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I finally got my #s matching 310 hp 350 back in the 70 Matador Red Cutlass Cruiser during the work from home 2020 thing. Already got about 600 miles trouble free and no leaks. Very pleased. Shes no Rocket like she was with my 455 Pontiac at about 200 less HP but still right off the highway can manage 15 sec 1/4 at #4300 w 3.08 gears and room to improve. She is crisp and can spin both back tires though pretty easy. Been growing the circle of trust and testing different thermostats. Temp use of gauges on hood because #roadkill I used the old 68-70 cast badger pistons that were the stock style replacement on the 310 hp engine I got a awesome deal on a few years ago and had Dallas builder Blaines do my core 030 over with my stuff for convenience. Oil pressure is good temps good . Its 9 something to one but does need some octane like 90+ Had some light part throttle pinging on 89 at full temp getting up to speed but otherwise not bad at all. Got the interior side panels back in as well for first time. Car now has 101,600 or so. Engine was pulled when I got init in 2015 at 98,500 and returned in 2020 at 100,970. Been from Ennis TX to Fairfield, Corsicana and yesterday Palestine. Good stuff. She still prefers cruising at 55-60 mph when I push to 75-80 on Interstate to keep up it at 3000+ w the 14's and 3.08's. Ready for camping and charge the AC !
That’s a sharp looking wagon. Like a properly proportioned woman, she’s long, slender and has a “Coke bottle” /Mae West profile. And in a red dress no-less! Well, OK maybe I’m biased.
That’s a sharp looking wagon. Like a properly proportioned woman, she’s long, slender and has a “Coke bottle” /Mae West profile. And in a red dress no-less! Well, OK maybe I’m biased.
I'm glad you are enjoying the driving experience. That is certainly a beautiful flattop. And that great color makes it stand out even more--there were not many made with that special-order paint.
Good engine choice too. I built a 310 hp manual-transmission-spec engine for my first Vista Cruiser and it was quicker above 20 mph than the L-31 (98-spec 455) the factory put my current wagon.
Thank you sir. I hope I can get her painted before too long. I am going to use a Cutlass S / base 442 hood with the louvers and got a set of fenders to swap out and nice front bumper for it already. Do you really think Matador Red was special order? Its not Rallye Red whatever its called thats just the fade. That one is special order i know on that one.
Last edited by GEARMAN69; May 22nd, 2020 at 11:09 AM.
Matador red was not special order, but there were not very many wagons that came in that color from the factory. While I am not really a “red” guy, I do prefer Matador over Rallye red. Less orange-y more of a rich true red. Of course this is only my opinion.
I found in humorous that the last pass at the Motorplex in 2016 with 455 before I pulled it for the Catalina build it was the first time to use MT SS radials and went my best time of 12.5 then 4 years later first pass since with little ole original 350 back in and much room to improve mind you the first pass was a 15.5 ... 3 seconds and 30 mph slower LMAO its a great driver now though. For the sake of documenting here I used a Erson PBM generic 214/224 cam I picked up as NOS on the cheap and I like the old gentle lobes and reliability on these anyway with this grind style a old favorite on 389-400 Ponchos. I just stuck in it +4 advanced since I really just wanted good low end torque with this grind. Ideally I would have wanted a old school Cam Dynamic Energizer like the 266 one that 210/210 110 or the 272 216/216 one but this is snappy responsive with that and the headers along with Hughes baby 2000 stall. The heads are stone stock rebuilt other than a spring upgrade an adjustable valve train. Equivalent to Comp 942-16 springs , 1.437" OD, @115# 1.70" . 1.6 Ford Windsor style knock off roller tips 3/8 screw in studs and guide-plates and expensive push-rods also good America made Hylift-Johnson lifters. I still need to fine tune timing and really needs a shift kit the 1-2 at WOT was less than ideal for making a run probably lost .10 in that alone. It went 88 mph without revving it much compare to 68 Vista road test w 390 hp 455 and 3.42 that beast went 14.7@94 so if I get to low 15's or 14.9 w a 9:1 + 350 I am good.
Last edited by GEARMAN69; May 22nd, 2020 at 11:10 AM.
Do you really think Matador Red was special order? Its not Rallye Red whatever its called thats just the fade.
Yeah, I mistook it for Rallye Red. Your flattop looks much lighter than Matador Red.
My current Vista was a So. California car and I've had it for nearly 40 years. When I took off the front fenders, I had a hard time believing the color under there. The car looked beige to me and under the fenders, out of the sunlight, there was a bright Bamboo with lots more yellow than the rest of the car. Even a few years after its paint job, I sometimes just stand there and admire how different it looks from its previous paint.
You may have a similar reaction when you get fresh paint.
Thanks man. it had been outside way too much the last few years and I had polished the old paint pretty good a couple years ago and hadnt redone that in way too long. I just got some Turtle wax compounds and just started this morning it is working great ! Which time slip the 12.5 or the 15.5 On my second pass the 11 sec Mustang didn't go at first and waited maybe cause I was so slow but then went to catch me and I was laughing at the time cause it looked to be super close the 1/4 and got there first by maybe a fender at best hahaha The wagon parks in my new side garage where the 63 Catalina was parked now so no more sun beatings and rain or her as much
Last edited by GEARMAN69; May 23rd, 2020 at 09:07 AM.
...the 11 sec Mustang didn't go at first and waited maybe cause I was so slow but then went to catch me and I was laughing at the time cause it looked to be super close the 1/4 and got there first by maybe a fender at best...
I added the numbers on that time card and had a good laugh at that one too. The Mustang driver had a sense of humor as well.
Both time slips are impressive. That is a NICE Pontiac engine you had in there; it would fly in a '63 Swiss Cheese Super Duty. And it's amazing what extra weight over the rear wheels does when you have good tires.
My first Vista had a 10.1:1 350 with the GM 222/222° @ 0.050" cam and a T400 switch-pitch. Exhaust had Headers by Ed and Ed ported the iron heads too. It ran mid 15s with 2.78 axle. It was slow out of the hole but was strong at speed.
My Bamboo Vista has a 10.0:1 455 with Engle roller 236/244° at 0.050, ported Edelbrock heads, 4.10 axle, 2.66 first gear, and 52% of weight on the rear wheels. The massive traction makes me dream I'm in a 10-second car for the first 60 feet. I would like to run it in San Antonio in the fall. I would be happy with low 13s.
with the cam and those timing set, you never know where the intake lobe center really is.
You should have dialed it in and know for sure where it is at. just a thought.
Gene
with the cam and those timing set, you never know where the intake lobe center really is.
You should have dialed it in and know for sure where it is at. just a thought.
Gene
Your right but also keep in mind I will try different chain settings over time. That is what I have always done around here. My baby roller in the Pontiac was in my 68 9.5:1 400 2.93 gear GTO and it ran best adv 4 on chain but in my 11:1 455 it has been better actually retarded 4 on the chain since 455 like the later ICL .. I may go put this cam straight up before long. I want to do a compression test soon too.
I added the numbers on that time card and had a good laugh at that one too. The Mustang driver had a sense of humor as well.
Both time slips are impressive. That is a NICE Pontiac engine you had in there; it would fly in a '63 Swiss Cheese Super Duty. And it's amazing what extra weight over the rear wheels does when you have good tires.
My first Vista had a 10.1:1 350 with the GM 222/222° @ 0.050" cam and a T400 switch-pitch. Exhaust had Headers by Ed and Ed ported the iron heads too. It ran mid 15s with 2.78 axle. It was slow out of the hole but was strong at speed.
My Bamboo Vista has a 10.0:1 455 with Engle roller 236/244° at 0.050, ported Edelbrock heads, 4.10 axle, 2.66 first gear, and 52% of weight on the rear wheels. The massive traction makes me dream I'm in a 10-second car for the first 60 feet. I would like to run it in San Antonio in the fall. I would be happy with low 13s.
Thanks man yeah the Pontiac is pretty strong and more later but when I put it in my all steel 63 Catalina which turned out to be 500 # lighter than the wagon with same engine I went a half second quicker in the 1/8 it dropped from 7.9 to 7.4 and 11's in 1/4 plus Cat has lower 3.64 gear and better 1-3/4 headers vs 1-5/8
I would like to see that Vista sometime very cool
Last edited by GEARMAN69; May 25th, 2020 at 10:22 AM.
Thats a great wagon! The flat top makes it look a bit more sporty actually. Love it!
-pete
Thanks man, me too!
On a side note , we were driving her to church Sunday and wife noticed RF tire looked low and I was like eehhh.. its fine ..lol .. Well after church I made an effort finally to check my tires because hilariously I thought about it and had not checked them in like 3 years I think or ever haha.. So the RF was 18 psi and the other 3 were 24. so there is probably a guaranteed track improvement next time...lmao
Great looking wagon! Faded paint makes it look even better in my opinion.
I like the orange-ish fade also just the darn dents from I bet the original owners last years of driving. I jut went over the car with liquid turtle wax rubbing compound with rags and it helped a bunch! Its been years since I did any of that. I want to try a dull base-coat only paint on the other fenders and see if I can pull it off for a while like that and try to match body.
Recently started cruising car again after getting car painted earlier this year with different front clip (Cutlass S/base 442 hood) and I also did a carb swap to a 78/79 403 800 Unit I scored and went thru it. This carb was a previously remanufactured one with a 72/42K primary combo and I kept that and drove with wife about 150 miles Saturday to same place in first post on this thread and measured a new best MPG of 16.7 ! Big improvement over the original 1970 carb that just has never been better than 10-12 MPG. This 800 is snappier and likely going to be quicker at track besides the big improvement on cruise economy . Besides wanting to do the Stg 2 shift kit , I wanted to try to make a little goal of breaking a solid 14 sec 1/4 with the original 310 hp 350 and 3.08 gears.
Last edited by GEARMAN69; November 9th, 2021 at 08:09 AM.
with the cam and those timing set, you never know where the intake lobe center really is.
You should have dialed it in and know for sure where it is at. just a thought.
Gene
If I didn't say before but I just put it in ADV 4 on the roller chain last year and along with the 2000-2200 converter , adjustable rocker conversion , 1.6 SBF roller tips (no head porting or gasket matching at all just better V springs and stock VJ) , and Hooker headers, HEI ignition and it is running really nice and not a dog at all on the bottom end either. Yeah I didn't check it , but will experiment with installed positions if its needed.
I bracket race in the Texas Muscle Car Club Challenge series and have ran the ole 350 wagon in the last two races and made it to the semi finals both times and we got 4 more races to go this season, I am currently second place in points. Been at least a 32 car field of tough brackets cars and Outlaw is fun because it is a mix of all the non electronics cars classes that are separated by a range of ET's. I have not won a race yet this season but have in the last 3 years I won at least one race 2019 I won a Pro Muscle class in my 7 second Catalina and 2020 and 2021 winning Super Muscle in my son's low 8 second 74 C10 LWB daily driver . Although wagon only runs high 9's vs high 7's when it has the Poncho 455 in it, it is a killer on being very consistent. Took out some fast 6 and 7 second cars last Sunday . Doing Points in Outlaw class allows me to just bring a different car or truck an not worry that it is running in what would have been class so bring your 7 8 9 10 second rides and keep having fun . I need to get back to the 9.73 it ran a while back its only done 9.9's and 10.0's with only change being a steel direct drive flex fan vs a good wore clutch fan... so Summer is about over and the clutch fan is going back on...
Looks like you're having fun!
Bracket racing is just a great way to get out and enjoy a car...any car.
Times don't matter...as you said, you can take out quicker cars still running 9's.
It may not be the pinnacle of motorsports but it sure is a great way to spend the day with your favorite ride!
I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I can't believe that I have never seen your car on the road since we live in the same neighborhood. Maybe you don't drive it much unless you are racing it but I am up and down 45 from 20 to Corsicana lots and also along 287 and 35 since I live outside of Waxahachie. I like what you have done to your car with racing in mind and would like to be able to get better mileage on my Vista than it now earns with the original 350 and Rochester 2 barrel carb (12 or 13 mpg). Not sure of the final ratio but it is a peg legged lazy cruiser. If you are willing to share some info sometime give me a pm I would appreciate it. I love what you have done with the paint, you posed your intention to put different fenders on the front and paint them to match so I would say it looks good. Nice stable of cars and trucks too by the way!
...I...would like to be able to get better mileage on my Vista than it now earns with the original 350 and Rochester 2 barrel carb (12 or 13 mpg).
My first 1970 Vista Cruiser had a 350 with 2-barrel Rochester. I drove it across MN every week in the 1980s to a remote job. I would always check my fuel mileage and at a steady 55 mph I always got 19 mpg.
It had a 2.73 axle ratio.
If you want better mileage, have your carb rebuilt by an expert and make sure your timing (including vacuum advance) is at specification.
Last edited by VC455; October 10th, 2022 at 05:05 PM.
Reason: corrected abbreviation
Well that would probably make a difference since I rebuilt it recently and am no expert. I observe an abnormally rich smell from the engine when it is warm and running and think it may be off somewhat. I was thinking maybe the previous owner may have rebuilt it with larger main jets than needed as he has done some strange things to the car like long tube headers (why???). I set the timing but only have an old school timing light and cannot be sure about tdc since as we know about the slippage of the rubber balancer on the end of the crank. I really need to try and figure it out exactly by rotating #1 cylinder to tdc and then observing the zero mark on the balancer, easy enough just haven't done it yet. The car runs well and starts well but it just seems really rich, not sure why.
Thanks for the kind words Dan, I am sure will meet up sometime. Our last TMCCC bracket race is next Sunday at XRP on I-45 near Palmer maybe in wagon or the C10 not sure yet,
Whole car was painted at Maaco last year with their top paint option. She is a driver not a show queen and one day I hope to road trip back to Pueblo CO where she was sold originally.
See my other threads on the car from my posts in my profile.
Last edited by GEARMAN69; October 24th, 2022 at 07:18 AM.
May 21st, 2020, 01:03 PM
On my second pass the 11 sec Mustang didn't go at first and waited maybe cause I was so slow but then went to catch me and I was laughing at the time cause it looked to be super close the 1/4 and got there first by maybe a fender at best hahaha The wagon parks in my new side garage where the 63 Catalina was parked now so no more sun beatings and rain or her as much
