AAM

Hello everyone.....I'm new to the site. I have a 56 Olds 88. I've owned the car for about four years and it's in great condition. When I purchased the car, the previous owner said that the engine had been rebuilt. Everything is original, with the exception of the wheels. The car is running great right now, but I've had a few problems within the past year.

In February of 2011, I had to have a new cam and lifters installed. The car ran great up until March of this year. I had another problem with the cam. I had only driven the car 1700 miles! When I took the car back to the shop, they supposedly determined that there was excessive pressure in the valve springs due to incorrect shims? I've gotten feedback from a different site that the problem could be oil related.

Well anyway, I thought it would be a good idea for me to learn and interact with people that feel the same way I feel about classic cars. I'm not a mechanic, so I hope I don't offend anyone by asking dumb questions. I look forward to any feedback.

1969w3155

Welcome..and good morning!

AAM

thanks!

citcapp

Now that you have signed in the next step is to post pictures of your ride.

We don't mind dumb questions it's the dumb answers that drive us crazy

AAM

I figured out how to post a photo on my profile. You can see it there. I'll post more later!

Tedd Thompson

AAM, 56's had a problem with their cams being soft but after a rebuild and replacement of that cam and another I also would suspect an oil problem or the lack of a zinc additive during the brake in period to be more precise. Most modern oils do not contain enough zinc (ZDDP) to keep the cam and lifters from going flat. This additive was greatly reduced in modern oils because of the problems it gave catalytic converters our older engines suffer because if this reduction. Some racing and diesel oils still contain zinc and if you do a search on this site you will find out more than you need to know on this subject I add a pint of additive with ZDDP in every oil change and have no cam/ lifter problems........Lost in the fifties Tedd

AAM

Thank You. I bought an oil additive this afternoon that contains zinc. I'll make sure its added with each oil change. Thanks Again!

citcapp

nice ride

Highwayman

That's a sweet ride AAM! Nice to see another 4 door post. The Cragers and whitewalls are classic! I like it!

AAM

Thanks!

Tedd Thompson

I also love the Cragers and whitewall mix, good looking more door.......Tedd

klovett

Welcome, there are a lot of nice and helpful people here.

Jamesbo

Welcome aboard

Nice ride

AAM

Thanks everyone. I'm looking forward to the interaction.

OLD SKL 69

Very nice car, welcome to CO!

D. Yaros

For a good explanation of the problems caused by a reduction/lack of zinc in motor oils see the May 2012 issue of Car Collector Chronicles, here -
http://www.scribd.com/people/view/7936333-dave

AAM

Thanks for the good information, I'll pass this on to my repair shop. Is there a certain brand of oil that I can purchase that has the required amount of zinc included?

I was at Pep Boys last week and I saw the zinc additive ( it was in a clear bottle) but I didn't see a certain brand of oil that had the higher level of zinc included. Thanks

D. Yaros

Yes, Brad Penn, Rotella T are good oils with zinc. That topic is covered in Part 2 of my article; coming in the June issue of CCC.

AAM

Thanks for the information

hellbents10

Great looking car!

AAM

Thanks