My wife's 1965 Cutlass project car

[85TA406]

Hello all. I just thought I'd finally get around to sharing some pics and progress of my wife's 1965 Olds Cutlass F85. It was her grandmother's car since it was new. We are trying to get it in a reliable, daily driver state, while being able to join me with my car on the auto-x track. My car may be faster, but she just wants a reasonably capable car. The current plan is to use as many pieces from a 1998 TransAm donor car as possible, including the full brakes, LS1, and 4L60E. The car currently has the 4BBL 330 with the two speed auto. I think the 4BBL engine and auto may have been the only options on the car. I currently am installing a custom Stage 2+ suspension kit from SC&C, along with Hellwig sway bars, SPC springs, Jeep steering box with all new steering linkage, and the brakes from the donor car.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/olds-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Exterior/olds.jpg.html)

[85TA406]

I guess I'll start with the suspension work, and some of the brake conversion...please excuse me if it jumps around some, that's how I work...Here's the stock suspension at full droop. Hate that horrible camber curve on these early cars with the short spindle....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131020_142043_085_zpsd7bde441-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131020_142043_085_zpsd7bde441.jpg.html)

And here I am modifying the Hotchkis upper a-arms for the xtra tall Howe ball joints I got with my Stage 2+ from SC&C...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131017_170624_316_zps54079c57-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131017_170624_316_zps54079c57.jpg.html)

[therobski]

Excellent base car, if your going to sell the 330-the Olds guys like those. The block is very tough-thick, has a forged steel crank too. I have been working on my 64 for over three years-very extensive build. Need any help let me know.8497684977849788497984980

[85TA406]

Thanks. I will probably get rid of the 330 somehow, it's the Ultra-high compression version with the 4BBL, so I might be able to get a little bit of money for it I hope. I'll tell you what the Olds guys don't seem to like however...the idea of taking out an olds motor for a modern one!

[85TA406]

Here is the front brake setup in progress. In the first picture, you'll see the bracket I had cut based off a picture I found online for the swap on the left, and the bracket I ended up using, based off my own measurements. The "standard" bracket seems to be for a 13" rotor, and for a spindle with a 5/8 upper mount bolt. My spindles used an 1/2-20 upper bolt, and I had them cut out of 5/16 plate to eliminate shims necessary with the "standard" 1/4" plate everyone seems to have luck using.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131101_151504_425_zps31fa2a07-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131101_151504_425_zps31fa2a07.jpg.html)

here I am modifying my upper bolt boss to be parallel with the lower mount.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131101_140656_414_zpsf692011d1-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131101_140656_414_zpsf692011d-1.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131101_140711_904_zps8b405251-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131101_140711_904_zps8b405251.jpg.html)

[85TA406]

Here are the original hubs I modified, cutting down the o.d. to 5.7" and replacing the studs with longer ones. The other problem I had was that the original studs had the knurled portion protruding past the hub face, interfering with the holes in the rotor. I replaced them with these studs with a much shorter knurled portion.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131025_094054_877_zps170ac4d7-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131025_094054_877_zps170ac4d7.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131025_101335_172_zps7e923d1f-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131025_101335_172_zps7e923d1f.jpg.html)

[85TA406]

And here are the brakes mounted on the spindle.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131101_151533_695_zps29b1c169-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131101_151533_695_zps29b1c169.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131101_151518_209_zpsff6882c9-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Mechanical/IMG_20131101_151518_209_zpsff6882c9.jpg.html)

[therobski]

No they don't, I have a stock rebuilt 67 400 E in this car to get it in the street for awhile. Except for a converter change the 200R4 was built to handle the 500HP, 425 I plan to build someday. the block is out of a 65 Starfire. My suspension is all Hotchkiss, I took the challenge, got the parts and built the B-spindle upgrade, that takes out the under-steer on these cars you have mentioned. It's less money than a Wilwood, Baer set up and the brakes will stop the car nice.

[85TA406]

I've seen some of your posts before, I've been following as many cutlass builds as I can find looking for inspiration, especially 64-65. I've posted some pics of my brake setup also, but I have to wait for a moderator to approve them. Then I'll post some more pics. The car has a lot of body damage down the passenger side, I've been looking for a partial passenger rear quarter skin for a year or so now, I guess that will get me started on the body work. I'd repair the existing one, but it's all bunched up right at the rear fender lip.

[85TA406]

My upper a-arms are the Hotchkis b-body a-arms also, that's why they are flat, but required the machining I showed above to fit the taller cap of the Howe ball joints. I end up with pretty much the same geometry of the b-body upgrade, but am able to use the LS1 brakes from the TransAm with my factory drum hubs.
No they don't, I have a stock rebuilt 67 400 E in this car to get it in the street for awhile. Except for a converter change the 200R4 was built to handle the 500HP, 425 I plan to build someday. the block is out of a 65 Starfire. My suspension is all Hotchkiss, I took the challenge, got the parts and built the B-spindle upgrade, that takes out the under-steer on these cars you have mentioned. It's less money than a Wilwood, Baer set up and the brakes will stop the car nice.

[therobski]

I hear you on the body work. I had major rust issues, the car came out of a Granny's back yard in Ohio. Had been sitting under a torn tarp since 81. I basically got screwed they told me the floors and trunk was solid- I had the car shipped to Dallas-when it arrived, opened the front door and saw the street. My fault for believing them. So it was either the crusher and try and find another post car or get busy? This car has all new floors, braces, trunk floor-braces, I had to source two new doors, left front fender, and the section between the tail lights! A fellow Olds Club member Run to Rund-Joe brought them to Dallas for me out of a yard in New Mexico. He was on his way to our Zone meeting.

[85TA406]

This car is surprisingly solid, other than the wrinkles down the passenger side. It is a post car as well. My wife's grandmother kept it under a carport, but she drove it every day until she passed away, but it was less than 2 miles to where she worked. She didn't make much money, so the kept the mechanicals working, but the body...not so much...It was a victim of a bad repaint somewhere in the late 70s, so that's going to have to be stripped off. Whoo Hooo. I'll post pics of the body damage as soon as my other posts get approved. Larry said the system shouldn't be making me get approvals for every post, but it seems to be for every post with pictures.

[85TA406]

Here's an interior shot during the mock up phase of the center console i'm putting together.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131006_171811_742_zpsce2df5cb-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Interior/IMG_20131006_171811_742_zpsce2df5cb.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG_20131006_171831_743_zps9eadfc9a-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Interior/IMG_20131006_171831_743_zps9eadfc9a.jpg.html)

[therobski]

Have you seen the thread Project Olds, its down farther on the first page of this section.It's a 65 post like yours, Popular Hot Rodding has working with guys really cool build.

[Reckn8]

Love the 65 F-85. Forget painting it and put the money in the drive train and suspension. Looking forward to the 2014 Power Tour with the
f-85.

[85TA406]

Don't worry, the paint and body work will be way down the road. Right now, I'll be getting the suspension and brakes done, then drive it for a little while till the LS1 swap. Then body work. When its bodywork time, the body will be coming offthe frame. I'll be boxing the frame and adding other bracing with the body on during the current stage of the build. I've got some extra laser cut plate and DOM tubing from another project I'll be using. I'll post some pics of that as soon as the forum will let me. I have 3 posts with pics waiting for moderator approval already.

[85TA406]

Have you seen the thread Project Olds, its down farther on the first page of this section.It's a 65 post like yours, Popular Hot Rodding has working with guys really cool build.

I've been following it in PHR. It is pretty cool. I've gotten a few ideas from them.

[cmraman]

I've been following it in PHR. It is pretty cool. I've gotten a few ideas from them.

Let me know if you have any questions. We've learned alot about what works and what doesn't. Hit me up anytime.

[85TA406]

Let me know if you have any questions. We've learned alot about what works and what doesn't. Hit me up anytime.
Thanks, I appreciate it. I'd be happy if the forum would just let me post pics so I could get other's feedback on what i'm doing.

[SparkyRnD]

looks like a great start to a cool build. I had a '64 that was identical, but ended up selling it as I really wanted a '71 Cutlass S. Still miss the '64 daily though.

[85TA406]

Here's a shot of the seats in the process of being recovered and getting new foam. This was right before the new design foam with the high bolsters came out, I wish I had waited now, then I would have gotten the sport foam and had the covers custom made.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/11/IMG00013200911121740-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/Olds%20Interior/IMG00013-20091112-1740.jpg.html)

[85TA406]

...

[85TA406]

Pictures finally up!

[85TA406]

Here's the car sitting on the new springs for the first time.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/IMG_20131201_181813_819_zps46907cb9-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/IMG_20131201_181813_819_zps46907cb9.jpg.html)

A bottom view of the new front suspension, with all new steering linkage. I think I did pretty good sourcing all new linkage parts for under $150. You can also see the new front sway bar and my Jeep steering box.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/IMG_20131125_191935_910_zpsb8841987-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/IMG_20131125_191935_910_zpsb8841987.jpg.html)

Here is another view of the new JGC steering box.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/IMG_20131125_191912_808_zps6c29b57e-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/IMG_20131125_191912_808_zps6c29b57e.jpg.html)

[85TA406]

And here is the steering shaft I'm working on. It will end up being collapsible, with the factory Double-D shaft and u-joint, with it attaching to the factory column until I get a different column. I'm thinking of using the 98 F-body column I have, but the column itself is grey instead of black. I want to use a late model column so that I can keep the wiper controls and cruise control on the column, and working like factory. This is an airbag column though, so I'm considering getting one from an early 90's gm without the airbag, like a 90 Camaro or something.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/12/IMG_20131125_192211_310_zps5224aa5f-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/4x4Sierra2500/media/IMG_20131125_192211_310_zps5224aa5f.jpg.html)