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.
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!
