Threejdsolds

Hello Olds fans! My early memories are of riding in my Dad's 1952 Super 88 (now mine). In college I bought a 1965 442-4 speed and a 1968 Hurst Olds -sold these to get married ; turned out I should have kept the cars . Oh well. Child support payments almost over and I have the Olds bug again.I bought a 1953 Super 88 Holiday a while back and my buddy (who has a 55 Chevy with a 1965 Cutlass front end and 455) helped me put a 1974 Nova front clip in the 53. I have my grandparents' 1975 Custom Cruiser with a 455 -all stock. I also have my Dad's 1964 98 with a 394-all stock. Thinking about using the drivetrain from the 75 or the 64 in the 53.Could use some ( actually a lot) of advise as to how to proceed.Thanks for the help.

Olds64

I would use the 455 and TH 400 from the 75 Custom Cruiser. That is, if you decide to restore the 53 Super 88 instead of the Custom Cruiser. Station Wagons are very cool. Especially in that era that had the clam shell tail gate.

If you decide to use the 394 and Slim Jim Rotohydramatic from the 64 be prepare to spend alot of money to get it runnng right. IMHO the Slim Jim automatic transmission is a POS. I have a 64 98 and I was never happy with it.

MN71W30

I couldn't have said it better myself!
Dave

citcapp

In the big block forums you will find the thread 455 engine swap. I detailed the installation of a 455 into my 57 Olds which is a similar to your 53. Take a look then ask any question I'll glad to help you out. The 455 with the turbo 400 is not to complicated on a swap.

joe_padavano

You missed the part where he said the car already has a 74 Nova subframe grafted on. Simply get the motor and frame mounts for a 73-74 Omega with Olds 350 and the 455 bolts in. You will need to fabricate a trans crossmember. The 394 unfortunately would require much more fabrication to fit the Nova subframe.

Threejdsolds

Thank you very much for your replies! Sounds like the 455 is the way to go. I have hesitated to take the motors out of either car -"family" cars, no rust, and complete. Could I sell the wagon for what it would take to buy a running 455 and turbo 400 ? Thanks again guys. John

Warhead

The wagon will be worth MUCH more if unmolested.
Not sure how it looks or drives, but you are assured to get a good drivetrain from what you have.
455/400's are around, check it out. You have time to decide.

The rest is where, and how much.
Jim

Olds64

Post some pics of your cars. Station wagons are much cooler than old 50s iron. Maybe we can convince you to keep the wagon.

joe_padavano

Actually, a "clamshell" Custom Cruiser is also on the list of cars I need to own before I die...

Toro68

Keep in mind , 455s are easier to get parts for than a 394.

Threejdsolds

Thanks again for the help. Found the Omega motor mounts! As for the pictures, I am not much of a " techie"-I will enlist my son to take and post some pictures. Was planning to pull the 455 next week ,but I too feel bad about taking apart the yacht. Asked my buddy in the Bay Area to see if he could locate a decent 455 and trans.Can't sleep tonite-too much stress, too many choices and I have not even got to all the cam, heads,...questions- you guys may get tired of hearing from me !

Olds64

Not at all. Post your questions and we will help. I am sure your friend will be able to find a decent 455 and TH 400.

redoldsman

Don't pull the 455 out of the wagon. It sounds like to nice a car to part out. One other possibility is using a 350 with a turbo 350. It depends on what you want to do with the car. If you just want a dependable cruiser with nice power, the 350 will work great for you. If you want something that will haul azz, the 455 is the way to go. The swap will be the same. There are probably more 350's around than 455's and they are cheaper. One other option is using one of the overdrive automatics. I would not do the 394. It was a great engine in it's day but it is not a good as a 350 or 455 and cost a lot more to build and maintain. Just remember to keep it all Oldsmobile.

Olds64

You also might consider a 403 out of a late 70s 98, 88, or Toronado. They aren't as plentiful as the 350 or 455 but they are the largest small block Oldsmobile made. If you don't plan on racing the car they are stout engines.

Threejdsolds

The 455 will stay in the wagon. I evicted the cats and took some pictures. Plan to have my son help me put them up tomorrow-2009! Looking for a 455 for the 53 : I have the 52 (all stock) for cruising and have wanted d another 455 ever since I sold the 68HO.Thanks again for all the help. John

Threejdsolds

Here are some pictures of the land yacht.

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Threejdsolds

Here is the 98 and the 53. Nova sub frame waiting for engine. The search is on....

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NAS Backyard

That is cool to still own your families cars. I would keep the 64 and 75 intact. The wagon is the rarest but easiet to get parts for. Most were derbied. How many miles on the 64? Did it run when it was parked? The 53 looks like the hard part is done as far as the drivetrain.

redoldsman

And I though I had a lot of projects. Good looking dog by the way.

Olds64

Awsome cars! They look to be pretty straight too. Be careful, it looks like your dog is thinking about whizzing on your stations wagon's wheel.

ent72olds

Love the wagon! Shame about the interior What ever you do with it make sure it gets some TLC, looks worth saving!

Threejdsolds

Decided last night that , what the heck , my son and I were ready (?) for our first "frame off" ( or is it a "body off " ) so we spent the day taking the 53 apart . After about 10 hours ( at least 1 hour of which was trying to keep my 17 year old son off the cell phone -GIRLS ), a few choice words for the trim clips/nuts/etc, and 77 ziplocks later -we finished. Taking her to my friends tomorrow to take the body off . Hope to have it blasted next week. Assuming I find a 455 and turbo 400 , are there posi units made available for 53 Olds rear ends ? Would the unit be strong enough ? My buddy is telling me to look for a newer 12 bolt .He says it will be easier to find bearings/brakes/etc. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks, John.

Olds64

That is cool that you and your son spent some quality time together taking apart the Olds. Once I finish tinkering with my 71 I will have to tackle a frame off restoration.

As far as I know (which isn't much) the early Oldsmobile rear ends were rock solid. The only problem is going to be finding parts for it. You can always scope out Kanter and Fusicks for early Oldsmobile parts.

okie88

As to your question about the stock rearend, this is a picture of the 53 my dad and uncle built to race in the 1992 La Carrera Panamericana Mexican Road race. It had a W-31 350 and was clocked at close to 140 mph in some of the high speed portions of the race. The car is presently equipped with a built 403 (unfortunately the 350 shelled about 30 miles from Laredo) and has done thousands of highway miles to and from car meets. All this with the factory stock rearend, which it still has with never a problem. It has never been drag raced, and I'm sure that would be a different story.
Mike

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citcapp

I hope your 17 year old continues working with you for the whole build, nice way to start a adult relationship with him. My sons always lost interest very early on and quit helping. Good luck with the frame off

Techmaven

I think he should keep them both intact too. 63 98's are not getting any more common...Why didn't you just try to get a "vintage" (303/324)engine and trans for the 53? Instead of bastardizing it with a blecch! nova clip?

okie88

Actually, that clip wasn't a bad idea considering the cost of using the original. Brakes, suspension and steering rebuild kits would have cost $1000.00 just for components whereas the Nova stuff can be had for a fourth of that. As much as I like the early Olds motors they would cost twice as much to build for less power. Any late model Olds motor will bolt right in the Nova subframe with factory mounts. It all depends on what your plans are and what condition the original components are in. In this case I think the modern clip was a good call.
Mike

okie88

P.S. I forgot to mention that in the 53 racecar pictured above a 73 98 clip was used along with the disc brakes, power steering, power brakes tilt & telescope column and wheel. The only problem is about a 4" wider track so tire and wheel clearance(with racing tires) was an issue. The Nova clip(exact same as Omega) is the same tread width as the 53 so it will eliminate that problem.
Mike

bigoldscruiser

I would consider a 200R4 trans to go behind the 455. They had a bad rep for being weak but the builders now have units built to take over 600 H.P. They do recommend an external cooler to keep the heat down. I am very happy with the one in my '66 98. Got almost 20mpg on a trip to Detroit.

As for the wagon, they are very popular these days and it would be a shame to cut up one that looks plenty good to restore.

Threejdsolds

Mike, your Dad did a NICE JOB with the 53 ! When I read your first post, I wondered how they steered and stopped the car going over 100MPH. I have had my stock 52 Super 88 over 100 miles per hour, but only with no turns and 20 miles to stop. The lever-action shocks and drum brakes don't compare with the newer front ends. It IS Cool that my 17 year old likes to work on cars and ride motorcycles with "the old man'' ,of course in between his dates and sports. My older son (20) is also a Great kid but was never really interested in working on cars/MC/etc- he just wanted to drive them ! The younger son has the gene , I guess, my grandfather was a Harley dealer and auto mechanic in Walla Walla , Wa.(he drove a Chevy truck with a straight 6 , a 1957 Volkswagon, and Harleys and told my Dad when my Dad got the 52 Olds that the V-8 was a p.....o.s... and that "sooner or later GM would be making 6s again"- ??????). My buddy helped me lift the body off today and hope to get the body blasted this week-the only rust we found was on passenger side under the cover over the wiring.Took some pictures of my friend's 55 Chevy with the 455-3x2 and will post. Thanks again for the help and I just hope and pray I can get it all back together before I die. I am also working to finish up a 64 Cutlass and , if not for $$$$$$ would love to quit my jobs and work (play) with the cars.

citcapp

The frame off will get done, I can tell by the thread that you will beat away at it until it is finished. I have a long road on my 48 Olds so I know what you are talking about. Work does get in the way of our hobby. Something we just have to put up with.