Comments: 1-15, 16-20
The alternator makes a loud chugging sound.
Engine sometimes fails to stop when you turn off the ignition. It usually dies after a few seconds, but during cold weather it keeps running. The engine runs so low that the car rocks back and forth with every turn of the engine. I am going to fix this though.
Door locks do not work.
Radio was long dead and has been replaced.
Stock steering wheel was cracked in four different places.
Some other minor problems, like burnt out lights, loose panels, and a busted glove compartment were easily fixed with a few hours of work and a screwdriver.
Despite its few annoying mechanical problems, it is a very cool car to have.
It has very nice chrome mags, no noticeable rust and a very sporty look. Everyone I talked to said it was a very beautiful car.
If you can find an 83-85 Olds Cutlass in good shape mechanically with little or no rust, it is a good car to buy.
Be careful though, many people will give a very beat-up Cutlass a shiny paint job and try to sell it for $5000.
Make sure you test drive them a lot before you buy, because these cars can have a lot of problems that wouldn't be noticeable right away.
Performance is very good, I can leave all the traffic miles behind me. Good for passing on the highway.
It has very good headlights and brake lights.
It is an extremely comfortable car to drive in or ride in. I'm 6' tall and I can easily fit into the rear seats. All the seats are very soft, almost like a big recliner.
I also love the location of the gas filler. It is hidden behind the license plate, so you never have to park on a certain side of the gas pump. Also, if the gas filler is mounted on the side of a vehicle, it is one of the first places that start to rust.
"Burns Rubber" very well.
As I found out recently, the Chevy 305 means that it was made in Canada.
My car has the original stickers on the inside of the engine compartment, and it says that it is a 305 Chevy.
It looks exactly like a 307, only everything is on the opposite side of the vehicle. For example, the battery for a 307 cutlass would be on the left side, but on a 305 it is on the right side.
I would rather have the chevy 305 any day of the week. don't get me wrong, I like the olds 307, but in the cars I have driven the 305 accelerates better.
If it has an oil filler tube sticking out of the front of the engine, the oil filter is on the passenger side, the distributor has an aluminum shaft that goes strait down to the block and not through the intake, and if it doesen't have a choke light; then it is a 307 oldsmobile and not a 305 chevy. And in the mid-eighties oldsmobile and chevy engines accelerated about the same. The only reason the oldsmobile engine was more popular throught GM was because it was lighter and the block was made with better minerals. (iron/nickel alloy)
Well I don't have an oldsmobile, but I have an Olds 307 engine in my 84 Buick LeSabre. The engine ran great and when you matted it the engine screamed (different rear end gears would help acceleration) until one day when I was tailing a friend of mine in his 5.0L Mustang (and keeping up quite well) out in the backroads when the engine decided that it had had enough of my abuse and seized. I thought about replacing the 307 with a chev 350 but instead decided to try and keep it original with another 307 donor from an 86 Cutlass (that I bought for $50 cause the frame rails and floors were shot),considering that the stock HP difference was only 20. They are a great engine!!!
The 307 and the 305 engines are both good engines. The 305 had big improvements on leaking problems starting in 1986. The 305 has 30 more horsepower. But I like the Buicks best and the 307 Olds engine is in those.
There isn't much difference power wise between the early 80's 305 chevy or 307 olds, but for the most part, in regular cars, the 307 olds came with more torque than the 305 chevy, just look in a chiltons manual. the 305 has a smaller bore, but a longer stroke than the 307, making the 307 better at higher rpm's. 307's can be made to perform well, especially with a good set of early 70's 350 old heads. making an honest 250hp 307 olds would cost about the same as making the power in a 305, but a 307 will likely last longer (less stroke = less piston speed and friction). oldsmobile RWD cars (cutlass, etc) didn't come with a chevy 8cyl engine after 1979 in the US, but likely did in canada or mexico. if you have a car with the 307 in it, keep it and do a basic rebuild, and you'll be just as happy with it as you would be with a 305 chevy.
Jason_english@lycos.com.
307's are very tough engines. 20 years, around 300,000km, and still not burning a drop of oil. They need a bit more power, but that can be achieved by a different cam, dual exhaust, etc. Nice engines.
Jake Wiebe, Ontario Canada
I bought an 84 Cutlass Supreme about 5 months ago. This car rides like a dream on the long highway rides. So much more smooth then a lexus or something modern. The frame makes the ride. I replaced all the vac hoses, valve cover gaskets, welded the frame in the usual area, and a few other things. The 307 had 143 grand when I bought it, now it has 148 grand. Runs great, rides smooth--a little seepage from the main seal. Surface rust, and a little on the doors in the usual spots. Nice sky blue color, I plan to paint it soon. This car is a pleasure to drive. I brought a couple of guys to the casino and they both were amazed and a little jealous of the ride as they both own newer cars (one is a Mercedes) It also looks (for a modern, post classic car) much nicer then the wind tunnel stuff. Its mostly a metal car also--fiberglass nose. Good luck to you all--I'll hang on to this car--Its easier to work on then a new one.
I own 1983 cutlass supreme brougham. it runs like a dream, I always loved these cars, they have a sharp look to them. my car has a 305 with posi, I bought the car for only $1200 no rust. it was very plain two tone gray and blue. the same day I bought it I tinted the windows, it looked a lot sharper. then I found a cheap set of center lines for $200 at a junk yard. I cleaned them up they looked sharp afterwards. took them to canadian tire and switched the rubber on them and put them on. this made my car hot. if I was to sell it I would ask $4000 this car is defintly worth it. I still plan to do more work. I still need duel exust and a spoiler and the car will go for $5000.
The above comment must be from one of those doods the review writer warned about, who buy a beat-up Cutlass cheap, make some minor "improvements" and then claim it's worth $5000...
I own a 1984 Cutlass Supreme Brougham. I bought it 4 years ago. I love the car and it is great on the highway. Great fuel economy and an excellent ride. I would suggest one of these cars to anyone. The are fast fun and enjoyable. My car has the 305 and has had a bunch of body work done to it because it sat for a few years and had some rust. They are a lot better than the cars that are made now in the respect that they are sharp looking (not just a bubble) and they ride as smooth as glass. My friends all tell me that they wish they could find something like it.
Brock Rutledge
Saskatchewan, Canada.
Well I just bought a cutlass ciera myself this week a 1984 2.8 litre brougham I been driving it around getting what I need for a safety I like the ride its smooth and being in canada it has a lot of rust underneath I do plan on fixing it up completely I need a new rear brake line its fixed, but need to be bleed the only problem the person I bought it from never used the other three power windows there seized the inside of the doors where oilded and I noticed sand int here I think the sand has gotten into the motor and I can't get it unsiezed,,so I am asking if anybody has any ways of getting it to work or how hard are they to replace I looked at it and I am so worried about doin git myself and having it done at a shop its gonna cost me a ton to fix so I am wondering any comments on fixing this or making it cheaper to fix
email me at bexblue_07@yahoo.ca
ps when this car is finished its gonna be awesome.
Anyone know how well a 350 will fit into a 1983 olds cutlass supreme B 2 door. Me and my dad plan on putting a 350 in the one I plan on buying next week, but his friend doesn't know how well it would fit and align with the transmission.
Email me at ggremling@woh.rr.com.
Is there a difference in the motor mounts from the 307 to 305.
I recently received a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme for Christmas. It only has 5,912 original miles on it! It was kept in a garage for most of it's life, and is in excellent condition. It was bought from a lady, who inherited it from her uncle that used it as a Sunday drive car. I am in the process of replacing all hoses and belts, due to the fact it has not been driven in five years. the only physical damage, are the two minor dings in the drivers side door from a shopping cart. I dream of one day building the engine up and taking it to car shows in a year or two. At 18 years old and I am looking forward to spending a long time with my new Oldsmobile.
Finally I bet you are wondering how much my family acquired this fine machine for? Try $650, and she even threw in some extra parts for it that were laying around in the garage (fuel filters and whatnot). This is a true treasure.