72 Cutlass Supreme

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 09:00 AM

This is my 72 Cutlass Supreme. I got it for a thousand bucks a couple of weeks ago. The guy i got it from bought it at a repo auction so i don't have alot of info about the car. To tell you the truth i don't know much about olds in general but i sure do love this car.the guy i bought it from thought it had the stock 350 in it. But upon closer inspection it looks like i've got a 455. As you can see in the pictures the body is in pretty good shape. Just missing some trim and the grille. The interior needs an over haul. The engine runs good enough. It needs to be timed and tuned. I'm hoping i can get some advice on the engine. I don't really know what kind of power i'm getting from it now and i'm hoping a can get close to 600 horses from it. Let me know if i'm crazy or how i can make this possible. Any input or advice is appreciated. Thanks

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 09:04 AM

looks like i didn't get the pictures right the first time. Lets try that again.

ent72olds · July 23rd, 2009, 09:04 AM

Can't see pics Steve....if it is a 455, it is possible to get 600 out of it with some help and it all depends on your budget! I can see pics now!

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 09:07 AM

sorry the pics aren't that great. all i had on me was my blackberry. i'll get the digital camera out when i get home and get some better ones. as far as budget i'll do whatever needs to be done. i'm ok if it takes awhile to get it done too.

67 Cutlass · July 23rd, 2009, 09:54 AM

From what little I can see from the pics it looks like you got a great deal for $1000!
It looks more like a 69 or 70 going by the tail lights unless that was changed out by the previous owner

Either way, you're in good hands on this site

citcapp · July 23rd, 2009, 10:08 AM

Great deal, you can get to 600 hp, its all about the $$$$$$$$. All of the running gear has to be modified as well to handle it, and don't forget brakes, the faster it goes the harder it is to stop. Looking foward to more pictures and good luck with your build

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 10:12 AM

As far as the brakes go i know it's got front disk, rear drum. the rear need to be completely replaced. i think for the time being i'll stay with the drum. but i have looked at the disk conversion kits.

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 10:17 AM

i never noticed the tail lights being different on the 72's. it does look more like a 70. i'll have to check the vin again.

steve11711 · July 23rd, 2009, 10:19 AM

k i pulled the vin

3J57K2R140835

i'm pretty sure i ran it and it's a 72. i guess they must have switched out the bumper and tail lights

ran it again. it says its a 72 cutlass supreme. 2 door holiday hardtop. 350 (5.7) v8 4bbl made in arlington texas. serial number 140835.

so they just have switched out the bumper.

lars 81w31 · July 27th, 2009, 09:10 PM

the rear bumper is a 70 bumper, the hood is a 71-72 hood. the 71-72 hoods are the same. on the intake does it say performer 455 or 350

and as long as the frame is ok, that's a GREAT deal

Olds64 · July 28th, 2009, 06:35 AM

Cool car. Welcome to our site. Post any questions you might have and someone will surely know the answer.

steve11711 · July 28th, 2009, 08:55 AM

It says performance olds 455.

mcutlass1969 · July 28th, 2009, 12:56 PM

Well if you go and purchase the Edelbrock Power Pack combo you will have all the power you will ever need for the street. Then you need to look at upgrading the tranny and rearend. As previously stated it is all about the $$$$

lars 81w31 · July 28th, 2009, 04:48 PM

what are the #'s on the shelf infront of the water neck? their cast into the block
396021 F?

the letter on the head
G, H, J, E?

Coltonis · August 13th, 2009, 04:11 PM

If the engine has been swapped out you can check the cast to get some general info as lars said.

If the letter is an F its a 455 from a 68-72 if its an FA then its a 455 from a 72-76.

To get more info though you need to check a flat pad that is cast into the block and then stamped with a serial, it is just below the head on the driver side of the engine towards the front of the engine/car. Its very difficult to locate/see and the faint stamping is usually completely hidden by paint/dirt/rust.

If you do manage to see the serial. I believe the second digit in the serial shows the last digit of the year of the block (ie for 1972 the second digit in the serial will be a 2; or for 1975 the second digit will be a 5) There should also be letter in there too that will tell which plant the engine was made at... good luck

July 23rd, 2009, 09:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	72 Cutlass Supreme This is my 72 Cutlass Supreme. I got it for a thousand bucks a couple of weeks ago. The guy i got it from bought it at a repo auction so i don't have alot of info about the car. To tell you the truth i don't know much about olds in general but i sure do love this car.the guy i bought it from thought it had the stock 350 in it. But upon closer inspection it looks like i've got a 455. As you can see in the pictures the body is in pretty good shape. Just missing some trim and the grille. The interior needs an over haul. The engine runs good enough. It needs to be timed and tuned. I'm hoping i can get some advice on the engine. I don't really know what kind of power i'm getting from it now and i'm hoping a can get close to 600 horses from it. Let me know if i'm crazy or how i can make this possible. Any input or advice is appreciated. Thanks

July 23rd, 2009, 09:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
ent72olds Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LI,NY Posts: 786	Can't see pics Steve....if it is a 455, it is possible to get 600 out of it with some help and it all depends on your budget! I can see pics now! __________________ Erik Turner 65 Vista Cruiser 72 Cutlass

July 23rd, 2009, 09:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
67 Cutlass Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Swansea, MA Posts: 192	From what little I can see from the pics it looks like you got a great deal for $1000! It looks more like a 69 or 70 going by the tail lights unless that was changed out by the previous owner Either way, you're in good hands on this site __________________ Before the tear down. Mike Nobody ever told me, I found out for myself!

July 23rd, 2009, 10:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
citcapp Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 3,445	Wow! Great deal, you can get to 600 hp, its all about the $$$$$$$$. All of the running gear has to be modified as well to handle it, and don't forget brakes, the faster it goes the harder it is to stop. Looking foward to more pictures and good luck with your build __________________ Pat 1957 Super 88 with a 455 1948 2dr series 76 with a 455

July 23rd, 2009, 10:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	k i pulled the vin 3J57K2R140835 i'm pretty sure i ran it and it's a 72. i guess they must have switched out the bumper and tail lights ran it again. it says its a 72 cutlass supreme. 2 door holiday hardtop. 350 (5.7) v8 4bbl made in arlington texas. serial number 140835. so they just have switched out the bumper. Last edited by steve11711; July 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 AM..

July 23rd, 2009, 09:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	looks like i didn't get the pictures right the first time. Lets try that again.

July 23rd, 2009, 09:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	sorry the pics aren't that great. all i had on me was my blackberry. i'll get the digital camera out when i get home and get some better ones. as far as budget i'll do whatever needs to be done. i'm ok if it takes awhile to get it done too.

July 23rd, 2009, 10:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	As far as the brakes go i know it's got front disk, rear drum. the rear need to be completely replaced. i think for the time being i'll stay with the drum. but i have looked at the disk conversion kits.

July 23rd, 2009, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	i never noticed the tail lights being different on the 72's. it does look more like a 70. i'll have to check the vin again.

July 27th, 2009, 09:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
lars 81w31 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5	the rear bumper is a 70 bumper, the hood is a 71-72 hood. the 71-72 hoods are the same. on the intake does it say performer 455 or 350 and as long as the frame is ok, that's a GREAT deal

July 28th, 2009, 06:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 4,286	Cool car. Welcome to our site. Post any questions you might have and someone will surely know the answer. __________________ Ferris, my father loves this car more than life itself... Apparently, you don't understand! Ferris, he never drives it! He just rubs it with a diaper! Cameron Frye Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986

July 28th, 2009, 08:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
steve11711 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 12	It says performance olds 455.

July 28th, 2009, 12:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
mcutlass1969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 75	Edelbrock Power Pack Well if you go and purchase the Edelbrock Power Pack combo you will have all the power you will ever need for the street. Then you need to look at upgrading the tranny and rearend. As previously stated it is all about the $$$$

July 28th, 2009, 04:48 PM	#14 (permalink)
lars 81w31 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5	what are the #'s on the shelf infront of the water neck? their cast into the block 396021 F? the letter on the head G, H, J, E?

August 13th, 2009, 04:11 PM	#15 (permalink)
Coltonis Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 99	If the engine has been swapped out you can check the cast to get some general info as lars said. If the letter is an F its a 455 from a 68-72 if its an FA then its a 455 from a 72-76. To get more info though you need to check a flat pad that is cast into the block and then stamped with a serial, it is just below the head on the driver side of the engine towards the front of the engine/car. Its very difficult to locate/see and the faint stamping is usually completely hidden by paint/dirt/rust. If you do manage to see the serial. I believe the second digit in the serial shows the last digit of the year of the block (ie for 1972 the second digit in the serial will be a 2; or for 1975 the second digit will be a 5) There should also be letter in there too that will tell which plant the engine was made at... good luck __________________ -Coltonis "Arizona: its not hell ...but you can see it from here." My Project Thread

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