Photog Robert McGaffin Gets Project Car

1965 Olds Cutlass

Posted April 20 2009 09:01 PM by Johnny Hunkins
Filed under: Project Cars

It’s been a long time coming, and we’re very excited to see what our star photographer can do with this classic muscle car.

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Every time I go out on a photo shoot with photographer Robert McGaffin, he’s like a broken record, talking about how some day he’s going to get a muscle car. And like a broken record, I always answer with, “sure thing Robert, sounds like a great idea.” Robert has finally jumped into the deep end, and obtained this very nice ’65 Olds Cutlass F-85 post car with a 400-ci engine.

Robert says: “Over the winter, I started to look around, and got discouraged at the cost of some of the cars I was interested in. I then focused on A-bodies due to the availability of go-fast parts, and the fact I could get my kids in there comfortably. The final straw was seeing my friend Randy Johnson's '66 Chevelle, and what it could do. About a month ago, I spent the weekend visiting friends Keith Kanak and Heath Elmer, and our mission was to find a car. We looked at ’70 Skylarks, and tried to locate a ’64-65 Cutlass. I was amazed on how much non-Chevelle A-body I could get for minimal cost. I have always been the guy who liked the odd ball stuff.

“My hunt intensified when I got home, and I happened across this one on eBay. I called and made an appointment to go look at it. It was in Coopersville, MI. We exchanged phone calls, and he was gracious enough to send photos and info. He listed the car as a 442 clone. He bought it six years ago from a gentleman in North Carolina who had restored it. The car was really solid, and all there. The lines are great and it reminded me of a Hot Wheels car that I had as a kid.”

Robert says he eventually wants to upgrade to a five-speed trans and a stroked LS2 to retain the 400-ci displacement. He also wants to improve the handling, braking, and steering. That’s going to require some cash, so you’re going to see a lot more photography from Robert in PHR in order to pay for all that!

What do you guys want to see Robert do with his Olds? Should he keep it pure Olds-powered? Is LS power good to go? Drop us a note, or post right here, and we’ll forward those ideas directly to Robert.

Reader Comments:

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1. Thanks for the press Bro. This has been a long time coming and I know with your help, It'll be awesome.

Cmraman - Posted April 20 2009 09:43 PM

2. cool car

MilesSpeed - Posted April 20 2009 09:51 PM

3. There is so much out there for those cars, I'd say keep it olds power, but with a modern suspension.

Or just keep it stock and beat the hell out of it!

Ryan Brutt
www.flickr.com/hemipwr70

Devil. - Posted April 21 2009 08:46 AM

4. I agree with Rob. He wants to drive it. Put a LS and a 5 speed in it. It is a nice car and looks real sweet sitting in my garage. Maybe Robert will forget where it is. Looks real good sitting next to my TA.

taman - Posted April 21 2009 08:58 AM

5. After some research I found out that there is a 330 cid in it, but that's ok. Any suggestiions are welcome.

Cmraman - Posted April 21 2009 10:47 AM

6. Keep it olds!!

Purerocket87 - Posted April 22 2009 09:57 AM

7. It cost more for all that EFI hookups for an LS2 besides its an olds not a ch*vy. Anybody can build a ch*vy plus the cost of aftermarket parts for those bowties aint as cheap as everyone likes to say so keep it Olds why downgrade from an Big Block to a small block?!

Purerocket87 - Posted April 22 2009 10:00 AM

8. Oh yeah one more thing don't go to mondello he'll break you account wide open lol. Try Dick Miller or btrperformance.com they'll get your olds right!!

Purerocket87 - Posted April 22 2009 11:09 AM

9. Thanks Purerocket87. I will definately look into the options. As for the motor, I don't know if you saw my earlier post, but the car has a 330 cid in it. I did some research on the engine codes. The block width on a 400 is 14 inches, and this one is only 12. So any upgrade, even a small block would be good. The motor is tired, but runs well. Thanks again for the input, I'll definately check it out.

Cmraman - Posted April 29 2009 06:07 AM

10. Oh ok didn't see that in your early post that 330 has a forge crank already. Yeah man do your olds however you choose just saying its more options than the big name olds

Purerocket87 - Posted May 1 2009 08:31 AM

11. Rob I say go LS power. I did it. Here is a link to my project 65 LS1 F-85.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/836762-1965-ls1-f85-project-pics.html

I replaced the tired old 330 and 2 speed auto with a stock 2002 LS1 and 4l60E. I also installed a CCP 4 wheel disc brake kit. The car will run high to mid 13's 1/4 with 3.08 gears and gets 22+ mpg. The most amazing thing is how easy it starts. You have to spend a load of doe to make any old school BB or SB of any brand run as strong as a LS engine. For the money and if you are on a budget it is the only way to go period. If that was a true 442 car then I agree a person should be shot to even consider the LS but the F-85's are a dime a dozen and I don't see any real future in them being worth much as a collector car.

rockytopper - Posted May 13 2009 02:10 PM

12. I would do what I did to my 65..go with an LT1 T56! Instead of spending big money on mounts, oil pan, headers, PCM programming, etc..you can do an LT1 swap for next to nothing, just buy a running th gen, part it out, and keep what you need. I used a 93 camaro LT1, T56, radiator, dual fans, and rewired the complete car with the 93 harness after removing what I didnt need. I average close to 20mpg between city and highway driving with mine, and with 3:08 gears I rarely need 6th..so 4:10s are coming soon!

[IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d136/drptop70ss/005-5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d136/drptop70ss/006-5.jpg[/IMG]

rustystuff - Posted June 17 2009 12:30 PM

13. Why not do what Olds was not allowed to do? Drop in a 425. Have Bill T. at BTR Performance build the engine to your desired goals and back it up with a 6-speed. The car will scream!

Eric

67fire - Posted June 17 2009 10:31 PM

14. you have to keep it all Olds! stay with a small block. not a lot of people build small olds. i've got a 64 cutlass with a 330, edelbrock heads, 10:1, victor intake, plus other goodies and it scoots. not a lot of pro-turing olds out there either. show them what real olds power can do!

brandon

superman322 - Posted June 18 2009 10:11 PM

15. The stock 330 4 barrel in 65 was 315 hp - 355 lbs torque @ 10.25 comp with a forged crank, not a bad starting point to have something different.Remember you have a 3400 lb car it will need torque to get it moving. I have a 65 f-85 conv with the 330 4bbl, Plans call for a MSD pro billet dist with the 6AL-2 box, Edelbrock RPM intake (gasket matched), 650 Holley, 350 turbo trans, Auburn posi,stong gears.

spyder-b - Posted July 6 2009 08:17 AM

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