BUILD THREAD Street/Strip Cutlass Build: Race it, break it, fix it, repeat.

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

Also forgot to ask...have any of you guys dropped the motor and trans in as a combo with the hood still on? We have always put the motor in, then put the trans in from the bottom.

Cool build, I just read it start to finish. I always do engine and trans together, but I always take the hood off. This seems easier to me. It only takes five minutes, and it's not hard to get it re-aligned. I imagine it would be pretty difficult to do the combo with the hood on.

Thanks Man. Yeah it's a tight squeeze even just with the motor with the hood on, so I figured we should try putting them in as one. Gotta be easier then my dad bringing the trans in on his chest. :shock:

 

[lg1200]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

Jegs 6-3/4" balancer

You will need a 8" balancer from my experience..possibly a reason for the problems you've noted with the cracked bellhousing, etc..I'd definitely confirm that before pressing the Jegs balancer on bro..seriously. Just my $.02!

 

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

I've read lots of posts on this that says it doesn't matter. Anyone else wanna chime in on this?

 

[-83MONTESS-]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

I dont think size of balancer matters as long as its balanced. The same goes for the flywheel. I swapped a few different sized balancers on the engines I have had and never had issue. Just make sure not to mix up 400 balancers with any other small block balancers.

 

[Tank]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

I've been making some significant progress, just haven't been taking a ton of pics (i know, i know 😳). Anyways, Ive been collecting parts, and the bottom end is all finished up. Under hood is all put back together just waiting for the motor to go back in. Also got my new gauges in, which I'm really happy with. Here are some pics.

Here is how the gauge panel worked out. It was a tight squeeze, but its nice. I've never seen it done before, while retaining the factory speedo.







My new intake, Edelbrock Performer EPS, I'm really happy with the way it looks. Planning on doing a mild gasket match.



Also got the heads back from the machine shop. Machined for screw in studs, valve and spring guides cut down. Also milled down a little bit, and a valve job. We are planning to do a mild gasket match on the intake and exhuast side.



Decided to get some new pistons as well. They will bring compression to around 10.5:1, maybe a little more with the heads milled down.



New tall centerbolt polished aluminum valve covers, hope they clear my rockers.



Also got some various odds and ends, break in oil, gaskets, etc. Still need to get a cam button, intake gaskets, and engine paint. Then we can put the heads on and it will be ready to go!

EDIT: Also forgot to ask...have any of you guys dropped the motor and trans in as a combo with the hood still on? We have always put the motor in, then put the trans in from the bottom.

Looks good, I am surprised you didn't go with the LED oil and water gauge to match your voltmeter.

 

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

I kinda wanted gauges with lettering that sort of matched the speedo. Eventually I might change those out to VDO's for a closer look

 

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

Got one of the heads ported tonight, and torqued down on the block. Didn't wanna go too agrees solve in the porting. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Dad going at it with the die grinder

Before

After

Quick mock up shot. Looks killer!

 

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

Hey guys. I was messing around with my headers yesterday and test fitted them on the motor just to see. The new vortec heads have little screw hole provisions on them for factory wire looms that I'd like to use. However the header flange has a sort of half circle thing that interferes with the hole. I was wonder if I can just trim this off, or will it cause a problem?

 

[BuWaGone]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

You should be fine trimming them off

 

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Re: Budget Cutlass Build Thread, Making Progress.

Sweet, that's what I thought. What are they there for anyway?