I love her. But what is she?

[Newkid8]

Hi guys! I recently got a car but am unsure of what year it is or what package she has. It is a long story but I have what I think is a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. However I am unsure. But here are the facts:

Has a 455 Engine
Says Cutlass on the glove compartment
Has the "S" emblem by the doors

Here are some photos of her. If you could tell me what year and what type I would greatly appreciate it. I would have tried through a VN number but when we were transferring the title, the state did not have it on the books. We had to get a new one.

[projectheaven]

That appears to be a 1970 cutlass "s"

[Newkid8]

Thanks a lot!!! I am trying to take it to a dealership to find out about that. However, do you know where I could find a passenger window for one? Mine is broken and it has been a pain to find one.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Newkid8

I would have tried through a VN number but when we were transferring the title, the state did not have it on the books. We had to get a new one.

The VIN should be visible through the base of the windshield on the driver's side. If it's not there, run screaming.

[SeamusNH]

Post the Vin and someone here can decode it for you...

[Olds64]

You can try the following website for parts. They make nearly everything for those cars.

http://www.yearone.com/

[don71]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

The VIN should be visible through the base of the windshield on the driver's side. If it's not there, run screaming.

Yea if there is NO vin number, that sounds scary..... kinda stolen scary. I have never heard of getting a new vin from any department of motor vehicles. I must be getting old

I actually have the door glass window for that car, but I sure don't know how to ship it without breakage. If you want to talk privatly, send me a pm, as I do go to TX once a year but just north of DFW.

Nice car BTW, sure looks like 70 cutlass S, definately not a supreme.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by don71

Yea if there is NO vin number, that sounds scary..... kinda stolen scary. I have never heard of getting a new vin from any department of motor vehicles. I must be getting old

Actually, some states WILL issue state VINs and VIN tags. This is more usually done with constructed cars such as kit cars. Stolen and recovered cars with tampered or damaged VIN tags may also get state-issued VIN tags with state-unique numbers. It depends on the state in question and can vary from state to state. Check with your local DMV or State Police for more info. At a minimum, this should be a flag to do much more checking.

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by SeamusNH

Post the Vin and someone here can decode it for you...

Here is the VN# 3JS7K2G114652 we are unsure if the "3" is a "3" or an "8", but any information would be greatly appreciated!!!

Newkid8

[Chumley]

The VIN you provided indicates a 1972 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 4bbl.(180 HP) made in Farmington, Mass. (The "S" after the "J" in the VIN is in fact a "5". J57 is the code for Cutlass Supreme 2 door hardtop, but your car is NOT. This VIN does not go with this car. As to what year you DO have, post a picture of the tail lights. This will identify the year, if the rear bumper and lights are original, which might be called into question as well in view of the foregoing. Sounds like this ride has a colorful history! Chumley

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by Chumley

The VIN you provided indicates a 1972 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 4bbl.(180 HP) made in Farmington, Mass. (The "S" after the "J" in the VIN is in fact a "5". J57 is the code for Cutlass Supreme 2 door hardtop, but your car is NOT. This VIN does not go with this car. As to what year you DO have, post a picture of the tail lights. This will identify the year, if the rear bumper and lights are original, which might be called into question as well in view of the foregoing. Sounds like this ride has a colorful history! Chumley

These are the exact tail lights that my car has. I did not take a photo of the back of my car. Does this help?

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by Chumley

The VIN you provided indicates a 1972 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 4bbl.(180 HP) made in Farmington, Mass. (The "S" after the "J" in the VIN is in fact a "5". J57 is the code for Cutlass Supreme 2 door hardtop, but your car is NOT. This VIN does not go with this car. As to what year you DO have, post a picture of the tail lights. This will identify the year, if the rear bumper and lights are original, which might be called into question as well in view of the foregoing. Sounds like this ride has a colorful history! Chumley

What do you mean a colorful history? Just being curious. I understand that the VN# does not match what the car is. So I am guessing that the car is a 1972 Cutlass S? I know that the engine is a 455 because I looked at the block number and found that out. Hmmm...luckily the Texas DMV gave us a new VN# since the old one could not be found in the state's database. I probably will not have any problems right?

[Chumley]

Those tail lights are 1970. If the big block is original to the car, you might have a 442. What kind of tranny do you have? What I meant by a "colorful" history is that there is a reason the original VIN tag is missing and one from a '72 put in it's place. Maybe the car was indeed stolen at some time, especially if it is a 442. Some clues to look for in a 442: Does the rear bumper have the exhaust cutouts? Front and rear sway bars with boxed lower rear control arms. 442 badges(which are probably missing at this point) Internally regulated alternator (no voltage regulator on firewall). It's cool you have a big block at any rate. What are the numbers you got off the block and heads? We can interpret those as well. Chumley

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Chumley

The VIN you provided indicates a 1972 Cutlass Supreme with a 350 4bbl.(180 HP) made in Farmington, Mass. (The "S" after the "J" in the VIN is in fact a "5". J57 is the code for Cutlass Supreme 2 door hardtop, but your car is NOT. This VIN does not go with this car. As to what year you DO have, post a picture of the tail lights. This will identify the year, if the rear bumper and lights are original, which might be called into question as well in view of the foregoing. Sounds like this ride has a colorful history! Chumley

It would be interesting to see what the body data plate says...

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by Chumley

Those tail lights are 1970. If the big block is original to the car, you might have a 442. What kind of tranny do you have? What I meant by a "colorful" history is that there is a reason the original VIN tag is missing and one from a '72 put in it's place. Maybe the car was indeed stolen at some time, especially if it is a 442. Some clues to look for in a 442: Does the rear bumper have the exhaust cutouts? Front and rear sway bars with boxed lower rear control arms. 442 badges(which are probably missing at this point) Internally regulated alternator (no voltage regulator on firewall). It's cool you have a big block at any rate. What are the numbers you got off the block and heads? We can interpret those as well. Chumley

Neither the body of the car says 442 nor does not say it anywhere else on the body. It states "Cutlass" on the glove box and says "S" right behind the front tires. At first I thought the "S" stood for Supreme however in time, through research, I found that "S" was its own model. I am lead to assume that it is a Cutlass "S" but am unsure of the year.

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

It would be interesting to see what the body data plate says...

Where do I find the "body data plate"?

[Jokers69]

under the hood on the cowl, drivers side.

[Oldsguy]

Everything can be replaced, fenders, bumpers, glove box door, etc. This could explain the curiosity of this car and the confusion. The only thing that is supposed to NOT be replaced is the VIN tag, it is supposed to stay on the car (of course). Interesting story here, I am curious to see what unfolds. As a side note, I saw an ebay auction for a '69 pontiac that described the car as a project with a lot of rust, what was it? A firewall, A pillars, dash and part of the frame of a a '69 firebird. Wonder what they were selling?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Barneyo]

Originally Posted by Olds64

You can try the following website for parts. They make nearly everything for those cars.

http://www.yearone.com/

as


As long its after 1963 (for F85's anyway). Same with other parts places.
Is it the same with the other two BOP cars for the early 60's? Corvairs
seem to rate ???

[rrielley]

I'm a new-Olds guy, but I believe what you have their is a '70 Olds Cutlass S. it was the model below the Cutlass Supreme. You have to love that 455!!!

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by Barneyo

as


As long its after 1963 (for F85's anyway). Same with other parts places.
Is it the same with the other two BOP cars for the early 60's? Corvairs
seem to rate ???

It's all about popularity, since the vendors are in business to make a profit. You'll note there aren't may repro parts for the 73-77 cars, but the more popular G-body cars have more aftermarket parts available.

[Newkid8]

Originally Posted by rrielley

I'm a new-Olds guy, but I believe what you have their is a '70 Olds Cutlass S. it was the model below the Cutlass Supreme. You have to love that 455!!!

WOW! Loving the 455 is an understatement. The car had been bought in the U.S. and then taken to Mexico for racing. The previous owners modified the engine so that it has an Edelbrock carburetor as well as Edelbrock intake manifold. The transmission, which I just had overhauled, is a "400". I am unsure of what that means however I was told that a typical car that has that type of transmission is a heavy duty truck. I was also told that I have a shift kit. I thought that the transmission was just not changing cleanly but I figured that out. The engine is nothing short of beastly! I was offered two heads which are bigger than the ones I have now. I am thinking about it, but I think I want to get the car working perfectly then work on the body. After all that then I will consider modifying it more.

I have an interesting fact. The engine seemed to have caught on fire at one point. I had this yellow film on the block as well as spots of the same substance on the bottom of the hood. My mechanic told me that it was the same chemical used for fire extinguishers. Luckily most of the parts were replaced so when I got the engine I just had to bring then engine up-to-date with a new electric job as well as fix other things. Luckily most of the work has been small.

However, I have yet to figure out the back suspension. I noticed that I have an air intake valve similar to that found on tires however I am unsure of any difference when I put air into it. I don't know how to check that. Also, I found out recently that my back tires are too big. The body keeps rubbing up against them. Does anyone know what type of tires I should have for this vehicle?

[dar83501]

whoever had the car before you should've tubbed the rear end in to fit those big tires properly.

[marcar1993]

Well, a th400came behind big blocks (I beleive all). Definatly came behind your 455, whatever it came out of.

[Chumley]

That "air valve" sounds like the air input for air shocks. Is it located behind the license plate? ( factory location). It's common to put 455's in a car that came stock with a 350. Did you get numbers from the heads to ID the year of it? The 455 is an awesome motor. Used to have one in my SX. Also put a shift kit in the TH400. Could always grab 2nd and sometimes 3rd with a mostly stock motor. Ah, the good old days......Chumley

[Coltonis]

Yeah that "Tire vavle" sounds like the vavle for a set of air shocks, look for a hose or pipe runnig from the valve to your shocks, my friends polara has them ran along the frame... I have only seen my friends, but I thought that kind of thing needs a pretty strong compressor to pump them to proper PSI... also, could it be possible the air shocks are just really low on air (or leaky completely) and thats why the tire is rubbing?