My "adventure" buying a 56 Olds Super 88 Conv + driving it in Germany the first time
August 26th, 2011, 03:00 PM
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My "adventure" buying a 56 Olds Super 88 Conv + driving it in Germany the first time
Last year around this time I found a 56 Super 88 Conv. in the internet. The car was sitting with a dealer in Alabama, white over read color.
I liked it and a specialist from Germany flew there to look at it.
The judgement was disastrous, so this car was not bought.
At the same time I found another one in Florida in red. My specialist drove more than 8 hours down to the place, looked at the car and got kicked out as the seller of the car was a pretty religous Christan and he found it to be totally inappropriate to show up in shorts at his house on a Sunday. Still, the car was good and so I bought it and we hauled it down to Miami for stuffing in a container.
Weeks later it arrived in Rotterdam, was customs cleared (cheaper in Holland compared to Germany) and then trucked to Germany to the car repair shop of my friend. Arrival date was December 6th 2010.
Repair works started and the conversion to German road laws (changing head lights, putting in hazard warning flashers etc.) Then I decided to change the car's 3x2 bbl carbs to the original 1x4bbl, so new intake manifold (thanks to Hialeah56 in this forum), new carb, new fuel lines, vacuum lines etc. On top the Hydramatic had to go for an original Jetaway that was bought on a scrap yard in America and then overhauled by Lee Myles transmission in 5201 Washington Street in West Roxbury, MA. The tranny arrived in May.
Wire wheels had finished the perfect looks.
WE had all possible problems in building it up, but FINALLY, FINALLY I got to drive it first time yesterday evening!!
Imagine, German roads, speeds, drivers that do not forgive mistakes and impatience everywhere and the 56 Olds in the middle of that!
But, the Olds was running perfectly!
Some people warned my about the Jetaway, but it runs perfectly, I totally and fully love it! Steve Peluso at Lee Myles did such a perfect job, I still cannot believe it!!
I am not at all feeling and kicks on shifting. 1st to 2nd, no chance to feel it! 2nd to 3rd, just a tiny little kick, only if you are "waiting for it". Then 3rd to 4th you cannot sense it!
Very unsual for me is to get used to the size of the 56 Super 88 Conv. It is like driving a steamer on the street!!! LIke a battle ship! Normally I drive a Lexus LS 460, which is far away from being a small car, but this battle ship really tops it!
Steering is very very unusual, the power steering is so easy that I always steered "too much". The steering is not very direct, you turn left, it is too much, you correct to the right side, it is a little too much again etc.
Watching the old movies with Doris Day and others driving a car of the 50ths, I always wondered why they had to do that much steering work on straight roads, now I KNOW, believe me!
So, to get to my hometown I had to go on the Autobahn. You guys know, most of the Autobahns have NO SPEEDLIMITS!
I put the Olds on the right lane, sped up to 60 miles and everybody kept on zipping by me!!!
What a loud noise when the cars roar by you being in a convertible, even if the roof is up!
Straight down the Autobahn at 60 Mph means quite some steering, even though Radial tires mounted are already the better choice.
I am afraid to drive faster than max 60 Mph, the engine had an overhaul a few hundred miles ago and on top, US engines do not have a big enough oil pan to keep the oil cool. German V8 have up to 11 quarts, the US engines run on 5 quarts or so.
An oil cooler would be necessary to avoid the thermic death of the US V8, but I keep it down to 60mph, the engine should be used to that in the US.
So, arriving at home after like 25 Miles distance, I had a big smile on my face!!!
The tranny a dream the noise level of the Olds pretty much down, that is driving a car while sitting on a big sofa.
At home the engine was pretty hot, 300 pounds of hot cast iron is radiating so much heat.
Sadly enough the engine was losing a little puddle of oil out of the rear oil seal of the crankshaft.
Will see, if that will finally stop, as otherwise the whole engine needs to be pulled to put that §4+*§$§§* rope into the rear bearing of the crankshaft.
So, now further fine tuning is done to make the car absolutely perfect. I wanted to put the correct clock in, the one with the chromium face, but the clock would not start.
Connecting the clock directly to the battery makes it work, the power is at 12,64Volts. In the dash, it does not work, I only come to 8,6 Volts.
In the fuse box, the entry side into fuse 1 is 12,64Volts, the exit side is at 8,6 volts, no clue, where the power disappears??
For the first time I wanted to open the "rag top" as Americans call it, it lifted up but then no reaction on the movements of the switch anymore. No up, no down, just nothing!!!
I hoped that I had blown the fuse, but the top does not have fuse. The shop manual just talks about a circuit breaker.
No clue where to look for the problem!!
So, the second drive today into the country side was with top up, but all windows down.
Very nice again, the steering makes me sweat, but I guess that I will get used to it...
Sorry, that this got so long, I just hope that you like to read about the German "fighting" with an American car...
Just to be complete in my little story, my American friends are always laughing about our "battles" with the inch wrenches.
They make us nuts! You are working under the car, you try a 7/16 wrench, too small, so you ask your friend outside the car, get the next number, should be like 8/16!! Then the "stupid" math rules come up and the 8/16 turns into a 1/2!! §$&**++§§§ wrench, who cares, the next bigger one pls! 1/2 will not function either, so now what is the next f.... size???????????????????????????
Okay, back from 1/2 to 8/16, or may be to 16/32????
Now it must be 9/16, just to realize, that 10/16 does not exist again, math comes in at 5/8!!
It makes you cry under the car, you finally tell the guy outside to get you the whole f.... box and you just try and try...
I hear you guys laughing, but imagine, how nice it is when you work metric!!
10mm too small, so get me 11mm, 13mm and so on. For numb nuts like us, the easy game...
Then god forbid that we lose a screw, none of ours will fit. We are totally metric and all screws and nuts are inch threat, we have to find the screw that slipped away, no matter what...
This stuff is just for your amusement, so pls do not feel offended!
The_German
I liked it and a specialist from Germany flew there to look at it.
The judgement was disastrous, so this car was not bought.
At the same time I found another one in Florida in red. My specialist drove more than 8 hours down to the place, looked at the car and got kicked out as the seller of the car was a pretty religous Christan and he found it to be totally inappropriate to show up in shorts at his house on a Sunday. Still, the car was good and so I bought it and we hauled it down to Miami for stuffing in a container.
Weeks later it arrived in Rotterdam, was customs cleared (cheaper in Holland compared to Germany) and then trucked to Germany to the car repair shop of my friend. Arrival date was December 6th 2010.
Repair works started and the conversion to German road laws (changing head lights, putting in hazard warning flashers etc.) Then I decided to change the car's 3x2 bbl carbs to the original 1x4bbl, so new intake manifold (thanks to Hialeah56 in this forum), new carb, new fuel lines, vacuum lines etc. On top the Hydramatic had to go for an original Jetaway that was bought on a scrap yard in America and then overhauled by Lee Myles transmission in 5201 Washington Street in West Roxbury, MA. The tranny arrived in May.
Wire wheels had finished the perfect looks.
WE had all possible problems in building it up, but FINALLY, FINALLY I got to drive it first time yesterday evening!!
Imagine, German roads, speeds, drivers that do not forgive mistakes and impatience everywhere and the 56 Olds in the middle of that!
But, the Olds was running perfectly!
Some people warned my about the Jetaway, but it runs perfectly, I totally and fully love it! Steve Peluso at Lee Myles did such a perfect job, I still cannot believe it!!
I am not at all feeling and kicks on shifting. 1st to 2nd, no chance to feel it! 2nd to 3rd, just a tiny little kick, only if you are "waiting for it". Then 3rd to 4th you cannot sense it!
Very unsual for me is to get used to the size of the 56 Super 88 Conv. It is like driving a steamer on the street!!! LIke a battle ship! Normally I drive a Lexus LS 460, which is far away from being a small car, but this battle ship really tops it!
Steering is very very unusual, the power steering is so easy that I always steered "too much". The steering is not very direct, you turn left, it is too much, you correct to the right side, it is a little too much again etc.
Watching the old movies with Doris Day and others driving a car of the 50ths, I always wondered why they had to do that much steering work on straight roads, now I KNOW, believe me!
So, to get to my hometown I had to go on the Autobahn. You guys know, most of the Autobahns have NO SPEEDLIMITS!
I put the Olds on the right lane, sped up to 60 miles and everybody kept on zipping by me!!!
What a loud noise when the cars roar by you being in a convertible, even if the roof is up!
Straight down the Autobahn at 60 Mph means quite some steering, even though Radial tires mounted are already the better choice.
I am afraid to drive faster than max 60 Mph, the engine had an overhaul a few hundred miles ago and on top, US engines do not have a big enough oil pan to keep the oil cool. German V8 have up to 11 quarts, the US engines run on 5 quarts or so.
An oil cooler would be necessary to avoid the thermic death of the US V8, but I keep it down to 60mph, the engine should be used to that in the US.
So, arriving at home after like 25 Miles distance, I had a big smile on my face!!!
The tranny a dream the noise level of the Olds pretty much down, that is driving a car while sitting on a big sofa.
At home the engine was pretty hot, 300 pounds of hot cast iron is radiating so much heat.
Sadly enough the engine was losing a little puddle of oil out of the rear oil seal of the crankshaft.
Will see, if that will finally stop, as otherwise the whole engine needs to be pulled to put that §4+*§$§§* rope into the rear bearing of the crankshaft.
So, now further fine tuning is done to make the car absolutely perfect. I wanted to put the correct clock in, the one with the chromium face, but the clock would not start.
Connecting the clock directly to the battery makes it work, the power is at 12,64Volts. In the dash, it does not work, I only come to 8,6 Volts.
In the fuse box, the entry side into fuse 1 is 12,64Volts, the exit side is at 8,6 volts, no clue, where the power disappears??
For the first time I wanted to open the "rag top" as Americans call it, it lifted up but then no reaction on the movements of the switch anymore. No up, no down, just nothing!!!
I hoped that I had blown the fuse, but the top does not have fuse. The shop manual just talks about a circuit breaker.
No clue where to look for the problem!!
So, the second drive today into the country side was with top up, but all windows down.
Very nice again, the steering makes me sweat, but I guess that I will get used to it...
Sorry, that this got so long, I just hope that you like to read about the German "fighting" with an American car...
Just to be complete in my little story, my American friends are always laughing about our "battles" with the inch wrenches.
They make us nuts! You are working under the car, you try a 7/16 wrench, too small, so you ask your friend outside the car, get the next number, should be like 8/16!! Then the "stupid" math rules come up and the 8/16 turns into a 1/2!! §$&**++§§§ wrench, who cares, the next bigger one pls! 1/2 will not function either, so now what is the next f.... size???????????????????????????
Okay, back from 1/2 to 8/16, or may be to 16/32????
Now it must be 9/16, just to realize, that 10/16 does not exist again, math comes in at 5/8!!
It makes you cry under the car, you finally tell the guy outside to get you the whole f.... box and you just try and try...
I hear you guys laughing, but imagine, how nice it is when you work metric!!
10mm too small, so get me 11mm, 13mm and so on. For numb nuts like us, the easy game...
Then god forbid that we lose a screw, none of ours will fit. We are totally metric and all screws and nuts are inch threat, we have to find the screw that slipped away, no matter what...
This stuff is just for your amusement, so pls do not feel offended!
The_German
August 26th, 2011, 03:18 PM
#3
Administrator
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,635
No offense taken, back in the 70's we were cussing you Europeans out for your metric system!! Thats when the American automakers started to halfass use metrics. Imagine our dismay when your working on something and it could be either metric or standard depending on what its attatched to!
Anyway, great story, you know we need pictures of your car!!!
Anyway, great story, you know we need pictures of your car!!!
August 27th, 2011, 01:43 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 132
Okay, I understand, you want to see the car: 
Here some photos.
Here you still see the rims of Colorado custom, I did not like them and took them off in exchange for wire wheels. (Trying to sell these rims now...) and I took the fender skirts off. Wire wheels look better without fender skirts...
Here some photos.
Here you still see the rims of Colorado custom, I did not like them and took them off in exchange for wire wheels. (Trying to sell these rims now...) and I took the fender skirts off. Wire wheels look better without fender skirts...
August 27th, 2011, 01:56 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 1,565
That is one gorgeous convertible!!! I'm with you, it needs the original wire wheels. Skirts look sorta' nice, though. I remember the days................ Great story, and laughing with you. I still cuss the metrics!!!
August 27th, 2011, 02:10 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Muskegon, Mi.
Posts: 8,641
That's a sweet looking car, and yes, I was laughing quite a bit during your "wrenching" phase, but it's a good read and I am glad that you are enjoying that Olds. Keep working on the other things that pop up, and you'll be fine. That Olds should have no problem doing 70 mph on the autobahn. I had a '79 Toronado in the late '80's, and it was a mish mash of metric/inch. I was removing the front brake rotors, and slipped a 13/16" box wrench on the nut, but nothing that I had would fit the bolt head, it was just a little smaller than 13/16" &*#@ WTF? well, my car is up on jack stands, so I jump on my Fuji, pedaled to the auto parts store, and said I need a metric wrench that is just under 13/16", the parts guy starts measuring the wrenchs with a tape measure, we determined that 22mm is what I needed, it was, it worked, and I got the job done.
August 27th, 2011, 03:18 PM
#11
1956 holiday coupe
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hialeah, Fl
Posts: 528
Okay, I understand, you want to see the car:
Here some photos.
Here you still see the rims of Colorado custom, I did not like them and took them off in exchange for wire wheels. (Trying to sell these rims now...) and I took the fender skirts off. Wire wheels look better without fender skirts...
Here some photos.
Here you still see the rims of Colorado custom, I did not like them and took them off in exchange for wire wheels. (Trying to sell these rims now...) and I took the fender skirts off. Wire wheels look better without fender skirts...
. btw, did you change the top?
August 28th, 2011, 07:56 AM
#13
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,731
Great story and I love the looks of your car.You gotta stand out on the auto bond at any speed.
I drive my 55 at freeway speeds all the time and 70 -80 MPH should not be a problem even at extended periods. And you will soon get adjusted to the the steering, mine seems to work better as the speed increases.If you still have problems have your alignment and suspension checked something may be wore or out of adjustment after all its a 50+ year old car.
Its doubtfully that the rear main seal will fix its self, this is a problem with this era Olds.They make a neoprene seal that seems to work better than the old rope type and I would recommend trying that style if you plan on pulling the engine. Other than that just enjoy your classy car...Tedd
I drive my 55 at freeway speeds all the time and 70 -80 MPH should not be a problem even at extended periods. And you will soon get adjusted to the the steering, mine seems to work better as the speed increases.If you still have problems have your alignment and suspension checked something may be wore or out of adjustment after all its a 50+ year old car.
Its doubtfully that the rear main seal will fix its self, this is a problem with this era Olds.They make a neoprene seal that seems to work better than the old rope type and I would recommend trying that style if you plan on pulling the engine. Other than that just enjoy your classy car...Tedd
August 28th, 2011, 08:46 AM
#14
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 132
As far as I was told, America changed from Inch screws to metric, on the cars as allegedly the army requested to have metric only to be compatible with the other NATO members...
As much as you hate the mix cars, you will be much easier to find the right wrenches as they are 5,6,7,8, etc... easy to remember and no math involved!!
Hialeah, my clock does not function as the glass fuse for the clock was defect!
I found the chromium face clock on ebay, which is the right clock for the Super 88 and 98.. I will fix the fuse and the clock will work!!
For Hialeah, here the photo of the car, when I got it, YES, I changed the roof, here also the "old" rims and the fender skirts:
As much as you hate the mix cars, you will be much easier to find the right wrenches as they are 5,6,7,8, etc... easy to remember and no math involved!!
Hialeah, my clock does not function as the glass fuse for the clock was defect!
I found the chromium face clock on ebay, which is the right clock for the Super 88 and 98.. I will fix the fuse and the clock will work!!
For Hialeah, here the photo of the car, when I got it, YES, I changed the roof, here also the "old" rims and the fender skirts:
August 28th, 2011, 09:12 AM
#17
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 132
Oldcutlass, no problem, I cannot say, that I am sure about the skirtless look, but the nice wire wheels are hidden then..
I am telling you boys, if this car will be sold ever, it will cost at least 150.000 USD!!!!
There aren t any of them around anymore!
You find a Cadillac Series 62 everywhere, the price is very much limited as the market keeps it down. Same goes for Chevy Belair 55/56/57 and others, you find lots of them!
I am trying to find a Super 88 Conv like mine for more than one year on ebaymotors.com on Hemmings.com...
N O T H I N G, or it is close to scrap!
Will see, where the prices will go.
I am telling you boys, if this car will be sold ever, it will cost at least 150.000 USD!!!!
There aren t any of them around anymore!
You find a Cadillac Series 62 everywhere, the price is very much limited as the market keeps it down. Same goes for Chevy Belair 55/56/57 and others, you find lots of them!
I am trying to find a Super 88 Conv like mine for more than one year on ebaymotors.com on Hemmings.com...
N O T H I N G, or it is close to scrap!
Will see, where the prices will go.
August 28th, 2011, 09:38 AM
#18
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: The Hudson Valley
Posts: 21,183
Americans are a stubborn lot, though, and after about a decade, the government gave up and admitted defeat, and now I can reach for my 11/16" socket with peace of mind.
I think that the reason American cars are all-metric now is, of course, because models are distributed throughout the world, and it's just easier and cheaper to have a single standard.
Overall, though, I believe that American automakers' relinquishment of our inch system is symbolic of American loss of world power and influence.
In the old days, we could send American cars throughout the world with American-sized fasteners, and say, "Screw you! Buy a new set of wrenches or drive a crappy local car."
Now, we say, "Of course we will make our fasteners in the size you like. Would you like some red wine or a spot of tea with that? We're not bothering you by having a military base nearby to protect you from the Russians, are we?"
- Eric
ps: you want REAL headaches, get an old English car or bike, and get used to BSW (British Standard Whitworth) wrenches
.
August 28th, 2011, 09:52 AM
#19
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 132
Eric, I will not buy English cars, the electric system is normally made by Lucas the "master of darkness", not my taste!
Honestly, I do not believe that the US power depends on the inch/ metric question I believe that a system should prevail that is logical and easy to digest.
Metric is simple, the factor is always 10. Each pocket calculator can calculate it.
Then we come to the inch system.
1 inch =2,54 cm
It takes 12 (!!!!) inches to come to a foot, which is 30,48 cm and it goes on with numbers that no machine can work with.
3 feet is one yard or so... what a machine nightmare...
1 cm with us has 10 millimeters, easy.
1 inch needs to be broken down to 1/16, why 1/16 not 1/17??
America did well in changing as you guys also need the international markets to sell your goods and then you need to be compatible..., but believe me, I know what you are talking about in terms of habit!
They are taking away our horsepower here and want to convert us to kilowatts, which is a number that tells us nothing!
It is as if I am telling you that our present outside temperature is at 20 degree celsius, you would ask me, if it is for the swimming trunks or the winter coat!
Human beings are habit animals...
Honestly, I do not believe that the US power depends on the inch/ metric question
I believe that a system should prevail that is logical and easy to digest.Metric is simple, the factor is always 10. Each pocket calculator can calculate it.
Then we come to the inch system.
1 inch =2,54 cm
It takes 12 (!!!!) inches to come to a foot, which is 30,48 cm and it goes on with numbers that no machine can work with.
3 feet is one yard or so... what a machine nightmare...
1 cm with us has 10 millimeters, easy.
1 inch needs to be broken down to 1/16, why 1/16 not 1/17??
America did well in changing as you guys also need the international markets to sell your goods and then you need to be compatible..., but believe me, I know what you are talking about in terms of habit!
They are taking away our horsepower here and want to convert us to kilowatts, which is a number that tells us nothing!
It is as if I am telling you that our present outside temperature is at 20 degree celsius, you would ask me, if it is for the swimming trunks or the winter coat!
Human beings are habit animals...
August 30th, 2011, 03:55 AM
#20
goin crusn in my55 olds
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 118
Hi the german, awsome car mate, looks great, love the coni kit but i am a fan of the fender skirt, i love our 55 as for speeds i have had ours up to 80 and 90 mph briefly and no issue with steering ,drives straight as a gun barrel in fact i'm amazed on how little steer correcting is needed while driving, but i have sat at 65 -70 mph for long freeway trips and no issues never runs hot even in the summer, i am so happy with the car that we just bought a 53 4 door 98 , not many oldsmobiles here, people break there necks going past trying to look for badges showing what type of car it is, i laugh when i'm stopped at a set of lights and i here people trying to guess , buick , chev , pontiac , i say nah try oldsmobile buddy and take off.
August 31st, 2011, 02:04 AM
#21
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Posts: 132
Hi the german, awsome car mate, looks great, love the coni kit but i am a fan of the fender skirt, i love our 55 as for speeds i have had ours up to 80 and 90 mph briefly and no issue with steering ,drives straight as a gun barrel in fact i'm amazed on how little steer correcting is needed while driving, but i have sat at 65 -70 mph for long freeway trips and no issues never runs hot even in the summer, i am so happy with the car that we just bought a 53 4 door 98 , not many oldsmobiles here, people break there necks going past trying to look for badges showing what type of car it is, i laugh when i'm stopped at a set of lights and i here people trying to guess , buick , chev , pontiac , i say nah try oldsmobile buddy and take off.
It is 41 Oldsmobile script and I like the white wheel cover too!
So my car will go to the paint shop and get it done the same way as yours!
I hope that your solution is not patented!
Back to the steering:
It is very very soft, i.e. the power steering makes it turn so easy that you need no arm power to move the steering wheel. Strange feeling...
August 31st, 2011, 03:13 AM
#22
goin crusn in my55 olds
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 118
Rocketdownunder, you have the fault that I bought the same Oldsmobile lettering for my continental kit that you have!!
It is 41 Oldsmobile script and I like the white wheel cover too!
So my car will go to the paint shop and get it done the same way as yours!
I hope that your solution is not patented!
Back to the steering:
It is very very soft, i.e. the power steering makes it turn so easy that you need no arm power to move the steering wheel. Strange feeling...
It is 41 Oldsmobile script and I like the white wheel cover too!
So my car will go to the paint shop and get it done the same way as yours!
I hope that your solution is not patented!
Back to the steering:
It is very very soft, i.e. the power steering makes it turn so easy that you need no arm power to move the steering wheel. Strange feeling...
actually it will look great white especially when your top is up, the white will break it up and make the chrome ring pop.cheers chris.
September 1st, 2011, 02:37 PM
#23
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 67
That sure is a nice car. When I was stationed in Germany I had noted that you didn't see very many of the classics rolling around. My take is its all about economy or speed there which seems to be what we are getting to in the states. It's pretty unfortunate that a lot of my generation and younger just have no appreciation for 'the finer things' in life. It is becoming more and more common to see modern cars at car shows that used to be comprised of mostly classics.
October 16th, 2012, 09:16 AM
#25
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,731
That is one good looking drop top!. On a 55 I like the skirts but on a 56 the skirts don't seem to follow the contour of the body lines, just my preference. As far as highway speeds I have ran for hours on I-5 at sustained speeds of 75- 80 MPH in 100 degrees heat with no problems,It never heats up. Also my steering is fine with radials at the higher speeds, not so much with bias ply tires but you might need to have your tires aliened, if not setup correctly you will be wandering all over the place.... Good to see you are getting the old girl out so all the world can see her.......Lost in the fifties hope to see you there soon ....Tedd
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