Hey what's going on? Hey help me out before it is sold. Looking at a 1986 oldsmobile cutlass supreme. Two door hard top. The drivers side door was hit last year by a plow. It has a olds 355 under the hood. The trunk lid is in bad shape. It stars it runs and has been re-painted. The interior is in great shape. Asking $2,550.00 I offered $1,900.00 and was told ok. The problem is I cannot find a door or a deck lid anywhere on the Internet. I have not bought the car yet. I do not want a car that I cannot find parts for. I like that body style. Any thoughts? Good deal? Bad deal? What do I need to look for. What is a fair price? The floors looked sold. Oh one last thing. The hood had built in louvers. Two of them. What car are they off of? I have not seen another olds with these. The guy says he bought it like that. And it has badges on the fender that say 5. High output.

 

My guess is the door and decklid will have to come from a donor car. Aftermarket body panel manufacturers are not making them for a car this old any more, and certainly GM isn't. But finding a parts car should not be that difficult. Have you tried calling local junkyards? They're often interconnected now and can locate a part for you anywhere in the country. I would think that there are at least a few '86 Cutlasses sitting around the country ready to donate some parts.

 

Welcome, Jaunty is correct, your parts can be had at a local wrecking yard or craigslist. Post some pictures of the car if you can.

 

Your general location is also helpful.

 

I do have pics of the car. I live in PA. NOT SURE HOW TO PUT THE PICS UP. ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORN I DROVE BY WHERE THE CAR IS BEING SOLD AND IT IS STILL THERE. BUSY ROAD SO LOTS OF EYES SEE IT.

 

Hey star fire I like the 87 442.

 

Welcome aboard.

I guess you'll be looking at the local boneyards for the door and deck lid. There were literally hundreds of thousands of these cars made from 1981-1988 so you shouldn't have any problems finding parts. BTW, from what you posted, IMO you did buy it because they asked 2500 and you countered with 1900 which they accepted (said ok and that's a verbal contract), so It's just a question of $$ and title transfer now, unless your offer was provisional on finding parts.....It should be a fun driving machine.

This is mislabled in the ad as monte carlo but it's obviously CS parts car

Also, if you're looking for new metal, Ground Up Restorations sells the door shells.

 

He is asking $2,550.00 I asked if he would take $1,900.00 and he said yes. I told him I would get back to him on that and that is when my parts search started. Sorry if my story was misleading. So no I do not have the car. Thousands huh? Well that sounds good. I am being cautious because about 15 years ago I bought a oldsmobile cutlass supreme cheap. I looked over the car and it looked good and ran good. It only lasted a couple of weeks and died. And I did not have a garage at the time to revive it so I junked it. So I am taking my time. I know if I wait to long the car will be gone. Is there any thing I should know or any thing to look for on this car? A engine swap was done to the car. (Olds 355) thanks.

 

If I buy this 86 olds and use a tow dolly to tow it should i drop the drive shaft. The car is 55 miles from my house.

 

The 80's Cutlass was one of America's best selling intermediate cars so yes, literally there should be no shortage of donors. Not much cosmetic changes happened in those years.

re: engine swap - hope they also changed the trans. The 260 came with a weak TH200. If you have a 200 4R in it, you'll be ok.

The bodies on these cars tends to rust under the wide rocker moldings, so check there too.

Good to know it was a provisional thing on the counter offer. The car is mechanically very easy to work on. I have not seen any of the 81-88 Cutlass models with faux vents on the hood. I'd suggest they were installed by a PO for cosmetic appeal. I had an 82CS with dove grey int and rallye setup, c/w with T tops and the only thing I didn't like about it was the 260. It was a great riding car but lacked power. But with a 350 rebuilt .030 over it should have plenty of scoot. Wonder what the rear end gears are.

 

Ah, you posted just before me. Isn't it drivable? If it's not that's a red flag and I'd just walk away.

 

I have owned a 1986 olds cutlass sold it bout 8 years ago didn't have an olds motor in it thou so that sucked . So many donor cars and parts out there as Allan said , I think you'll be happy with it as long as the rear frame is solid

 

Wow you have a lot of knowledge. Thanks for sharing with me. Not sure about the trans and I think it is stock gears in the rear. The last time the car was inspected was 2006. The tires are dry rotted not bad but they are cracked and the exhaust is loud due to rotted out exhaust. New exhaust pipes are in the trunk. It is being sold by a garage. They have a couple of old cars. The guy told me he has too many cars so he is selling to make room.

 

I will be sure to check the under neath real good. The inside of the trunk looked good looked under the carpet in the trunk no rot. Rear frame looked good and the floors looked good too. I will go over the car again before purchasing. Thanks.

 

Ok so here is the deal now. I stopped by today to look at the car once more and purchase it. As I was going over it one last time that is when I noticed the frame behind the left rear wheel is rotted out. The frame has a rot hole in it. It is about an inch long under the body mount. I noticed it because the rear fender well is also rotted there. The body is also rotted to the point there is a big hole. the body is no longer on the mount. I said nothing got into my ride and left. I am not into swapping frame rails. I want a cool project car not a money pit. I feel walking away was the right move. The door was hit on the same side what's to say the quarter was hit and was fixed and then a cheap spray job.

 

Good decision. Usually where there's visible rot there's also rot you can't see. There will be plenty of these cars to pick and choose from. Don't limit your search to just local and I'm sure you'll find 'your' car sooner than later. I'm glad you looked closer instead of pulling the trigger.

 

If your find an 80's olds in decent shape drill some drain holes in the frame rails especially if get snow,sand and salt where you live. They make a nice car all done good luck .

 

It's too late now but wouldn't the door and deck lid fit from another GM product like a Chevelle or Impala of the same year ? BTW good decision on walking away.
railguy

 

No. The only donors for body are other Cutlass years. This is not like the 80's B/C car line where there are some compatible body parts.