1971 Olds 98
#1
1971 Olds 98
Hey everyone,
Check out my newest Oldsmobile. I just bought it on Friday evening for $1800. I bought it from a small dealer in OKC. Overall it is fairly straight. It doesn't have any cancerous rust, just a little bit of surface rust near the rear window. It still has all of the original manuals in the glove box with the protect-o plate and window sticker.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunsalamander14/
I am still tuning it up. When I changed the plugs they plug wires were so deteriorated that they snapped off at the plug in a couple of places. The oil filter was also one of the dirtiest I've ever seen. There was sludge in between the rim of the filter and the rubber o-ring. Today I am going to put points, cap, rotor, and wires on it. After setting dwell, timing, idle speed, and idle mixture I am sure it will run alot better.
Check out my newest Oldsmobile. I just bought it on Friday evening for $1800. I bought it from a small dealer in OKC. Overall it is fairly straight. It doesn't have any cancerous rust, just a little bit of surface rust near the rear window. It still has all of the original manuals in the glove box with the protect-o plate and window sticker.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunsalamander14/
I am still tuning it up. When I changed the plugs they plug wires were so deteriorated that they snapped off at the plug in a couple of places. The oil filter was also one of the dirtiest I've ever seen. There was sludge in between the rim of the filter and the rubber o-ring. Today I am going to put points, cap, rotor, and wires on it. After setting dwell, timing, idle speed, and idle mixture I am sure it will run alot better.
#2
Nice find son! Looks like most of the things that need repair are minor and can be taken care of. I don't like those door edge strips in chrome, they break up the long horizontal lines of the car which seem to me to be a strong design point. I know you will have that thing cleaned up nicely in a few weeks and shining like it was new. Congratulations.
#8
I don't like the door edge strips, they break up the horizontal look of the car. It is a large, long car and I like that, I don't like that the vertical door edge strips break that up and shorten the car's appearance.
#9
Hmm... I haven't given that much thought. I like the way it looks right now. Once I paint it I might consider taking some of the chrome trim off. I might also shave the door handles. I am not sure yet.
#11
Olds64, I love this car! I think that the '71 98's were such a sleek, clean, beautiful design. It's my personal opinion that the original design of the '71 - '76 body style was the best -- before the addition of the big bumpers, etc. during subsequent model years.
I can't tell for sure from your photos, but the car appears to be the very popular "Sandalwood". Am I correct? My full-size '71 Buick is finished in this same color, and I've always liked it.
Congratulations on your cool find, and please keep us posted with your progress.
I can't tell for sure from your photos, but the car appears to be the very popular "Sandalwood". Am I correct? My full-size '71 Buick is finished in this same color, and I've always liked it.
Congratulations on your cool find, and please keep us posted with your progress.
#12
Thanks for the comments. Centurion, I believe my car is Sandalwood. I don't think I have the build sheet but it might be under the seat or above the gas tank. I will have to check sometime. The paint is faded but it is a light brown / tan. I plan on having it redone in the same color.
#13
Thanks for the comments. Centurion, I believe my car is Sandalwood. I don't think I have the build sheet but it might be under the seat or above the gas tank. I will have to check sometime. The paint is faded but it is a light brown / tan. I plan on having it redone in the same color.
#18
The car was too big for the toll booth?
#20
That happens a lot in my drivers seat...
Last night I had trouble starting the 71 after I put all of the tune up parts on it. It turned out that my points were loose. After tightening them it started right up. It sputered and ran poorly for 2 minutes before I killed it. This evening I will set the dwell, timing, idle, and idle mixture. I think I will drive it to work tomorrow.
#22
Well, I didn't drive the 98 to work today. I tried to tune it up last night and wasn't very successful. I did drive it last night for about 15 minutes down the road so my wife and I could get some ice cream.
The car is acting like the timing is too far advanced. It pings pretty badly during acceleration and acts constipated. I am going to retune it tomorrow and start from ground zero with the dwell. I was just fighting an uphill battle last night. By the time I get home there is practically no light left because it gets dark so early.
Another thing that was odd was that the idle mixture screws were like 5 turns out. I thought they were supposed to be 2 1/2 turns out as a default setting on the Q-jet... Any pointers or tips are appreciated. Wish me luck.
The car is acting like the timing is too far advanced. It pings pretty badly during acceleration and acts constipated. I am going to retune it tomorrow and start from ground zero with the dwell. I was just fighting an uphill battle last night. By the time I get home there is practically no light left because it gets dark so early.
Another thing that was odd was that the idle mixture screws were like 5 turns out. I thought they were supposed to be 2 1/2 turns out as a default setting on the Q-jet... Any pointers or tips are appreciated. Wish me luck.
#23
2.5 turns out sounds about right as a starting point. Make sure you get the dwell set first and then do the timing. Also, did you check the harmonic balancer? Sometimes on older ones the outer ring slips and would throw off your ability to set the advance correctly.
#24
Man I thought my 57 Super 88 was a large car. Yours looks twice the size, you must have to use cell phones to talk from the front seat to the back seat. Do you have a license to drive something that big. Must get all of 8-10 miles to the gallon of the good stuff. have fun
#25
Also, did you check the harmonic balancer? Sometimes on older ones the outer ring slips and would throw off your ability to set the advance correctly.
Now for the fun stuff.
#26
that is a nice 98 you have there! certainly a very solid base for a little resto project. youre lucky that your 98 didnt have the vinyl top. my 71 98 did, but i stripped it off because of how ratty it was. at least i didnt find a speck of rust underneath it all. now i just have to get rid of the rivets that held the trim in place, and then smooth it all out.
i also envy your tilt steering column, lol.
once you get all the little bugs worked out you will really enjoy this car. mine is solid as a rock and i trust it to go anywhere.
-Bob
i also envy your tilt steering column, lol.
once you get all the little bugs worked out you will really enjoy this car. mine is solid as a rock and i trust it to go anywhere.
-Bob
#27
Nice looking car!! If you need parts, I have 72 4 door 88 and a 72 2 door 98, both hardtops, that are complete other than engine and trans and a few misc parts. I am about 4 hours from you, let me know if you want to check them out sometime!
Last edited by orange442; December 7th, 2008 at 10:14 PM.
#28
hey orange442, i know you were offering parts to olds64 here, but im in desperate need of a set of fender skirts for my 1971 98, and i was wondering, if olds64 didnt need/want them, if you could let me know what kind of condition they are in and what you would want for them.
thanks a lot!
-Bob
thanks a lot!
-Bob
#29
hey orange442, i know you were offering parts to olds64 here, but im in desperate need of a set of fender skirts for my 1971 98, and i was wondering, if olds64 didnt need/want them, if you could let me know what kind of condition they are in and what you would want for them.
thanks a lot!
-Bob
thanks a lot!
-Bob
#31
I don't need fender skirts. Mine are fine. I do think it would be cool to come out and see your vehicles though. I am going to Kansas City, MO around Christmas, perhaps we could set something up for December 23rd (that is the day the wife and I are driving up to KC). Then I could take some pics of anything that Bob would need.
#33
Olds64 that would be so awesome of you! i would really appreciate that.
honestly, ive only been on this forum a couple days but i am already astonished by the generosity and kindness of everyone...not trying to sound like sap or anything, its just often i run into a person, let alone a group of people, who understand why i care so much about my big "grampa blue" oldsmobile!
thanks again.
-Bob
honestly, ive only been on this forum a couple days but i am already astonished by the generosity and kindness of everyone...not trying to sound like sap or anything, its just often i run into a person, let alone a group of people, who understand why i care so much about my big "grampa blue" oldsmobile!
thanks again.
-Bob
#34
No problem Bob. Now all I have to do is talk to the wife and plan a trip out to see Orange442's cars. He isn't too far from me. Hopefully I can arrange it so I can see them on the afternoon of the 23rd.
#35
Interior Parts
I have a 71 olds 98 and also a spare 90% complete interior. The interior currently in the car has bench seats and the other interior is the 60/40 power seats. If interested in any interior parts let me know. By the way in in PA but I have mostly everything for an interior.
#38
Bob, I was going to order seat covers from Automotive Interiors; however, I decided to have a local guy stich me some new seat covers, recover the door panels, and replace the package tray.
I am going to drop off the car next week and he should have it done in about 2 weeks. I expect it to cost about $800-$900. I think that is pretty fair considering I would have spent at least $500 on one of the generic seat covers.
I am going to drop off the car next week and he should have it done in about 2 weeks. I expect it to cost about $800-$900. I think that is pretty fair considering I would have spent at least $500 on one of the generic seat covers.
#39
oh wow, thats a fantastic price! i cant wait to see the finished product. now are you going to try and have the original pattern on the seats and doors replicated? what color are you gonna do it in?
sorry for playing 20 questions! im just excited to see how it turns out as i need to have all of that done to my 98, like i said.
-Bob
sorry for playing 20 questions! im just excited to see how it turns out as i need to have all of that done to my 98, like i said.
-Bob
#40
No problem. I am not going to use the original fabric. I guess I could order it from SMS but I don't care about originality. I know my car is never going to be a Barret Jackson trailer queen. All I want is that is is durable and looks good. I am going to use a two tone that is brown and light tan. The guy says he can replicate the stiching on the original seats so I will at least do that, it just won't be the same color and pattern.