1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme from North America - Comments

When I purchased it the rear end was blown out so I replaced it with a used rear end.

I also replaced the gasket and fluid with full synthetic gear oil.

Other than normal wear and tear items it has been very trouble free.

I dropped an Oldsmobile 350 out of a 1979 Delta 88 Royal (rebuilt and painted) into it to replace the 260 which had no power.

I also replaced the fake leather interior with cloth seats out of a 1987 Monte Carlo which fit perfectly.

I bought the car off of an older gentleman for 25 dollars (original owner) and it is a fine car indeed.

The car was garage kept and still had the original rust proofing from the dealer on it.

He said he just wanted to rid himself of it and buy something new. I was in the right place at the right time!

This car is also going to be worth a lot more now that Oldsmobile is gone.

Putting the 350 in in place of the 260 was a good idea.

I think that the 260 was the only bad engine that Olds

ever made.

The 260 V8 is really a great engine. Yes it is underpowered, but it is built to last. Wide cooling walls between the cylinders prevent the engine from overheating and its durability is unmatched from other cars of its era. I had the option of a full engine upgrade when my dad and I refurbished my 1980 Cutlass. In the end we rebuilt the 260 and made it as close to factory new 1980 (with all of the pollution controls) engine with correct paint and factory settings. My 1980 Olds is a looker, not a mover.

I just wanted to defend the 260!

My dad owned a 1978 cutlass Supreme which he purchased in '84. It was a very reliable car which ran pretty smoothly. The 260 V8 was extremely underpowered. My dad didn't mind since he has always been a conservative driver. However, once at about 30 M.p.h. he got the urge to floor the car, and let me tell you, that little v8 performed very impressively from 30 to 70! I'll never forget laughing all the way home.

I have an Olds 260 that has about 20K on it, I was just going to junk it, would anybody actually buy this?? It's in perfect shape, it just wasn't big enough. Let me know if you want it on the cheap. bammer1313@hotmail.com.

My first car was a 79 cutlass with the 260V8. I replaced it with a 1970 olds 350 higher compression V8. I really loved and miss that car. With that engine I could pin the 85 speedometer on an entrance ramp, while getting 18mpg. My friends neon 4cyl automatic only gets 24. So much for progress.

I just want to know what you meant when you said Oldsmobile was gone.

The last Olds rolled off the assembly line in September of 2004, the last of 500 special edition Aleros, and the end of 108 years of superb cars (started in 1897, oldest automaker in the country). Yes, it's 108 years if you include production in 1897 and 2004. I think the financial pressure UAW put on GM is what brought Olds down, but maybe I'm wrong. If you want to work, you work, and if you don't, you don't. Even a crappy job is still a job. UAW was so eager to improve the jobs of GM workers, that they forced GM to retire a division, leaving workers with not a better job, but no job. Three cheers for UAW.

I recently purchased a 79 Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon myself. It has the 260 V8, and yeah it is definitely an underpowered motor as everyone has described. I was considering racing it until I found out how many people actually remember the Salon and thought that maybe somebody would like to buy it rather than having me race it. I just thought I would throw the offer out there if anybody was interested. Please feel free to email me at chevytrev2010@yahoo.com for more info or comments. Will be up for sale locally as well, if it isn't sold it will be overhauled for dirt track racing.

Thanks,