The Oldsmobile Connection

bigdog · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

I want more launch from my 77 Cutlass. She does fine once she is off the line. But a little quicker would help me. don't want to go broke either.

87Delta · Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 678 Location: Mississippi

If you want better launch then buy some stickier tires. Also practice makes perfect.

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3049 Location: Michigan, USA

I think it would be proper to ask what you have done so far? Is it completely stock or have you done any modifications to it? Then we can go from there.

TOC Admin
Brando

88 Coupe · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: little more speed

Hi bigdog, hello everyone,

Quote: ........ I have a 77 Cutlass ........
Tell us about it.
Is the carb 2 or 4 barrels?
Is the engine/powertrain original and/or is it up to handling more power?

Quote: ........ would love more horses from bolt ons ........
How much are you looking for? Not much bang for the buck from just bolt ons.
What's your budget?
What's your skill/experience level?
What will you use the car for, and what are your long term plans for it?
Since every modification is a trade off, how much comfort/driveability are you willing to give up for more power?

Your answers to the above questions will help provide the path to the most gain for the least cash.

Best start, is a standard tune up, along with a compression test.

Quote: ........ need more launch because it takes awhile to get the weight moving ........
Best way is to change to lower rear end gears. What ratio depends on your answers to the above questions.

Regards, Norm

bigdog · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

My 77 Cutlass is stock. Just really acquired it. 4 barrel carb with the 350 olds rocket engine. Did put flowmasters on it and she sounds beautiful. Like I said once she is gone she is gone. Just getting out of the hole seems sluggish because of the weight of car I guess. She gets way pass anything on the dash with no problem. I usually go about 25-30 mph and nail it if I'm messing with somebody and usually do real well. I drive it everyday and she is very comfortable. People are always askig to buy it. But I look at them like they are crazy.

DrRansom442 · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 90 Location: St Charles MO

bigdog wrote: My 77 Cutlass is stock. Just really acquired it. 4 barrel carb with the 350 olds rocket engine. Did put flowmasters on it and she sounds beautiful. Like I said once she is gone she is gone. Just getting out of the hole seems sluggish because of the weight of car I guess. She gets way pass anything on the dash with no problem. I usually go about 25-30 mph and nail it if I'm messing with somebody and usually do real well. I drive it everyday and she is very comfortable. People are always askig to buy it. But I look at them like they are crazy.

weight reduction is like free horsepower

bigdog · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

still waiting on you guys to help me get this 77 Cutlass out of the starting block quicker

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1233 Location: Ames, IA

bigdog wrote: still waiting on you guys to help me get this 77 Cutlass out of the starting block quicker

88coupe wrote:

bigdog wrote:
........ would love more horses from bolt ons ........

How much are you looking for? Not much bang for the buck from just bolt ons.
What's your budget?
What's your skill/experience level?
What will you use the car for, and what are your long term plans for it?
Since every modification is a trade off, how much comfort/driveability are you willing to give up for more power?

Your answers to the above questions will help provide the path to the most gain for the least cash.

Best start, is a standard tune up, along with a compression test.

bigdog wrote:
........ need more launch because it takes awhile to get the weight moving ........

Best way is to change to lower rear end gears. What ratio depends on your answers to the above questions.

Regards, Norm

Answering said questions would be a good start...

Andrew

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1233 Location: Ames, IA

btw, when you want a thread to return to the top, you reply to your FIRST post with "TTT" if it has fallen down the list of threads. Threads are listed in order of last reply, so if your thread is still at or near the top there is no need to start a new thread or post "ttt" in a thread.

So in closing...

We will help as soon as we get there.

Andrew

btw, welcome to TOC!

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

andrewwk, i love the chill pill. I am going to have to steal that image. 250,000mg... hahaha!!!

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:30 am Post subject: Re: getn the 77 moving

Hi All,

Looks like Deja Vous all over again.

Haven't yet been able to understand how some people can expect everyone on the internet to jump at his/her command.

bigdog wrote: still waiting on you guys ........
Being rude will not get quicker responses, especially when you haven't read those you've already received.

Regards, Norm

RednBlackCutlass · Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 103

If I may, first thing to do is reduce weight. Not always so easy. Sticker tires help a lot!.

If you can spare a few hundred bucks, get a cam and a stall convertor. Headers would help too. These 3 things will add quite a few ponies, on a budget, without getting in too deep.

There are also HP kits for the quadrajet. And I'm not sure if yours has a vaccum secondary. If it does, you need to change it to progressive linkage. K&N air filter, slightly hotter plugs, Cold Air Intake, shift kits, (B&M makes a good one for the 350 TH), lock-up rear end, maybe a lower gear ratio.

There are tons of bolt ons that help, without getting into the engine too deep. Some of these are not that cheap, depending on what cheap is for you, some are more expensive. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, it helps.

There are so many ways to get a V8 fast. Depends on what you spend.

88 Coupe · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: little more speed

Hi All,

87Delta wrote: If you want better launch then buy some stickier tires ........
Waste of money unless he has a traction problem. He doesn't.

brando wrote: ........ Is it completely stock or have you done any modifications to it? Then we can go from there.
Good Call.

88 Coupe wrote: ........ Best way is to change to lower rear end gears. What ratio depends on your answers to the above questions.
Another good call. 8)

DrRansom442 wrote: weight reduction is like free horsepower
Pretty much everyone knows it to be a fact. Not many know how. Please tell us how he should go about it.

andrewk wrote: Answering said questions would be a good start...
And yet another good call.

andrewk wrote: ........ reply to your FIRST post with "TTT" if it has fallen down the list of threads ........
Or you could post "Bump" as we did when "TTT" still meant "Thought That Too" as in "I agree".

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ get a cam and a stall convertor. Headers would help too........
Cam and Headers will show improvement in the higher RPM, where he is happy with what he has. Stall converter will show little improvement with his current high gears.

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ These 3 things will add quite a few ponies, on a budget, without getting in too deep.........
On whose budget? We don't know what his is, yet.

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ There are also HP kits for the quadrajet........
Please post the link.

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ And I'm not sure if yours has a vaccum secondary. If it does, you need to change it to progressive linkage........
Please explain.

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ K&N air filter, slightly hotter plugs, Cold Air Intake, shift kits ........
Assuming any of these would provide at least some gain, how would any of them improve his 0 to 30 MPH acceleration.

RednBlackCutlass wrote: ........ B&M makes a good one for the 350 TH ........
:laughing: Excuse me, but, a basic home made shift kit is far better than the B&M.

Regards, Norm

DrRansom442 · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 90 Location: St Charles MO

weight reduction is like free horsepower

Pretty much everyone knows it to be a fact. Not many know how. Please tell us how he should go about it.

weight reduction on a 77 shouldn't be hard at all, if the primary concern is the 1/4 mile start getting tid of creature comforts like A/C, the radio, the backseat, carpet, any emissions crap (check local laws first). look into fiberglass replacement parts, lighter front suspension, relocation of weight (i.e. battery to the trunk), this can go on forever. really depends on what his goals and budget are....if the 1/4 is his primary goal, I'd drive the 77 and find something smaller to race

88 Coupe · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:22 am Post subject:

DrRansom442 wrote: ........ A/C, the radio, the backseat, carpet, any emissions crap ........ fiberglass replacement parts, lighter front suspension, relocation of weight (i.e. battery to the trunk) ........
My mistake, I didn't notice he was asking how to build a race car.

Regards, Norm