New "project" Oldsmobile Cutlass. BAT post-buy rundown.

"Kanaric" (Kanaric1)
08/03/2018 at 16:42 • Filed to: None

If you think you can buy something from BAT sight unseen even with extensive pics be prepared to find glaring obvious shit they should have mentioned or could have fixed in 5 minutes. So far there has been nothing serious to really anger me though.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The first issue is the AC. In the BAT post it says it has “dealer installed AC” and I assumed that it was working. It has what I think is a bad compressor. When the AC clutch is engaged it can stall the car and gets so hot that you cannot touch it.

Tail light was out, easy fix. The steering wheel is off center. Two easy fixes that you would think a Dealership would have done when it hit their lot.

The intake was completely fucked up. They put a non ram air filter in that which is taller. The stud you screw it down on wasn’t, and would have been able to be, screwed in you couldn’t even see it the filter is so tall . The springs to hold the top section down were missing. Basically when I drove it to my garage I stalled on a right turn because the entire thing flew around in the engine bay. A trip to autozone the next day solved most of those problems. IDK why a dealership would have kept it like this. Any test drive would have been a fail.

There are tears in the driver seat you cannot see in the pics and that are not mentioned. I also didn’t notice the driver side carpet condition in the pics. It definitely needs replaced as it has two major tears.

When I get the remaining intake parts I need to fix it completely i’m going to get the AC fixed at a local vintage AC shop.

The clutch pedal is like 3/4 the way up to my knee and the engagement is immediate. I have never driven a car from this period with a manual transmission but i’m sure this isn’t right lmao. I basically have to sit in this thing with one leg raised off the ground to drive it. I am going to see if it can be adjusted, i’m sure it can because it’s ludacrous, and do that this weekend.

Other than this I am pleased with the purchase. I’ve had WORSE luck with cars but still it remains that something bad could happen. The fact that basic things like the wrong air filter were in this car i’m going to fully do all maintenance this weekend.

DISCUSSION (20)

lone_liberal > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 17:18

Oh God, a ‘70 Cutlass! One of my favorite cars and on the short list if I ever get rid of my Camaro. My jealousy is intense even if there are issues that shouldn’t be there.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 17:20

My dad had a 70s Cutlass with some sort of high-output V8 when I was very young. All I remember is it was black.

Any updates on the...other car? Or is it still verboten to talk about?

Kanaric > lone_liberal
08/03/2018 at 17:21

Ya I think this car is good. Once I got the intake screwed down, still only partially assembled, I took it out and it drove nicely. The clutch pedal is an annoyance but the clutch engagement is good and the shifte r is also nice. So far i’m happy. I was just dumbfounded mostly by the intake. Everything else would have been acceptable to me.

LOREM IPSUM > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 17:22

Still though, awesome car. Also, on the bright side, it didn’t show up with bottom end or drivetrain issues or something. Fixing the niggles will help you two bond.

( Wait. Can we still say niggles? Is that an okay word? Feeling a little Strom Thurmond ish atm for some reason)

XJDano > LOREM IPSUM
08/03/2018 at 17:26

I read “ on the bright side” and was thinking it’s yellow.

Kanaric > LOREM IPSUM
08/03/2018 at 17:28

Ya after the intake was partially fixed, basically got a long stud and removed the top section, it drove nicely. The trans also shifts good. Those are the really important parts I need to work lol. Electrical stuff also is good.

Kanaric > interstate366, now In The Industry
08/03/2018 at 17:28

Got the money back and used it to buy this. But that's all I'll say lol

vondon302 > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 18:11

Congrats. Fun read. I’ve bid on a few Bat auctions but fortunately or unfortunately didn’t win.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppo-i-have-a-crisis-1824045549

Kinda glad I didn't win but damn that clicked all my boxes

Kiltedpadre > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 19:36

My dad had a 70 Cutlass W-31 with the M-22 transmission. We had to adjust the clutch when he had it. I don’t recall the exact procedure, but I know it’s adjustable.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 20:07

So much yellow! PMY PMY! Even the Audi is yella!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > LOREM IPSUM
08/03/2018 at 20:36

I had a full on argument with my mother over the word ‘ niggardly’, she believing it came from the n-word and me knowing it came from the 16th century and had nothing to do with the other word.

Niggle is, apparently, Scandinavian and is fine to say of course.

LOREM IPSUM > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/03/2018 at 20:41

Tip of the hat for remembering the Thurmond debacle. Probably best to leave that one in the dictionary, lest people lose their minds in response, again.

WilliamsSW > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 21:07

Been a loooooong time but the clutches on these old cars are a different world from today’s cars.

Looks gorgeous, and I hope it turns out great!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 21:11

Nice purchase! Welcome, fellow 1970 Muncie 4-Speed owner! I have good news and bad news about that clutch. The good news is that they sometimes really do engage at the top of the pedal travel and that’s just the way they are. The bad news is you really only have about a.5" of adjustment through the pedal. If it’s like my Corvette then the clutch is a rod-type and actuates the side of the trans via a rube goldberg machine. There is an adjuster nut on the pushrod connected to the pedal arm and you can move the “rest” position of the pedal up or down. It will not move the engagement point lower down in the travel range! Happy to help out if you get stuck. And again, fantastic car!

arl > Kanaric
08/03/2018 at 22:03

There is only one name for this car “The Bee”!

Kanaric > Kiltedpadre
08/05/2018 at 11:02

I would love to have a W-31

Jayvee > Kanaric
08/07/2018 at 12:28

Sorry to hear about the issues, but if the time comes that you are consideri g se lling, le t me know.

Jayvee > Kanaric
08/08/2018 at 09:08

Keep me in mind in the event you want to sell. I can provide contact information if you want. Thanks.

Kanaric > Jayvee
08/09/2018 at 12:09

I don’t want to sell. It’s been easy to work on so far.

19JRC99 > Kanaric
09/24/2018 at 18:44

All I can tell you is that it’s bad ass. Great buy! Once you get it all sorted, you’re going to love it. There’s nothing like a classic muscle car.