1966 Cutlass 4 speed "barn find"!

Mr. King · 02-06-2007, 04:04 AM

Hey Guys,

I thought I would share my new find. It's a 1966 Cutlass 330ci original 4 speed car. It has been sitting in a storage unit for the last 8 years. It's in fantastic shape. I don't have it running yet, but I believe all I need to do is prime the oil pump, put some gas in it, install the battery and turn the key. The motor was rebuilt right before it went into storage and the Muncie (m21) transmission was rebuilt at the same time.

I also got a TON of original Olds parts that the owner had been saving through the years including assembly manuals, intakes, valve covers, trim pieces, air cleaners an original 4 speed console and tach. It will take me weeks to figure out what I have.

Oldsguy · 02-06-2007, 04:32 AM

Hooooooooweeee! what a find! Do you plan to actually remove the distributor and prime the oil pump by turning it with a drill? That is a good way to get oil all the way up to the lifters and get them pumped up as well. You might also put a shot of light oil into each cylinder to lube the rings too.

Mr. King · 02-06-2007, 04:37 AM

Yes I plan to prime the oil pump....I'm kinda new to Oldsmobiles so I'm not sure what I need to spin it....any advice? Good idea to put a little oil in the cylinder.

The motor only had about 100 miles on it when he put it away 8 years ago so I want to make sure I don't hurt it.

2blu442 · 02-06-2007, 05:39 AM

Wow! Treasure Found!!!!!!!!!

Mr. King · 02-06-2007, 05:44 AM

I forgot to mention it's a 10 bolt posi with original 3:90 gears....and only 76,000 miles.

I'll post some pictures of all the parts I got later.

Mr. King · 02-06-2007, 05:59 AM

Oldsguy · 02-06-2007, 06:42 AM

Use a 5/16" socket on a 8" extension of your socket set, attach it to a corded power drill and turn it clockwise. This will run the oil pump and prime the system. Tape the socket and extension, you don't want to loose them in the pan! You might also manually turn the crankshaft to break the rings free after oiling the cylinders for a few days. Do this before your prime the oiling system. Some people do this a couple of times to make sure the cylinder walls are clean and the rings aren't rusted to the walls. Good luck and be prepared for a big smoke screen when she finally fires!!!!

Oldsmaniac · 02-06-2007, 11:26 AM

I believe ya must spin the oil pump counter clockwise to prime.....Also that was a great find if the price was right!

Oldsguy · 02-06-2007, 11:27 AM

You're right, thanks.

mitsudave · 02-06-2007, 06:56 PM

Olds distributor and oil pump spin counter-clockwise...

Mr. King · 02-07-2007, 05:20 AM

I'm going to try to prime the oil pump and get it running today. I'll let you know how it goes.

I changes the oil, oil filter, plugs and fuel filter
.
Anything else I should do before I try to crank it?

Thanks for all the advice!

ozoneblue · 02-07-2007, 06:45 AM

You might file & adjust Points as the seem to corrode while setting I belive its .18

Mr. King · 02-12-2007, 08:51 AM

Well Saturday I pulled the distributor, pre-lubed the motor, changed the plugs and points and fired the 330 up for the first time in about 8 years. I was surprised it ran great! Once I set the timing correctly. No smoke, no knocks and just a slight loop from the larger cam….it was nice.

One thing did bug me. Even though the motor fired right up and ran fine…the distributor seems to be “pointed” in the wrong direction. What I mean is the vacuum advance is pointed at the firewall. It seems to me that it should be pointed more toward the front of the car…..not directly at the firewall. Is this correct?

02-06-2007, 04:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53	1966 Cutlass 4 speed "barn find"! Hey Guys, I thought I would share my new find. It's a 1966 Cutlass 330ci original 4 speed car. It has been sitting in a storage unit for the last 8 years. It's in fantastic shape. I don't have it running yet, but I believe all I need to do is prime the oil pump, put some gas in it, install the battery and turn the key. The motor was rebuilt right before it went into storage and the Muncie (m21) transmission was rebuilt at the same time. I also got a TON of original Olds parts that the owner had been saving through the years including assembly manuals, intakes, valve covers, trim pieces, air cleaners an original 4 speed console and tach. It will take me weeks to figure out what I have.

02-06-2007, 04:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,167	Hooooooooweeee! what a find! Do you plan to actually remove the distributor and prime the oil pump by turning it with a drill? That is a good way to get oil all the way up to the lifters and get them pumped up as well. You might also put a shot of light oil into each cylinder to lube the rings too. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

02-06-2007, 05:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
2blu442 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 935	Wow! Treasure Found!!!!!!!!! __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

02-06-2007, 06:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,167	Use a 5/16" socket on a 8" extension of your socket set, attach it to a corded power drill and turn it clockwise. This will run the oil pump and prime the system. Tape the socket and extension, you don't want to loose them in the pan! You might also manually turn the crankshaft to break the rings free after oiling the cylinders for a few days. Do this before your prime the oiling system. Some people do this a couple of times to make sure the cylinder walls are clean and the rings aren't rusted to the walls. Good luck and be prepared for a big smoke screen when she finally fires!!!! __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

02-06-2007, 11:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 3,167	You're right, thanks. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door

02-06-2007, 04:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53	Yes I plan to prime the oil pump....I'm kinda new to Oldsmobiles so I'm not sure what I need to spin it....any advice? Good idea to put a little oil in the cylinder. The motor only had about 100 miles on it when he put it away 8 years ago so I want to make sure I don't hurt it.

02-06-2007, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53	I forgot to mention it's a 10 bolt posi with original 3:90 gears....and only 76,000 miles. I'll post some pictures of all the parts I got later.

02-06-2007, 05:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53

02-06-2007, 11:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsmaniac Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 432	I believe ya must spin the oil pump counter clockwise to prime.....Also that was a great find if the price was right!

02-06-2007, 06:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
mitsudave Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 54	Olds distributor and oil pump spin counter-clockwise... __________________ Dave Paulison Palm Bay, Florida 1969 Olds Cutlass Supreme

02-07-2007, 05:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53	I'm going to try to prime the oil pump and get it running today. I'll let you know how it goes. I changes the oil, oil filter, plugs and fuel filter . Anything else I should do before I try to crank it? Thanks for all the advice!

02-07-2007, 06:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
ozoneblue Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 416	You might file & adjust Points as the seem to corrode while setting I belive its .18

02-12-2007, 08:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mr. King Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 53	It's Alive!!! Well Saturday I pulled the distributor, pre-lubed the motor, changed the plugs and points and fired the 330 up for the first time in about 8 years. I was surprised it ran great! Once I set the timing correctly. No smoke, no knocks and just a slight loop from the larger cam….it was nice. One thing did bug me. Even though the motor fired right up and ran fine…the distributor seems to be “pointed” in the wrong direction. What I mean is the vacuum advance is pointed at the firewall. It seems to me that it should be pointed more toward the front of the car…..not directly at the firewall. Is this correct?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode