I’m watching old episodes of Musclecar. Some of the episodes feature the 69 Hurst Olds “tribute” build. I really hated this build when they first started it, mainly due to the LS swap, the ridiculous custom wing, and some of the other mismatched modifications.

As much as I despise the project, I’m curious if anyone knows what happened to it?

 

Boshers is on YouTube now. I haven't seen the car in the background, anywhere. He's a Dodge guy.

 

I have seen some of his YouTube stuff. Other than Stacey David and Joe Elmore, I think he is probably one of the most “senior” automotive tv host.

I’m curious what happened to all the tv shows from years past. There were dozens of them, each doing their own thing. Now there all gone, yet many of the hosts have their own YouTube channels.

 

Joe Elmore died last year.

 

I knew he died, I thought it had been a couple years.

 

Nothing says tribute like substituting for the original engine with one deemed better that comes from a completely different manufacturer...

 

When you ask a guy who LS swapped a car why he did it, he'll go on about power and reliability. Then, when you ask him why his street car needs 600 HP, it becomes obvious that they swapped the LS because they do not know how to tune points and carburetor, nor do they know engine assembly. Most of these "builds" get their LS completed assembled and plug-in ready.

 

As another dedicated LS hater, let me play devil's advocate for a second. Back in the day, lots of us swapped ready-built old school iron block pushrod V8s into our cars. What was it we used to call them? Oh yeah, "crate engines"!

 

Someone started a myth that LS swaps are cheap and easy. While they have gotten easier, they are certainly no cheaper.

 

It’s been a while since I had a opportunity to use my anti-LS stuff!

 

And another one!!

 

Motortrend shut down all of the tv shows, fired everyone and liquidated assets. Several guys, Finnegan, Freiburger, Angelo to name a few, bought some of the project cars from Motortrend That's why most are now on Youtube and doing quite well there.

 

I knew motortrend shut everything down, I just never heard why? It seemed to me very successful, I assumed it was a money maker, the fact that most of the hosts have their own shows and doing well seems to indicate the audience is there.

 

I hesitated to write this because I don't want to sound like an *******. I thought of a workaround to make me not sound like it, which is I am going to talk about people with small minds, as opposed to people with small wallets. I have known people with not much money that are secure in their confidence, and do not feel lesser than others, yet they know that there are things bigger than themselves in this world. On the other hand, I have run into rich people that are not confident and have to be the main character in everything they do. They talk a huge game and have to consume everything to fill the hole that is in them that they know they are never enough.

Originally, I was going to say that I can't stand people that are too poor to buy a 442, so they buy a Cutlass and clone it into a 442, but that's really not a problem, other than the fact that their "customization" to make it "look my way" is always 100% cloning it into a W-30. A true custom, made from a Cutlass, is fine, and probably increases the value. This car would have been fine had they not tried to make it a Hurst/Olds lookalike. Well, not fine, but closer to fine.

Another issue is when someone takes a legitimate car of low numbers with performance value, like a 442, that has survived 50 years, and wants to stick an LS into it. Why not use a Cutlass? They know, deep down, that it would be a Cutlass, and that bothers them. These are the people I alluded to in the first paragraph that never feel like they are enough. It's not enough to own a 442 and be content with the middling performance by today's standards of the car in stock, or even day 2, condition. It's also not enough to buy something modern and just drive it. No, they have to take an old car and molest it in its old age, probably unsafely, so they can have more power than anyone with any other car that looks like it. It's as dumb as moving on and up from high school, yet coming back to try to pick up the senior girls of high school when you're either employed or in college yet you have to come back and be the baddest.

I'm not a boomer, and I hopefully will make it 50 more years, but, even so, my cars will outlive me. I have a few nice ones. Something you understand when you are at peace with yourself is that there are things bigger than you. I owe it to the future owners of my cars, and the hobby itself, to keep them in good order and accurate. It is being a custodian of art. This is a somewhat enlightened view that needs that internal peace, but also an appreciation for art and society, and a lot of people that either came from nothing and never got over it, or came from something or better and never learned not to be a dick can not understand it.

I can understand some LS swaps. LS engines are straightforward gobs of power. I watch Matt's Off Road Recovery on youtube, most of his rigs have LS power because they are working vehicles. He also is a Corvair man and does those stock. But, it seems like most LS swaps are done by people who don't know, and don't want to know, the old ways and put into vehicles that don't need them for street duty and done in unsafe ways by only upgrading the power but not the brakes or suspension or passenger safety all in the name of driving like a freshly licensed teenager and terrorizing the streets.

I will close by saying while I do even appreciate truly custom hot rods as works of art, I still like original power in them more, but I go to Antique Auto Hill Climbs, and that ain't for everyone.

 

I often wonder what happens to these car show cars also. Lots of $$ and usually all the new to the market parts go with them. Do any of these cars get driven or ever see daylight?


I vaguely remember the 69 olds build. There was a segment where they built roller wheels for the car out of 3/4" plywood to move it around the shop. The car had spindles and the rear axle, so they drilled the plywood with the 5x4.75 pattern and cut the plywood into cirlces. I wondered why they wasted all that time instead of just bolting the wheels/tires back on the car?

 

I understand with Holley and other venders contributing parts, obviously they will use a lot of their inventory. Free advertising. Unfortunately, as a fanatic of a “orphan” car company, there isn’t much demand for my brand of choice. As much as it chaps my ***, Oldsmobile will always be lower on the totem pole. I guess that’s why it infuriates me so much to see LS and sbc swap questions here. I see a variety of LS and sbc swapped cars at the track and car shows, I shouldn’t see that crap here.

 

All of you guys bitching about LS swaps, look at the alternative. Someone looks at a Cutlass and a Chevelle and passes on the Cutlass because they don't want to get raked over the coals for wanting an LS powered car. Be thankful people are still interested in a brand that went out of production 21 years ago. Oldsmobile will soon be right up there with Nash or ****** or Packard. Who gives a crap about any of those brands anymore? Old guys at swap meets. Be thankful people are still wanting to keep Oldsmobile alive, regardless of the powerplant. Even Oldsmobile had other GM engines like the Buick and Chevy engines. Get over yourselves and be thankful people still give a shxt.

 

It's hard to find Olds around here, anymore. There a huge cars and coffee event (Hunt Valley Horsepowering) that regularly attracts 300-500 cars, and on any given Saturday, there will be 5 or less Oldsmobiles. If they still have Olds power, it's usually bone stock.

 

Years ago when folks transplanted sbc engines into all the makes that was barely a lateral move most of the time. Similar power could be had with the original motor with the same effort.


With the LS thats a whole different story. A donor truck or van can be had for a fraction of the cost of rebuilding an old motor and the power and reliability is already there. There is an unquestionable advantage to 50 years of improvement and technology in the ICE. The LS is next level both stock and modified. Quote me and flame me, but thats the truth. I don't hate anyone who makes the swap. I support anyone who keeps this hobby alive and moving. Of course this comes with friendly ball busting..

 

Years ago when folks transplanted sbc engines into all the makes that was barely a lateral move most of the time. Similar power could be had with the original motor with the same effort.


With the LS thats a whole different story. A donor truck or van can be had for a fraction of the cost of rebuilding an old motor and the power and reliability is already there. There is an unquestionable advantage to 50 years of improvement and technology in the ICE. The LS is next level both stock and modified. Quote me and flame me, but thats the truth. I don't hate anyone who makes the swap. I support anyone who keeps this hobby alive and moving. Of course this comes with friendly ball busting..

 

I don't begrudge anybody doing whatever they want with their car but, for me, anything with an LS swap is downright boring. Seen it a million times. 30 or 40 grand in paint, all aftermarket suspension/brakes, digital gauges, LS swap and we're supposed to be interested? Might as well be a catalog car. Except for colors and few minor details they all follow the exact same formula.

 

What's the point of keeping the brand alive if you're going to change everything that made it an Oldsmobile?

 

As much as I respect the LS, when a glance sees one under the hood of vintage GM (“muscle”)car of any division, it’s a very quick glance & off to other cars. In contrast, when I see LS swapped into well done customs or unexpected (foreigns, compacts, micros, etc) cars of sometimes crazy makes, I will stop & admire the customization required to pull it off.

Thats just me & my opinion, YMMV.

​​​​​​….

 

Bingo!!!

 

If you gonna rock an LS/LT, that bitch better be atmosphere adjusted.

 

I can imagine this was the same argument from all of the early Ford guys way back when. While I appreciate an original car with the original powerplant, (I love MCACN) I can also appreciate making something more modern and easier to drive, maintain and get parts for. A run of the mill Cutlass brought back from the dead and given the 442 treatment with an LS? Cool, another one saved and back on the road. Taking a real W-30 and putting an LS in it? No thank you. Just like the Grand National guys putting a twin turbo LS in it. Without the V6 you have a black Regal. Even if we don't want to admit it, a lot of younger car guys couldn't even set the idle on a carburetor, let alone get one to run right. So, for the sake of originality, should we push these guys out of the hobby just because they would rather tune with a laptop, or be happy that they are at least interested in cool old musclecars and not hiding at home in the basement playing video games? Again, I'm all about originality, but I'm also open to continuing the hobby for generations to come.

 

^^^ Good argument, well reasoned. You haven't convinced me but you've nudged me in your direction.

I still think that if you want a car that performs like a 2006 Corvette, you should buy a 2006 Corvette.

 

Not everyone is into jean shorts and white New Balance sneakers!

 

In the same way you have be rockin' the white polyester pants with matching belt and shoes plus a straw fedora before you can get behind the wheel of a '76 Eldorado convertible?

 

My father has owned his 71 Corvette since it was 6 months old. He will wear jean shorts and crocs, but it is because he is 80. We are trying to get him some driving shoes because he has foot nerve issues and can't feel the clutch too well in the crocs, plus there is no room in that footwell between the three pedals and the headlight switch.

I am fine with a real custom having an LS. I am ok with a non-performance model being built up with an LS. I think it's a crime to remove a performance model's original, intact, running engine and put an LS in there, and, even if it has no engine, one should try to at least get the right brand engine in there. In no way, shape, or form, should a W car ever be LS powered.

 

^^^ 100%, up to and including the Crocs on 80-year-old men.

 

The argument for modern engine swaps is the technology and convenience. They always overlook the fact you are putting it in an antiquated chassis and a woefully unsafe body. Guys are Coyote swapping Fox Mustangs left and right. Because that engine is great. The Fox Mustang isnt. So why do it? They dont handle, stop, or protect you like a new Mustang, Its a downgrade to swap such modern engines into older cars You cant use the argument for the LS swap and overlook the limitations and down right primitiveness of the car you are putting it in. Its like swapping a 455 into a new Camaro. So leave these cars alone and enjoy the entire experience of owning one.

 

But what about the majority of guys doing these swaps that upgrade everything; suspension, brakes, interior, etc? Restomod? I don't think most of these swaps are out of "convenience". I think people love the car they grew up with or wanting and now that they have the disposable income, can build the car of their dreams the way they want it. At one point it was a total hot rod 34 Ford deuce coupe. Then a 55 Chevy with a big block. Then a 60's musclecar. Now the 70 and 80's cars. At some point we will all be dead and if we don't encourage this hobby to grow, all of our beloved garage queens will go the way of the dodo, sold off by our loved ones who couldn't care less, and end up as new Toyota beans. We need to show respect to guys doing swaps, LS, Hemi, Coyote, whatever, all the while teaching the history of these awesome machines. We have to be willing to bend a little. If we encourage growth, it gives the opportunity for a younger generation to enter this hobby and then teach them the history so we can pass the torch.

 

False premise, the majority of LS swaps are not full upgrades to every system. Even if they were, there's a reason the engineering profession exists, just like a welder thinks he can make a custom car because he can weld, a lot of shadetree guys think they can make a supercar because they can turn a wrench. Even engineers suck at this, look at the scarebird brake system.

I'll die on this hill, keep the ******* LS engines out of the 442s and W cars. You buy a Cutlass, do what you want.

 

As Joe always says, it's an impossibility for the aftermarket to put in the R & D investment and effort the factory did on these cars, so the idea of an aftermarket system being an automatic "upgrade" is a fallacy.

 

I can understand people wanting to do classic GM cars done like modern cars, as most modern GM vehicles are just ugly. As said, the LS swap better be tuned and boosted, otherwise, why bother? The factory LS are worthless below 3500 rpm, without a tune, converter and gear, it will be very blah. Simple fact is, interest in Oldsmobile cars will diminish, no matter what. No one's Father will be an Olds man or have connection to them growing up. The aftermarket parts, non Olds V8 parts like suspension will continue on for many years, thanks to other, more popular GM brands. A small fortune and a lot of time is needed to modernize a 50 or 60 year old car, of any make. It does honestly make more sense to pick a regular Cutlass, especially if you are gutting it. Sorry, some of us aren't LS fans. I found the LT much better to drive in trucks. Still plenty of issues with them and not a fan of only direct injection engines. I just hate the engine swap because everyone else is doing it mentality. Pick something different, if you want to swap out your Olds V8.

 

I find the 'modern car convenience' argument interesting. That doesn't mean I agree with it. There's a reason old cars, farm equipment, stereo's, etc. interest people. It's precisely BECAUSE they aren't modern and are of a different time. To swap everything out of a 'classic' car in order to turn it into a modern vehicle with all the conveniences is to ignore what makes it interesting. It's much more than just the body styling.
Time moves on. Today, people think they need LS swaps and rear disc brakes, etc. so an old car is more like a new car. We also hear the argument about general ignorance of ignition points, carburetors, etc. Old technology for sure. What happens when the LS, Coyote and Gen3 hemi's are considered 'old' technology? Do we get on board with electric powertrain swaps (and whatever comes after) because the general public no longer understands fuel injection, electronic ignition, etc.? Sorry, not me. The appeal of these cars is that they are a snapshot in time. That's one of the things that makes them special. Want new car conveniences? Buy a new car.