73 Cutlass Muncie 4 Speed Junk Yard Find
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- Опубликовано: 18 авг 2022
- Found this gem at my local junk yard here in the Houston area. It was a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass that I was fortunate enough to find almost fully intact. It was born with a Muncie 4 speed transmission so I was able to acquire it and all the brackets and linkage needed to do an upgrade to my 1975 Laguna. The install of that 4 speed will be on a future video.
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I ordered a new ‘73 with white swivel buckets, console. I made one mistake, I didn’t get it rustproof. Car was fast. Exhaust sounded great! Oh how I miss that car. White vinyl with blue body.
Oh wow. I loved that Cutlass. So much rust.
I have been chasing and working on these cars for 45 years. I have done two complete 4 speed conversions on Supremes. Here are some facts; 1973 was the last year for Olds 4 speed. No one has accurate CS production numbers- I have heard 829, (from Olds) but no breakdown of engines. Olds was terrible about records. Only a small number of V code 455's were built in the J57 body. All were M-20's with 3:23 open rear standard, 3:42 optional. I had one in 1978, it was equivalent to 1972 W-30. Cutlass Supremes did not offer swivel buckets. The 350 version you found is almost identical to one I found plus A/c in Wedgewood Blue. There were more rocket 350 4 speeds made due to the gas crunch. Usually K code single exhaust or M code duals. A nice combination also with 3:23 open standard. Seat combos were many; console/non console, buckets or bench. Many disdain anything built after 1972, I strongly disagree. The Colonades could be great cars if built correctly. My dream would be to have 2 of each; fastback and formal roof from all 4 divisions outfitted with all the goodies from 1973. The parts place offers a conversion kit. One thing to be aware of is the difference between power and manual brakes pedal concerning the pivot stud locations and diameters. Also, Olds blocks stopped casting the ball stud mount in the block around 1975- be aware. The two items which are almost impossible to find are the clutch rod boot and the shifter boot assembly. I have found the 1970 to 81 Firebird parts are closest out there.
My gramps still has a 73 supreme that he specially ordered with the 455 rocket , and manual 4 speed with posi rear end. How rare is his car? A lot of collectors think he’s lying and did the work himself but he has all the original paper work from dealer. He says he wanted the specs of the 442 but wanted the supreme body and upgrades
How cool is that!! What a find.
WOW a rare 4 spd... Oldsmobile had the best automatic transmissions. We had a 74 Salon coupe with a vista vent sunroof,
I would say your 74 with the sunroof was even more rare than a 4 speed car. Thanks for your comment!
Swivel buckets in a 73 Cutlass were available; my Grade 10 Math teacher had them in her 73.
Nice find. Has to be incredibly rare for a 4 speed to be in a 73 Supreme. Non swivels were probably standard in 73, I had a 73 442 with standard buckets.
Nice find brother!!!
I had that same 1973 S-3 paint same colors my interior was white with swivel buckets . Also had prior was A 1973 OLDS CUTLASS S with a 455 4-speed with posi Maroon with A white vinyl top white interior with swivel buckets miss both these cars .
Very cool cars! They are getting harder and harder to find these days. Thanks for your comment!
@@g3garage not in the the supreme
Congrats, VHTF. too bad the center console was gone. I need to start hitting up the salvage yards around me.
Great find. Shame the car was so rotten, would have made a great cruiser/hot rod/family car.
Picked up my 73 c/s 350 4sp chestnut metalic brown for $2850 in 19
Vynal tops were the worst. I'll never have another.
Yeah, I think GM never prepped the roof correctly before they installed the vinyl. So sad to see these cars end up in the salvage yards.
Nice find. The engine bay is surprisingly intact
I thought the same. Then I looked up the day it arrived in the yard and it was only there a day before I was fortunate enough to stumble across it. Btw, got any more videos coming on your Grand Am?
@@g3garage Eventually. My TH400 took a dump. I’m going to upgrade it to a 2004R. I’ve been focused on my G8 the last couple months.
@@GroundhogzGarage Sorry to hear about the trans. The 2004R is a great upgrade. I'm running one in my 87 El Camino and love that extra gear on the freeway.
@@g3garage I had done that conversion years ago on a 70 Lemans. I agree, it totally changes the demeanor of the car for the better. I also have a Holley Sniper EFI to put on the car as well.
@@GroundhogzGarage Another great upgrade! You'll love the throttle response and fuel efficiency of the Sniper.
Are you sure that was an Olds 350? I know the Cutlasses of that era could be had from the factory with a 260 (same block as a 350) and a five speed manual with the unusual shift pattern where 1st is to left and back.
The decal on the radiator shroud said 350 and the car looked mostly original. The 5 speed transmission was not available until 1976. All the numbers on the transmission I pulled out of that vehicle indicate its a Muncie 4 speed. Thanks for your interest.
@@g3garage okay that would make sense then. I do vaguely remember a factory four speed being available if it was ordered with a Chevy 305 V8 engine, but that was for 1978 model year when they were downsized. Either way, finding these cars with a factory manual in them is very interesting due to how rare they were. Easily identified by the switch lock on the steering column for the key release, along with the hump on the transmission tunnel, making the body shell manual transmission specific.
260 came out in 1975.
Yes it was a 350. 455 was available.. I ordered and bought one new in 73.
I knew a guy in 1986 that had a '76 Lemans factory 5-speed 260.
He said after a handful of times pulling the transmission to rebuild it, he gave up and put a saginaw 3-speed in it.
The 5-speed was a light duty unit originally designed for a Monza/Vega.
I was wondering if you might know where a guy might be able to find good parts for a 73 supreme
What are you looking for? Currently the only Oldsmobile parts car I have is a 77 Cutlass 442.
Did you cut out the trans tunnel as well?
No, unfortunately is was quite rusty so I left it alone. I bought one years back from a friend that was in great shape and still have it. So I think I have everything I need to do this 4 speed swap in my Laguna.
Did you acquire the engine just to see if it runs?
No, I already had an extra Olds 350 so I passed on this one. I was fortunate enough to just get the Muncie.
Cutlass S’s had swivel buckets. Cutlass Supremes didn’t in ‘73
Good to know, thanks for your comment!
Did the transmission numbers say what type of Muncie it is? There were3 variations. M20 (wide ratio) M21 close ratio, and M22 big block close ratio. I know the car is a small block car, but the M22 can fit the small block too. It's got a larger input shaft for the extra torque from the big block. The Hurst shifter is looking like a competition plus, and since the car was so damned rusted in the back, it's a shame to see a potentially rare car in that bad of shape.
Researched it and it comes up as a M20. It has the larger input shaft and Turbo 400 size output shaft which I'm told is very desirable. It really was heartbreaking to see this car in the junkyard. But I salvaged what I could in hopes that these parts will live again in another one of my vehicles. Thanks so much for your comment.
@@g3garage I don't get too upset over a car in that condition being in the junkyard. It's the ones that are nearly rust free that don't deserve to get scraped.
Glad you got the Muncie and all the other important parts off from it.
M20, not M21. M21 was not offered.
Where is car would love to pick it up
It was crushed about a year ago. Most useable parts were salvaged beforehand. Thanks for your comment.
Rust sucks. Could have used that drivetrain in a 70 cutlass I had in Vegas years ago.
I need some help
What are you looking for?
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