New on the block with a 72 Cutlass S
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 48
From: Nor Cal
New on the block with a 72 Cutlass S
Hey everyone, Ive been lurking around this forum for quite some time now, ever since i had my first 70 Cutlass S. I am now the proud owner of a solid 72 Cutlass S. this is my 4th cutlass but the first one that i will be completely redoing the interior and maybe powertrain. She is very solid with all new suspension( shocks, and spring), wheels, tires, body has no rust except for minimal surface stuff on the floorboards. The interior is completely gutted but i did get the parts with the car. They just need to be re-upolstered and installed. Enough jib jab, here are a few picks of the ride. I am sure i will be asking many questions in the future.
She looks nice from the pics!
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,175
From: Montreal, QC
Car Looks awesome,
I've got the same color interior in my 72 cutlass 's', that sort of Darkish brown dash, what colour are you going to be redoing it in? I chose dark saddle for my seats because it looks pretty sweet.
Post more pics as they come.
-Tony
I've got the same color interior in my 72 cutlass 's', that sort of Darkish brown dash, what colour are you going to be redoing it in? I chose dark saddle for my seats because it looks pretty sweet.
Post more pics as they come.
-Tony
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 48
From: Nor Cal
I havent decided what color int i want to go with yet. It originally did have the dark brownish colr from what i can tell. More then likely i will go with black if i decide to keep it bone stock which is what im leaning towards.
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Welcome to CO. Sounds like you have some interesting ideas in mind to get it finished? I assume the PO had all the bodywork and paint done. Do you mind me asking what your VIN is? Something about the trim suggested it starts with 3F87H2.....Is that correct?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 48
From: Nor Cal
Yes that is correct. It is a original California numbers matching car with a 350 2bbl with 165 horse. The PO said that the owner before him told him he rebuilt the motor but he beleives the guy just took it out and painted it. It runs good but its a little tired.
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
H is the code that identifies the 2 bbl engine which was almost a standard on this car. Whoever painted the engine must have not known that Olds engines were gold (for 350's) and the alt bracket should be black. lol. The 2bbl is a good runner and the 2GC carb is fairly good, but not going to give you high end performance. It will still go, so maybe that's one of the reasons you might feel that it's a little tired?
If the PO said the PPO took out the motor to rebuild it, that would make sense. But you don't spend all that time taking an engine out of the car just to paint it. Look on the block just below the number 1 cylinder there is a flat spot with a stamping. It should say 32()XXXXXX where the x's will be the last 6 numbers of your VIN. That would make your block a match. The () will have letter - probably 'Z' for Fremont, assuming it was always a CA car.
I would do a compression test on the car. When new it would have been around 145 at each cylinder. If the compression test comes back with low numbers like 100 - 110 it's time for a rebuild. You can easily convert this car to 4bbl (which runs more efficiently than the 2bbl). Just change the intake manifold and add a 4bbl carb.
How many miles? Chances are it's turned the clock at least one time. Did you get any documentation with the car? From the pics you posted, looks like someone started to build drag car and called it quits. There's still probably lots of parts left to be put back together - noticed the front end is missing the eyebrows, stone guard/grilles headlight bezels. Someone added the 350 on the front fenders from a chev. Olds never did that.
Not trying to be uppity, just trying to anticipate some of the questions that might pop up as you go about reconstructing the car.
If you post a pic of the cowl tag it will provide some more info about the car, you may be interested in.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
