Budget cutlass: how to v8 swap for almost nothing

[@nvnddon]

Came across your channel because I have a 5.7L 350 V8 from a 94 Silverado. I have to get 2 cylinders rebuilt but I plan on finding a nice body to rebuild as well. That cutlass is actually a beauty, hope you enjoyed the process. Had a big smile on my face when you cranked it man.

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! The gbody is a great platform, I plan to do more videos with this car soon

[@rugerboyks6288]

I admire your courage and these are the greatest cars ever all the G Body’s. Just bought me an 87 Regal with the factory 307 and it’s sitting at 85% out of %100 as far as 100 being absolutely perfect. And I got it for 4K it was a hell of a deal. All original interior in great condition. Got the midnight blue seats that feel like a Lazy Boy recliner lol

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you, and sounds like you got yourself a good deal! I love the interiors in these when they're in good condition

[@Spiritof_76]

An Olds or Buick 350 with a quadrajet would make a nice swap for that 307. I have a $300 GS350 engine and T-400 that I got cheap from a guy 455 swapping his GS. It will be a nice upgrade from the 3.8 slow-motor in my Regal.

[@danielmandernack6743]

Great budget project. Would love to see more.

[@rowdywelder2656]

@danielmandernack6743 there's more to come! I just ordered rest of parts for next video. I also have a few other videos of it on here if you didn't see them already

[@danielmandernack6743]

@@rowdywelder2656 I’ll be sure to follow along.

[@danielmandernack6743]

By the way, I’ve been building and racing budget G bodies since 1986.

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@danielmandernack6743 they really are an awesome platform

[@jefffisk5533]

Great to see some true budget builds. Gives me some inspiration for my 78 Malibu 4 door project.

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you, love to hear it

[@LopoBeater]

Clapped out g bodies are a staple in grudge racing for a longggg time, good luck with yours

[@rowdywelder2656]

As well as the circle tracks of America. Thanks for the subscribe!

[@YellowBoy305]

Great Budget Build👍🏽 Money 💰 well spent

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you!

[@joshsmith8575]

Nice job! True hot rodding right here!

[@rowdywelder2656]

My thoughts exactly. It ain't much but it's honest work

[@dieselapegarage]

Nothing like a good project keep it coming man nice car 💪 👀🍿

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you, hoping to have new video on this soon.

[@dieselapegarage]

@@rowdywelder2656 bet 🔒 in 👀🍿

[@rowdywelder2656]

@dieselapegarage much appreciated. There's a Playlist on my page full of videos on this. But more new videos soon

[@stevenmcguire7211]

Nice job, wish you showed more of the engine swap

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you. I have another cutlass I'm thinking of doing another build video on. What would you like to see more of? Like filmed in real time? I struggle with length of videos, so I appreciate any feedback.

[@stevenmcguire7211]

@@rowdywelder2656 I'm swapping a 81 cutlass with my daughter. She bought a SBC 350 from a machine shop. She picked it up for $1200 and it's been her daily for the past 3 years. It's her 1st car. I'm got some experience but was looking for as much information as possible. Appreciate all your efforts and understand recording while you're working takes so much longer. Keep up the awesome work

[@stevenmcguire7211]

@@rowdywelder2656 Something I'm struggling with is the wiring. Same 231 engine you pulled. What wires do we keep, what can go. this one's easier than most but we want a basic setup. Gonna run a 650 Holley carburetor

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@stevenmcguire7211 dont overcomplicate it. Remove one wire at time and label it. I removed ac which made it easier. But you will need the wire to the choke, the wires to the starter, the wires to the alternator, distributor, and to the battery.

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@stevenmcguire7211 also you will need to make sure you have the correct upper and lower motor mounts. I do wish I showed that part better in video. Any questions you have don't hesitate to ask

[@Puppy_in_slowmo]

Great video! When you had it on the trailer trying to start it, I was like ohhh yeah almost there! Then got mad excited when it turned over! How long was the process from the start to getting it running in the video?

[@rowdywelder2656]

Haha that's awesome, glad you enjoyed it. It didn't take long. I had motor swapped and running in a few days. My profile has a Playlist for all the build videos on this car

[@robertwilliamson2596]

Nice job on the cutlass

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you!

[@chadjay3578]

Awesome to see you're back at it

[@rowdywelder2656]

And got another to build after this 👀👀

[@BigSelfMade]

Man I wish you was in Cali

[@rowdywelder2656]

I love cali, fly me out lol

[@BigSelfMade]

I have to get the engine first ‼️‼️ I’ll have it by the end of the month

[@1jawuan]

Hey can u come see wats wrong w my 1984 cutlass supreme i just changed the starter now the motor just turns

[@Jeefrorss]

Good work brotha

[@jorgeperez-gy3ji]

Im interested on the frame stands for the motor mounts

[@rowdywelder2656]

Should I make a separate video on gbody frame stands/motor mounts?

[@terrencebyers388]

I did a LS swap 5.3. Now I’m looking for some header what should I go with

[@rhandro]

Looking good.

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you!

[@450_mick8]

Great video ! Did you use stock driveshaft and stock yolk out of the g body ??

[@rowdywelder2656]

Thank you, glad you liked it. Reused stock driveshaft

[@450_mick8]

@@rowdywelder2656 so a 350 transmission will work with stock gbody yolk ? Thank you !

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@450_mick8 yes.

[@nickbranham8358]

@RowdyWelder could you show exactly wire you used for your distributor power my cutlass had bo motor so im wigging what wire went where

[@rowdywelder2656]

It would be in the main harness coming from the drivers side. It's a wire that is slightly larger gauge, and will have a distinct looking plug to go into bottom of hei distributer. Can Google the image, or test fit into distributor. Hope that helps some.

[@mr.cutlass87delgadillo.d45]

🎉🎉🎉bro inspired I want to get mine going

[@YellowBoy305]

I'm inspired as well. I have (2) of them. I really gotta get rolling

[@mr.cutlass87delgadillo.d45]

Thanks a lot you have been a lot of help

[@rowdywelder2656]

Happy to hear that. I have more coming soon for this

[@mr.cutlass87delgadillo.d45]

When you get a chance can you tell me what color wires from wire harness for basic carb set up no ac I have the delete plate as well

[@jetlife313]

Great job . You should sell me 1 next time you come across another 1

[@rowdywelder2656]

I have another one

[@84SS931]

Did you attach that new fuel line to the factory one that comes out on the driver side for the v6 cars?

[@rowdywelder2656]

I ran a new 3/8 fuel line up the passenger side

[@84SS931]

@@rowdywelder2656 ok thanks

[@ravenrivera1950]

When swapping the the v8 do you still need the computer and wiring harness or can you get rid of it?

[@rowdywelder2656]

The computer and most of the wiring was removed, along with all the heat/ac stuff. Just needs power to distributer, starter wires hooked up, alternator hooked up, and battery. I labeled and reused the factory wires

[@ravenrivera1950]

@@rowdywelder2656 right on thank you sir! Yeah ac n heater is already gone. Throwing a chevy 305 in a 81 cutlass hopefully this weekend

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@ravenrivera1950 no problem, I'm happy to try answer any other question you have.

[@Joe-P-t9k]

did you have to get a custom driveshaft?

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@Joe-P-t9k stock driveshaft works. Transmission goes in same spot

[@Joe-P-t9k]

@@rowdywelder2656 Alright, thanks

[@ghoss-e6s]

Hey I got a 1984 Monte Carlo with a 4.3L v6 I wanna 350 swap do you if I need a new ecu or would the old one work?

[@rowdywelder2656]

@ghoss-e6s if there's an ecu in your car it could be removed when you swap in new engine if you kept it carburetor. If you went fuel injection you would need to worry about ecu stuff

[@newmantv5668]

nothing like a G-body

[@rowdywelder2656]

They really are the best

[@ravenrivera1950]

Hello sir can you please tell me what size belts you used on ur alternator and power steering pump. Please and thank you

[@rowdywelder2656]

Oof. I don't remember off hand, and don't think I have the receipt... sorry

[@ravenrivera1950]

@@rowdywelder2656 no worries! Thank you for your time

[@nickhofmeister-h3b]

Watching this because i want to swap my 4 cylinder engine out of my 86 cutlass Ciera for something faster, how do i even know what engine i could swap with?

[@rowdywelder2656]

That's a whole different platform. Front wheel drive cars are more difficult to swap. If it was me I'd be trying to get a supercharged 3800 engine in there

[@Spiritof_76]

Swap for a different car. Unless you are building a high dollar custom car, you're in for a lot more work than most people want to attempt.

[@stevenmcguire7211]

Hey bud, any chance I can ask some questions regarding a 3.8l quadrajet to Holley carburetor swap?

[@rowdywelder2656]

Ask away, i'll help however I can

[@stevenmcguire7211]

It's the 81 cutlass with the 3.8 v6 We got a Holley 600, got the carb spacer and the return spring bracket. Do I need to change the distributor? The original doesn't have the vacuum canister

[@stevenmcguire7211]

We're doing a 350 SBC swap this fall. It's my daughter's daily driver and she's unhappy with the carb, we have the Holley so she wanted to swap it until we change the engine.

[@rowdywelder2656]

My first thought is the holley 600 is gonna be way too big for the 3.8. I also think you would be able to use stock distributer.

[@stevenmcguire7211]

I appreciate it, gonna give it a shot. I think the quadrajet is a 500. Worse case we switch it back

[@MrMegdamlat]

He do you know if hood and windshield from Cutlass for el camino

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@MrMegdamlat not the same

[@absolutelynothing9636]

I have a 350 out of a 70 monte carlo. I am wanting to swap out my 267 v8 to the 350. I have a general understanding of mechanical stuff. Do yoj think itd be worth having a shop do it? I would like to do it myself but im afraid of turning my running car to non running car 😅

[@rowdywelder2656]

I think this is a swap that most can do. It's a good way to learn mechanics. There are some tools required (engine hoist). Don't cut any wires or anything, you really can't mess it up too bad lol

[@absolutelynothing9636]

@@rowdywelder2656 ok noted thank you very much

[@rowdywelder2656]

@absolutelynothing9636 my first car build was a motor swap on an 86 cutlass. This build is to kind of mimic that car. I think it a great platform to learn on

[@super20dan]

g body is the best way to go cheap nowadays

[@rowdywelder2656]

@@super20dan i can't really think of a better platform to build. Gm did it right with these cars

[@gsarco]

Way to go !!

[@colenorthwick5023]

Nice bro

[@joelmaupin]

Would you be willing to part with that HVAC box?

[@rowdywelder2656]

I didn't remove it nicely and i dont think it's good anymore. I might have another one, i'll look.

[@joelmaupin]

@@rowdywelder2656 awesome. I'm reducing an 86 cutlass right now.

[@rowdywelder2656]

I have another in good condition I'd sell/trade. Where are you located/ can you send message on here?

[@joelmaupin]

@@rowdywelder2656 I'm in Ohio. I'll shoot ya a message.

[@joelmaupin]

@@rowdywelder2656 yeah can't figure out how to send a message on KZbin. Lol

[@ericbiggerstaff1680]

Where you located

[@rowdywelder2656]

Massachusetts

[@mr.cutlass87delgadillo.d45]

I have 350 5.7 no fuel pump I don’t know what to do

[@rowdywelder2656]

Is it a newer vortec engine? The newer smallblocks cant run a mechanical pump. You will need an electric fuel pump. Spend the money and get a good quality fuel pressure regulator.

[@alleahdelgadillo6411]

If you get a chance know your busy can you tell me color wires I will need I’m going now no ac..

[@mr.cutlass87delgadillo.d45]

I know it’s pink , red etc . I had wire harness sliced want to use the right ones

[@ufoguys1264]

Nice

[@flvkodope6681]

Harder to find these days

[@rowdywelder2656]

The deals are still out there. Someone saw this video and hooked me up with an even cheaper cutlass.

[@justinriccitelli5134]

So sick

[@Adamdub612]

i gagged!

[@rowdywelder2656]

Me too! Lol

[@bigmigofresh6027]

Damn that car is bad bro I understand you don’t have a lot of money to spend but damn can’t buy no shit like that

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

unless you bought this as a "parts car" ... you wasted your money !!

[@AnthonyBarrett-t4q]

Considering he paid 400 bucks and the fact that he's a welder. I highly disagree