ClassicOldsmobile.com - View Single Post - 1963 Olds Ninety-Eight

alrandmae · 03-29-2007, 07:15 PM

Hi, I can help - I have the original 63 Olds literature, accessory books and 'inspectors guide' right in front of me.

Here's the deal: all of the high compression engines had a decal that said 'ultra high compression' including the 2bbl std engine on the D88 which was the same compression as the 4bbl 98 and S88 motor of 10.25:1. The S88 and 98 had the 4bbl and had the same decals as the Starfire motor, except the center larger decal on the Starfire motor said "Starfire" and the large decal on the Skyrocket engine said "Skyrocket."

So the UHC decal is missing from your air cleaner - it should be on the top front edge. It's reproduced in the original aluminum material so you can buy it if you want it.

The 345 hp Starfire engine was not optional on any model - but it came standard in the Starfires and the 98 Custom Sports Coupe. But you could order the 330hp Skyrocket engine that was standard on the 98s and the Super 88s in a Dynamic 88 at extra cost. There is one interesting aside: you could order a police package version of the 394 mill on full size cars, apparently. The motor would have originally been painted silver instead of red, and it was the 10.5:1 compression motor just like the Starfire and used the Starfire cam, but it was probably beefed up internally. The really cool thing is that it says this was available with synchromesh - the manual transmission! I'll bet the order sheets would have limited that to the non-bucket seat cars due to the console, but ya never know. Anyone ever seen one? THAT was the screamer of all 63 Oldsmobiles.

I have all the engine casting codes if anyone ever needs them. There were downgrade options too, like regular fuel option on the D88, and I'm sure the UHC decal was not there on that one.

So it's complex, but interesting.

03-29-2007, 07:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
alrandmae Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Centerport, NY Posts: 19	Hi, I can help - I have the original 63 Olds literature, accessory books and 'inspectors guide' right in front of me. Here's the deal: all of the high compression engines had a decal that said 'ultra high compression' including the 2bbl std engine on the D88 which was the same compression as the 4bbl 98 and S88 motor of 10.25:1. The S88 and 98 had the 4bbl and had the same decals as the Starfire motor, except the center larger decal on the Starfire motor said "Starfire" and the large decal on the Skyrocket engine said "Skyrocket." So the UHC decal is missing from your air cleaner - it should be on the top front edge. It's reproduced in the original aluminum material so you can buy it if you want it. The 345 hp Starfire engine was not optional on any model - but it came standard in the Starfires and the 98 Custom Sports Coupe. But you could order the 330hp Skyrocket engine that was standard on the 98s and the Super 88s in a Dynamic 88 at extra cost. There is one interesting aside: you could order a police package version of the 394 mill on full size cars, apparently. The motor would have originally been painted silver instead of red, and it was the 10.5:1 compression motor just like the Starfire and used the Starfire cam, but it was probably beefed up internally. The really cool thing is that it says this was available with synchromesh - the manual transmission! I'll bet the order sheets would have limited that to the non-bucket seat cars due to the console, but ya never know. Anyone ever seen one? THAT was the screamer of all 63 Oldsmobiles. I have all the engine casting codes if anyone ever needs them. There were downgrade options too, like regular fuel option on the D88, and I'm sure the UHC decal was not there on that one. So it's complex, but interesting.