1967 Delta 88 Super Rocket?

'67 Delta · March 29th, 2006, 10:57 PM

Can someone tell me about this car? I own a Super Rocket what is that, what makes it so special? Can someone help me out? By the way what were the engine sizes that Oldsmobile came up with? The Oldsmobile that I have is a 2 dr hard top 4 Barrel Carbutor.

Oldsguy · March 30th, 2006, 05:40 AM

Well, most Oldsmobiles are known as "Rockets" since Oldsmobile built their first overhead valve V8 in 1948, or maybe shortly thereafter. They came up with an identity campaign which has worked well for so many years. The engines were dubbed "Rocket V8s" with the popularity of jet engine airplanes and the interest with space men, etc. starting in the early fifties. It has been a nickname for Oldmobiles since. I think you get Super Rocket from the air cleaner cover, right? I might be wrong on that. They started making engines with higher compression ratios and I have seen "Ultra High Compression" decals on the air cleaner covers as well. In 1967 I think the big block was the 425 ci engine. Prior to that the sizes were 330 ci and 394 ci. About 1968 they started building the 350 ci and 455ci. I hope TexasRed sees this post and responds because he is more up to speed with Oldsmobile history. At any rate, welcome to the site and here's to your Oldsmobile, tell us more about it.

Oldsmaniac · March 30th, 2006, 04:17 PM

Olds first real V-8 engine came about in 1949...It was called a Rocket. It came in various displacements as already mentioned until 1964 when the modern Rocket engine was put into production. This displaced 330 cubes. In 1965 the big brother to the 330 was produced with 425 cubes. Olds titled this new top of the line V-8 the Super Rocket to state the fact that it was new and improved. While the big block was called the Super Rocket the smallblock 330 was called the Jetfire....Yes, these terms were on the Air Cleaner but also in sales brochures etc. 1967 was the last year for the 425 as in 1968 the displacement went to 455 and the 330 was increased to 350 cubes. The 67 88 with a 425 and 4bbl is no slouch.....Good Luck!

jdorour · March 30th, 2006, 10:19 PM

The other guys are correct.
The Original Olds engine designs:
303CID = Rocket
324CID = Rocket
371CID = Golden Rocket
394CID = Rocket, Sky Rocket and Super Rocket

The 1961 - 1963 F85 V8:
215CID = Rockette
215CID Turbo = Jetfire or TurboRockette

The second Gen Olds V8:
260CID =
307CID =
330CID = Jetfire, Cutlass, 442 Rocket (1964 only)
350CID = Rocket
400CID = 442 Rocket
403CID =
425CID = Super Rocket, Starfire (370 and 375 HP only), Toronado Rocket
455CID = Super Rocket, Rocket

Oldsmobile came up with the names only as a marketing gimic.
Chevy used TurboFire and TurboThrust, Buick used Wildcat and so on.

J'ville · May 3rd, 2006, 07:19 PM

A lot of people think the 425 is actually the best engine Olds built. It just never made it into a 442 or Hurst Olds, so never got the credit it should.
It was a square (bore and stroke same or close too) engine that had a lot of rev potential. The 455, although powerful, was a stroker and could not rev like the 425.

March 29th, 2006, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
'67 Delta Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Posts: 1	1967 Delta 88 Super Rocket? Can someone tell me about this car? I own a Super Rocket what is that, what makes it so special? Can someone help me out? By the way what were the engine sizes that Oldsmobile came up with? The Oldsmobile that I have is a 2 dr hard top 4 Barrel Carbutor.

March 30th, 2006, 05:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,315	Well, most Oldsmobiles are known as "Rockets" since Oldsmobile built their first overhead valve V8 in 1948, or maybe shortly thereafter. They came up with an identity campaign which has worked well for so many years. The engines were dubbed "Rocket V8s" with the popularity of jet engine airplanes and the interest with space men, etc. starting in the early fifties. It has been a nickname for Oldmobiles since. I think you get Super Rocket from the air cleaner cover, right? I might be wrong on that. They started making engines with higher compression ratios and I have seen "Ultra High Compression" decals on the air cleaner covers as well. In 1967 I think the big block was the 425 ci engine. Prior to that the sizes were 330 ci and 394 ci. About 1968 they started building the 350 ci and 455ci. I hope TexasRed sees this post and responds because he is more up to speed with Oldsmobile history. At any rate, welcome to the site and here's to your Oldsmobile, tell us more about it. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

March 30th, 2006, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
jdorour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA. Posts: 122	The other guys are correct. The Original Olds engine designs: 303CID = Rocket 324CID = Rocket 371CID = Golden Rocket 394CID = Rocket, Sky Rocket and Super Rocket The 1961 - 1963 F85 V8: 215CID = Rockette 215CID Turbo = Jetfire or TurboRockette The second Gen Olds V8: 260CID = 307CID = 330CID = Jetfire, Cutlass, 442 Rocket (1964 only) 350CID = Rocket 400CID = 442 Rocket 403CID = 425CID = Super Rocket, Starfire (370 and 375 HP only), Toronado Rocket 455CID = Super Rocket, Rocket Oldsmobile came up with the names only as a marketing gimic. Chevy used TurboFire and TurboThrust, Buick used Wildcat and so on. __________________ 1966 Ninety Eight Convertible - 425 Tri-Carb, Factory Dual Exh, Switch-Pitch THM400, 3.54 Posi. 1966 Catalina Wagon - 421 Tri-Power, M21, 4.11 Saf-T-Trac, 8 Bolt Wheels 1989 IROC-Z - 5.7TPI

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March 30th, 2006, 04:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Oldsmaniac Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 686	Olds first real V-8 engine came about in 1949...It was called a Rocket. It came in various displacements as already mentioned until 1964 when the modern Rocket engine was put into production. This displaced 330 cubes. In 1965 the big brother to the 330 was produced with 425 cubes. Olds titled this new top of the line V-8 the Super Rocket to state the fact that it was new and improved. While the big block was called the Super Rocket the smallblock 330 was called the Jetfire....Yes, these terms were on the Air Cleaner but also in sales brochures etc. 1967 was the last year for the 425 as in 1968 the displacement went to 455 and the 330 was increased to 350 cubes. The 67 88 with a 425 and 4bbl is no slouch.....Good Luck!

May 3rd, 2006, 07:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
J'ville Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville Fl Posts: 44	A lot of people think the 425 is actually the best engine Olds built. It just never made it into a 442 or Hurst Olds, so never got the credit it should. It was a square (bore and stroke same or close too) engine that had a lot of rev potential. The 455, although powerful, was a stroker and could not rev like the 425.