1972 Cutlass

[Bill Howell]

I have had several ask if I would do a build thread on my latest project. At first I resisted because I just don't have really good camera skills and not sure really what to put in the thread.
I will preference this thread by saying my mission for this car is to be a very nice driver. A car that we can actually drive to Florida, North or West with no worry of reliability, get great mileage and ride like a new car. I have owned several other cutlass oldmobiles in my life and just prefer them over all other A-bodies. Yes, I understand from a value standpoint, I should be doing this to a 70 Chevelle, but I like the cutlass body better, hence, cutlass it is. As for cutlass vs. 442, this car will remain cutlass, not a cloned 442. The only 442 enhancement will be the 71 442 Grilles as I really just like that look. However, it will have a cutlass script in place of the 442 lettering. My goal is for people to notice it as a nice stance, nice wheel ride. Sleepers have always been my preference and this is no difference.
Power Train will be a used 18K LS2 out of a SSTB, bought off of craigslist, mated to a ZF 6 speed (yes, swimming away from the norm, but I like the way the ZF shifts over the standard T-56 these days). This has lead to me starting this thread, to explain the trials and errors I have made making the ZF fit and mate to the LS. I have searched the net pretty throughly, and the information, in whole, is just not there. I have gleaned information here and there, but want to document my build and experiences so others can simply order the part numbers that I have found to work, rather than have to redo the homework again.
For reference, we have already done a complete DSE suspension upgrade, front and rear, already installed JRI single adjustable coilover shocks. Also, while we were there, we installed Six piston 14" BAER brakes on all four corners. As with any build, this car has BFG shoes, albeit KDWs since this car is as promised, a driver not a race car or even autocross car. I did go a bit from my norm with Bonspeed wheels instead of my beloved Forgeline simply because, as stated, for now this isn't being raced and more importantly, I wanted a "factory look" with this car. The new Bonspeed Icons serves that purpose very well, as IMO, resemble the factory RallyII wheels, but come in the all important 18" size that will clear the 14" rotors.
While I will be happy to take pictures of the work we have done so far, most everyone already knows that DSE,JRI and BAER parts are pretty much bolt on parts that fit as advertised and I didn't see the need to bore everyone with yet another generic bolt on build. Again, very simple install procedure on all of that, and parts seem to work well, with plenty of clearance and travel for great driving experience.
As you can see in the picture, this is all being done in my VERY TIGHT third garage bay, which is a space behind my daily driver parking spot. Yes, the lift is nice but as you can see, before I do much more, I need to clean out the space around the doors so my fat butt can access under hood.
I have pretty much got the car stripped down so new parts can start going back on.
First order of business is installing the new Gen IV Vintage Air Sure Fit System that so far has fit in like a dream. Vintage Air has gone over and above with their installation instructions on this one and that is going very well. They even sell the Compressor bracket that moves it up basically to the factory location of the old compressor and makes that part easy and matches the factory frontrunner system on the LS2.



That should be enough boring reading for my first post here, stay tuned, more to come as the progress moves forward.

[Bill Howell]

This is a very quick, very poor shot of the car after the suspension mods were done, sporting the new wheels, brakes, etc. This is actual stance front and rear. The car has factory wheel tubs and inner fenders and for those A-body folks, 275x18 up front and 295x18 out back with NO clearance issues, full travel, lock to lock.

[SickSpeedMonte]

Power Train will be a used 18K LS2 out of a SSTB, bought off of craigslist, mated to a ZF 6 speed (yes, swimming away from the norm, but I like the way the ZF shifts over the standard T-56 these days). This has lead to me starting this thread, to explain the trials and errors I have made making the ZF fit and mate to the LS. I have searched the net pretty throughly, and the information, in whole, is just not there. I have gleaned information here and there, but want to document my build and experiences so others can simply order the part numbers that I have found to work, rather than have to redo the homework again.

Bill,

I assume you have seen this: http://zfdoc.com/projects.htm

I'll be watching this thread! Very cool.

[Bill Howell]

Yes Bernie, great site and some very usefull information. However, his modified adaptor price doesn't make budget sense when you can buy a Quicktime 6039 for a lot less money. I am actually going to try to use the factory bellhousing. They are about half the price, and as long as the starter and clutch clear ok, I will be golden for about $250. If not, I will go quicktime for about $600.

[TimMC]

looks great love the supreme bodies.

[Motown 454]

Nice looking ride.

[Radlark]

Nice looking ride Bill, I love the A-bodies I will be starting a thread on my 67 Buick Sportwagon!!



SUBSCRIBED!!!

[andrewb70]

Bill,

Looking forward to this build. You don't need mega camera skills. Get your phone out, have plenty of light, and snap away. All my build pictures are done with my phone camera!

Those fans are huge! How come you put them as pushers and not pullers?

Andrew

[Bob in St. Louis]

Great looking car, very sexy!

[csouth]

Glad to see you pulled this out in the open for all of us...I love there Supreme body, but couldn't find one for a reasonable price when I bought mine. Following this...
I'm getting back in the garage!....lol

[Jeff70]

I dig it. Subscribed

[Bill Howell]

Andrew the fans are left from last owner. I plan to turn them around and use properly.
Thanks guys for the comments. I have loved cutlass supremes and 442s since my second car which was a 73 model, bought my senior year of highschool in the fall of 1975.
There is a quick shot of some parts that came on the big brown truck today. This is the harness and other bits and pieces that will control the LS2 properly. Trans came today, and so did the Flywheel needed to mate the LS to the ZF. It is .40 thicker on the Pressure Plate side that places it in the proper position for input shaft.

[andrewb70]

Bill,

Looking at the blades on those fans it looks like they are made to be pushers, so you can't just put them on the other side of the radiator. Need to get new fans. I would also highly recommend modding that harness so that you can utilize pwm to run the fans, instead of just having them turn on/off.

There is a bunch on info on this here:

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=40215

I think you have either a E38 or E40 ECU there...

If it turns out you can't use those fans, look at using a fan from a C6 Corvette. They come prewired for a C6 fan controller (including the plug), which will make life easier. If your radiator is aluminum, you can have the mounts for the fan welded to it.

Andrew

[Bill Howell]

My ECM is a 38 Andrew, and it came with the wiring harness, pre programed, etc. I also opted for the dual fan relays from PSI that ties in to the ECM and described as plug and play. Sparky is handling the radiator for me, so I will let him know and get fans from him too so fitment isn't a problem. Thanks.

[lxmodguy]

My ECM is a 38 Andrew, and it came with the wiring harness, pre programed, etc. I also opted for the dual fan relays from PSI that ties in to the ECM and described as plug and play. Sparky is handling the radiator for me, so I will let him know and get fans from him too so fitment isn't a problem. Thanks.

Nice looking setup

[andrewb70]

My ECM is a 38 Andrew, and it came with the wiring harness, pre programed, etc. I also opted for the dual fan relays from PSI that ties in to the ECM and described as plug and play. Sparky is handling the radiator for me, so I will let him know and get fans from him too so fitment isn't a problem. Thanks.

But all the cool kids are doing pwm for their fans...

Andrew

[Nicks67GTO]

Nice! Chevelles are great, I have a 70' Malibu waiting for me when my GTO is done, but it's nice to see the "other" A-bodies get built. The Buick and Olds cars are really neat.

Just like Andrew, I snap everything with my phone camera. Quality is fine, its fast and easy.

[deejai35]

Already shaping up to be a great build. I am taking notes and loving seeing a Cutlass build.

[Later-A-body]

Bill, I have an E38 powering my LS7 and a Speartech harness. My fan is a Lincoln Mk VIII single 18". The fan is powered by the E38 with the standard programming from GM as far as the temperature it activates which I believe is around 208 degrees. It works flawlessly. No fancy pwm or added expense. Each speed has its own dedicated 75 amp relay.

[Motown 454]

I love seeing new parts!