on where it lived, the rear frame sections rust BADLY. To the point of being unsafe. Thank goodness you can remove frame from the body. It if has T-tops, you might be in for a real treat if it sat outside for 30 years. That's for any G-body. T-tops were prone to severe rust problems. E-Carburetors are a crap shoot to get right on one of these. Not that it can't be done, but the OBD1 is not the best system in the world. A vacuum leak could drive you nuts with all the emissions spaghetti.
If you want a daily driver, unless it's a pristine, grandma car that's spent its entire life in the garage and has had regular maintenance, this ain't it. If no rust and straight body/frame, it's got great potential for a fun project car. Sky (or your wallet) is the limit then.
The better the foundation, the better the house.
Same for G-Body's.
Sounds too expensive to me.. $1,200 can get you a driver most of the time.. Hit $2k and you might luck into something that doesn't need much of anything to drive.
-Gonz
Same for G-Body's.
Sounds too expensive to me.. $1,200 can get you a driver most of the time.. Hit $2k and you might luck into something that doesn't need much of anything to drive.
-Gonz
The car sounds more like a project than a potential daily driver. First off, you don't know what condition the engine (and transmission) is in, being that it doesn't run and drive.
As said by my fellow members, you're much better off finding a running, driving car and paying a bit more for it. At least you know what you're starting off with, rather than buying a "cat in a bag".
As said by my fellow members, you're much better off finding a running, driving car and paying a bit more for it. At least you know what you're starting off with, rather than buying a "cat in a bag".
I mentioned $2k for a reason.
Take a look at my Signature Pic.
Took me awhile, but... $2k.
-Gonz
Take a look at my Signature Pic.
Took me awhile, but... $2k.
-Gonz
I'd keep your eye out for a low-mile "grandma car" that might need some cosmetic work, but has been driven (and maintained) regularly for most of its life. I can sympathize with you wanting to "save a stray," but I definitely wouldn't buy it as a good-to-go daily driver.
Well, thank you all for your advice. I'll take the fact that it's a Montana special into account. I'll probably just drive it until something breaks, fix that, and repeat, until nothing is broken. I at least hope that I can prove that GM is king, or something.
Then he/she might become one of us "4 door weirdos "!!
To me a car that doesn't run is a project car at best and a parts car at the least and for $1200 I would expect something that at least runs.
You already know from the start it will need a set of tires, head lights and whatever else was kicked in and without being able to run the engine you have no idea what condition the engine, trans, suspension or brake system etc, is in.
The engine could have a rod knock or the trans could have no reverse or neither might not even work at all.
From the sounds of this car it is nothing that I would attempt to daily drive without a wad of cash, tools and knowledge.
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