Another one

arruv89 — Sun, 17 May 2026 17:11:42 GMT

Hey everybody, we'll i got Another One. Im slowly realizing what I got myself into. Still very novice at working on these cars but I feel way more confident because of my last build. I seen it was a original 4speed 442 and had to jump on it. Comes with the original numbers 400 block but has a 455 out of a 71 442 in it right now. Im really hoping the rust isnt as bad i think because its been a CA its whole life but it has been sitting outside for 30 years. Any recs and tips welcome.

Alaskan '72 Cutlass on a shoestring

DocN — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:14:41 GMT

Good afternoon, all! I've been posting parts of this project on some other boards for a number of years, and figured I'd join the party here! I go by 'Doc'- highly original nickname, I know :) - and I own and operate a small shop called Doc's Machine. I specialize in, believe it or not, making parts for paintball guns. :)

I'm also an Olds guy, and have been since my first car- a '66 Toronado, which I still have.

The current project, however, is a '72 Cutlass S, which I was given as a complete basketcase over 20 years ago. The engine was in boxes in the trunk (most of it, anyway) and it'd been painted with a roller, without the benefit of having been washed first. But it was free, and it was either I take it or the guy had it on the hook to haul to the dump. So yeah, I took it.

Not without a little reluctance- I'm not rich nor is my brilliant career choice a lucrative one. :) Said car sat for the better part of a decade, when I decided to start at least collecting parts for it. The whole of that not-so-sordid tale can be found here, presuming a new member can post a link. If not, check docsmachine (dot) com and go to "automotive projects". :)

That got the car up and rolling, tagged and licensed, and on the road. Over the next decade, I eventually completely rebuilt the front suspension (switched to discs, tall spindles, tubular uppers, a fast-ratio box, a Toronado swaybar, and stainless and NiCopp lines) then the rear suspension ('69 Chevy 12-bolt in place of the old 10-bolt, a repop W-27 rear just 'cause I could, a new Posi carrier and 3.31's, and more stainless and NiCopp.

Which brings us up to more or less modern day. :) Last summer I did the floorpans, since only a few threads and a Tasmanian Devil floormat were the only things keeping my heel from resting on the exhaust pipe. :) With your permission, I'll start reposting from my own board, what I did last summer, and catching us up to this week, which is finishing up a 2004R install.

Doc.

ClassicOldsmobile.com - Major Builds & Projects

Another one

Alaskan '72 Cutlass on a shoestring