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1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 455
Recevied half-complete from another shop, motoro in pieces in a box. Unfortunately, we found frame damage, now documenting new frame installation and build. Built up full roller 455 with aluminum heads, March serpentine drive, Vintage Air A/C retrofit, straighten and powdercoated new frame, fabricate new hard lines, weld up and float firewall, new exhaust system, new wiring harness, and custom fit Dakota Digital gauges.
![69 Olds Cutlass - how we received he](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_e4d22c978bd9497ca52e54d700227a08.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_e4d22c978bd9497ca52e54d700227a08.jpg)
69 Olds Cutlass - how we received he
As she came into the shop..
![69 Olds Cutlass](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_e1a0f98405e84ffab7ebcd29cb1da7ea.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_e1a0f98405e84ffab7ebcd29cb1da7ea.jpg)
69 Olds Cutlass
![Frame not square](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_96d4fb9b81174ae9ab2f4b1d79a203b3.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_96d4fb9b81174ae9ab2f4b1d79a203b3.jpg)
Frame not square
![Frame not square - comparisson](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_804589294cc14c0e960b8fc0a1f70775.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_804589294cc14c0e960b8fc0a1f70775.jpg)
Frame not square - comparisson
![Frame Alignment Check](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_a50d4035b2314b8bb1c72bef06c691f2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_a50d4035b2314b8bb1c72bef06c691f2.jpg)
Frame Alignment Check
![IMAG8102.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_9f4eb1c376df4cc08ab983dd8f52620f.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_9f4eb1c376df4cc08ab983dd8f52620f.jpg)
IMAG8102.jpg
![Vintage Air](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_afc1c7d6799946fda831236ee87cc9bc.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_afc1c7d6799946fda831236ee87cc9bc.jpg)
Vintage Air
![Fresh 455 built with March Serp](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_b841e70e5c284e22b4da3f9856574a80.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_b841e70e5c284e22b4da3f9856574a80.jpg)
Fresh 455 built with March Serp
![New chassis checked before powder](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_a5d28598b8404c1990368db18a738918.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_a5d28598b8404c1990368db18a738918.jpg)
New chassis checked before powder
![frame back from powdercoat](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_17f51f6cfc714b478990b33275e6e5aa.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_17f51f6cfc714b478990b33275e6e5aa.jpg)
frame back from powdercoat
![Brake and fuel lines plumbed](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_d2eb385821a948a09e1d57bd87337d32.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_d2eb385821a948a09e1d57bd87337d32.jpg)
Brake and fuel lines plumbed
![Fuel and brake lines plumbed](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_73a70325a1a24bfa9b0919e71165a5fe.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_73a70325a1a24bfa9b0919e71165a5fe.jpg)
Fuel and brake lines plumbed
![Filling and smoothing firewall](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_c93342044e684a638aefad4e1310058f.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_c93342044e684a638aefad4e1310058f.jpg)
Filling and smoothing firewall
![Dropping the chassis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_0cae0354c2cb40dfbfcdf39548c57eba.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_0cae0354c2cb40dfbfcdf39548c57eba.jpg)
Dropping the chassis
![Preparing for suspension swap](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_ec4f1126786a4cd2853eb7744279b431.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_ec4f1126786a4cd2853eb7744279b431.jpg)
Preparing for suspension swap
![New and old frames](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_cdcac3a7d80a44f9bf257de48c8ccaba.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_cdcac3a7d80a44f9bf257de48c8ccaba.jpg)
New and old frames
![Engine test fit](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_1798fb1b32a44abc82a38972aa445dc8.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_1798fb1b32a44abc82a38972aa445dc8.jpg)
Engine test fit
![Engine test fit, more plumbing](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_e9f93873a0d8476989bdf0e7dbb83537.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_e9f93873a0d8476989bdf0e7dbb83537.jpg)
Engine test fit, more plumbing
![Firewall welded up and painted](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_1b068c313b944876b4935b4c1a84bf5b.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_1b068c313b944876b4935b4c1a84bf5b.jpg)
Firewall welded up and painted
![Chassis & powertrain ready for body](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_9219291c706348c18d26ae7a401acd7f.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_9219291c706348c18d26ae7a401acd7f.jpg)
Chassis & powertrain ready for body
![Chassis & powertrain ready for body](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_93786398f8ee41a184286d687f864e73.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_93786398f8ee41a184286d687f864e73.jpg)
Chassis & powertrain ready for body
![Chassis & powertrain ready for body](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_7065da4c7a1c4649ad6170e55fce2e18.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_7065da4c7a1c4649ad6170e55fce2e18.jpg)
Chassis & powertrain ready for body
![Bod going back on](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_eab9f8f1741948e9ae43cccd64395f79.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_eab9f8f1741948e9ae43cccd64395f79.jpg)
Bod going back on
![Fresh undercoating](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_02e242bf23964ecb9e4defece8c943c6.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_02e242bf23964ecb9e4defece8c943c6.jpg)
Fresh undercoating
![Fresh undercoating/ exhaust mock up](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_89eb99ceac17467f934257098d4b6559.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_89eb99ceac17467f934257098d4b6559.jpg)
Fresh undercoating/ exhaust mock up
![QTP Cutouts](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_3124fc24d6ba4dfda42b0feb5eed5459.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_3124fc24d6ba4dfda42b0feb5eed5459.jpg)
QTP Cutouts
![IMAG9376.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_4e05083664eb473281bcf49559c1ea22.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_4e05083664eb473281bcf49559c1ea22.jpg)
IMAG9376.jpg
![Body back on new frame](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_bb76873338944021915d40246f8e70f9.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_bb76873338944021915d40246f8e70f9.jpg)
Body back on new frame
![Body back on new frame](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_a3c4376f30e642c39aecca8bde31cf23.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_a3c4376f30e642c39aecca8bde31cf23.jpg)
Body back on new frame
![Engine bay assembly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_3283f89a9de14622be4f8ba2cd3d1c31.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_3283f89a9de14622be4f8ba2cd3d1c31.jpg)
Engine bay assembly
![New exhaust and cutouts](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_b172bdc4d66f4621a946c3b945d66bdc.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_b172bdc4d66f4621a946c3b945d66bdc.jpg)
New exhaust and cutouts
![Freshly restored and ready to play](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_a08b6fac322e4f7dab8a625c53704782.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_a08b6fac322e4f7dab8a625c53704782.jpg)
Freshly restored and ready to play
![Engine after first test run!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_241d49a33f684cf58845f8dc9cdbfd29.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_241d49a33f684cf58845f8dc9cdbfd29.jpg)
Engine after first test run!
![Dakota Digital VHX Gauges](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_020d988f34994c09b38a01e45e17ef9a.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_020d988f34994c09b38a01e45e17ef9a.jpg)
Dakota Digital VHX Gauges
![Dakota Digital VHX Gauges](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_fa979300f11941fb8e35d0fc62e63146.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_fa979300f11941fb8e35d0fc62e63146.jpg)
Dakota Digital VHX Gauges
![Shake-down run to CPP](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e50b73_73b6eef3077d45109be66826b951a05f.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/e50b73_73b6eef3077d45109be66826b951a05f.jpg)
Shake-down run to CPP
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