1972 Cutlass Supreme Convertable

[MonteyBurnz]

So I got a 1972 cutty convert. I actually bought it from my uncle/Godfather who was the original owner. It was his daily driver for 30 years! I had to sell my 74 nova to get it. My nova was an open book. She had 6 previous owners, she was a 74 custom with a junk interior and primer gray when I bought her. Point is, I had no issues with customizing her. I pulled the vinyl top, sanded/blocked primed and painted the whole car black (original color was a golden brown with a tan vinyl top). Between the paint job and the cragers I put on it, the car looked real nice. Anyway I sold it to buy my unc's car, and I tell you about it because I'm not scared to work on my cars.
But this cutlass has been sitting for 2 months and other than pulling some bumper brackets off it, I've hardly touched it. I'm only 28 and have known the car my whole life. At Sunday dinners it was the car me and my brothers wern't allowed near. Now it's mine and sits in my garage and I guess I just don't know where to go with it yet. It's like I have writers block. It's all numbers matching, 350 v8 with a slapstick 350 auto. Posi rear. I have the protecto plate and every damn reciept for the past 38 years of work.

My nova was violated long before I ever got my hands on her. But this car is like a virgin. I guess I'm just looking for some guidance or inspiration... I will post a few pics as soon as I figure out how to.

[pitts64]

That Olds is a nice car already. Don't gook it all up with a bunch of after market parts, keep it original... The two most important things in making a car handle well are the tires and the alignment... I would put a nice set of 225/70-14 Firestone Firehawk 500s on it (with the black wall showing), add some positive caster to it and then leave it alone...

[outlaw 03]

WOW what an awesome car!! I have a 72 hard top I'm going crazy on with a LSX 6.0 liter & C5 vette front suspension. It was already hacked when I got it like your Nova. Yours is worth keeping semi stock. I'd go with some suspension work like springs, shocks, sway bars and if it doesn’t already disc brakes up front. Put some wheels & tires on it and enjoy!! I like Cutlasses when I was 9 years old my Dad brought one home and we made a dirt track racecar out of it and I've been hooked since.

[MonteyBurnz]

I appreciate the input guys. It actually does have front disk brakes and the 442 handling package (which means front and rear sway bars and tuffer shocks). I'm definately keep the numbers matching 350 but want to have it rebuilt to put out 400 hp. That would involve boring the motor to .30 over and new cam and pistons.

Does anybody have an oppinion on wether this will enhance the cars value or would it be better to just have the motor rebuilt to stock specs? To rebuild to specs is about half the price. But I'd really like the car to be faster if it's not going to make it less desireable.

Btw outlaw, your project sounds awesome.

[GothamCity]

Good to have another 72 Cutlass around!! Welcome to the club

[jackfrost]

bumping up power in the motor will never make it less desirable. just don't go crazy modifying the block and you can always put it back to stock. most early 350's came with good heads, so you'll get a real nice driver if you bump the compression and add a cam to match, headers and get a Quadrajet built for it.

wheels and tires are an easy, easily reversible way to upgrade performance.

what kind of rear gear does it have?

[CruizinKev]

welcome aboard!

[Sheriff]

Welcome and good luck with your build.

[pitts64]

Oldsmobile like Pontiac had excellent factory performance cams.

I'd see what Crower has. They seem to sell cams very close to the factory originals.

Contact Cliff for a custom quadrajet and get his input on what cam to use.
http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/

[pitts64]

I would use a pair of Porter steel pack mufflers with a nice mandrill exhaust from Ram Air Restorations..

http://www.portermufflers.com/orderonline.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=1

http://www.ramairrestoration.com/catalog/

[lnirenberg]

One of the great things about this site is all the different perspectives. If I had an original car that I wanted to "improve" but maintain, I would take the original drivetrain out and carefully save it for the next owner which opens up a lot of possibilities. My 70 Chevelle was already half in the bag when it was rescued, but I'm assuming the A-body floor pans are all very similar. The Tremec TKO trans did not require any tunnel mods and I didn't have to tub the rear to fit 295/35-18s. I would go at least 17" wheels to get into some good speed rated tires which will make a huge difference. Try this web site for larger but OE looking steel wheels--http://www.specialtywheel.com/wheel-showcase/oldsmobile.html.
Throw in a couple beefed up sway bars, a good set of shocks, mufflers that sing and you will have a real enjoyable ride. Good luck, have fun and drive that car.

[MonteyBurnz]

Thanks for the input guys. Just to give you an update the car is at the shop right now to get the tranny rebuilt. I was driving her and out of nowhere she kept slipping out of third. Trans pan kit did nothing so she's getting a shift kit and rebuild done by a reputable shop.

I'm not sure what the reAr gear is but I know it's the original posi. Assuming I do 17 inch wheels, what is a good gear for both accelertion and highway cruising?