1984 Big Block H/O Pro-Touring Build

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Hey all. Been a member of this site for quite a while now and am finally getting around to starting a build thread. Some of you may have seen this build via photos I have downloaded. Still trying to figure out how the forum works. I've had this car since 1998 and hope to pass it on to my kids. I have acquired 2 more H/O's since then and hope to do a hard top car after I get this one done.... If this one doesn't break the bank that is!!! I originally started out trying to get the rust fixed at the body shop with the help of new floors, rust free doors, a GM trunk lid I scored on Ebay, and rear wheel tubs. I was also going to have them do a quick frame notch. This theory got completely blown out of the water when the body shop decided to cut my frame into about 8 pieces and relocate the rear frame rails. The rest is history. This led into the countless things you will see in the pictures. New 9" ford, coil overs, rear sway bar from Art Morrison, huge wheels and tires, the list goes on and on. I am now in the process of putting the interior together. Had to repaint and clean everthing. The new 496 BBO roller will be here in about a month from BTR Performance. Hope to have it back on the road by July 1. Ordered headers from American Racing Headers which I hope are as beautiful in person as they look on their website. One thing about it, without love for these G bodies, there will be none left. I along with a lot of you wish they could save them all but it is impossible. I plan to put up a good fight though. 430.jpg429.jpg432.jpg431.jpg435.jpg437.jpg436.jpg434.jpg

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Had some more pics to post

[1984 Big Block H/O]

More build pics530.jpg608.jpg582.jpg439.jpg585.jpg607.jpg624.jpg588.jpg

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Latest build pics from when we brought it home in February. I also threw one in there of my car before I started the restoration. Will try to post some updated build pictures of the interior and of the motor install.

[88hurstolds]

Badazz build!
Glad its got an Olds under the hood.

[88 Cutty Classic]

nice build! you didnt happen to buy the two 84 hursts that were for sale by the same owner on ebay about a month ago did you? do wondered because you mentioned you picked up two

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Thanks!! It's been an expensive and time-consuming process and it still isn't even close. BTR Bill should have my motor to me next month sometime. Still trying to figure out which company is going to build the 200-4r for it. Have been doing a lot of research on that one. Haven't bought any cars lately. I bought the other t-top 84 H/O that I have from a junk yard in Iowa that had picked it up abandoned years before. I received it with no title. I also have a hard top body that I bought from a guy in Minnesota a few years back that had gotten stolen and recovered. I have a title for it. My plan is to build the hard top body using the good frame from the t-top car (that car is too far gone to fix). I have enough parts left over from my H/O that I could build another car with little money involved. My plan is to do a DX stroker build for that one and race it on the weekends. I really want to build a wheel standing door slammer for the strip. I have two daughters so you know what that means... I need to build both cars so that each one of them will have one when they get older. (at least that's what I plan to tell my wife when she asks me why I'm building another car). Thanks again for the kind words. It means a lot.

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Well-- been working on the car lately and have finally had time to slip the motor, trans, and headers in for a test fit. Had some clearance issues with the valve cover to A/C box clearance so I had to get creative. Had to take a chunk out of the heater box and put a notch in a valve cove but I think it will turn out good when it's all done. I still have a little filler to apply to the seams of the heater box yet, but all in all I think it's going to be a pretty clean installation. I am just too stubborn to not have A/C after all of this is done.

[88hurstolds]

Aren't you going to have issues taking that much material out of the valve cover?
Looks scary like you'll have some issues with the arms hitting.
Same with the AC box, looks like you'll have some flow issues.
Have you considered notching the crossmember and lowering the engine some?

[1984 Big Block H/O]

Thanks for the help with the link Mike. Actually I am 100% sure the rockers will not even come close to hitting the valve cover. I had the notch cut out and rolled the motor over. It looks worse than it is from the pictures. On the other hand, I did restrict the evaporator some, but should still have some good flow. I may have an icing issue later, but I will deal with that then. I have a couple more A/C boxes laying around if this doesn't work, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I can't say in all my looking around on any of the forums that anyone has tried this before. I have some more detailed photos and will add them to this site from now on.