I dont know that he really is. Sounds like he wants a faster driver to me. I agree with Ransom though, drive the 77 and get something lighter to race. It would be much better in the long run.

Andrew

Thanks everyone for the tips. I apprecate it. And I wasn't trying to be rude earlier just persistent. now that we are on the same page we are OLDSRIGHT!!! I really need that first burst from 0-35 mph range. I don't want a fullblown race car. i want people to look at it and see all of the luxury a 77 Cutlass brought, but then when I pull away from the light they are like damn!!! It gets respect from 45mph on through.

No problem with your intent. Persistence in this type venue can be only be perceived as rude.


Still no problem with your intent. It is also seen as rude, in any medium, to continue to ask the same question after it's been answered several times.


I already assumed a supercharged race engine was not in your budget.

Full = race engine.
Blown = Supercharged.
Full Blown = Supercharged race engine.


From his original post, we all know he's not. DrRansom442s post would apply to one who is, and, in this case it only confuses the issue.


Should have added: "and how would it apply to this thread?". My bad.

Regards, Norm

Hi bigdog, all,

Back to business.

First step is still a complete tune up (Using OEM quality parts), and including a compression test.

I reread the thread, and you did answer some of my questions. You still have not answered the important ones.



How much burst?

The Cutlass in my sig, is a 350/350 4 barrel. If I chose to improve my 0 to 30 times, I would lower the rear end ratio. My choice will be different than than yours, based on my own answers to the same questions.

Six cars in my sig have different ratios and all, except the Cutlass, are geared perfectly for my intended use.

Regards, Norm

My budget is o.k. just not $1000's and $1000's. i want to drive it comfortably and everyday if I have to. Someone mentioned something about torque converter and gears. If so what type of each would be good. I have experience in street racing , just Chevy camaro's.

"From his original post, we all know he's not. DrRansom442s post would apply to one who is, and, in this case it only confuses the issue"

personally I'd ahve to disagree, he wants to keep the car as original as possible from my understanding and well a 77 has 2 strikes against it, its heavy its not aerodynamic. My advice works for making ANY car faster...if he wants to maintain an all steal body with a full interior, then to go faster, he's needs to look into spending some $ to go fast

Well i do agree with it being heavy. But damn she gets down the road after i am out of the block. So i know if I go some more launch i would be hell.

Hi All,


Can't argue with that. However, one can argue what is or is not practical for a given application.

I remember, one of the car mags put a stock '70s Cadillac into the 11s using nothing but a sawzall and air chisel. They proved your point, but they also proved mine.

To achieve the same gain as the combo I advised below, he might have to remove as much as 800 pounds. Need I say more?


And my Coupes are not? If you think I have a lot of cash in them, you've been reading ROP too much.

Knowledge and experience are a great substitute for writing checks.


Now I understand what you want to do. Organized street racing is way different than a Dragstrip, although many Pros do their tuning at T&T sessions.

Use the same combination of XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX you used in your Camaro. It's been the choice of street racers at your level for 40 plus years. Should be under $1200, including labor, if you have it done.

If you don't do all three at once, do XXXX first.

Curious. With your experience, why would you ask for performance advice from a message board?

Regards, Norm

EDIT: Misunderstood his street racing reply, to mean "organized" street racing. Holding back numbers, pending more info from bigdog.

Wasn't it 4 threads on the same topic?

Now I'm done.

1
2
3
4
Plus this one = 5

bigdog, in case you missed it in three of your previous threads, I'll try one last time

"And my Coupes are not? If you think I have a lot of cash in them, you've been reading ROP too much. Knowledge and experience are a great substitute for writing checks"

I am not trying to start an arguement for one, but comeon a race ready 50 Olds, there is a guy around here goes by the name "Tinker" he also has a "low-buck" all-steel car (I think his is a forty-eight)....I believe Tink said his car back halved, 6pt bar has a fighting weight of under 3000 pounds with nothing but a barely breathed on single 4 barrel 455 .060" over runs solid 11s. A 77 Cutlass has to be close to 4000 lbs minus driver, while yes stripping the car to nothing may not be practical for everyday use, if he is trying to go low-buck weight loss is his best bet....otherwise that maybe 200 horsepower smogger engine, is going to need some attention. I do 100% agree if he hopes to get anywhere at any speed, gears need to be addressed, I highly doubt the car has better than 3.08:1 gears...a mid gear like a 3:42:1 would be a good upgrade, if he considers an overdrive trans 3:73:1 would be VERY feesible and not ruin highway gas mileage, but if you do nothing more then gears and tires, I think you will find freeway cruising is going to be seriously compromised. figure out what weight you can shed, swap in some gears, make sure you have some decent performance tires and think about some low-buck engine upgrades...in no time you will see vast improvements

It's called a discussion, and its what forums/message boards are all about. You made a generalized statement, and we're interested in making it more specific to bigdogs needs.


Two near stock, drive anywhere, cruisers. I don't do race cars.


What do he and his car have to do with this thread? What's your point?


My coupes weigh just under 4000# each, have stock suspensions front and rear, and run on unleaded pump gas. If they weighed 3000# they would run high 10s, and still drive anywhere. Looks like you're trying to compare apples and oranges. If not, what's your point?


Not in any of my cars. First thing I did was cut the cage out of my Red Coupe. I have the time slip, so I don't need to return to the strip.


What a coincidence. About the same as my Coupes.


He's street racing. If it doesn't look stock, he won't get his bets covered, and he won't make any money. How much weight do you think he can lose without it looking obvious?


Do I sense, you have something against emissions equipment?


2.4 or 2.6 would be a better guess, but what do I know?


He wants to participate in street racing competion, not Grand Touring.


Since his street racing experience is with Camaros, and he's new to Olds, he asked for specifics. How and what to shed? What gear ratio? What tires? What engine upgrades?

I'm also curious, because I've never done a '77 Cutlass.

Regards, Norm

Thanks, I didn't see this one.

Thanks out to all who are trying to help me. i am new to the Olds game and am just trying to feel my way. I joined the Olds Connection to help me with this. Didn't know that I was actually annoying some people(73 Delta 88). Thanks again to all who are trying to help me.