Ken Varley's 1972 Cutlass
Step OneAugust 2014 - Get it home and clean it up. It was a mess but Ken could see the diamond in the rough. Suspension was tired and the transmission was clunky. A true U code Cutlass, Factory 455, TH 400 & Dual Exhaust.
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Step TwoClean up the engine. This engine was rebuilt a few years ago and has very little mileage on it. The only issue... One Brain Surgeon thought it was a good idea to paint it Orange to match the car and then a Rocket Scientist purchased the car an decided to spray bomb over the orange. Needless to say, it was time to paint and reseal the entire engine.
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ThreeHere is Pete Thorn praying to the Oldsmobile gods to bring him such a beautiful engine. The engine was repaired using period correct parts and Ken removed all of the chrome components for replacement with original.
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Recent News
The motor was dropped back in, Factory Air Induction added. The original factory TH 400 Transmission was cleaned, rebuilt and added to the rebuilt driveline.
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Suspension updated, new wheels and she is ready to burn rubber!
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Spring 2016 Update
After installing a new power steering pump and rewiring the headlights this winter, it is time to wake up the old 442 for some performance improvements and maintenance. Here it sits after the first run of the season on March 27, 2016.
Next week the process will begin to install boxed control arms, anti-sway bars and front springs. The new fan and shroud are on order as well as a new wiring harness.
After installing a new power steering pump and rewiring the headlights this winter, it is time to wake up the old 442 for some performance improvements and maintenance. Here it sits after the first run of the season on March 27, 2016.
Next week the process will begin to install boxed control arms, anti-sway bars and front springs. The new fan and shroud are on order as well as a new wiring harness.
Summer 2016 Update
Pulled the dash and it was a complete hornet's nest of wiring. 40 years of twisting god knows what together and the addition of single polarity bulbs in double polarity sockets either burned through wires, shorted them out or damaged them beyond repair.
The images below show some of the damage before the car was rewired.
Now the car operates like the day it rolled off the show room floor.
A special shout out goes to Greg and his team at DRIVEN PERFORMANCE in Ariss Ontario.
Some of the other work completed:
Rebuilt 8 Track Player
Rebuilt Heater Box & New Core
Trunk Release Repaired
All Lighting Repaired
New Autometer Gauges
Cooling System Rebuild and New Fan Shroud.
Hotchkis Sport Suspension
Pulled the dash and it was a complete hornet's nest of wiring. 40 years of twisting god knows what together and the addition of single polarity bulbs in double polarity sockets either burned through wires, shorted them out or damaged them beyond repair.
The images below show some of the damage before the car was rewired.
Now the car operates like the day it rolled off the show room floor.
A special shout out goes to Greg and his team at DRIVEN PERFORMANCE in Ariss Ontario.
Some of the other work completed:
Rebuilt 8 Track Player
Rebuilt Heater Box & New Core
Trunk Release Repaired
All Lighting Repaired
New Autometer Gauges
Cooling System Rebuild and New Fan Shroud.
Hotchkis Sport Suspension