1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass "S71"

[Steve Firebird]

Wow looks like a lot of metalic or what ever it is in the paint shouild look great. I went to the link and the colors look good.

[rallye bob]

Let's get it on..........

[MarMar]

Just wanted to say,

I have been following this build and really looking forward to see it with color

[Kevin O]

It's been a while since we posted an update on the S71... it's getting pretty complex, and we want to do this one right, so it's taking some time.  Anyway, here are some shots of the body going back on the chassis... a nice turning point!

Click on the little pics to see the big ones!

[Kevin O]

The engine choice has changed a little too. It's still an Olds motor, but we've decided to run a 350 Diesel block based engine. We sourced a DX block from a running 1981 Olds 98 Regency and pulled it apart to see what's inside. These pics show the internals of the Diesel block and the large webbing and overall meatier guts of this block.  It's also a factory roller lifter setup. The next post we'll show you the stock 350 block for comparison. The new recipe as outlined by Bill Trovato at BTR Performance calls for an offset ground Olds 425 crank, high-strength big block Chevy rods, custom pistons, MAHLE coated bearings, and a trick Comp valvetrain to build a 428 cubic-inch Olds stroker. We're running Edelbrock aluminum heads and intake, an MSD ignition, and a complete FAST EFI system on the car.

[Kevin O]

Here you can see the smaller internal webbing supporting the main caps and the otherwise less meaty block of the original 350 engine from the S71 Olds.   

	Logged

Kevin Oeste,  V8TV www.v8tvshow.com

[Kevin O]

Being that this is going to be a turbocharged car, we took a moment to mock up the engine with an idea we had on using the existing exhaust manifolds for the turbocharger.    The idea was to flip the manifolds facing forward and have them exit into a pipe under the engine and up into the turbo on the passenger side front of the engine.     After several tests, we found that this plan won't work... the manifolds hit the steering box and won't let the block mount where we need it to sit.   Incidentally, the 350 block is dimensionally the same as the 350 DX Diesel block for comparison. 

You can also see the filler work had begun on the body by this point.

[Kevin O]

A few more shots of the block in place with and without the original manifolds in place...

[andyo]

also there is a place in waterford winsconsin that is called rocket racing. it is a oldsmobile shop that makes racing engines for only oldsmobiles.
 
http://www.rocketracingperformance.com/index.html

[joe]

so kevin, on the S71 , did you fab a new frame or did you purchase it, like it is in the picture on page one?.....that frame looks a lot better than the 40 year old stock frame....also in the artist rendering, it looks like oldsmobile rally wheels, but the look like 16 - 17 inch rally's, are you gonna have them special made or can you buy them like that?....I am interested in replacing my old frames, 1965 F85, 1972 442 so I was looking at some options at sema and on your projects......thanks keep the S71 updates coming, oh where are you located approx.?..joe in kansas

[Kevin O]

Joe,

We reinforced the stock frame on the S71, but we took some cues from the RS Performance frame in the picture on page 1.    The S71 frame came out pretty nice after being reinforced and de-burred.   

There are several great new frame options out there.    The RS Performance frame is very nice, and so are the Art Morrison MAX G chassis.   A '66 Chevelle recently won a Car Craft shootout on a Schwartz chassis.     Add to that the wide variety of killer bolt-on parts from AirRide, Detroit Speed, Global West, and many others, and you have alot of choices.       

The wheels in the picture are indeed oversize Olds Super Stock IIs.    There is a company working to make these available in 17 and 18 inch diameters, but their progress has taken a while and the price is pretty high, as they are basically 1-offs.    They do look cool, though.  We'll post more info on them if they become available, but right now we're leaning in a different direction with the wheels on the car.   

Our shop is in the midwest.

We've got much more to post on this car, so keep tabs on this thread for more info. 

   

[old44272]

Kevin..

Nice nice nice. Love that color. You guys have been killing me on this build. Can't wait to start on my "S72" next fall. More more more PLEASE!!!!! Give us all the videos you can. If you guys were in Maryland you'd have to get the cops to evict me from your shop. Love all of the other stuff too, not just the S71. Great stuff.

Mike
72 Cutlass
87 Monte SS

[Kevin O]

Thanks Mike!   Sounds like you have some cool cars yourself.   I dig '87 Monte SSs also.

Here's a little more to tide you over... we built the dash face for the Auto Meter Ultralights we got from the YearOne Speed Shop catalog.     This is a little slideshow of the process, it will have more detail in the video.    Yes, the car had a Ford Rotunda tach installed since '71...

We used Blair Holcutters to cut the small gauge holes, and the good old HTP plasma torch to cut the panel and the two large gauge holes.     We're going to put the Boost and Volt gauges in the dash where the ashtray used to be.   

[old44272]

Kevin....

You ROCK

Thanks!!!!

Mike

[Kevin O]

Thank YOU Mike...whatcha think of the dash so far?