The 1982 Gutlass "Build"

[O. D. Showtime]

Looks like a bit of a project...pick away at it and before you know it....


If you're interested I have a couple of decent Calais exterior sail panel emblems...I see yours are gone...unless you took them off...

shoot me a PM if interested.

 

[RustRocket]

I was missing the red part. I also have the door emblems, I just took them off. I'm really not concerned
with the way this thing looks on the outside. It's a pile and it's gonna stay that way, but thanks for the offer

 

[RustRocket]

Well, after some careful consideration, and thinking my final judgement was "no" I think I'll just buckle down and throw a Small-Block Chevy in the Cutlass. They're cheap, simple, and they've made a million of them so parts are everywhere. I was really hoping for a 403 or 455 Olds, or even something like a 400 Pontiac to come along but I think I'll be better off with just a 350 sbc. After all, it is just cheap power

 

[truracer20]

Don't be too hard on your self for the sbc decision. Dollar for dollar the Chevy is more bang for the buck. Especially when you are starting from scratch. I've had almost every Olds engine in a G body Cutlass. 260, 330, 403, 425 and 455. That was back in the 90's when every junk yard had plenty of them at realistic prices. Now 25 years later those engines have either been sitting since then in those same yards or have been on the road racking up even more mileage and wear and the prices have quadrupled. $375 in 1996 for a complete 455 with all accessories and now they want $1200. Hell back then nobody wanted the Olds engines, G bodies with an Olds 350 or 403 sold for much less than a similar car with a chromed SBC...
I put a GM 350 crate engine in my current Cutlass and have no regrets.

 

[RustRocket]

Took some steel wool and a few hours of boredom and found out my original Rally wheels aren't in too bad of shape. Got them sanded smooth and some $0.97 Walmart spray paint made them look brand spankin new!

 

[SupremeClassic]

You did a great job on the wheels by yourself man

 

[truracer20]

Huge improvement.

 

[pmc03spike]

Don't be too hard on your self for the sbc decision. Dollar for dollar the Chevy is more bang for the buck. Especially when you are starting from scratch. I've had almost every Olds engine in a G body Cutlass. 260, 330, 403, 425 and 455. That was back in the 90's when every junk yard had plenty of them at realistic prices. Now 25 years later those engines have either been sitting since then in those same yards or have been on the road racking up even more mileage and wear and the prices have quadrupled. $375 in 1996 for a complete 455 with all accessories and now they want $1200. Hell back then nobody wanted the Olds engines, G bodies with an Olds 350 or 403 sold for much less than a similar car with a chromed SBC...
I put a GM 350 crate engine in my current Cutlass and have no regrets.

I second that. I've had no fun so far with my Cutlass build at the moment. Finding the right parts is sometimes a nightmare. And I've done some trial an error. Although keeping I in the family is cool. If I didn't buy mine with a 455 stuffed in there, I'd build a nice stroker for around 2-2500 easy!

 

[truracer20]

Don't be too hard on your self for the sbc decision. Dollar for dollar the Chevy is more bang for the buck. Especially when you are starting from scratch. I've had almost every Olds engine in a G body Cutlass. 260, 330, 403, 425 and 455. That was back in the 90's when every junk yard had plenty of them at realistic prices. Now 25 years later those engines have either been sitting since then in those same yards or have been on the road racking up even more mileage and wear and the prices have quadrupled. $375 in 1996 for a complete 455 with all accessories and now they want $1200. Hell back then nobody wanted the Olds engines, G bodies with an Olds 350 or 403 sold for much less than a similar car with a chromed SBC...
I put a GM 350 crate engine in my current Cutlass and have no regrets.

I second that. I've had no fun so far with my Cutlass build at the moment. Finding the right parts is sometimes a nightmare. And I've done some trial an error. Although keeping I in the family is cool. If I didn't buy mine with a 455 stuffed in there, I'd build a nice stroker for around 2-2500 easy!

I wish I would have kept everything I had for these cars, Sadly when I got away from street cars and got heavily involved in circle track racing I got rid of everything. A complete 455 that got debris in a main and locked up without spinning, A fresh 403 block, and a low mile stock 425 in a 78 Cutlass with a dual point distributor and TH 400, along with a whole 1980 parts car, a perfect condition painted frame, 12 bolt posi with all parts to install, and in the 78 a great working 8.5 posi 3.42 rear that cost me $175 in 1996. Tons of engine parts, nodular SBO cranks, Nearly every number casting SBO heads, brackets, pulleys, carbs you name it and I probably had it. I kept very little of it. Just some Olds rallye wheels, a 1980 Olds header panel, and a 1980 Olds steering wheel....

 

[pmc03spike]

I wish I would have kept everything I had for these cars, Sadly when I got away from street cars and got heavily involved in circle track racing I got rid of everything. A complete 455 that got debris in a main and locked up without spinning, A fresh 403 block, and a low mile stock 425 in a 78 Cutlass with a dual point distributor and TH 400, along with a whole 1980 parts car, a perfect condition painted frame, 12 bolt posi with all parts to install, and in the 78 a great working 8.5 posi 3.42 rear that cost me $175 in 1996. Tons of engine parts, nodular SBO cranks, Nearly every number casting SBO heads, brackets, pulleys, carbs you name it and I probably had it. I kept very little of it. Just some Olds rallye wheels, a 1980 Olds header panel, and a 1980 Olds steering wheel....

I'm crying. . . But seriously. Still have the wheels? Any photos? Full set? I'm missing ONE! Lol those blocks and cranks are sadly getting harder to find. I need to start my build page soon.


The rims you painted look great. Keep up the good work can't wait to see more of your build.