SPYDER

hey everyone, new here ....................i got a cutlass....kinda rare i thiunk..................its got a 3.8lbuick and a 3spd manual, i cant find any info about this car anywhere, anyone know what kind of trans it is? i want to put a buick 455 in the car, heres a pic......poor wheels they were so nice....


http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?i...scn2261il3.jpg


heres a pic i found on google...diff grill but looks the same

http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=79442fs1.jpg

Oldsguy

Welcome to our site, I think there were only about 3500 slantbacks made that year. Although the buick built V6 and the standard transmission were standard equipment, not sure how few were received that way at the dealerships. Probably the majority were equipped with the automatic transmission.

SPYDER

i think ive figured out what it is...a saiginaw 3 speed...with electronic overdrive i think...i heard the overdrive gear is the same ratio as 3rd, is that true? how would i use the overdrive if thats what it has with the 455?


http://www.fvn.no/amcar/brochures/olds/80o15.html


same color and everything....mine has the bench seat....not sure if ill swap it out for buckets......i do have the seats and carpets out now as i have to fix the rusted floor pans.......i think it will look real mean with some new wheels/tires and a cowl.....maybe some stripes


i plan on hooking the 455 up to the saiginaw and only build it up to around 400hp so it doesnt kill the trans too fast, then when it dies buy a rock crusher and bolt it in....and some new heads and go for 500+....gotta keep her manual

joe_padavano

Well, third will be 1:1. If the overdrive is the same ratio at third, then it wouldn't be an overdrive, would it?

SPYDER

would it? i dunno, just sayin what i read....dodnt make much sence to me either lol


i gotta go look at a 78 supreme .....says its a 350/th350.........bet its a 305 though....t tops, 150$ ...kinda ugly color though (brownish).....t-tops look better on black cars, blend in better when tinted dark......debating wather to chop it up for parts or fix it......would have to paint it

yogi442

The 78 Cutlass Supreme came with 4 options under the hood. 260 Olds V8, Buick 231 V6, chevy 305 or chevy 350. Maybe state 350 but neglect to say it is a Chevy not an Olds 350.

yogi442

if you take a closer look at the pic, it looks like someone stuck the front cowl from a Buick onto a Cutlass. Wrong grilles, those are Buick grills on the car. In addition, look at the dullness of the nose compared to the rest of the car. Maybe the car rear ended something or someone and they were able to find only a Buick front cowl. These are interchangeable.

SPYDER

he said chevy, but its not his car, i havent gotten out there to check yet, been pretty ***** weather



and no thats not a buick grill, all origional, not many of the fastback salons around so ppl dont know wtf it is, lol

SPYDER

oh and the dullness is just there cus it was wet when i took the pic......n shes been sitting outside for years, gonna need new paint...damn expensive paint, lol

jeffs 89 cutlass salon

welcome to the site fellow cutlass salon owner!!

I own a '78 cutlass salon 4 door, and a big block will fit, as I put a 430 buick into Mine

good luck with it!!

SPYDER

cool, thanks! post some pics ........what kind of rear end are you running? im going to try just bolting the 455 up to the 3 speed and see how she does with the 10 bolt....if/when i break it ...9" and 4 link

jeffs 89 cutlass salon

I'm running a beefed up 7.5" rear out of a 82 regal I had. it has high strength Moser axles, 3.73 posi, and a rear end cover, with integral bracing for the carrier bearing caps

here's a pic of the engine sitting in it, just a typical mild mannered 550 hp engine (heater box will fit, am getting a different one, to replace the one I broke,be careful when sitting engine in)

and a pic of what the car looks like (taken before engine put in)

best part of putting a big block in one of these, no one will ever suspect it

also note: you will need the frame pads (that bolt to the crossmember)for a Buick 455. when you find a good candidate, grab these frame pads with it. best years of 455 Buick are 1970- 1974
you may have to move the engine till you get it where you want it, then drill holes, and bolt 'er in
I can take other pics of my conversion if you want

Buick 455 headers will fit this swap also

SPYDER

wow, did you have to take the front end off to get the engine in? hmm, so any 455 headers will fit, without hammering on them? lol

jeffs 89 cutlass salon

actually, I had the radiator support out for painting, and decided to try putting the engine thru the front, was much easier. yes, headers will fit, some minor clearancing may be needed.

marcar1993

I'd imagine any g-body headers would fit.

Jim's rare 80

Maybe state 350 but neglect to say it is a Chevy not an Olds 350.[/QUOTE]

That's odd?My 80 came with an Olds 350. Any G-body Hurst, or 442 I've seen came with an Olds engine.

J-(Chicago)

ARTICLE:

1977-85 88's

There were now two body styles of the 88 on the GM B platform - the town sedan and the coupe - both pillared bodystyles. The 1977-1979 Custom Cruiser wagon was a Chevrolet Caprice clone.

The Royale name was removed from the trunk to become a simple interior trim option, the Royale Brougham in 1979. The next year, this became the high-line model of the 88, a position it occupied through 1983.

During these years, fuel economy mandates resulted in the use of smaller engines than before. Beginning in 1977, the standard engine was now a Buick 231 cubic-inch V6 with optional engines including Oldsmobile-built 260, 350 and 403 cubic-inch Rocket V8s through 1979. A few '77 Delta 88s, however, slipped off the assembly lines with "Chevrolet"-built 350 cubic-inch V8s, leading many angry customers to file lawsuits against General Motors alleging "fraud" because they had bought (and paid a higher price - compared to a similar Chevrolet) for Oldsmobiles on the premise they would be powered by Rocket V8s.

This situation was well publicized as the "Chevymobile Affair" and GM ultimately settled with affected Oldsmobile owners by offering "extended" warranties for the "Chevy-powered" Oldsmobiles, or the option of returning those cars in exchange for a "real" Olds with a Rocket V8 - however, the latter option was not often exercised due to the fact the owner had to pay GM back money based on the number of miles his or her "Chevymobile" was driven, which could become a very expensive proposition.

By 1980, the "Rocket" terminology was removed from Olds V8s although the basic engine design would continue through 1990 and advertisements for Oldsmobiles (and other GM divisions' cars and trucks) would include the disclaimer that "Oldsmobiles (or other divisions') are equipped with engines manufactured by various GM divisions, subsidaries and worldwide affiliates."

SPYDER

somthin neat i found....78 442...............dont think im gonna stick the 455 in the back .......did consider it for a few seconds though



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