Got to drive around the block today. Not very fast as the front end is still way out of alignment. I bought this car as a Cutlass last May and have been working on it like a full time job ( feels like it). Put all new panels on it and now I think it looks much better as a Chevelle. What are the Chevelle purests going to think about this one?

This is what I started with
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/9262/71cutlass0019ik.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=71cutlass0019ik.jpg)
This is what I have so far.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/6626/convertible3180ye.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3180ye.jpg)
540 cid with a 4L80E trans.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/993/convertible3166np.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3166np.jpg)
The paint. Will cut and buff one more time.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/4758/convertible3223ci.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3223ci.jpg)
More paint. The stripes are made up of thousands of little Bow Ties.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/624/convertible3238tp.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3238tp.jpg)

WOW!! Thats a new way to skin the cat@! Nice job!!!

very cool stripes!

thats real nice, real nice.


aaron

I admire your work ethic - that obviously took a lot of work!

Thomas

wait wait wait... so your sayin gyou put chevelle panels on a cutlas? or you put a velle on a cutlas chassis? im cornfused.


aaron

wait wait wait... so your sayin gyou put chevelle panels on a cutlas? or you put a velle on a cutlas chassis? im cornfused.


aaron
I took the cutlass in the top pic and put all new metal on it. Bought from a junk yard for $1,500 and have maybe another $2,500 in panels.

My VIN# starts with a 3.

540,

Sweeeeeet ride!!! Love the paint work!

Brett

How much floor pan/cross member work was involved to get that 4L80E to fit?

I dont think you have to worry about the Chevelle guys giving you a hard time. Its the Oldsmobile guys I would worry about.

Nice work. The cutlass convert would have been a cool one too.

Very cool project. Paint is awesome with the subtle stripes. Good luck with the car.

Wondering if the dashboard and interior are still "Oldsmobile"? Must be a mind blower at the local cruise nights when people look in the car and get confused. HA HA. Very cool.

What type of power booster are you running for the brakes. Looks like a few braided lines go to it?

Thanks....Joe.

As one who saw what you started with, I can really appreciate where you are now, and Alan and I are both very impressed with what you've done in such a short period of time. You're going to get a lot of well deserved attention at CB05!

Thats coming out really nice,love the stripes also.what a great idea,how the heck did you ever come up with the idea to turn a Cutlass into a Chevelle?

Nice transition!!!!!

How much floor pan/cross member work was involved to get that 4L80E to fit?
No mods to the floor pan were needed. I did use some special 90degree swivel fittings for the cooler lines. The cross member is stock, but I turned it around backwards and it bolted up.

I dont think you have to worry about the Chevelle guys giving you a hard time. Its the Oldsmobile guys I would worry about.

Nice work. The cutlass convert would have been a cool one too.
Well I see Oldsmobiles all the time. I never see any Chevelles. I like a Chevelle much better myself. I have always owned one since 1980. It needed new quarters anyway so it was a no brainer for me to convert it.

Very cool project. Paint is awesome with the subtle stripes. Good luck with the car.

Wondering if the dashboard and interior are still "Oldsmobile"? Must be a mind blower at the local cruise nights when people look in the car and get confused. HA HA. Very cool.

What type of power booster are you running for the brakes. Looks like a few braided lines go to it?

Thanks....Joe.
Dash is all chevelle now. The only thing on the car that would tell you its a Cutlass is the VIN#.
The brakes are the hydro boost from a 89 3/4 ton truck.

As one who saw what you started with, I can really appreciate where you are now, and Alan and I are both very impressed with what you've done in such a short period of time. You're going to get a lot of well deserved attention at CB05!
Thank you very much Dave. I know you must have done quite alot on your ELcamino to. Can't wait to see it. I still have not decided if I will trailer mine or drive it to CB05. Later.

Thats coming out really nice,love the stripes also.what a great idea,how the heck did you ever come up with the idea to turn a Cutlass into a Chevelle?
Well the cars are very simular. The biggest modification is the dash and the trunk pan. If you are willing to deal with them the rest of the car (for the most part) is bolt on.
Here is a pic with the Chevelle quarter and the Cutlass door.
http://img182.echo.cx/img182/8365/convertible0584xo.th.jpg (http://img182.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible0584xo.jpg)

Very nice, what are you running for suspension, brakes and rolling stock?

LK

LK
I am running the C5 Crvette brakes front and rear. The suspension is Global west front & rear with coil over shocks on front and QA1 shocks in the rear.
http://img212.echo.cx/img212/2269/convertible0278jr.th.jpg (http://img212.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible0278jr.jpg)
http://img212.echo.cx/img212/4299/convertible0263iu.th.jpg (http://img212.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible0263iu.jpg)
http://img212.echo.cx/img212/6006/convertible2792ka.th.jpg (http://img212.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible2792ka.jpg)

I've seen this car in person, and it is awesome. Leroy has some serious skills!

And Leroy, thank your brother for me, for fixing my alternator belt problem. Stupid me didn't even know they came in different widths! I got a skinnier one, and it's all good!

Thanks for the kind words. My brother is one of the top 3 smartest pepole I know.
See you on the 6th CB05 bound.

I was at Super Chevy in Ennis yesterday. There was a vendor selling Tremec transmissions and he had a Chevelle there on display that had your same alternator/AC set up. The Alternator belt on it was rubbing the same bolt. I'm glad the thinner belt worked. I was wondering about that.

Thanks for the kind words. My brother is one of the top 3 smartest pepole I know.
See you on the 6th CB05 bound.

Only one of the top 3? :)

[QUOTE=540cutlaSS]Well the cars are very simular. The biggest modification is the dash and the trunk pan. If you are willing to deal with them the rest of the car (for the most part) is bolt on.

He iSS being modeSSt. He had a lot of roadblockSS to get through to tranSSform that cutlaSS into a Chevelle.

Great job!!!

And yes, how did the tranny bolt up? any interference?

Again, great job!

EDIT* oops, didn't notice this thread had a second page...

Now you could call it a chevlass or a cutvelle or something.

Now you could call it a chevlass or a cutvelle or something.
I've been thinking about that.
I looked at your web site. Looks like you got yours in the same condition as I got mine. Mine was even the same color. Have you made any more progress than whats on the site?

Furious Malibu
It bolted right up. Had to get a new drive shaft.

I can see now I shot myself in the foot when I sold my project 69 Skylark convertible. I should have made it into a Chevelle !
Never even thought of that.
And I could have sold off the Skylark stuff for bank.

Nice job 540 !

Nate

Thats what I did. I sold most of the Cutlass stuff and made back the money I paid for it and I still have the doors and bumpers for sale.

One more thing you guys might like is, I was planing on making a hard top for the convertible. Like a Corvette hard top/rag top. The plan was going to use a 2 door donor car, but in talking with SSuper dave he suggested I use a 4 door as the rear window area lines would look more like the convertible. I agreed and bought the car below to cut up for parts.
I did not get to do it as I knew I would not have time to do that and get the car ready for CB05. My brother has a 70 convertible that we will be starting on soon. Then I will make the hard top for it. Maybe CB06
http://img261.echo.cx/img261/2756/convertible0109he.th.jpg (http://img261.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible0109he.jpg)

Ya know, I don't know if you've been keeping up with some of these posts about the whole "numbers matching" thing, but this car you built puts a whole new spin on things.
What would a prospective buyer think about the VIN being wrong for a Chevelle ? Maybe nothing ?
I mean, if you like the car, who cares what the numbers are ! right !


Food for thought.

I'm really kicking myself now on selling the Skylark.

And now I'm even thinking..........if you want a convertible Chevelle, why go and buy a rusted out ........O V E R P R I C E D .....Chevelle convert, only to have to do a complete frame off ? Just buy a BOP car and replace all the panels. Get a 4 door Chevelle or sta wag for interior and misc parts and get the rest new or used. If you found a nice enough donor car, you could use the entire front clip.
I mean, heck, if you're gonna do a total frame off restoration, why start out by paying too much if you don't care about selling it anyway. This way, you're the only one who knows it's a BOP car and everyone else thinks you restored a Chevelle.
I wonder what the DMV thinks about this. Isn't this a complete rebody ? Does it require an inspection ?
What if you get pulled over and they run the plates and it comes back as a Cutlass. They might be haulin your car away.

I hear they have complete kits out now to convert a 57 Chevrolet 4 door into a convertible. I'm thinking thats why I saw so many 57 Chevy convertibles at the auction in Reno last year (HAN) !!

Interesting to note. I've seen some pretty cheap (and rusty)69 Firebird convertibles on eBay lately, and with the popularity of the 69 camaro convert........you know where I am going with this.

The wheels are churnin

Nate

Well everything you said is exactly why I did it this way. I could not even touch a Chevelle convertible for under $6k and then it would need a frame off anyway (like you said)
DMV thinks is a Cutlass. No inspection is needed in Texas if you have antique plates on the car. I don't think most inspectors would know the difference anyway.
Edit: use a 4 door donor as you will need the trunk area.

I sold my 69 Skylark convert for $1500
complete car and NO RUST
aaarrrggghhhh

Wouldn't the area around the rear end be a little difficult, to say the least ? Like the taillight area ? Does anyone sell a complete 69 Chevelle convert rear quarter ?

I sold the skylark to a friend and he hasn't paid me in full yet. I could possibly get it back with a little finesse.

Nate

4 door donor. gotcha !
and I already have the rear section cut off a perfect 4 door.
I cut in about a foot or so.

How much of the back end would I need for this conversion ?

Nate

As much of the area that the bumper mounts to as possible. You can (if needed) buy a new floor. I cut the whole thing out. Up to where the top pump is.
You will need to have all the dash brackets and the metal that is spot welded under the winsheild.
On the Cutlass the dash go's all the way up under the windshield.
Those two areas are what will take the longest.

So one more question on your amazing transition of a ride. What about insuring it? Are you carrying specialty car insurance? As a Cutlass obviously modified? As a chevelle with an incorrect VIN? Sounds like a sticky point for the buy-the-book insurance folks...
Nicley done. :thumbsup:

On my last "real" Chevelle ( was also a 72 convert) I had classic car insurance. They never looked at the car. Just wanted to know how much to insure it for and said only for club functions and parades........ Did it all over the phone.

I've been thinking about that.
I looked at your web site. Looks like you got yours in the same condition as I got mine. Mine was even the same color. Have you made any more progress than whats on the site?

Yea Thanks for lookin, Ive also painted the interior sheetmetal and Ive almost finished the underside of the body with preping for paint and should be painting it in a week or two.
Ive also got to get the new trunk floor in and the under rear seat floor cut out and new metal put in. Ive got before pics on the camera just havent loaded them on the comp yet and i should be doing that in a few days if not today.

Sounds like fun. I would stay away from the 7 piece trunk floor the one made in USA. It was junk. I bought it cause it was made in USA, but it was terrible quality. Get the one piece floor. Later.
Edit: I did not use the kit. I wound up using the donor car floor.

Very nice car. Looks like some top shelf work and great original thinking.

Sounds like fun. I would stay away from the 7 piece trunk floor the one made in USA. It was junk. I bought it cause it was made in USA, but it was terrible quality. Get the one piece floor. Later.
Edit: I did not use the kit. I wound up using the donor car floor.

I bought the one piece floor too but most of the ribs arent there mostly where they cut them for the 3 piece floor kit. The only rust in my trunk is where the hump is for the gas tank filler and its only about a 8x8 inch section im replacing and I figured I could cut the new one to fit how ever i wanted it to go. For the metal under the seat I found a donor Monte Carlo im gonna cut them out of.

Wow. :eek:

Glad to see the brakes worked out for you!

Joe

Wow. :eek:

Glad to see the brakes worked out for you!

Joe
Yes thanks Joe, Thanks for all your help. Are you going to CB05?

I don't know if Joe still makes the brackets to allow the C5 brakes to bolt up, but I got mine from him. (a plug for Joe) Later.

You going over to League City park Friday night?
I can't wait to point at it and ask my wife "What kinda car is that?"
Then tell her its a Cutlass!!!
I'll try to wash the 70 Chevelle off and get up there.

Bert

I might actualy be able to make it.

hey man I just updated the website with a ton of pics......

I picked up the Chevelle today I had the top done. Then took it down to get the front end alligned. Its just needs carpet and door panels now.
bluechevelless
I will check out your updates.

Now you could call it a chevlass or a cutvelle or something.



call it chevelless
no space between the chevelle and ss and the ss the same script as the word chevelle suttle and keeps um guess 'n

Got the top put on. Pictures were during the install. Still have not taken a picture of finished top.
http://img263.echo.cx/img263/3364/convertible3323zw.th.jpg (http://img263.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3323zw.jpg)
http://img263.echo.cx/img263/1404/convertible3317im.th.jpg (http://img263.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3317im.jpg)

Looks like she's coming along very nicely.

BTW, what kind and size of wheel spacers are you having to run?

Joe

Looks like she's coming along very nicely.

BTW, what kind and size of wheel spacers are you having to run?

Joe
Now you are testing the limits of my memory.
I think it was 2" up front and 2 1/4" in rear. They are the motorsport technology pieces.

Leroy,
What size C5 wheels are those and where did you get them?

Joe

They are: front 17" X 8 3/4" Rear 18" X 9 3/4". I got them at a local swap meet. They had very nice tires (Nitto's) on the rims to. Paid $1,000 for them. They are the GM rims not repo's.

Got to drive around the block today. Not very fast as the front end is still way out of alignment. I bought this car as a Cutlass last May and have been working on it like a full time job ( feels like it). Put all new panels on it and now I think it looks much better as a Chevelle. What are the Chevelle purests going to think about this one?

This is what I started with
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/9262/71cutlass0019ik.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=71cutlass0019ik.jpg)
This is what I have so far.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/6626/convertible3180ye.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3180ye.jpg)
540 cid with a 4L80E trans.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/993/convertible3166np.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3166np.jpg)
The paint. Will cut and buff one more time.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/4758/convertible3223ci.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3223ci.jpg)
More paint. The stripes are made up of thousands of little Bow Ties.
http://img287.echo.cx/img287/624/convertible3238tp.th.jpg (http://img287.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3238tp.jpg)


That is very very nice work. To hell with the purists. You are into the body for under what around $4500? Can't get near a Chevelle for that...the mechanicals cost whatever they cost be it a CHevelle or a Cutlass platform.

Personally I am not much of a convert guy myself but the accomplishment and the final product are enough for me. Just the satisfaction of making the car into what you wanted on your terms should be more than enough reward.

More than once I have made the statement that these cars (pure original SS or clone) are no differnet as long as the parts installed on the given car are the same. You have gone a step further and proved that the A-Bodies are nothing more than reskinned A-"however it started at the factory"-Body clones of eachother. GM knew this all along and your work demonstrates it. Still the purists will doggedly insist there is more inherent value (pinache?) in a TRUE ORIGINAL SS Chevelle and STILL they are wrong. Parts is parts and any car is nothing more than the summation of the parts installed on it.

Don't let the pursits feelings even enter into your head. Take the car to a show park it and let em scratch their heads or their anal_____ whatever and lament about originality. I love the car.

Great work congratulations!!!!

Well I recouped the cost of the original $1,500 by selling all the Cutlass stuff and keeping what I would need. For all the sheet metal brand new I paid right at $3,000 for every panel quarters, floor, doors. fenders, hood......... I did all the paint and body work so was able to save some $$ there, Actualy I did everything on the car except the machine work on the motor. I have put every option on it I can find. Factory Electric windows/locks, power driver side seat, intermentant wipers, elec trunk release, tilt...
Anyway I have had alot of fun building it. I will be starting on my brothers car sometime after CB05. He has a 70 SS convert (real Deal).

I'm impressed. Especially with the fact you did ALL the work yourself. Looking forward to seeing it at CB.

wow i am totally impressed i am going to cb05 for the first time unfortunitly not with my car but am looking forward to seeing yours. your attention to detail is awsome can't wait to see it in person. great job!!!!

Well I don't know about the attention to detail thing. I am still pluging away on it tring to get ready for the trip. Just got carpet in her last night, but I'll be there even if there are some details left to do.

Got the carpet and door panels in. Some more pic's

Jute w/radiant barrier
http://img130.echo.cx/img130/474/convertible3358oz.th.jpg (http://img130.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3358oz.jpg)
Carpet before triming and final fit.
http://img130.echo.cx/img130/4746/convertible3388mp.th.jpg (http://img130.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3388mp.jpg)
http://img130.echo.cx/img130/4259/convertible3391ow.th.jpg (http://img130.echo.cx/my.php?image=convertible3391ow.jpg)

Totally awesome job...

Wish I could see it in person...

I had thought of a similar project, but using a 66/67 Cutlass Holiday Coupe... A 2-door post, but with the same roof as a hardtop...

Thank you.
My mom and sisters live in Sacramento, but I don't think I will be driving it out there anytime soon.

Hi I have a 71 cutlass conv and planning on doing the same thing you did, I have the whole front sec of the car even the doors and was wondering if you can give me some pointers im stuck, by the way your chevelle look really nice thanks

by the way your chevelle look really nice thanks

Its a cutlass ;)

You may want to email him. He hasnt been on since december of last year.

I'm still around. Still have the car too.

What are you stuck on?

Maybe this should be a "sticky" because it seems that every other week someone is wanting info on if this is possible.

Maybe this should be a "sticky" because it seems that every other week someone is wanting info on if this is possible.


x2 about the sticky

yes this does come up alot

Im stuck on exactly the run down on what parts i need for the back half thanks

You would be best off to have a donor car. I used a 4door that was totaled in the front.
I cut the whole trunk section (guts) from the area where the top pump is all the way back to the bumper mount area. I cut up high on the trunk weather strip area close to the hinge and reused the Chevelle weather strip rail.
Use a drill or spot weld cutter to remove the sheet metal you dont need. Reuse the filler panel between trunk and topwell. You need to modify the inner fender wells or install the Chevelles.
One you get everything cut and ready to weld I bolted that new rear section down to the frame with the original body mount bolts to hold it exactly where it needed to be.
Anyway that was the hardest part of the conversion. The dash is alot of work also.
Just go slow and you will have a nice job when done.

Oh yea, I spot welded a few spots and used panel bond adhesive on the rest. Not only is it stronger, but you get much better rust protection in the joint.

Leroy

Thanks for the nice info. I wanted to know is panel bond adhesive is protecting spot welds from rusting? You mean any other thing to be applied over?...

Thats the best looking OLDS I have ever seen, nice job.

That is very very nice work. To hell with the purists. You are into the body for under what around $4500? Can't get near a Chevelle for that...the mechanicals cost whatever they cost be it a CHevelle or a Cutlass platform.

Personally I am not much of a convert guy myself but the accomplishment and the final product are enough for me. Just the satisfaction of making the car into what you wanted on your terms should be more than enough reward.

More than once I have made the statement that these cars (pure original SS or clone) are no differnet as long as the parts installed on the given car are the same. You have gone a step further and proved that the A-Bodies are nothing more than reskinned A-"however it started at the factory"-Body clones of eachother. GM knew this all along and your work demonstrates it. Still the purists will doggedly insist there is more inherent value (pinache?) in a TRUE ORIGINAL SS Chevelle and STILL they are wrong. Parts is parts and any car is nothing more than the summation of the parts installed on it.

Don't let the pursits feelings even enter into your head. Take the car to a show park it and let em scratch their heads or their anal_____ whatever and lament about originality. I love the car.

Great work congratulations!!!!
X2 To take a different line in the a bodies and transform into a chevelle is the greatest compliment to the chevelle purist. Believe me if i was old enough to own mine since new i would have. But since i'm the same age as my car just not possible. Love the car ,love the idea. The only things that usually stops someone from completing a project in their head is skill level, determination. You have both. :bow:

Thanks for the nice info. I wanted to know is panel bond adhesive is protecting spot welds from rusting? You mean any other thing to be applied over?...

Panel bond is used in the preped joint. That means raw metal is exposed and can start to rust again after you just did all that hard work to R&R a panel. Panel bond completly covers to joint. You can spot weld in just a few places if needed. When you bond the two properly the joint becomes stronger than the metal around it. I put a test panel that was butt jointed with panel bond in a frame machine and pulled on it until the metal ripped apart. The joint was just fine. The other nice thing is if needed you can apply heat to it and it will let go.


X2 To take a different line in the a bodies and transform into a chevelle is the greatest compliment to the chevelle purist. Believe me if i was old enough to own mine since new i would have. But since i'm the same age as my car just not possible. Love the car ,love the idea. The only things that usually stops someone from completing a project in their head is skill level, determination. You have both. :bow:

Thanks for the kind words.
I am always building something "unuseual" I've got a Chevy truck with a Cummins diesel in it.
I am getting geared up to build a 3 wheeler diesel. The plan is to make it look like an Audi TT from the front when done, but have two wheels up front one rear. Over 50 MPG!!

Leroy

Thats the best looking OLDS I have ever seen, nice job.

Thank you, I guess this post is so old that not all the pic's are still viewable??

congrats on an immense amount of work well done.it will be questionable in value being such a strange mix

congrats on an immense amount of work well done.it will be of questionable value with such a strange mix