New here but, I need Olds help

[aztekolds]

have parts from a 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme(doors, hood, trunk lid, bumpers, engine, transmission etc..) I am very interested in buying a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass but I have discovered that the 1970 model is an "F85" Fisher body where the 1971 is an "A" Fisher body. Can the parts from these two cars interchange with themselves? I understand that the F85 is considered the "base" model cutlass and the Supreme is a "step up". With the parts I have, Is it possible to create a Supreme model from a Base model Oldsmobile Cutlass? Expert advise please. Thanks

[2blu442]

The F85 was a base model, but it's still considered an A-body. If the F85 is a hardtop, without a frame around the door window, then the doors will interchange. If it is a "post car" with the frame around the door windows they won't interchange. The hoods from a 1970 and 1971/2 will not interchange. Where the hoods meet the grills are different, and the core support is also different. I have put a 1970 nose on a 1971 Cutlass, but you have to change a lot of parts. The F85 used the same body as a Cutlass S, the Cutlass Supreme has a different shape to the rear quarter panels, back window and trunk. If the price is right on the 1970 F85 I'd still buy it if I were you, but don't plan on interchanging many of the parts you listed. Does the 1970 need these parts? I'm up in Medford Oregon and have both Cutlass S and Cutlass Supreme parts. If you don't find what you need down there I may be able help. John

[2blu442]

I just went back and read your message again, the drivetrain will interchange between the two. Engine, trannie, rear end, brake and suspension parts, even much of the interior parts will interchange. The rear bumpers will interchange although the tail lights will not be correct for the year. I don't know if the front bumpers will interchange or not. The front fenders will also interchange once you swap the "eyebrow" trim from the front of the fenders.

[aztekolds]

Thanks 2blu442. Let me give you a little more background on what is happening. I’ve owned a 1971 Olds Cutlass Supreme “S” Vinyl hardtop for about 10 yrs. When I purchased it, it ran but needed major work. For the last 8 years, I held on to it hoping that someday I would have the time to put into restoring it. Finally in 2004 I started to dismantle it. The idea was to take it down to the frame and start the rebuild from there. I pulled the engine (350 rocket) and transmission, doors, hood, trunk lid and front fenders. All I had left intact was the uni-body, suspension front and rear bumpers. As far as the interior, it too needed to be totally redone. It had no headliner, no carpet, the bucket seats and rear bench were still there but in need of repair. I had all the chrome pulled off and I had it stored inside the car so I wouldn’t misplace it. I had stripped the paint and taken it down to the bare metal before I was done. After one week of straight 10 hr days of doing nothing but devoting time to this car (it was my vacation time), I had to throw a tarp on it until I could find time to work on it once again. When my dad grew tired of the car sitting in his driveway taking up space after I had not been able to work on it for 2 yrs, he had it hauled to a nearby friends property (60 acres of farmland). I was upset but, what could I say, I lived in an apartment complex at the time so, I had nowhere to store it. His house, his rules. The car was safely parked under a carport (or so I thought) and covered by a tarp for the next 2 years. Earlier this year, to my horror, I found that the property had been sold and the car had been hauled away. Where to and by who, I suppose I will never know. Needles to say, I am now determined to restore an Olds Cutlass. You must understand how excited I was to find this 1970 Cutlass available. I like the body style of the 70-71 Olds. The body of this 70 Olds is very similar to the 71 but, as you mentioned, there are some differences. The doors on the 1970 that I’m thinking of buying, does have the frame around the glass. The doors on the 71 do not. The front chrome bumper has the square shaped parking lights usually found on the 442 model. I am partial to the round parking lights. The hood on the 70 does have the center “nose” part come down and touch the chrome bumper and divides the grill inserts. The 71 needs a plastic “stone” shield ( I think that’s what it’s called) that also cradles the grills. Also, the hood I have that came off the 71 has the chrome, recessed velure hood accents. The 70 does not. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I fell in love with the style of the 71 because of all the little differences that are now so apparent between the 70 and 71, including the map light in the rear view mirror found on the 71! My 71 had power disk brakes upfront and drums in the rear. The 70 has drums all the way around. If the 70 is not able to be converted from a base model into a Supreme model, I may not purchase the car….but, on the other hand, it’s still an Olds!The history with the 1970 Cutlass that I found out from the current owner is this, He’s owned it for about 1 year. He purchased it as a parts car to outfit, of all things, HIS 1971 Olds Cutlass Supreme! Talk about irony. It is the exact same model that I lost. The guy that had it previous to him used it to race. The rear suspension was modified to accept stabilizers and, the rear deck where the speakers would be found has been cut out to have a fuel cell installed on the interior. The original fuel tank was removed to reduce the weight so, that’s missing too. The body looks straight and, there are minimal cancer spots on the door area that can be saved. The major concern is the rear quarter panel on the driver side of the car. It has a crunch in it. I’m not much of a body repairman but, I have to wonder how difficult it will be to have this either repaired or replaced. This car is in need of a complete teardown and rebuild from what I can see and, I am willing to do it. I just want to know if I have an edge with the parts I have left from the 71’ Cutlass I had before. Would it be worth it or, do I have to start from scratch and sell off all of my 71’ parts and settle for the “not so flashy” differences found in the 1970 Cutlass? Thanks for your time, your knowledge and your response.

[Cecil Anderson]

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