1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser "Battle Cruiser" is getting a "new" motor and trans!

Alright, so we're getting this parts mid 1980's Camaro IROC-Z or Z28, can't remember which, but it's got a 350, 700R4, 290 horse, the HO 350. Just over 100k miles


So... I've come to an agreement with my brother, I'll buy the car, $600, this fall, I get the motor and trans, he does whatever he wants with the rest.

I'm pulling the 307 that's in the '86 sometime in spring of 2013, replacing the ball joints, idler arm, springs, shocks, A arm bushings, cleaning the hell out of the firewall, getting a new radiator for a 350, like what they put in the 80's Caprice and Impala B bodies, I'll be using the transmission cooler that's already in the car.

I will be replacing the dis, carb, intake, and water pump on the motor, the dis, and carb are computerized, and the intake is EGR-type, so that has to go aswell. Water pump, just safe measure, it's a bit of a pain and they go after about 130k miles.

All told, $1,400 in the wagon, "New" heart in the old beast, so...

Next up on the list of things to do:

Rear shocks after my father gets a truck, no more air shocks, new springs, new shocks, no more trailer hitch

Put bumpers from 1989 onto 1986

Remove rocker trim on 1986, remove standoff pegs for rocker trim, attempt to replace wheel well stainless trim if damaged

Remove rear interior, rear quarter windows, fill rear windows with sheet metal, panel wagon conversion

Fix damage from rear windows leaking

Swap tailgate from 1989 to 1986 Custom Cruiser.

Figure out how to make rear window defroster from 1989 work in 1986

Begin changing interior from 1989 to 1986 Custom Cruiser.

New stereo, 4 speakers, head unit, nothing fancy.

Figure out how to make door mounted seat controls from 1989 work in 1986

Fix other body damage, more primer on the Battle Cruiser

Eventually clean up and ready for paint, staying tan, cannot afford conversion to another color.

Anyway, I've been talking about this for a while, now it'll finally start to come together.

 

A man with a plan! Good luck with it, dead. I hope it all stays on track and works out for you. Just think...that car is going to have a new life and give you a lot of pleasure for bringing it back! Gotta love seeing an old wagon evolve into a strong and faithful runner!

 

Motor in it is alright, 307 with, quite honestly, unknown mileage, it was rebuilt about ten years ago, my father thinks it's around 70k, but I think it's closer to 90 or 100k.

I just want more power, and it won't eat anymore gas than the 307, maybe less 'cause I won't have my foot in the carburetor trying to get the girl up to speed fast as I like too, which is often quite faster than I need to.

Anyway, mostly it's just 'cause, I really like that car, I absolutely love it to be honest, I want the old girl to have more grunt, she barely sinks you in your seat now, but I know that 350 will throw you in your seat.

There is no reason to replace the 307 other than the fact that it is a 307, not much power output, ton of torque.

I will not be gaining torque, just power, which will be fun, just not for my tires, but I usually get them cheap used, pulls, junkyard fresh, they end up in the junkyard either new on a wreck of a (or wrecked literally) SUV or truck, or in a pile where someone for some stupid reason threw out good tires.

Got a set up at the junkyard my father is gonna get for it, 235/75R15's, good years I think, they'll do good on this tank.

Anyway, thanks for the good will, if you watched the vid's I posted on the '86 and '89, you know the '89 has a great interior, and the '86 does not, that is going to change soon.

 

Looks like a european license plate. What country ?

 

He's in one of those far away places called Roanoke, VA. But this is an old post. Seems like he's swapped cars a few hundered times since then.