68 Cutlass S strip car - “doing what I can” build

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Old August 16th, 2022, 04:31 AM
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Also BTW---where do you live in CO? I am on the outskirts of Parker and could loan you a cherry picker that will work if need be.

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Old August 16th, 2022, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by 442Dude
Also BTW---where do you live in CO? I am on the outskirts of Parker and could loan you a cherry picker that will work if need be.
Thanks for the offer! I’m in Loveland, so an hour and change on a good day.
I’m going to have a new boom made that’s about 20” longer, they can drill the holes also. It only needs to survive the lift twice.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 68cutlasssss
Thanks for the offer! I’m in Loveland, so an hour and change on a good day.
I’m going to have a new boom made that’s about 20” longer, they can drill the holes also. It only needs to survive the lift twice.
If the boom is longer, where will that put the lift point ? If its past the wheels, it will tip over ? There's a reason the heavier lift costs more. Think about it.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by OLDSter Ralph
If the boom is longer, where will that put the lift point ? If its past the wheels, it will tip over ? There's a reason the heavier lift costs more. Think about it.
Valid point, but I’m sure I’ll feel it get tippy once it’s an inch above the motor mounts.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 04:27 PM
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I just came across your thread. You might check if the extra holes in the door line up with power door locks. They were vacuum operated in 1968. Have you checked the vin number on the transmission with the car? Does the vin look correct for a 442, not just a Cutlass?
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Old August 16th, 2022, 04:30 PM
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One more thing, is the radiator a 4 row? If so can you share the codes on the tanks so we can help key out if its the original one? If you decide not to use 4 row tanks with the correct codes are in demand and could go a long way toward paying for an aftermarket one.

Looking through the pictures again. The convertible looks to have the original master cylinder for disc brakes. The 1968 had 4 piston disc calipers. For someone restoring a 1968 to original those too are hard to find parts. Let me ask, does it have the vacuum power trunk release? If it does the key rod with swivel is another tough item to find.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
I just came across your thread. You might check if the extra holes in the door line up with power door locks. They were vacuum operated in 1968. Have you checked the vin number on the transmission with the car? Does the vin look correct for a 442, not just a Cutlass?
The trim tag and vin reads out as a Lansing built V8 Cutlass Holiday Coupe, 33687. The trans is a 67 Pontiac.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 68cutlasssss
The trim tag and vin reads out as a Lansing built V8 Cutlass Holiday Coupe, 33687. The trans is a 67 Pontiac.
OK, if you've checked the vin. It was common for the 1968 442's to have trim tags for the Cutlass. What car had the OG transmission? That should be an Olds 442 code.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
OK, if you've checked the vin. It was common for the 1968 442's to have trim tags for the Cutlass. What car had the OG transmission? That should be an Olds 442 code.
And there is a vin number stamped on the drivers side of the transmission.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
One more thing, is the radiator a 4 row? If so can you share the codes on the tanks so we can help key out if its the original one? If you decide not to use 4 row tanks with the correct codes are in demand and could go a long way toward paying for an aftermarket one.

Looking through the pictures again. The convertible looks to have the original master cylinder for disc brakes. The 1968 had 4 piston disc calipers. For someone restoring a 1968 to original those too are hard to find parts. Let me ask, does it have the vacuum power trunk release? If it does the key rod with swivel is another tough item to find.
The coupe doesn’t have the original radiator but is a 4 row. The vert has a Harrison 4 row with EC, but the motor from that car is the ultra desirable 73, so I assume the rad came from the same car as the motor.

Yes the vert has stock disc brakes. I don’t believe either car had the power trunk release.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
OK, if you've checked the vin. It was common for the 1968 442's to have trim tags for the Cutlass. What car had the OG transmission? That should be an Olds 442 code.
Correct, the OG trans is in the convertible. Good point and you just taught me something to boot! The convertible vin is a 34467. I only looked at the trim tag.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 68cutlasssss
Correct, the OG trans is in the convertible. Good point and you just taught me something to boot! The convertible vin is a 34467. I only looked at the trim tag.
Cool! Here's a link to an old thread showing where the vin is stamped on the transmission. deciphering a 1968 OW tag? - ClassicOldsmobile.com
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
Cool! Here's a link to an old thread showing where the vin is stamped on the transmission. deciphering a 1968 OW tag? - ClassicOldsmobile.com
The exhaust is right in front of it, and it’s a mucky mess lol. Will have to check later.
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Old August 16th, 2022, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by OLDSter Ralph
If the boom is longer, where will that put the lift point ? If its past the wheels, it will tip over ? There's a reason the heavier lift costs more. Think about it.
I wanted to circle back to this because it’s a good point. The boom fully extended is 50”, the legs are roughly 62” to the same point.

If anyone has a 2ton harbor freight special, it would be cool to know how long the legs are on it for comparison.




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Old August 16th, 2022, 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 68cutlasssss
The coupe doesn’t have the original radiator but is a 4 row. The vert has a Harrison 4 row with EC, but the motor from that car is the ultra desirable 73, so I assume the rad came from the same car as the motor.

Yes the vert has stock disc brakes. I don’t believe either car had the power trunk release.



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Old August 16th, 2022, 06:20 PM
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Pontiacs version of the jetaway?
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Old September 7th, 2022, 06:51 PM
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A long time coming, almost there now. I was able to pick up a 2 ton hoist with leveler for $50, a steal. It’s been 97 degrees this week, so I was motivated enough to get the new hoist in place of the old and get it hooked up, but I have stuff I need to move behind the car so I can roll it back when I lift it. And that’s gonna suck a little, so I’m going to try and wait til this weekend to move stuff when it’s cooler.






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Old September 7th, 2022, 11:14 PM
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My 68 442 post is just a slightly darker Hugger Orange , of course the previous owner just couldn't repaint the correct Burgundy Mist - and yes he was very thorough (got every inch ORNG !)
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Old September 8th, 2022, 08:07 PM
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I finally got it out. Its almost 9pm here and almost 80 degrees still. Wrapping it up for the night, but a nice milestone.



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Old September 9th, 2022, 09:43 AM
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Clean-up and reuse this engine or..? What are your plans for it ?
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Old September 9th, 2022, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 68post
Clean-up and reuse this engine or..? What are your plans for it ?
Yes I plan on giving it a once-over to make sure there’s nothing major wrong I see, and cleaning it up and throwing some new gaskets on since I’m thinking of running synthetic oil. I thought about trying to bring it back to stock but it’s been in this configuration for a long time, so I’ll keep the edelbrock intake and chrome valve covers etc.
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Old September 26th, 2022, 06:17 PM
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Been working hard on it, just not posting about it. Got the block cleaned up, looks good. Or at least better than it did in my opinion. Man it’s a lot of work to clean this thing by hand in the garage, I bet have 30 hours into cleaning to prep for paint. It’s not the $35 shipped correct gold color and I’m ok with that.

Pistons are 2264P stamped, so not stock. I don’t see any irregular marks on the cylinders. Lots of soot on them though, which isn’t a surprise considering when I dropped the oil pan, it smelled like gasoline. Running super duper rich.

Hopefully about mid October I’ll be done with this, and have a nice looking freshly sealed engine, and then on to cleaning the engine bay up some.

Props to the nut-and-bolt 7 year resto folks out there.




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Old November 4th, 2022, 12:59 PM
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Like it or not? I’m kind of torn. It’s the original just chrome plated.



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Old November 4th, 2022, 02:14 PM
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Nice and straight, as you can see by the quality chroming job. That being said, and since you asked...I'm not much of chrome guy. For my $.02, I'd rather see the original OEM paint. To each his own, and it looks well executed.
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