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Hello, everyone! Just registered, looking forward to getting tips and input from Olds enthusiasts. Had a 71 Cutlass convertible, bought it in 78. I let it go to ***** am now waiting for an exact model to be delivered this Friday. I'll get back on for performance tips soon
Will do! Thanks for the kind welcome! Actually, the car is bone stock, 2 bbl with single exhaust. I'm looking to upgrade to dual Flowmasters, headers and a 4 bbl set-up. Not sure what cfm I should go with, tho
Will do! Thanks for the kind welcome! Actually, the car is bone stock, 2 bbl with single exhaust. I'm looking to upgrade to dual Flowmasters, headers and a 4 bbl set-up. Not sure what cfm I should go with, tho
Get a factory style QuadraJet which is 750 cfm with vacuum secondaries and will work perfectly with your engine.
Reading up on several forums, the Q-jet 750 seems to be the choice of many. I'll go that route. Now, I'm debating on whether to go with a stock intake (painted stock gold)or polished. Decision, decisions...
Welcome Gerry I am a newby as well. Similar situation as you, sold my 71 C/S Conv 30 years ago, just picked up my restored replacement 71 C/S Conv last week
Welcome. yes, pictures, please we are picture *****.
I have some time so Ill spew...
OEM style Quadrajet with an aluminum intake is a good choice over the heavy OEM iron.
Whatever your carb choice is go with a spread bore AVS secondary carb(Air Valve Secondaries) which is what the QJet is. E-Brock 1400 or 1900 series is good too. Ebrock simpler to tune in your driveway if you do not have deeper Qjet knowledge or patience.
You will need the 4 barrel accelerator bracket and cable to play nice with the new 4 bbl and TH350 TV cable.
Block off the heat riser crossovers in the intake, not the heads. Easier to weld the plugs into the intake iron or alum. So your Qjet or another carb will need an electric choke.
The block offs will prevent extreme heat soak on the carb thus hard hot starts. Use an "insulator" gasket between carb & intake. Do not over-torque any carb when installing.
HEI distributor WITH a properly curved vacuum and centrifugal advance is nice over points. Key phrase is properly curved. The same goes for the points system. Use the Corvette point set.
Headers are a PITA but cool. Ground clearance and installation mods can prove challenging.... Stock 350 manifolds with mandrel bent pipes and good mufflers are preferred in most street applications. Go up 1/4" on the pipe diameter. If you are going with a "cut out" exhaust bumper do the homework on the proper look. It's easy to get it very wrong.
Please do homework on how the exhaust should tuck tight and not really be seen like a 442.(with standard bumper).
Before you start tinkering with go-fast stuff make it safe and reliable first:
Tires? More than 10 years old....unsafe.
Brakes: rubber brake lines, and fresh fluid
All fluids: trans, steering, diff, coolant, brake.
Repack front wheel bearings.
Clean all electrical grounds. (HEI needs good engine grounds)
Chassis/suspension
Cooling, charging, and electrical system all good? Now make it fast.
Decent standard exhaust installation But could be even better tucked tighter and cut tips parallel to the ground:
Thanks for the info, very useful and a bit more complicated than I expected, but it all makes sense. It's gonna take some time to get all this accomplished, and not going with the cutout bumper; probably turndowns
You will need the 4 barrel accelerator bracket and cable to play nice with the new 4 bbl and TH350 TV cable.
Headers are a PITA
Overall a lot of good suggestions but I have a couple of differing thoughts.
The TH350 does not use a TV cable attached to the carb in these years. It is a simple downshift cable attached to the gas pedal on this year vehicle, so as far as I know there’s no difference between the 2bbl setup and the 4 bbl setup.
Also, I put headers on my car in 1982 and haven’t had any PITA issues with them.
Thanks, guys. On my original Olds I put duals on the stock manifolds, which worked fine and kept the 2 bbl. Not looking to build a fast car, just modify it a bit
Actually, the car is bone stock, 2 bbl with single exhaust. I'm looking to upgrade to dual Flowmasters, headers and a 4 bbl set-up. Not sure what cfm I should go with, tho
Originally Posted by Fun71
Get a factory style QuadraJet which is 750 cfm with vacuum secondaries and will work perfectly with your engine.
Perfect.
The final piece to the puzzle will be a better rear gear and maybe limited slip ?
Then you have what I'm going to call the starter go package.
Your baby likely came with a base standard 2.56 rear gear, highest option was 3.23. 3.23 is a nice gear. Maybe go over the top to 3.42, great gear that shouldn't drive you nuts with revs.
Best of luck and welcome aboard.(sorry didn't post this sooner, had it on my phones memo ready to go for 3 days...)
Guys, thanks for all the tips and recommendations. Unfortunately, I got scammed on the car deal, it never arrived and I'm out several thousand dollars. I'll be unsubscribing from this forum. I wish all the best best and thanks again
I(we) are angry for you.
After licking those wounds and they heal up and when you are ready to try again we have many many tips on buying cars online.
Hopefully, you filed a report so it's on record somewhere?
People who scam should be treated the same as bank robbers. Federal offense 10years in the slammer.
