Project Highway Star - 72 Cutlass

[car_designer]

Here is my project. I bought this car in the summer of 2010, while on vacation in Arizona. I figured since I was there anyway, why not look at cars. This one looked like a nice solid car. I knew it needed paint, a new carb and lots of interior work, but the price was right.

It's a 1972 Cutlass S Sports Coupe (post coupe). It has an Olds 350 V8 and th350 transmission. It has power drum brakes and the original style suspension components. These are things I would like to upgrade and the reason I joined the forum.

I was looking at many of the other project threads and noticed projects are named. I don't have a name for mine yet. I'll take suggestions

Here is the car how I bought it.










The interior just needs a little work, right?

[BulldawgMusclecars]

It's always good to see another Olds! I have 2 going together in my shop right now.

[BCHALK22]

Big red! ..... Red robin!

[SparkyRnD]

Welcome to the forums, and great looking car! I own Sabre, one of the Cutlaii that BullDawg is currently building. For yours, Red Rocket would be fitting if you kept it red (Rev. Horton Heat had a rockabilly song about that if I recall correctly)

[SparkyRnD]

..... Red robin!

yumm!

[car_designer]

Great ideas, but it won't be staying red.

I have been looking at the Sabre project thread, and I like it.

[SparkyRnD]

thanks, we're very excited to see it all come together. We are hoping to race at several of the ASCS (American Street Car Series) races, and if possible, the Hot Rod Power Tour and Holley LS Fest.

[72Cutty]

Looks like a good car to start with. I'll be interested to see what you do with the interior as mine needs a makeover too.

[car_designer]

For now the interior won't be getting any major changes. I have bought a good dash for it and a like new front bench as well. Door panels are on order and for now that is all that I am doing to the interior. I have been thinking about bucket seats for it, but that is a future plan.

It did look like a solid car, unfortunately, once the paint was stripped, we found that the passenger side door and quarter panel were hit at some point.



While the car was at the shop, I decided to paint the engine. Here it is cleaned and primed and then painted in Olds Gold. I am not using the valve covers that are on the engine right now, so i didn't bother doing anything to them. The oil fill tube has since been repainted.

[csouth]

Nice to see another Cutlass around. Not sure on if you plan on keeping the drivetrain Olds? Their small blocks can make good power but its not cheap. Can't help with the project name, but I'm here if you have any Olds related quest or may even have some original parts if needed.

[carguykeith]

If you can wade through the BS, there is a lot of good tech on realoldspower.com. There are several Olds people on here that can help out too, feel free to ask.

[csouth]

If you can wade through the BS, there is a lot of good tech on realoldspower.com. There are several Olds people on here that can help out too, feel free to ask.

I second that. I guess the good thing is you'll have a hard time even getting a account registered to post. Search, read your info and get out...lol

[car_designer]

I am a member of realoldspower

Chris, I do plan on keeping an Olds engine in it. The one in it now seems to be pretty good now.

Next update, engine:

After painting the block by brush, I wanted to take the oil pan off to spray along with the valve covers to get a smoother finish. When I took the oil pan off and looked in it, I saw a bunch of small pieces of something in it. Turns out it was the plastic coating from the cam timing gear. After taking off the timing cover, it was obvious where the plastic came from and I was quite surprised by how loose the timing chain was now. So the engine now has a new oil pump, timing gears and chain.

[car_designer]

A friend suggested a name for the project: Highway Star.

[Jeff70]

I have a Olds 350 in my convertible and with 154k mi i'm almost positive it has the original timing gear and chain.

I was telling myself recently I should probably change it before something bad happens. After that pic I think its a must.

[car_designer]

Not a bad idea. I'm just glad I took the oil pan off to paint it.

[car_designer]

Finally decided on a name for the project. It was actually a friend who suggested Highway Star.

Today's update: cleaning up the engine compartment.

This is not a frame off project, but the painter suggested things he could paint while the front end was off the car to clean it up. He painted the firewall, the front of the frame, the brake booster and master cylinder and the steering box. I also painted the control arms.





And just to compare, here is the engine compartment when I bought the car.



And here it is now. Ignore the valve covers, they are going to be replaced.



Next update: Starting on the interior.

[csouth]

Nice prgress you're making. I can't wait for some of my parts to arrive so I can start moving again....

[Sincitycutty]

Looks good man!!! cant wait to see more updates

[car_designer]

Update on the interior. The dash in the car when I bought it was blue (the original colour, but the rest had been replaced or repainted black) and cracked. I found a good condition one at an Olds show swap meet, mostly painted black, but had some still gold. I painted it all black last summer.

Here is part of it as bought.



Here it is after paint.



I am not a huge fan of wood grain so I was thinking about what else I could replace it with. I was thinking about carbon fibre, or just painting sections of the dash a different colour. But I finally decided on this. It is simulated brushed aluminum.

Dash before



Dash after



I still need to add it to the glove box door and door panels.