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I just wanted to start a build thread for my 85 cutlass. I have been working on it for a while and I have a build thread on gbodyforum that I made when I started working on it, but I figured I would start one on here since I have been a member on here for a little while.
Junkyard Ly6 with 70k miles.
$300 cutlass with 3.8 v6. Ran and drove.
The car originally came from California so it is pretty rust free.
The door bottoms were shot from the weather stripping being dry-rotted. Ended up buying another set.
Converted to manual steering and manual brakes.
Ls1 motor mounts.
Last edited by Garrett1982; 08-27-2015 at 06:22 PM.
Reason: Wrong picture
Thank you. Still a work in progress. The engine is at the machine shop right now. I have a Cam Motion custom grind, 228/242 .629/.606 111lsa. GMPP single plane, Holley 850, vvt eliminated, LS7 lifters, comp pushrods, comp beehives, comp trunnion upgrade, H3 oil pan. Going to get a Rossler terminator 2 th400 soon and a vigilante converter. Just got my s60 from Strange. 4.10s, spool, 35 spline. I need to get my cage welded in soon too.
I have that same rear end in my cutty but with tru trac. I just finished mine so if you have any questions let me know. I'm curios to see what your ly6 will put out with that cam
I had Strange put big late Ford 9" housing ends on so I can use the Right Stuff disc kit that goes for $355 or something around there on Summit. Has 11" discs with Ford and GM bolt patterns and one piston calipers with parking brake.
I really haven't had the time to write about my build, just posting some pictures up until now. I just wanted to talk about what I am doing with it and some goals. I am shooting for a $10k total invested car that will run 10's and can drive to the strip. I started with a low rust $300 car so that helps. My uncle has a machine shop and he specializes in Chevy engines, especial LS ones, so that also helps. I am not building a daily driver or a show car so I can save some money by not installing a complete interior. I had thoughts of going turbo but I wanted to keep this as simple as possible for my first build of this magnitude. Maybe down the road I will switch or start another build that is turbo ls powered. I am hoping to have around 500rwhp and be at 3000lbs. or less. It is going to be tough with an iron block, th400, and an S60. Maybe a fiberglass hood, no heat and a/c, manual brakes and steering, electric water pump, crash bars cut out, Kirkey seats, lack of the rest of the interior will offset the added weight. I welcome any suggestions I can get for the future and maybe there are a few guys out there that appreciate builds like this. I don't think it can be called low budget but it has a budget and I am just trying to get it all to come together.
Thanks for the comments. Yeah it isn't going to be wasy to get the weight down. I was just looking at lightweight steering columns and core supports today.
Moroso trick springs came in today. Now I can mount the rear in place. I already have some Summit 3way adjustable drag shocks and have the upper and lower control arms. Just lacking a rear sway bar but I will add one later on when I figure out what I'm going to use.
Got the rearend in and everything tightened up. Also installed the motor mounts and the tubular upper a-arms. I'll have to order my front springs so I can get the front suspension all together. Close to being a roller again.
08-27-2015, 12:54 PM
85 Cutlass LY6 build 
