w31clone
01-04-2009, 03:16 PM
Hi, I’m new to this forum and I’ll let you know what I’m working on. A long time ago when I was a senior in high school I drove a brand new 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass W-31. At the time my father was an Oldsmobile dealer in Carlisle, Pa. This was a fast car in the height of the muscle car era. Unfortunately, in September of 1970 I had to give the car up to go to college. Let’s fast forward to October 2005. I got bitten by the car bug thanks to my son’s interest in cars and attendance to many car shows I purchased a 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 on e-bay. I have been in the process of converting the Rallye 350 to a much improved version of a W-31 clone since I purchased it. A brief summary of modifications to date; include a complete Hotchkis suspension lowering original ride height by 1”, 4 wheel disk brakes Baer 13” Track kit including stainless steel brake lines, complete overhaul of “O” rearend 3.42:1 limited slip, MSD ignition system & alternator, Dick Miller serpentine belt drive, Mondello professionally built Oldsmobile 350(0.030” overbore, all new except block, forged crank & pistons, 11:1 Comp ratio, H-beam rods, Edelbrock heads, Edelbrock 7111 manifold, stage 3 Quadrajet carb., ceramic coated Mondello headers, blueprinted & balanced), complete Aeromotive fuel system, Fuelsafe 22G. fuel cell. The frame was completely stripped, sandblasted & powder coated along with many other suspension & frame components. The body was sent to a local body shop for “show quality” body work & paint work. It was there 22 months. The work included chemical stripping, dry media stripping(walnut shells & plastic beads), rust repair, endless hours of filling & blocking, priming with 3 types of paint, color(millennium yellow from Corvette fame), many coats of clear, stripping, many more coats of clear, and many hours of hand finishing & machine compounding. Now, I’m doing the wiring, plumbing, engine bay details, custom dash etc. Expected finish date May 2009.
Here are a few pics:
Here are a few pics: