Hi Guys,

I have a 1965 Cutlass that I am building. I recently bought a 1980 Delta 88 to use as a donor vehicle. It has a built 355 with a TH350 that will replace the 330 and Powerglide that is in it now. The motor and trans should be a direct fit (i will need to purchase the linkage for trans to shift with column shifter, no biggie).

However my question is will the rearend from the Delta fit under the cutlass with no problems? The Delta has a 10 bolt rearend with 3.42 gears.

Also, will the front spindles swap into the cutlass so that I can have disc brakes in the front? If not, what will I have to do to make it work?

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

I don't think rear end will fit or the disk brakes will

Rear end might with mods

 

Is it a 355 Olds engine or Chevy?

 

Its a 350 olds (keeping the bloodbline pure!), it has been bored .30 over, has a 520 cam, long tube headers, 600cfm EB carb, aluminum EB intake, MSD ingnition, heads are milled .40, comp cam double springs to match the cam.

Trans has Hughes 2500 stall

Can I take the gears out and swap them in the cutlass with no problems, why wont the RE swap in? Is the delta RE longer? With the spindles can I drill out the tie rod holes to make them work?

What do I have to do to MAKE the disc brakes work? Same question for rear... how can I get those gears in the cutlass?

 

The first thing that screams out to me is ... You can pretty much shoehorn anything in, physically... that's simply a matter of how skilled you are. That's something we can't judge. A weekend wrench isn't going to get the same answer as someone with a full metal fabrication shop.

 

I think the rear end is wider do with mods it could fit I believe also I know you can interchange b body disk brakes but you have to machine the ball joints to fit into the control arm it's all possible but to be honest a lot of fab work and st the end it's most likely cheaper to buy what fits

 

Isn't the '80 88's rear end a trailing arm, coil spring setup, while the cutlass is leaf spring? Even if it fit lengthwise, you'd still have some major reworking to do.

 

No leaf on the cutlass but the control / arms are different I am sure and the guts are way different

 

not sure on the rear but the drive shaft may need work for the th350, shorter maybe? engine will go right in, mine has a 76 350 in it

 

The TH350 is the same length as the Powerglide.

"Powerglides and the TH350 share the same 27-spline output shaft used in cars and two-wheel-drive trucks, so your existing driveshaft will fit right in."

 

Ok, Bendos, here's the scoop.....

The rear end is about 3" wider. You will have to fabricate offset upper control arms, because the upper ears are at a different angle. You will also have to cut/weld and swap the spring perches and shock mounts from your 65' rear end onto the 1980 rearend. On 65's, the shock mounts are on the rear of the tubes, and 73-up mount in front of the axle tubes.
It is totally backwards from your car.

Also, your 2 speed transmission IS NOT a powerglide. It is a super turbine 300. Powerglides are Chevy only patterned transmissions. The th350 IS the same length, uses the same mounting position and the same driveshaft yoke as the ST300.

The front steering knuckles will not swap over either. Totally different balljoints.

All&all You're wasting an 80 Delta, and butchering a Cutlass if you take them apart.
My 2 cents.

 

sounds like someone put some money into that delta and made quite a sleeper out of it. Kind of a shame to cut it up (unless its been ghettoed out or wrecked)

 

Thanks J, that is what I needed to hear.

Everyone says you can't, but nobody says why it won't work. You have me a clear explanation which is what I needed.

The new plan: use the motor and trans (which is what I bought the car for in the first place) and sell everything else. If I could make the rear end and disc brakes work it would have been a bonus, but I'll stick with slapping gears in the stock rear and do the 64-72 disc brake swap.

The delta is nice but the cutlass will be even better.