81' Cutlass Supreme Engine Swap... + watever else i must do

Dread · 03-04-2007, 07:39 PM

I would like to restore my 81 Cutlass supreme

Well lemme introduce myself.. I'm 19, this car was given to me by my father. Apparently the engine rod is (excuse my "French") ****ed. Therefore i would like to replace the engine (make sense right...). I'm not to certain what engine i have at the moment but i know my cutlass was built in Canada and its a V6. Any advise on recommended engines would be nice. Or any comments/ recommendations you guys have would be appreciated. Hope to get to know my fellow Cutlass adorers.

My Friend is taking community college automotive classes and is going to help me. We should be taking the current engine out within the next week. I live in Seattle. And I'm looking at a variety of engines. According to my Book (Chilton's Repair & Tune-Up Guide, Cutlass 1970 to 1982 All Rear Wheel Drive Models) I can use these engines in my car... Any other compatible ones with same mount settings?

6-231 Buick (2 bbl)
8-305 Chev. (4bbl)
8-350 Olds. (Diesel)

Original post

IIIQuaZIII · 03-04-2007, 07:50 PM

Welcome!

You can basically put any engine in your car. An olds 307, 330, 350, 400, 425, 455. All will fit. A chevy 305, 350...etc will also physically fit, as well as the buick v6.... Just make sure you have the right engine mounts for whatever your trying to fit in. Any olds v8 can use the 307 mounts. Also you likely have a crappy 200c transmission in that thing if it came original with a v6. If your gonna put a powerhouse behind it, you might want to change that too.

Is the car on the computer or no? If not then your choices are almost unlimited as to what you can put in. Otherwise you'll have to stick with the v6 if you want to keep the computer.

black_bishop · 03-04-2007, 07:54 PM

i recommend an olds 350, simple swap and no changing enegine mounts

IIIQuaZIII · 03-04-2007, 08:14 PM

He would need 307/350 mounts . You cannot use the v6 mounts.

black_bishop · 03-04-2007, 10:01 PM

doh, yeah sorry bout that, i was thinking 307

uzl442 · 03-05-2007, 05:04 AM

i'd go with the 350, that is unless you wanna go big then go 455 blown and supercharged

Gundarak · 03-05-2007, 05:47 AM

Dont give him any ideas guys.. his only options for engines are olds 307, 330, 350, 400, 425, 455

why? cause we are olds freaks.

if he has the v6 olds in there now, it wont matter if it's computer controlled or not, the carb will more than likely not work with a v8. So, as always, I recommend a nice mechanical q-jet and HEI dist to go with that engine your going to throw in there.

If you want someone to sepcifically tell you what engine.. youre going to have to tell us what do you expect from the car. Street/Strip? more street than strip? DD?

You can get a lot of power starting from olds 350 and working up.. I would recommend olds 350 or 403.

vics86 · 03-05-2007, 05:55 AM

I would go with a 403 and a THM 350 or 2004r tranny with a CZ, BR, BRF, or OZ tag.

Big blocks like the 400,425,455 are a little more complicated than what they appear to be. atleast with a 403 or 350 you can pull all the brackets and mounting stuff off a junked 307 and put them on the 403 /350. You may need to search a little more depending on what accesories you want your big block to have since the brakets are diff.. Big blocks fit in really tight on gbodies. Some guys had to custom bend thier headers too amongst other things. youll also probably need a bigger radiator too.

Putting a 2004r 4 speed tranny wiill require a little extra work with the crossmember too as your car doesnt have the mounting wholes in the frame for the 2004r.

After you get the tranny and engine resolved, Im sure you have some pretty weak gears in the rear end, what do you plan on doing thier? This is important in some respects cause your going to want to build your engine in synch with how your rear end gears will be winding it up.

Sounds like your going to be redoing the drivetrain of this thing. Good luck and start saving $$$$. I personally think you should find a 442 within your price range that you could fix up, you'd have the tranny, the rear end, and everything in the engine compartment except a the bigger engine!!!!!!

Guitargoalie · 03-05-2007, 07:05 AM

If it already has the V6 in it you can drop a Buick 350 V8 in it directly, it will bolt up using the V6 engine mounts and you can even use all the brackets and acessories off the V6!

IIIQuaZIII · 03-05-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitargoalie

If it already has the V6 in it you can drop a Buick 350 V8 in it directly, it will bolt up using the V6 engine mounts and you can even use all the brackets and acessories off the V6!

Good point....and true!

03-05-2007, 03:16 PM

Hi, I also own an 81 Cutlass. If your are planning to use this car as a daily driver, I would reccomend swapping your current engine and transmission for an Oldsmobile 350 equipped with a Q-jet carb and a TH-350 with a BOP housing.

The reason I state that is while a 307 MIGHT net you better fuel miliage, it lacks in the balls department. And we all know that a guys gotta have some balls to make it in this world.

Otherwise, you have ALOT of other options. But just remember, Keep It Olds!

ProStreet442 · 03-05-2007, 03:24 PM

I got a tH-350 I'll be more than happy to sell....

It is definetly BOP bolt pattern, too.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 05:34 PM

Sry I havent Been Posting Guys i thought this woulda came back to my email but it didnt.... ima try an answe ur speculations best i can. First and foremost im 19... on an extreme budget as most 19-yr olds are. U can laugh if u mst. lol.

I would like to do the 350, seems like everyone is reccomending it. A 442 would be over my head at tha moment. (I WISH! seen em in action) but yeah. i have the stock v6 in their. so the engine mount issue will any and all Gm 350 line right up.

I heard that the v8 swap will also mean, fan shroud, rad and power steering hoses. Also modifying the engine electrical,(lengthen or shorten wires.), and exhaust.

Like i said budget LOL. Im looking on craigslist for engines in seattle. With a 350 can i keep my tranny? And would the engine have messed up my current tranny in anyway?

I dont think i have a computer in their. But i know next to nothing about a car. and no im not gonna pay ten thousand buck to go to some machanik. Its me and my friend hes going to comm college taking some auto classes.... hmm what else.

yeah what kinda performance i want. A daily driver with some umphhh so i can take it racing every once and awhile.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProStreet442

I got a tH-350 I'll be more than happy to sell....

It is definetly BOP bolt pattern, too.

I live in seattle bro but thanks for tha offer. i would probly get it if we were closer

Dread · 03-05-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macshakman

Hi, I also own an 81 Cutlass. If your are planning to use this car as a daily driver, I would reccomend swapping your current engine and transmission for an Oldsmobile 350 equipped with a Q-jet carb and a TH-350 with a BOP housing.

The reason I state that is while a 307 MIGHT net you better fuel miliage, it lacks in the balls department. And we all know that a guys gotta have some balls to make it in this world.

Otherwise, you have ALOT of other options. But just remember, Keep It Olds!

That sounds nice and simple. I like tha Ballz part. Def gotta rep tha ballz when it comes to your car. Keepin it Olds might be a prob. Im in Seattle, lol... ive been looking for olds but everyones like i got this 350. its GMC doesnt make a dif. I kno olds made there engines hella durable so ima try and track one down.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 06:34 PM

Found a:

1976 Buick skylark (231 V6 Buick)
$250 for engine, trans, and whatever I want
$175 for just engine.

Should i take it guys or just wait for tha olds 350?

vics86 · 03-05-2007, 06:59 PM

haste makes waste . . .wait for the .....................350

Dread · 03-05-2007, 07:09 PM

Yea your right thanks. Tha thing is the landlord is *****ing us out bout tha car lol so time is of the essence. if i don't find a olds 350 by Wednesday , Thursday the latest ill be tempted again. lol.

In That case should i settle for a Chevy 350? if i cant find tha olds....

vics86 · 03-05-2007, 07:17 PM

ahhh. that really sucks man. You should be able to find a 350 in a salvage yard. If you do, pull everything you can including the mounts, brackets, even the tranny cause it may have the thm 350 behind it!!!!Even if you found a motor it will still take time to build it and drop it in. probably 2-3 weeks. ??????? get tht in order too with someone local.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 07:21 PM

Wish i could afford this

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/288557344.html

But yeah your right i was just bouta say ima call the yard 2morrow.

wats a tht?

03-05-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dread

Yea your right thanks. Tha thing is the landlord is *****ing us out bout tha car lol so time is of the essence. if i don't find a olds 350 by Wednesday , Thursday the latest ill be tempted again. lol.

In That case should i settle for a Chevy 350? if i cant find tha olds....

I think you should keep looking for an Olds motor, a chevy into your Cutlass while possible, would be a pain in the ___.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 07:32 PM

Really... Chevrolet Engines require mods and such... darn... ok its koo i'll find it. Probly not on tha net ima have 2 go to tha juunk yard like vics86 suggested. Thanks u guys

philthy · 03-05-2007, 08:48 PM

dont be dumb guys. The landlord is on his azz so he needs to get it fixed soon. Buy the v6, put it in, and save up for a better swap. trust me. it's better this way.

vics86 · 03-05-2007, 09:07 PM

it will probably take the same amount of time to swap in the v6. Ive seen some nice 350's out in my area. What I did was print out the block casting # guide found on 442. com and you can basically find a good block by that. It's kind of fun too. most salvage yards charge around 200 bucks. It would be easier for them if you pull the tranny too with the engine. We dont know what your budget is either so maybe a rebuilt engine and possible tranny is too much. But anyway, while your at the salvage yard rip off the fan shroud and radiator off a g body cutlass.

After all this, philthy may be right about the the v6. aargh.

On the other hand, ive seen 442's on ebay go for pretty cheap, under 3000. And cutlass with the 307's less than that. You decide, seems like the cost of any engine swap/rebuild could get you a running v8 cutlass platform. speaking of which, you may need to change springs to with a v8 engine up front.

I dont see what the problem is with your landlord if youve paid your rent he needs to shut the "F" up.

Dread · 03-05-2007, 09:57 PM

Yeah thats the way i feel. But the car is sitting in the back yard. were its "not s'posed to be" So yeah ima put some strong thought into the whole V8 thing. Damn i want a 350 so bad.... but like i said if i dont come by one by thursday im just gonna go wit tha V6

Plus My Budget is around $400 at the moment.