Ryan Weaver's 1969 Olds Cutlass S W31 Club Coupe

[DW31S]

Now you're talking! That should make you close to a Bill Jenkins! The Vertigate will make you more like Dave Striclker or Ronnie Sox. Just remember and the Mascar guys should know, there is more than the engine or trans or rear that gets that 3600lbs moving. You must factor in the clutch, flywheel, rear ratio, tire size. Back in the '80s I had a '69 Chevelle with a little 350 running 11.50s. I tuned and tuned and looking back darn near hit the optimum combo. MAYBE coulda snuck up on a 11.40 but my first three runs were 13.02, 13.05, 13.03 and I packed up and went home. Everybody asked my I was leaving. That was by baseline and I wasn't telling any of my competitors a thing. I left, shifted, and hit the stripes at the exact RPM all three runs (which was quite low) and THEN started tuning. My point is this: don't expect to run 11s your first time out unless you have some pretty smart guys setting up that car, and/or that 350 they're doing for you is awful stout.

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Thanks Dave, nice to chat with you last night!!!

I will ask the guys in the front row at PSMCDR what to do.... the front row is 16+ second crowd..... they are the ones with the biggest smiles...

I will take an easy start and learn and improve, as with any goal there are many steps, a few set backs, hard work, sacrifice, and sticktooitivenesss:-)

Ryan

PS: the Mascar engine will be for street and strip, I assume I can be the slow poke in FAST :-) If Dave Dudek gave me 5 second head start.......

[DW31S]

Might not be enough with that Mopar! I hear that thing sounds like a freight train going through the traps.!

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Dave: I will ask for a six second head start:-)

Progress:-)

My PSMCDR engine is progressing nicely, block prep is done, heads are done, cam is in, rotating assembly is being assembled.

ARP, Clevite, Scat, Wiseco, All good stuff:-)

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Pictures

[Postsedan]

Awesome

Dan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

Forged Pistons:-) floating pins and spiral locks:-)

Wiseco ProTru.

PSMCDR allows 0.070" overbore and these are 0.068" over:-) my 350 is now a 362:-) allowable max compression for the W31 is 12.0 to 1, I am only going 10.0 to 1. Maybe someday I would consider getting competitive? I need a little experience before getting sucked into the uber drag race vortex!!!

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

I have been a little busy last week or two but plan to get back in the garage shortly:-)

I did buy parts off a fellow 1969 Cutlass S Sports Coupe owner.

14 X 6 inch steel wheels
Hubcaps
Front drum brakes spindles and all
Rear end Olds 2.56 drum to drum
Upper and lower rear control arms

A nice little score:-)

Ryan

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

A few more items to help the cause:-)

Local auto parts store:
Blair spot weld removal tool:-)
LH Trunk support,

Inline Tube:
Timing chain cover
Olds 350 gold Engine paint. (Is 2 cans enough?)

Ryan

[DW31S]

Yes, two cans is sufficient. I've always been happy with DupliColor universal Gold engine paint. A few tips are to clean the engine thoroughly with lacquer thinner. When you think you have it clean enough, do it two more times. Turn the cans of paint upside down for a day; they have been sitting upright for who knows how long. I like to heat the paint somehow and usually use a kerosene heater and put the can on top. Shake the paint so it mixes real good. When it is hot, it will spray with a bit more force than normal so you likely will have some overspray. Don't try to cover the engine in one coat; it will run. Spray it in several light coats and it should look like a pro job out of a paint gun!