remember when
I started driving in the late 50's so I grew up with the muscle cars of the 60's and 70's. I never had a true muscle car but did have some big V8's. Back then you either had a stick or a 3 speed auto...
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Awesome pics!
The Buick makes me smile! I have always wanted a GN. Nearly bought one a few years ago but didn't get it. Too much $$$ Similar body to the Cutlass coupe of that era.
I still have my old 81 Cutlass Calais I bought in 88. Came with the infamous POS GM 5.7 diesel. Knocked a rod out of it back in the early 90's and it sat in my garage for about 8 years.
My original plan was to grab an old Cad 472 and stuff it in there but would have had to massage the upper control arms and a bunch of other stuff so decided to find the best small block BOP option.
One day I pulled it apart, scrapped the garbage engine and built up a late 80's 403 from a wrecked T/A. They came with a paltry 7.9 squeeze and there were no aftermarket pistons available at that time. Just the stock soup plates. I wanted some flat tops but none around. So I found some early mid 60's 331 small chamber heads and built those up. End result was just a smidge under 10:1. Perfect! Though I had to use premium, it runs on street gas.
Built up a TH400 to put behind it and away I go. Oh yeah and the diesel came with really long legs so I swapped the diff out for something I don't even remember any more. 3:21? Or around there.
I never clocked the thing but wow! Was it ever quick. Always had trouble keeping the tires glued down but that thing would come out if the hole like a rocket! Fun car, had a lot of good times ripping up pavement with it! And what a sleeper! Totally stock on the outside, left the diesel badging on it but took off the pimp hubcaps and found some nice rally rims.
Car sits a lot now as it wouldn't pass BC's emission controls.
I moved to Alberta and have the thing sitting broken in storage until I can see my way to fixing it again.
I moved it when I sold my stick and bricks and pounded on it a little too hard. Hand on the T shift watching the tach climb, foot stuffed right into it I busted the tranny and had to push it to where it now rests collecting moss.
I'll fix it again some day!
The Buick makes me smile! I have always wanted a GN. Nearly bought one a few years ago but didn't get it. Too much $$$ Similar body to the Cutlass coupe of that era.
I still have my old 81 Cutlass Calais I bought in 88. Came with the infamous POS GM 5.7 diesel. Knocked a rod out of it back in the early 90's and it sat in my garage for about 8 years.
My original plan was to grab an old Cad 472 and stuff it in there but would have had to massage the upper control arms and a bunch of other stuff so decided to find the best small block BOP option.
One day I pulled it apart, scrapped the garbage engine and built up a late 80's 403 from a wrecked T/A. They came with a paltry 7.9 squeeze and there were no aftermarket pistons available at that time. Just the stock soup plates. I wanted some flat tops but none around. So I found some early mid 60's 331 small chamber heads and built those up. End result was just a smidge under 10:1. Perfect! Though I had to use premium, it runs on street gas.
Built up a TH400 to put behind it and away I go. Oh yeah and the diesel came with really long legs so I swapped the diff out for something I don't even remember any more. 3:21? Or around there.
I never clocked the thing but wow! Was it ever quick. Always had trouble keeping the tires glued down but that thing would come out if the hole like a rocket! Fun car, had a lot of good times ripping up pavement with it! And what a sleeper! Totally stock on the outside, left the diesel badging on it but took off the pimp hubcaps and found some nice rally rims.
Car sits a lot now as it wouldn't pass BC's emission controls.
I moved to Alberta and have the thing sitting broken in storage until I can see my way to fixing it again.
I moved it when I sold my stick and bricks and pounded on it a little too hard. Hand on the T shift watching the tach climb, foot stuffed right into it I busted the tranny and had to push it to where it now rests collecting moss.
I'll fix it again some day!
