my 1976 cutlass cruiser has the 455, 4bbl, cooled TH400, and the big radiator. it also has smog heads, smog cam, and smog everything. as much as I have tuned it over the year and a half I've owned it, and even though it makes enough power to light up the rear wheels from a stop (in a 4700 lb wagon through a posi with highway gears in it) the power is starting to get a bit dull-and I want more.

I've been looking for parts on craigslist and at a local salvage yard, and have some ideas of what I want to do, but I want to get some opinions from people with some experience in BBO.

current plan-
C heads from craigslist (maybe get them worked?)------------------------$200
salvage yard 700R4 with locking converter--------------------------------$75
cam-rather aggressive----------------------------------------------------$150
timing gears, lifters, water pump, etc-------------------------------------$???
intake mani from ebay-dual quad set ups come up often--------------------$300
carb(s) if not included with mani-------------------------------------------$???
oil cooler (tranny cooler from salvage yard)
distributor work has been done
will keep my eye open at the salvage yard to see about getting some lower gears for the diff.
I will see how much room I have on the bottom after I do the exhaust, and see about getting a larger oil pan and better oil pump.

spend the rest on an exhaust system-will most likely include vacuum dumps. this is not a pretty car, and I don't want to make it too flashy.

before people start talking about gas mileage with dual quads, I own a motorcycle that gets 65 mpg to supplement the olds. its not an issue.

this is just an idea, and I'm open to anything. other option is to sell the 455/TH400, and buy an LM7/DL80E combo from the yard for about $750. I want to stay with the olds motor though.

or I could sell the whole car, and buy something like an early '90s B chassis wagon, or a late '90s L67 car with the eaton blower. god I love this wagon though.

 

IMO, your prices are unrealistic. A basic, decent valve job alone is $350, new valves, guides, exhaust seats, and a little port work puts yopu close to a grand.

Cam for $150, maybe, but what about lifters and springs? Closer to $400.

$75 junkyard trans is a crap shoot, plus you will need an adapter.

Chances of finding steep gears at a boneyard is minimal.

Skip the dual quad and go Performer/Torker and 850 Holley.

Honestly, you are never going to make a car that big move out. You could put what you have in a stripped G-body and have a fast car.

 

I can get the heads themselves for $200. if they need working, I would go from there, I have a friend who's father has access to a machine shop, and worked the heads on the 305 in my friends truck.

cam/lifters, $184
$200
$200
$200

there are sets that have timing gears/chain and valve springs, and they are ~$375

a friend and I rebuilt the 700R4 in his brothers suburban, I would abuse the hell out of the salvage yard core, and rebuild it once we destroyed it. rebuild kits are ~$140

trucks of the vintage come through occasionally, although I never check. the car has some get up and go with whatever gears are in it now, until I can buy gears, I think I'll be good.

I'm still undecided on what carb set up. I saw a 500 caddy with dual quads, the engine bay was unkept and everything was pretty worn down as the work to the engine was done ~'74, and I LOVED the look of it. I don't remember where I saw it, but I think offy makes a dual quad intake that takes the rochester quadrajets. if anyone has any info on this, please tell me.

I never bought the car to go fast, I bought it because of the engine/wagon part. eventually, I will pull out the motor, find a TH425 and an old school morris mini, and go from there (lol) but my budget won't allow anything like that yet. I just want more power above 1st gear for now.