Custom Cruisers

Well, this is my first post as a member of this site, so please don't yell at my ignorance quite yet. Does anybody know where to find parts for Gen 2 Olds Custom Cruisers? Some advise on getting more power on a budget would awesome, too.

 

Hi bass,welcome to the forum. I don't have any sources for you but there are others that will respond shortly I'm sure.

 

"parts" is pretty general, bass....but the 80's GM B body wagons are not easy to find parts for anymore. You need to be specific.
More power in that Olds 307 is going to be a problem without an engine swap. You can trust me on the latter comment. I've had many of these wagons. HTH

 

That's pretty much what I hear from people around here. If I'm lucky, I'll have enough cash to build a 350 or 383 over the winter, but as of now I'm just looking for some tricks to give her a boost. The hills around here are ridiculous, not to mention the 230 inches of snow coming in a few months.

 

I'm sorry, you said specific. Is there anything you can do to the q-jet or the intake for a few extra horses?

 

Well...you COULD strap on a Edelbrock manifold and carb but then you would be eliminating the CCC and some puter things peripherally connected to that system. Bottom line is...the 307 is not built for mods. At least not cheap ones. The intakes look about the size of pencil leads.
A 350 or 383 is nice but won't fit nearly as easily as an Olds engine. Since the 307 is an Olds engine in there now, I would suggest an Olds 350 or 455. They bolt right up. I built a couple of these wagons with built 455's in them. It makes for a pretty awesome driver if you can take the MPG hit.

 

I'm assuming by "gen 2" that you mean the 1977-1990 cars (Olds used the Custom Cruiser name on sedans in the 1940s). In any case, the 77-79 cars used the 350 and 403 as optional motors. Any 1964-1990 Olds V8 is a direct bolt-in, though the small blocks (330-350-403) are a little easier since they have the same deck height as the 307. The big block 400-425-455 motors have a taller deck height and thus things like manifolds and accessory brackets need to change. If you have a 1985-90 307 with the roller cam and 7A heads, don't waste a dime on it. The 1980-84 motors have some potential and will respond to an intake and dual exhaust swap. On the other hand if you're looking for some magic no-cost thing to gain 50 HP, keep looking...

 

Yeah, I know a guy that will help me build or find an olds 350, but he has a 383 right now and is trying to convince me to buy it. I have the 7A heads, and i can't find 5A's anywhere so eventually I WILL swap it, but i'm short on cash until winter.

 

------------- We are not yelling AT YOU. We are yelling with you! Glad you joined us. As you already found out, we can dish out the advice. I'm dishin the idea of grabbing that 383 and going from there. Anything you do with that 307 is a waste of time and money. Large snow tires, chains, and nerves of steel may also come in handy way up North! PS, the real yelling comes after we see piuctures and get to know you better!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome, post some pictures.

 

Haha thanks ! chains and tires were the first things I got, actually. I'm sorry but pictures aren't coming for a while yet, because I can't find the USB cable for my camera. In reality I can't do anything major until may or so, so I don't know if that 383 will still be there. After I sell the '89 cruiser though, I might just buy the engine and just put it aside for a while. Any advise on that?

 

bass...are you having fun yet? Great place huh?

 

yeah, this place has lots of cool rides and useful info! I'm really happy i stumbled across this website. i'm still pretty ignorant of how it works, but i'm slowy but surely learning the ropes.

 

Sorry to hear about the USB cable. These guys are picture junkies. They offer more help the more pictures they see.

I can't wait to see pictures and see how your engin-eering goes. I am doing something similar. I am building an engine on the side, but for a Pontiac. If it was a Chevy or Ford we would have no problem upgrading. Seems like everything is made for them.