the musty smell would be enough to turn me away. I had that in my SSEi. I ended up throwing out all carpet padding, the rear trunk carpet, will be replacing the carpet, and still can smell mustiness sometimes.

As for the car itself, I looked at it before and it looks like it could be a fun little car. I'd pick it up as a 2nd car, but not as a primary in it'* current condition.

Honestly Pinkster...the timing chain is enough to make most people run away.

Add to that the water pump is driven off that chain...the cracking of the heads and head gasket issues...

RUN... it was fast...it was a great concept.. longevity isn't a highlight on these motors..I can't begin to tell you the number of these I see at the yard with "bad motor" written on the car.

Try www.oldspower.com. It'* mostly people with G bodies, but there might be some that own the Calais.

Well I was over on the Quad4 site, and apparently the Quad4 is a pretty good engine, excpet fo rthe head gasket problem, otherwise they are mean little engines. Quote -

The standard non W41 442 will run 0-60 in about 7.5ish seconds and the quarter between 15-15.5.

Common problems with this engine are the headgaskets, which generally go about every 150k, don't beat on her when she is still cold, watch your oil pressure, and just general maintenance and you should be good for a while.

Common performance mods are:

W41 chip
W41 Cams
3.94 FDR int slave tranny ( stock for us is 3.61 ext slave )

That alone with a proper running HO will put you in the 14.6-15 second range if not a bit faster.

Then there is a TRS header, good luck getting one as Josh has seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth, but if you do manage to get one, get a good 2.5 inch pipe all the way back and you are looking at +20HP dyno proven.

Easy do it yourself mods are a home made 3 inch cold air intake, it may not do anything for performance but it sure as hell sounds cool!!

Screw the Olds, how about this?? Needs a trans..and I like it.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts/249179374.html

itl need the 4l60e so is pretty common go for it 4.3'* are little demons and pretty relaible. it is a 90* v6

I can probably get you one like that for $1000 with a 5 spd that may need a clutch at most. It would be a 1995. My mechanic has it, but it sending it to auction soon I think.

How about this??? Olds cutty supreme 3.4 TDC. Yes I know but I am willing to take a chance and i do want a challenge.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/car/249298857.html

I still maintain that you should save a little cash, and spring for the SSEI. A club owned car will most likely be the safest and most reliable bet.

Well I am going to look at the Cutlass this weekend. Heck, for $400, you really can't pass on it. I figured I am going to get the hardest thing done at the dealer (timing belt) and drive it until the HGs blow, then have those done.