The original owner wanted a 442, but the pricetag on a 442 was a little out of reach, so this 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass S was ordrered new with every 442 option except for the 455 Olds engine. It's got the bucket seats, 4-speed, Outside Air Induction fiberglass hood, sway bars, disc brakes... and a 350 4-barrel. It's an interesting car, and here's where the journey back to greatness begins.
Our transformation includes building an Olds diesel-block based stroker motor with the help of BTR Performance , a Bullseye Power turbocharger, FAST XFI fuel injection, a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed, and a pro-touring style suspension and brake package. Follow the build here!
In this chapter of our S71 Olds build, we are completing the install of our Bullseye Power 75 mm turbo, our fabricated turbo piping, Bell intercooler , and the Be Cool Radiator . All of the exhaust tubing and turbine housing parts were coated by Extreme Powder Coating using their 2200° high temperature black ceramic coating to keep them looking new. The charge air tubing was painted with Eastwood's high temperature Nano Ceramic engine paint, which is a very durable paint suitable for parts reaching regular engine temperatures. The be cool radiator module encompasses a pair of Spal electric fans, and Be Cool guarantees it to cool engines up to 1000 HP. We installed a Turbo Smart Reaceport blow-off valve inline with the air intake to help keep the turbo spooled-up during shifts. To help reduce underhood air temperatures and to make our turbo system more efficient, we installed a DEI Titanium Turbo Shield , which is made from lava rock strands that can withstand temperatures over 1800°. We also wrapped our turbo exhaust with DEI Titanium Exhaust Wrap to keep the hot exhaust gas in the tubing and underhood temperatures down. A K & N air filter and various silicone connectors from IntakeHoses.com completed the intake tubing. In the coming chapters, we will complete the ISIS Intelligent Multiplex wiring system install and FAST Fuel Injection installs before firing up the S71 Olds!
In this chapter, we're fabricating the hardware and tubing needed to install the Bulleseye Power 75 MM extended tip turbo from Outlaw Turbo Motorsports into our 1971 Olds Cutlass S71 project. The install required mating the stock exhaust to the custom turbo mount, then sending the exhaust out the custom MagnaFlow 3" dual exhaust system. Other tasks include installing the large Bell intercooler in the nose of the car, installing a TurboSmart Race Port 50 wastegate, and fabricating all the tubing to manage the airflow. In the next chapter, we high-temp coat the parts, install the TurboSmart blow off valve, complete the tubing, and address the cooling and oiling systems.
This is part 9 in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". In this chapter, Trovato takes us through the process of installing the MSD Pro-Billet distributor that has been modified by FAST to work with the FAST XFI fuel injection system. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is part 8 in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". This video outlines the choice of the Edelbrock intake manifold and the installation of the FAST fuel injectors and rails. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is part 7 in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". This time, Trovato installs the roller lifters, Comp Cams pushrods and rocker arms, and shows us how to adjust them. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is part 6 in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". This time, Trovato shows us how to properly torque the Edelbrock aluminum heads using ARP fasteners and molybdenum lube. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is part 5 in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". This time, Trovato installs the custom grind Comp camshaft and Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is the fourth in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". In this installment, Trovato installs the piston rings on the pistons and installs the pistons and rods on the crankshaft. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is the third in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". In this installment, Trovato discusses rear main seals and installing JE pistons onto Lunati H-Beam connecting rods using spiral locks. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is the second in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". In this installment, Trovato covers crankshaft installation. Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
This is the first in a multi-part series covering the custom 422 cubic-inch stroker engine build performed by master engine builder Bill Trovato at BTR Performance for our turbocharged 1971 Olds project called the "S71". Although this video series features and Olds engine, the valuable, race-proven techniques shown by Trovato apply to any performance engine build.
Check out this huge Bell intercooler we stuffed in the nose of the S71 Olds. Tonight we did the first trial fitting, we've got a long way to go, but we're looking pretty good so far!
Choosing a color for your project can be tricky. Our 1971 Oldsmobile "S71" Project was originally Viking Blue with white stripes, but we wanted to jazz it up a bit with some Warp Speed Blue and Snowstorm White stripes from the DuPont Hot Hues line. In this video, we take an extra fender and spray out a test panel to see how the colors looked. We also wetsand and buff the car using the 3M Trizact Perfect-It system. Click "Read More" for photos!
Our '71 Olds Cutlass "S71" is going to make some power with the help of a 76mm turbocharger built by Bullseye Power that we got from Outlaw Turbo Motorsports . Our buddy Brett Evans came by to help with the install, and in this video, Brett takes us through the anatomy of the Bullseye Turbo and why we chose it.
Our Olds is going to be powered by a 400 + cubic inch, FAST fuel injected , Bullseye Power Turbocharged Olds engine built by BTR Performance , which means it's going to make alot of power. It also means the car is going to need a stout fuel supply to keep up with the engine. Today, we're looking at the components of our FAST Fuel System In A Box including the fuel pump, filters, regulator, y-block, and all the included wiring and fittings. We're also taking a sidebar to explain the mystery behind AN and NPT fittings and what those "dash" numbers mean. Download the Earl's Thread Size Guide here!
After almost four decades of use, the original dash in our Olds project vehicle needs help. It’s completely dried out, cracking and totally discolored. We contacted the folks at Just Dashes, in Van Nuys, CA to work their magic on the pad. If you have your original vent grilles, include them with your pad for proper fitting during restoration.
Just Dashes will grind the surface of this pad, install a new layer of closed cell, high-density foam and re-skin it in the correct Haircell grain vinyl. Most vinyl pads from the Sixties and Seventies have experienced years of foam expansion and contraction, causing he surface to crack and split. Today’s foam is more resilient and will last for many more years than the original.
Here’s an overview of the mostly hand-done restoration process, coupled with a short video demonstration on the Thermo Vacuum Forming machine doing its incredible work. If you’re interested in having your dash, and/or other interior vinyl parts restored, contact Just Dashes, 800-247-3274, www.justdashes.com . Click Read More for photos!
Sometimes the simple solution eludes you. In this case, we've been gearing up for the turbocharger install on the S71 Olds project. We've got our diesel block and new parts set aside, and we're using the original 350 engine to mock up how we want the turbo to fit in the car. We were expecting a ton of fambrication, as turbo manifolds or headers are not readily available for 1971 Olds 350 engines, and we were expecting to have to make our own. However, after studying the stock manifolds, a potential solution became apparant. From a performance standpoint, turbo cars don't seem to care if you're running headers or manifolds, the power levels are similar. And cast iron is as strong as anything when it comes to exhaust parts. We notices that the Olds manifolds had a provision for the single exhaust version cars that merges the left and right exhaust pipes together... can we use this factory style setup to build our turbo exhaust? Let's find out!
In this phase of the S71 Dash construction, we're integrating the Auto Meter volt meter, boost gauge, and stereo mounting face into the lower parts of the dash. Once the pieces were cut and fit, they were sandblasted and powdercoated, then the plastic dash was trimmed to accomodate the gauge itself. Here you can also see the 3M adhesive we used to mount the face to the original bezel in the top part of the dash. We are still seeking out the "right" indicators for the signals and high beams, but they can be added anytime before final assembly. The last part will be to have the dash pad restored by Just Dashes, then it gets assembled and wired!
