dar83501

So I have an update on the Oldsmobile Ninety Eight I mentioned earlier.

I went and talked with the guy and inspected the car, and took pictures. It's pretty much a rust bucket, but I figured I'd describe what's up with the car, and post the pictures, and see what you folks think could be done with it (if anything).

My questions:

What would I be looking at to restore this, money and time wise, ballparks? I know some things are obvious, it's heavily rusted, and the interior fabric is all destroyed...water damage i think. The dash is good, the seats are good except for the driver's seat has a tear in it.

If I could land this junker for $150, what could I get by parting it out?

This car is a serious RUST BUCKET. It wasn't taken care of at all, just sat there in the field rusting away for probably about 15 years. Please, ask me questions about it too, so I can see what I should do with it, or if I should let this old girl finish rusting away.


Whoever owned the car at some point in it's life removed the vinyl top I think...thereby causing the entire roof to rust through. The trunk is rusted through in places, the hood hinges are rusted, and i'm pretty sure the floor pans are rusted, due to the water damage. Also, I'm fairly certain some native Idaho critters had their way with the interior. Poor Oldsmobile's a hardcore junker

The picture of the front didn't come out because my camera is emo, but I'll describe the front anyway. The hood is bent a little, the hinges are pretty much frozen. The headlights are good, didn't look cracked, the grille was good, and the bumper looked good (minus the rust).

And since I can only upload five pictures, i'll reply to this thread and upload the other ones.

dar83501

All the chrome and emblems appear (amazingly) to still be on the vehicle, and I think it has at least 3 hubcaps, the said he might be able to find the other hubcap.

Additionally, I wouldn't hesitate at all to say that the odometer has most likely rolled over once.

J-(Chicago)

I hate to say it, but that thing ain't worth crap.
Maybe someone would spend the time, soul, and energy reviving this thing if it would ever be worth something, but fact of the matter is.... everyone wants sporty old cars like 442s and starfire convertibles. These were dubbed as "old man" cruisers, and the people wanting to drive "old man" cruisers will probably opt for something from 1945-1960.

Check out www.dansgarage.net They usually have junkers for sale. That will give you an idea of price, but even their junkers don't usually look this far gone.

The plus side of the matter is:
If you end up dragging this thing home and restoring it
These will be VERY impressive starting pictures to show off when it's done.

dar83501

That's pretty much what I thought as soon as I got closer to it. I may still buy it to pull the motor and trans so i have spares or something, and then crush the old girl, but I dunno. I do however have a line on a 67' Vista Cruiser for $500...I may see what kind of shape it's in and bring her home instead !

J-(Chicago)

Motor and trans cores will get you your 150 bucks back though.
Minus labor.

and steel goes for about 4 cents a pound.
4000lb X 0.04

thats 160 bucks.

dar83501

Labor? I have a cherry picker and a shop, the only labor costs I have are the cases of beer me and my buddies go through working on junkers!

J-(Chicago)

well in that case i'd take it and give it a proper burial, melting it down into bullets and airplanes.

dar83501

Yeah. It's an effing shame though...This was the only Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight I've ever seen in this part of the country. Actually, I did find a 63 about 4 months ago, but the guy wouldn't give it up for all the tea in china. It was actually in VERY good shape. Shame I couldn't take it off his hands, he knew what he had, haha.

J-(Chicago)

All depends on how you feel tomorrow as far as that car goes I suppose.

J-(Chicago)

Washington plates on the Olds

Are you in Idaho or Washington? Cuz I believe DansGarage is in Washington if you are in the market for a cooler beater than that field rat.

dar83501

the car was in Clarkston, Washington, and I live in Lewiston, Idaho. It's a river valley, same community basically.

Olds64

BLASHEMOUS! BURN HIM, BURN HIM!

Actually, the car does look pretty rough. I would suggest getting it only for the engine and tranny. The car would take too much effort to restore. To do it properly you would have to do a frame off restoration.

J-(Chicago)

It's already had a frame off..........
get a magnet and pick up the chunks

I wish more people liked the 70's ninety eights...... but like I said, they just don't have that "Appeal" that everyone else is looking for.

Same with my 77-85 B bodies..... I like them best.... But I'm alone on that one.

Everyone wants an 87 Cutlass with a euroclip instead. Or a t-top 442

dar83501

I probably will buy it for the engine, transmission, and the rear end core for my 87 big block.

dar83501

hopefully it's a posi rear end too, cause I need a rear end!... after that it's just building my exhaust and converting my column shifter and putting her together.

dar83501

Dans Garage is in Kennewick, my uncle lives in Kennewick. Good place to know, I looked the site over, looks like that guy has some nice junkers there. Thanks.

Modern Motoring

I'll be in Kennewick this weekend visiting my wifes family. I won't have Marge, I'll be in a rental ( ugh ! ) I might (read will) stop by that place.

Oldsguy

Buy it. keep what you want, part out the things like the rear seat speaker grill or the bumpers and the like, then sell it for scrap. Little stuff would store in a big box in the garage until you sell them, bumpers. well if you have room to store them...

Dapapadon

Don't listen to these guys. Go get that 98, drag her home & restore her! You know you want to. Besides she's bearly a project. This is a project:

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...on/54Chevy.jpg

OK, just kidding! I agree with the others. Buy it for the parts. If you're wanting the motor you might want to make sure it's not locked up.

To be honest - you're close to some of the best project car areas in the country. From Seattle to Portland and farther south, eastern WA, OR and Idaho. Good project cars can be found in the $500 - $1500 range if you look hard enough. Maybe figure another $200 - $300 to get it home. Start with a little better project and you'll save yourself money in the long run.

Don

dar83501

I don't want it for the motor. I already have a hot 455 built up, and the transmission to go with it. I have my father's 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to put it in. All I need is rear end, headers, and a few things here and there, i'm doing all the work myself. I'm also building my own custom exhaust.

I'm buying this car for a *spare* motor and trans, and to take the rear end from it, part anything else useful out and scrap it.

dar83501

and i don't have the money, time, or resources to rebuild a car THAT far gone...I'm a working college student you know

oldsmobug

i will sell you this one for alot less than you'll have in restoring the one you pictured ,even with hauling it from ohio $2000.00 come and get it
43,000 original miles , 455 auto new tires ,killer AM radio ,a/c still blows cold (even in the summer time )

Oldsguy

Don, I have seen worse than that truck you showed. A guy over at jalopyjournal.com found a '34 sedan half buried in the mud/dirt in a field and dug it out!
bug....your car looks to be in very nice shape, if I was in the market for a B body project I would seriously consider that one.

Olds64

Bug, that is a nice car. Too bad you are all the way in OH. I noticed that you have a VW Bug parked in the garage in front of the Olds. My wife and I own an orange 03 VW Bug. It is a good car.