Hi, I'm new here and thought I should introduce myself.

I found this site while looking for information to help restoring my 71 Cutlass convertible. I'm the original owner of this car, but it has been sitting since the early 80's. I had been driving it daily since new and decided in 1981 or so to fix all the rusted sheet metal, etc. to get it back to near new since convertibles were no longer being made. But the project got interrupted (for decades). Work only got as far as new quarter panels, wheelhouse repairs, and trunk floor repairs. At this point it is (or rather, was) driveable, but is in pieces. I also have lots of new GM parts - fenders, doors, bumpers, trim, short block & other engine parts, wheels, etc. - that I had bought for the project at the time.

I had originally planned to get it back to new condition, but now I am wondering if I should "improve" it. I'm thinking about adding options that I foolishly didn't order when I bought it such as air conditioning, disc brakes, and power windows. I'm also thinking about performance upgrades to the 350 engine and suspension upgrades similar to a 442 (boxed control arms, sway bar, etc.). Friends have suggested making it look like a 442, too, but I am not inclined to do that.

I would like to use it for occasional driving and maybe local shows. I'd like to be able to sell it later, if need be, for around what I would have in it.

I would sincerely appreciate any advice on non-stock changes and things to do/things to avoid in general.

 

Welcome Jeri, I think its cool you still own the car after all these years. Good luck with your progress.

Its your car so do as you please with adding options.

 

Welcome, not many original owners of these cars running around.

 

I have a 71 convertible too. Add whatever options you want. I would not clone it, my personal opinion. That is what I am doing although not an original owner.

Welcome, maybe start a build thread with pictures.

 

Thanks for the welcome. I spent the past week surfing this site and feel like I hit the jackpot. It is a goldmine of detailed info and I am learning a lot. Many thanks to all who shared their knowledge so generously.

At this point I'm trying to figure out a plan for restoring my Cutlass with an eye toward starting work this fall. Most of the work will have to be done professionally, although I'd like to be able to do some of the simpler bolt-on things myself. The goal is to wind up with a car that lives up to its full appearance potential and is fun to drive locally. I'd like to keep it (mostly) period correct, not a clone, and definitely not for racing.

I'm not sure what to do about the engine. It was ordered with a 350, 2 bbl (to save on gas) and a TH350, but it no longer has the original engine. The original engine developed some internal problems at around 100,000 miles in the late 70's, and I let the Olds dealership talk me into swapping a similar used engine rather than fixing the original one.

I originally thought I would keep it a 350 and change the carburetor to a 4 bbl. I bought a new short block, intake manifold, and carburetor from the dealer in the early 80's to do this, but never got around to getting heads or other parts. I could still go this route, possibly increase the compression ratio IF it would still pass emissions testing, and maybe upgrade the cam and ignition, too. But now I wonder if I would be happy with the result. A 455 would be nice, but then I would also need to change to a TH400. Or maybe I could compromise by keeping it a 350 and using a 200-4R along with higher gears. Again, this is for regular but not daily driving, say 3-4000 miles per year around town, with no racing other than the occasional hard acceleration away from stoplights. I don't want to smoke the tires, but I'd like to feel like I could if I wanted to.

Cost is an issue (isn't it always?), but I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish and I definitely don't want to cut corners only to wind up doing everything a second time.

I would really appreciate some advice about how these engines would compare based on seat of the pants judgement of performance and on which makes the most sense costwise. Also, would any hurt/help the future value of the car?

 

The 455's have more torque and I am partial to them but a good set of gears in the differential with your 350 may get you there for less. There are a few ways to go here as you will see when others chime in. Good luck with your car.