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Finman you need to use the mounts for a g-body Olds engine If you try to use older a or b-body mounts the engine will not go down far enough. Believe me I know from trying this years ago.Same goes if your putting a Buick 350 in place of a 3.8 v6,use the v6 mounts bolt them to the 350 and in it goes. 307 or 260 g-body style mounts will get any Olds engine in you want in your car.
Thanks Dave1878. I really apreciate this. This means that i'm not going to be able to use the airgap intake and stick with the performer if i dont want to go to a cowl hood. I did here that instead of modifying the crossmember that you could use an A body and cut it down and re-drill the holes to mount it, just picked it up foe $20. I just found a 1970 455 with a 400 tranny with the shortened drive shaft and balanced with the crossmember. Just have to get the time to go look at it and pick it up. All for $700
Hey finman don't waste your money on one of those aftermarket crossmembers. All that needs done is to cut a section out of it and weld in some reinforcement.It works great my friend has done this on his 82 Monte Carlo and it looks and functions perfectly.I'll be doing the same thing on mine.
I agree! My muffler guy did it to my cutlass as well, he cut a notch and welded in a c member (like half an "I" beem) in 94, worked superb, no cracks yet, I have to clean and paint it now though.
good luck friend, Mike.
Originally Posted by dave1978
Hey finman don't waste your money on one of those aftermarket crossmembers. All that needs done is to cut a section out of it and weld in some reinforcement.It works great my friend has done this on his 82 Monte Carlo and it looks and functions perfectly.I'll be doing the same thing on mine.
Well things have changed, was going to get the 1970 455 but was in really bad shape. Did find a 1968 455 F block with C heads ans 400 tranny all for $500. Going to pick it up, really geeked to get this done and in the car. Thanks guys on the crossmember, was reading that an A body just has to be trimed down and redrill, picked it up for $20.
Sounds like a good price on the 455. I paid that much for a 350/350 Olds,but it was in great shape with low miles.I remember seeing the cross members you were talking about I guess that would work also. I never thought about it, thinking I would just modify mine. Makes me think I should have got a 455 instead.My Cutlass progress is at a snails pace [divorce].Get some work done on the 1979 Calais for me.
Dave1978 just went and picked up the block, found that it is a 69 block instead of the 68. ID number of 396021. The block is seized up but everything is there. Starting to lube the cylinders tomorrow to try to free the motor. Hopefully this weekend i can start pulling it apart. Sorry to hear about the snails process, hopefully things will improve. Next thing to look for is the 8.5" rear, hard to find. Will have to take some pics and post them for you.
Hey Finman they make control arm kits to adapt a 1968-1972 A body rear end into a G body.Will work on 10 or 12 bolt rear ends from this era.I see 4 doors on Craigslist in this body style from time to time in the auto parts section. .These rear ends are only a 1/2 in wider so it would be hard to tell it's a different width.Get one out of something like that and put the gears of your choice in.Sorry to hear the engine is seized good luck trying to free it up.I can't remember who makes those upper control arms,what I do know is they cost $189. Go on the G-body forum and ask and someone will be able to link you to them.
I have a 79 Hurst Olds that is Totally modified. Now when I say that, I don't mean I took stuff off & had it chromed & put back on their, I mean it aint stock by any stretch of the imagination. I think those G body's got such little respect back in the day, that now with some modification's, they are really saught after. I have had mine since 1989 & it is with out doubt, one of a kind. I tried to upload pic's of my Hurst Olds, but was denied that privlage tonight. I will hopefully post some soon.
Hey Homer I agree.I look at these cars like cars of the 30's and 40's they came with lame engines[straight 6 flat 4's etc]but a nice rapper to build a hot rod around.G-bodys came with mostly lame stuff under the hoods[3.8v6 260v8 etc].They are nice to modify and not to worry about messing up a high dollar classics[Ls6 Chevelle Olds 442 etc]The cars look good and ride nice,with some engine swaps and other work the cars are in better shape than the cars ever would have been when new.
I have a '78 Olds Cutlass Salon Brougham 2 door Coupe with a 260 V-8 and a 5 speed trans. It has just over 45k actual miles and I am third owner. It is basically show room condition and very fun car to drive. I get a lot of looks.
One thing that sets these cars aside is that they are a full frame body. Lots of mods!!! Would be great to see some pics from Homer and bcarm. Never seen a Salon with a 5 speed. Have to save up for more funs before looking for the rear end. Ive been looking on craigslist and found some A-body 10 and 12 bolts. Some range from $200- $1000.
I have seen a couple of videos of these cars with the five speed. A friend of mine has a 78 Malibu with a 4 speed 350 and holy crap this thing runs. If i had the cutlass i would definatly drop a 403 in this.
Hey- My 70 cutlass also came with the code Y68 appearence package-They called it a color comp ex on the build sheet-your website was the first that I have seen that mentions it-the difference being I have no idea what the Y68 code was other than an appearance package..................
I agree with you 110%!!! one of my first cars was a 1979 Cutlass Supreme w/350 & 350 turbo. This car was my first love!!!!! i owned several others and have been wanting for so ong to get another!!! FINALLY I got one and starting the rebuild. I gutted the car 95%, left dash in tact. its a 80 Calais w/78 front clip(i installed from 1st project). i can not wait til i can finish. putting in a 350 sbc and really want to install a manual trans. currently have a 350 turbo. would appreciate all help and input on project. I will post pictures as i update my info
I have to agree tsutter. I did get the 69 455 F block with the 400 turbo for $500. The motor sat for over 21yrs and was siezed. I did break her free and here are some pics.
Just got a price on the motor having it magna flexed, bored, crank turned, hot dipped, freeze plugs, cam bearings and media blasted for under $700. What do you? Hoping it only needs to go 30 over.
im a huge olds fan..i had a 86 442..went to a 71 s cutlass..now i have a 78 Calais with 350 rocket bored 30 over..th 350 trans w shift kit..8.5 posi rearend out of 87 442 with 373's in it..performer intake 6t0 hollet dbbl pumper and hooker headers..
Welcome to the group... Since this thread is over five years old, you should actually start your own new thread... Old threads can easily be passed over for review...
I just sold my '80 Cutlass Calais. I lost interest in it when I acquired my '69. I still have a set of headers for a SBC g-body and a jegster 700-R4 crossmember if you guys know anyone that might be interested in them. I had a 305 TPI and a 700-R4 from an '87 Firebird Formula sitting around that I was going to throw in it, but I sold the drivetrain separately.
I still like the 78-80's, I just only have time and room for one project, and the 69 won. Good luck guys!
think the New Members section would be a good place to introduce yourself, there are several stickies about uploading pics.
It won't take long to master navigating this forum, I can do it, and I'm a cyber moron.
have always preferred these years also. have a 1980 now. had it many years. have had 82, 84, and 86 in prior years. havent been able to part with the 1980. not running for a long while but closer than it was. have had it since 1999. havent been able to let it go though have had countless offers over the years. every now and again i feel it might be better in someone elses hands. someone who would appreciate it and complete the work ive been unable to do but still hangin on. anyway, youre not alone.
I just got back from a week at our house in South Carolina where the car you see in my avatar now resides. I got to drive it around 700 miles, I took it everywhere. People there love the car. I got 2 offers to buy it, one was for $10,000 cash. No sale. Wife says we keep it. Nuff said on that. This car rides nice and is a great driver. It's also the rare Y-76 paint code 2 tone with the black Madison Velour interior. This car had 48,xxx miles on it when I got it in 2015, it's got just under 60,000 on it now. Ice cold a/c, a must in South Carolina. We flew in from Atlanta and rented an Impala to get to the house. The rental stayed in the garage all week. Why drive a new car when you can drive a classic. The best option though is the one you can't readily see, I installed a power drivers seat and the switch & core is tucked under the seat. itself. Makes a HUGE difference on those long trips. I decided against gouging a hole in the side of the seat to install the switch properly. Some future owner may want to bring it back to 100% bone stock original some day. Not me, I'll take the added comfort.
Part of those miles were to visit one of my agents in SC. He is 81 years old and we all went to lunch & took my Cutlass. He INSISTED on sitting in the back seat. He climbed in and out of there like he was a kid again, and just kept saying, "Man, this is NICE"! Just looking in the rear view mirror and seeing that ear to ear grin on his face was worth the trip entirely. This is what having these cars is all about.
Last edited by BlueCalais79; April 30th, 2019 at 05:23 AM.
I have a thread in here titled "One Owner" with the story, This one was bought by my dad brand new in 1980. Love this car!!! It's a 442 W-30 I have all the missing 442 badges... waiting till I get her painted to put them back on.
I've always liked 1978-1980 2 door Cutlass bought one last year have slowly been gathering parts. I almost have the garage ready for it.I enjoy the idea of 350 and 455 olds under the hood.[stock motors were a joke ]I've got a 350 Olds with #5 heads I've started work on.Anyone with similar projects I'd like too hear about them.Ideas,parts sources etc.
January 8th, 2012, 12:11 PM
I had it done to my crossmember too.. works great
Fricken has a Ralley Pak! Lol
