andrew.minarick1

Im new to the site and just had a few questions about the 1972 cutlass supremes. post back if you want to help me out

jensenracing77

we all will love to help. just let us know what you need so who ever knows the topic best will reply. and welcome. just ask away

andrew.minarick1

Thanks. Im 14 years old and i am going to do a car project with my dad, and we chose the 1972 cutlass supreme. I was just wondering how hard it would be to replace an existing 350 engine with a 455. What about the transmission?

jensenracing77

everything will bolt right up. the brackets on the front for the power steering and alternator and A/C are made to fit both engines. the transmission will bolt right up also.

sounds like a fun project. me and my dad built the engine for my Rallye 350 when i was 15.

andrew.minarick1

thanks. also, ive seen ads that have a 455 engine with a 350 transmission. Should i go with a 400 turbo?

citcapp

Andrew,

Its great that you and your dad are going to do a father son car project and that you picked and Oldsmobile is a bonus. The 350 engine with the 350 transmission is a great combo and has plenty of potential. With a cam upgrade, dual exhaust, and maybe an aftermarket intake with a Q-jet you would have a strong runner just the way it is. A swap to a 455 is pretty straight foward it will fit in place of the 350 using the same motor mounts and will bolt up to the 350 trans.

The 350 transmission is not strong enough for the added torque of the 455 in its stock form and should be modified or use a turbo 400 which is strong enough. If you use the turbo 400 the drive shaft would also have to be modified as the torbo 400 is longer then the 350.

there are other issues such as a bigger radiator, exhaust manifolds but most of this is bolt in stuff. Ask questions as you go along and we will help out were we can. Good luck to you and your dad.

andrew.minarick1

thanks for being such a big help. ill probably come back later with more questions

Jamesbo

We'll wait here for ya.

andrew.minarick1

Im looking at a 1972 cutlass supreme to buy, but it has the shifter on the steering colom and i would prefer that it was on the floor. Is there any way i could move it?

jensenracing77

just add bucket seats and a shifter on the floor. if you want you can change the steering column to a floor shift column so you don't have to look at the shifter there. if you want original shifter they are a little price. if you are not concerned about original you can put an aftermarket shifter in it. i had a car with the B&M Z gate shifter in it and liked it very well.

Oldsguy

Andrew, I read on your other post asking about that too. All that is possible and most of the replies have been positive about changes you want to make. I would ask you to consider this though, since you are 14 years old. Is your father or some other mentor experienced in automotive repair? Are they going to be helping you do this? I am assuming that you don't have much experience considering your age but could be wrong, you may be a prodigy and have been wrenching since you were old enough to walk. I just would hate for you to get into a project that would put you over your head and end up giving you a bad experience. If your car is going to be a driver already it might be better to just take it and drive it for a few years while in high school and get as much enjoyment as you can from it. If you don't thrash it too badly it should still be in good enough shape to improve on it later.

andrew.minarick1

Ya my dad is pretty good with tools, but thanks for your concern

andrew.minarick1

Just wondering how hard it would be to change the interior color of a 1972 cutlass supreme. What would I have to do for the dash, and things like that and what would i need?

jensenracing77

it sucks to do. to do it right will take alot of money and alot of work. the dash will have to come out to do it right. if the metal is the wrong color in front of the dash you will have to take the windshield out to paint it. i have used a die to die a plastic console and it turned out great. i don't know if you could use something like that on the seats or not, you may have to recover them

Bluevista

"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." Jeff Spicolli - circa 1982 A.D.

436.jpg


Sorry Andrew, but you threw a hanging fast ball right down the middle.

andrew.minarick1

Thanks for all your help. Me and my dad talked about changing colors and agreed that it would take a little too much work, so were probably going to let this car pass.

andrew.minarick1

I dont know if this works but this is a picture of a car im looking at. please post some constructive Critisism of the car please.

citcapp

Hard to tell with just one picture and no close ups. Check for rust around the wheel wells (use a magnet). Check the trunk and frame rails, and around the windows. Take your time there are good cars availible.

Olds64

Looks halfway decent from the picture you gave us.

Pat had a good idea, use a magnet to check for bondo, also have your dad drive it before you buy it. He should drive it around town and on the highway. Make sure he drives it like it is a rental. You want to make sure to put it through the paces. Plus, maybe your dad and the current owner could go to a big parking lot and let you tote around a bit since it is going to be your car.

andrew.minarick1

decided not to go for it. it was a little too far away

Olds64

Bummer!

Andrew, let us know where you are located. Alot of us frequent Craigslist. We can post links to Oldsmobiles in your area.

andrew.minarick1

Im located by omaha nebraska but me and my dad would be willing to drive a reasonable distance. Im also looking for a car in the $2,500 range because i have to pay for it myself. Thanks for being willing to help

Olds64

Check it out! Here is one in KCMO, my old stomping ground.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/1367733766.html

cutlassjoe

Dude...That's my skull. I am so wasted...Another good quote from the movie!

andrew.minarick1

i was sort of looking for a 1972 cutlass supreme

andrew.minarick1

cutlass.jpg They are asking $1000 for it. Some more constructive critisism please.

citcapp

Can't really tell anything from the one small picture. Any rust, does it have a engine and tranny, does it run, what about the interior?

Bluevista

It's a 2 door hardtop and the price are pretty good parts.

The front clip looks like it has been replaced? Or is that primer or old paint on the door and quarter? Was a vinyl top removed??

If it runs and isn't too rusty it doesn't look bad from 50 feet away.
Way more pics and a description are still needed..

andrew.minarick1

quick question: how can you tell if you have a 400 transmition?

70 cutlass s

The 350turbo and 400turbo pans are different. 400 also has a electric wire going to the side. Go ahead and buy a repair manual Chilton has one that covers most common repairs, and covers 1970-1987. It shows what the gaskets look like this will give you an idea what the pan looks like and be real helpful when working on it.

Olds64

The TH 350 pan is mostly square with a notch cut out of the back side. The TH 400 pan has an "S" curve in it. It is easy to tell the difference once you know what you are looking for.

andrew.minarick1

Just wanted to know anyone knew of some good parts magazines. If you do please share

70 cutlass s

Here's some web sites to get you started. Check out Hemmings Motor News it has a lot of adds in it.

http://www.yearone.com/
http://www.opgi.com/
http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/
http://www.fusick.com/
http://www.paddockparts.com

1ATony

Welcome to the site.

andrew.minarick1

I have a 1972 cutlass supreme and i was thinking about putting in aluminum gauge panel aluminum console trimpanels to give the dash a more metallic look. Any ideas on Where i could buy these?

70 cutlass s

I would say you would have to have that made. It's not going to be cheap.

German442

Quick question: Are you getting this as a "keeper", or do you think you'll be selling it after a couple years? Reason for my question: If you'll be thinking of getting anywhere near your money back if/when you sell it, the more you "customize" it, the less you'll wind up getting when you sell it! It's extremely unusual to find someone who's taste is the same, so something like the dash job would not only be expensive, but you'd almost certainly lose resale value!


Just my $0.02!

Ralph

Olds64

If you want to put a modified dash in the car then do it. However, I agree with 70 Cutlass S, it would be rather expensive to do this. Unless of course you or someone you know is a machinist that can do work on the cheap.

Don't worry about how much resale value you are going to get from the car. You aren't going to make money on it. PERIOD! The only people that make money on a classic car are people like J Leno. You would have to do a frame off restoration and have everything PERFECT to make money on a classic car.

droptopron

Just curious, why gassed up on a '72 as compared to a '71 or a '70?
They are more similar than they are different, especially the '71 & the '72.

70 cutlass s

You need to post pics and need to start new tread. I do have some advice being your first car don't worry about numbers. A lot of parts you need will be at local parts stores. You need to make the car safe and dependable first. Repair mechanical parts first things like engine, trans, brakes, shocks. You can make it pretty later. First buy repair manual. Than as you work on it, you need help post treads ask for help with what your working on, and add pics it helps us old timers if we can see it.