Culass Newbie Question - Cutlass a good idea?

chaos · March 17th, 2008, 04:50 PM

Hi.. new to this forum.

My Dad recently passed away and left me a few cars. Getting ready to restore one, kind of as a tribute, and I'm thinking the Olds will be my best option.

From what I can tell it is a 74 Cutlass hard-top coupe with a 350 cid V-8.

What HP does this hold?

Does anyone have any pics of one of these? I'm having a hell of a time finding any kind of information regarding a 74. I heard this was an ugly year for these but can't tell, all the pictures I have found vary in appearance.

BTW, my other resto options are:

55 Chevy Truck
72 Duster

Any thoughts?

Thanks for any help!

Dave

J-(Chicago) · March 17th, 2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos

Hi.. new to this forum.

My Dad recently passed away and left me a few cars. Getting ready to restore one, kind of as a tribute, and I'm thinking the Olds will be my best option.

Sorry for your loss, but congrats on the new cars.

Quote:

74 Cutlass hard-top coupe with a 350 cid

What HP does this hold?

I'll bet if you dyno'd it, between 130 and 160 HP

chaos · March 17th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Ouch, my 4 banger has more HP than that.

For some reason whenever we would talk about it he referred to it as the '442' and said it would be in the 500HP range. I know he did some internals, but to bring it up to 500HP would take a lot. Unless of course it isn't the original engine.

Where do I look on the engine to find some #?

Thanks again,

Dave

daverbmxer · March 17th, 2008, 05:31 PM

The engine might only put out 130 to 160 hp but it will have around 270 ft/lbs of torque, which is the true measurement of power. Your 4 banger doesn't compare to that; it only gets that "fake" horsepower rating from screaming so fast.

Here's some pics of a '74 cutlass:

More can be found here:

Cardomain

It is unfortunately kind of not great looking.. It's your call, but if were up to me I'd probably find a different year Cutlass or restore that '55 chevy pickup instead.

Oldsguy · March 18th, 2008, 06:17 AM

To be very honest, I think the '72 Duster would probably be worth more money after a good restoration. The reason I say this is that MOPARs have been going for crazy money on the auction block lately, the Duster is the little brother of the line and will probably ride the wave, be more marketable especially if it has the smaller engine, particularly the slant six, and as you mentioned many Olds enthusiasts aren't as crazy about the '74 Cutlass although I sort of like it. But since you mentioned a tribute to your Dad, you are probably not going to sell the car but keep it, maybe you could make enough off the Duster now to finance a good restoration of the Cutlass. And the '55 truck? Go over to the Hokey Assed Message Board (HAMB) and sell it. They love that stuff over there.

Pfiffle · March 18th, 2008, 06:42 AM

That's actually not a bad idea what Oldsguy said. You can probably get top dollar for the Duster while Mopars are still hot (nothing lasts forever). Roll it into the Cutlass. It's a thought. I like the '74's. You don't see many on the road around here anymore. Mostly 68-72. Tom.

March 17th, 2008, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
chaos Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Culass Newbie Question - Cutlass a good idea? Hi.. new to this forum. My Dad recently passed away and left me a few cars. Getting ready to restore one, kind of as a tribute, and I'm thinking the Olds will be my best option. From what I can tell it is a 74 Cutlass hard-top coupe with a 350 cid V-8. What HP does this hold? Does anyone have any pics of one of these? I'm having a hell of a time finding any kind of information regarding a 74. I heard this was an ugly year for these but can't tell, all the pictures I have found vary in appearance. BTW, my other resto options are: 55 Chevy Truck 72 Duster Any thoughts? Thanks for any help! Dave

March 17th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
daverbmxer Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Dakota Posts: 47	The engine might only put out 130 to 160 hp but it will have around 270 ft/lbs of torque, which is the true measurement of power. Your 4 banger doesn't compare to that; it only gets that "fake" horsepower rating from screaming so fast. Here's some pics of a '74 cutlass: More can be found here: Cardomain It is unfortunately kind of not great looking.. It's your call, but if were up to me I'd probably find a different year Cutlass or restore that '55 chevy pickup instead. __________________ 1977 Cutlass S 350/350. Runs & drives great but she ain't so pretty.

March 18th, 2008, 06:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	To be very honest, I think the '72 Duster would probably be worth more money after a good restoration. The reason I say this is that MOPARs have been going for crazy money on the auction block lately, the Duster is the little brother of the line and will probably ride the wave, be more marketable especially if it has the smaller engine, particularly the slant six, and as you mentioned many Olds enthusiasts aren't as crazy about the '74 Cutlass although I sort of like it. But since you mentioned a tribute to your Dad, you are probably not going to sell the car but keep it, maybe you could make enough off the Duster now to finance a good restoration of the Cutlass. And the '55 truck? Go over to the Hokey Assed Message Board (HAMB) and sell it. They love that stuff over there. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

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March 17th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
chaos Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	Ouch, my 4 banger has more HP than that. For some reason whenever we would talk about it he referred to it as the '442' and said it would be in the 500HP range. I know he did some internals, but to bring it up to 500HP would take a lot. Unless of course it isn't the original engine. Where do I look on the engine to find some #? Thanks again, Dave

March 18th, 2008, 06:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pfiffle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 123	That's actually not a bad idea what Oldsguy said. You can probably get top dollar for the Duster while Mopars are still hot (nothing lasts forever). Roll it into the Cutlass. It's a thought. I like the '74's. You don't see many on the road around here anymore. Mostly 68-72. Tom.