New member, new project Cutlass..

[LWillmann]

My Grandmother gave me this 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic recently. She paid cash for it brand new and has driven it since. It's got some minor problems now, but I think it'll make for a fun project...

It's got the factory Olds 307 in it, the car is totally stock, and all original. It's got 223k miles on it, and outside of some hefty oil leaks, the car runs pretty good considering it's age.

Since I'm married and have two kids, I don't get a lot of money to devote to the car, so for now, I'm going to clean up the 307, get it running good again and get the car driveable for a while. I'll be building <gasp> an SBC 350 to drop into it, as they're cheaper to mod, and easier to source parts for, not to mention easier to find. I will have the trans rebuilt, probably but a 3200 RPM stall in it, stick a posi or locker diff in the rear with some better gears, maybe 3.42s or 3.73s.

I'm hoping to locate a set of the Rallye Pack gauges for the car, as I'm not a big fan of the long, wide speedo and otherwise gaugeless dash, and I'd rather not go mounting a bunch of other gauges all over the place to get the standard information.

I will also be building the suspension a bit, with better control arms, new bushings, and steering linkage and such. Haven't really decided on shocks/springs yet, but I know that I want to lower the car a bit, as it looks just way too high right now.

I'm having some difficulty deciding on which wheel/tire/suspension 'look' to go for. I could go with the standard fat/skinny drag-racing inspired look that so many go with, or I could go with a big wheel small sidewall, with the car hugging the wheels look (Pro-Touring). The drag inspired look is really common, and I'd like to be different, but dont' want to be different at the expense of straight line performance.

The car will be first and foremost a street car, driven regularly (maybe even daily), and will see some drag-strip action. I don't expect to hit any AutoX or road-racing type of stuff with it, but I want the car to handle well in the corners. I do love a good twisty road now and then!

I'm coming from a 1996 Formula so if I can get similar cornering characteristics out of the Cutlass without breaking the bank, I'd love it. But I fear that might be a tall order with the size difference of the two.

Well, I suppose I've rambled enough. Here are a few before pictures of the car, It's living in my garage now, out of the weather, and awaiting the TLC for the 307.

[Hdesign]

Great car! I had an ultra-low mile 88 Cutlass Classic Brougham with a power moon roof about 6 years ago. It was gray also. I loved that car! That was the first year for the crappy FWD replacements...BLAH. The RWD's were all called "classics" because they were leftovers I guess.

Who needs a toyota/honda when you can get 223K out of one of those? That's awesome! Good luck with it.

[Ssynister13]

Originally Posted by Hdesign

Great car! I had an ultra-low mile 88 Cutlass Classic Brougham with a power moon roof about 6 years ago. It was gray also. I loved that car! That was the first year for the crappy FWD replacements...BLAH. The RWD's were all called "classics" because they were leftovers I guess.

Who needs a toyota/honda when you can get 223K out of one of those? That's awesome! Good luck with it.

But mine was better! I mean beer cans and bondo, what else do you need to hold a rocker together? I miss that car! If I only knew then what I know now!

[Hdesign]

That was a riot! Gotta love Bondo!

[3kidsnotime]

Originally Posted by Hdesign

That was a riot! Gotta love Bondo!

Ben You will not be able to give input on the body work for the project now

[Ssynister13]

Lwillmann where are you from? Do you have to worry about the car meeting smog tests if you change out the motor? I know in Mass the 307 was it because it had all the pumps and hoses on...make it a complete dog...but I had to pass emissions.

[Ssynister13]

Originally Posted by 3kidsnotime

Ben You will not be able to give input on the body work for the project now

Awww, thats not fair...he can sand bondo like nothing you have ever seen!

[Hdesign]

Dude, you're killing me....SHHH! You're devulging all my secrets...I knew this was a mistake to tell you about this site...

[Hdesign]

As long as he's not in CA or MA I think he can pretty much do what he wants. Are there any other states that require 88s to pass an emissions test?

It used to be that once the car was more than 15 years old, you only had to pass a safety inspection. Ah, those were the days.

[Ssynister13]

You had to start somewhere...right? Im just here to make sure I can provide some ammo...your welcome!