Project: Motor City Madness- 72 Cutlass (Delilah)

[csouth]

Made a little more progress today. Dropped my oil pan, pump and drive off at the machine shop this morning. I'll install the original Toronado 6qt pan until I can afford an aftermarket one. Here's what the motor looked like today and also pics of the valve covers I plan to install. I picked them up a cpl years ago from a guy on an Olds forum I belong to. I'll have them repolished before final assembly.

[SRD art]

Believe me, this was no overnight purchase. There were a few times I wanted to buckle and go a cheaper route, but I knew i would never be satisfied. I totally understand your position though. I have people I work with that are care guys and can't fathom putting this much into wheels.

I hear you there. I "settled" on mine to keep it on the cheap side. They're nice but not what I ultimately want. looking back maybe I shouldda waited till I could afford what I do want.

With anything on our cars the most important thing is to love what you build and from chatting with you I know you love these. The car is gonna be awesome when it's done!

[csouth]

I hear you there. I "settled" on mine to keep it on the cheap side. They're nice but not what I ultimately want. looking back maybe I shouldda waited till I could afford what I do want.

With anything on our cars the most important thing is to love what you build and from chatting with you I know you love these. The car is gonna be awesome when it's done!

Thanks Ben, I'm hoping so. I guess it's a little easier for me since I don't have kids. I know in my mind if I didn't have a woman that loved this project as much as me, it wouldn't be as easy. She always says "do it right the first time..."

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Made a little more progress today. Dropped my oil pan, pump and drive off at the machine shop this morning. I'll install the original Toronado 6qt pan until I can afford an aftermarket one. Here's waht the motor looked like today and also pics of the valve covers I plan to install. I picked them up a cpl years ago from a guy on an Olds forum I belong to. I'll have them repolished before final assembly.

I have always loved the old "M/T" valve covers! You don't see them much anymore, but they used to be everywhere.

[csouth]

Yeah, they are getting harder to find. I know guys the pay $10-15 bucks for them, then sell them for a nice profit.

[carguykeith]

I'll install the original Toronado 6qt pan until I can afford an aftermarket one.

If you havn't read BTR's book on building Olds motors I HIGHLY recomend it http://www.amazon.com/Build-Max-Perf.../dp/1934709042.

One of his findings in there was that the Toro pan actually HURTS power as the scraper just froths the oil. If you have a plain old stock pan you are better off to just run it.

[csouth]

I've heard of this problem I was going to have a friend of mine clear a notch in the middle of the pan to allow for drain back. Thanks for the feedback. LIke I said, its only a temporary solution until I get the Canton Racing or Moroso pan.

[70OldsSportsCoupe]

it's hard to justify if you can't see the value of the wheels, and what they do for the image of your car. Wheels change everything about your car, and can make or break it. How many times have you seen a car you love, and go 'man, what an awful choice of wheels'? I could never possibly count the times. For some, you just have to build a few cars to start seeing the value of custom wheels that pretty much nobody near you will have, plus the quality, sizes, strength and ability to have them resized (depending on brand) to change the backspacing all add up in value.

Oh, I see the value, it's still just a chunk of change. I'm sort of a cheapskate by nature, though I realize that you get what you pay for, and you have to pay for custom offsets and forged construction. Defintely not saying that those beauties arent worth it. I'd wager that comparable HRE or such would be more expensive.

[70OldsSportsCoupe]

Believe me, this was no overnight purchase. There were a few times I wanted to buckle and go a cheaper route, but I knew i would never be satisfied. I totally understand your position though. I have people I work with that are care guys and can't fathom putting this much into wheels.

Well, If you plan to keep the car, and keep those wheels on it, you can spread the cost over, basically, the rest of your lifetime!
That's how I plan to think of it - I've already had mine for over 20 years already. It's just coming up with the $$ in the first place...
Those are gourgeous wheels. They'll look great!

[70OldsSportsCoupe]

Love those M/T vave covers! I have two sets of the similar Holley ones. The ones on my car are blac wrinkle finish with brushed fins, but my prep work was bad and the paint is flaking. Need to properly prep the other set, paint and finish them, and install when I put in the Crane adjustable valve train. Yet another thing to do in a long list. I'm sure you understand!

[csouth]

Well, If you plan to keep the car, and keep those wheels on it, you can spread the cost over, basically, the rest of your lifetime!
That's how I plan to think of it - I've already had mine for over 20 years already. It's just coming up with the $$ in the first place...
Those are gourgeous wheels. They'll look great!

Love those M/T vave covers! I have two sets of the similar Holley ones. The ones on my car are blac wrinkle finish with brushed fins, but my prep work was bad and the paint is flaking. Need to properly prep the other set, paint and finish them, and install when I put in the Crane adjustable valve train. Yet another thing to do in a long list. I'm sure you understand!

Thanks, I hope the wheels look good once mounted. You know I understand the long list of things to do. I've been just gathering parts, so I know the actual work will pickup soon

[sokoloka]

Did you ever post the rendering you were having done? Wheels look AWESOME.

[csouth]

Did you ever post the rendering you were having done? Wheels look AWESOME.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to the day they'll be on the car. The rendereing is still in progress. Ben has been really busy getting ready for his move, but I'm sure he'll let me know once its ready.

['71cutlasluvr]

Looks like you have really planned this out Chris. And those wheels are absolutely beautiful! I was shying away from dark wheels, but the bronze is gorgeous. My '71 cutlass hardtop is a non Olds neon blue, a dodge color I think (see my pics on the project Sabre thread) and I think your choice of wheels may just be the ticket for my autox project also. I see you are going with 18's front, 19's rear. Nice combo. I would be very interested to hear how you came up with the width and backspacing for the '72 when you get a chance.
Good luck with the project. Can't wait to see the pics.

[csouth]

Looks like you have really planned this out Chris. And those wheels are absolutely beautiful! I was shying away from dark wheels, but the bronze is gorgeous. My '71 cutlass hardtop is a non Olds neon blue, a dodge color I think (see my pics on the project Sabre thread) and I think your choice of wheels may just be the ticket for my autox project also. I see you are going with 18's front, 19's rear. Nice combo. I would be very interested to hear how you came up with the width and backspacing for the '72 when you get a chance.
Good luck with the project. Can't wait to see the pics.

I saw what you did to the frame suspension, that should be a fun car once you're done. I hope mine turns out as nice. Had you not said anything, I would have thought your car was Viking Blue?
I knew I wanted to go dark wheels, but not black. I'm thinking the bronze sets me up to be different while also allowing for a couple of car color options. As far s the back spacing goes, Jason pretty much setup everything after I told him my brake and suspension setup. If I'm not mistaken, they are 5.25"fr and 5.75"rr.

['71cutlasluvr]

I saw what you did to the frame suspension, that should be a fun car once you're done. I hope mine turns out as nice. Had you not said anything, I would have thought your car was Viking Blue?

I knew I wanted to go dark wheels, but not black. I'm thinking the bronze sets me up to be different while also allowing for a couple of car color options. As far s the back spacing goes, Jason pretty much setup everything after I told him my brake and suspension setup. If I'm not mistaken, they are 5.25"fr and 5.75"rr.

The hotchkiss setup was the best going back in 2005. What disappointed me was when I put the body on the rolling chassis and added the engine and tranny, the ride height didn't seem to be any lower than stock. The kit was supposed to lower ride height about 1 1/2 to 2". Perhaps with all sheetmetal on, it will be lower, but I doubt it. Coil overs with adjustable height shocks may be what I need to use to get to proper ride height for autox. I'm sure I'll learn more watching your's and project saber's results.
When you get close enough to the car, you can see some very fine metal flake compared to the viking blue. I attached a pic of the car the owner sent me before I made the trip to syracuse to pick her up. Can you see the shimmer of the metalflake? Notice the funky carpet on the rear deck, the pontiac wheels and the rear window tint. Sheesh, what a mess.
I now use the wheels for rollarounds. Will sell to a pontiac enthusiast when I'm done with them. The tint is gone, thanks to my younger daughter, as well as the carpet on the rear deck.

Thanks for the info on the wheels Chris. I hear nothing but good stuff about Jason's products. I'm sure once I see those wheels on your car, it will make up my mind for me. Looking forward to seeing the final products. please do post pictures of your progress.

[csouth]

In that picture I can tell it has more flake in it than Viking Blue. Yeah, those wheels would do someone on a Pontiac forum some good... I'll be selling my Cutlass wheels once I get mine on the car. I have a set of sport mirrors, but I'm trying to see if I can find a better set before I install them. I was considering taking a color from that model year and modernizing it. I saw a guy with a 69 Meadow Green 442 at Good Guys a couple years ago. He kept the original paint and sanded off the clear, then had a new clear with gold flake sprayed on top. It looked awesome. He said since he didn't touch the base coast, he could still say it was original paint
I hear a lot of people say the Hotchkis kit doesn't sit as low as they would like. I'm hoping the SPC springs give me the ride height I'm looking for. I got rid of my Hotckis setup after talking to Marc at SC&C. The good thing is I was able to get my money back out of it. You did get your kit at a time when it was the thing to do.

[csouth]

Got the tires mounted this weekend. Here's one of the rears.

[deejai35]

Looks great. So much progress. I should be taking notes. Do you want to just double your parts list for me?

[SparkyRnD]

what size are the tires on front / back?