dax181

hi I am an Australian who has just imported a 1950 Olds Rocket 88 into Australia and I need to find the chassis number for rego can anyone tell me where to find it or is it the tag on the door jam and where I can also find the engine number on a 324 v8 as the numbers I have on the DMV receipt don't match the DMV transfer numbers and none of these match the tag in the door jam. Any help would be very helpful and appreciated. Cheers David

Tedd Thompson

The engine number is on the left hand side of the motor between the front and center exhaust manifold ports but if you in fact have a 324 motor in a 1950 car it is not original to the car anyway,it should be a 303 plus no numbers match on engines to vin (serial number plate) on this era Oldsmobile. There is a additional vin # stamped on the frame near the rear wheel arch passenger side I think but it is very hard to see(but possible) with the body on the car you may need a dentist mirror or something like that to catch it. If the car has been in a salt rusty environment those stamp pings go away and can't be seen they are very thin to begin with.

I don't know if I helped any or not. It would be a shame not to be able to register your car, do you have any recourse if you can't get it registered?....Tedd

dax181

thanks for the reply I no the 324 isn't the original engine and I think it don't have an engine no because I think I was a crate motor but that not a problem as they will issue me new one. The chassis is the problem as the DMV paper don't match each other but now I have place to look for chassis no things maybe looking up

Tedd Thompson

As far as I know there are no crate 324 motors around anymore (GM produced Oldsmobile engines ) nor have there been for sometime, maybe a shop rebuilt a 324 for the previous owner and that is where the crate wording came from, the true meaning of crate is a new factory built engine not a reconditioned engine.

Have you determined what year 324 engine you have? There are some differences in heads, cams and horse power between the three years they were built.....Tedd

dax181

Ted i don't no much about this car as i have only had it for three weeks and the 324 is suppose to be a 1956 and this car has only don't 58,000 miles but not sure when engine was transplanted but it runs and starts very well. I wonder why i doesn't have an engine no and was told the pre 56 some don't have chassis no either

Tedd Thompson

I believe all chassis were numbered somewhere usually more than on one place. Some stamping were in places that require some dismantling.This was a theft and title swap preventive.

If you are interested in finding out what year your 324 is check between the exhaust ports for a cast number 10 that would be a 56 head if a 8 it's a 55 a 7 and it is a 54.

Also I would be interested if it were mine to find out what transmission is in it.The early hydramatics were not very strong and may not live long behind the power of a 56 324. Just a thought....Tedd

dax181

I will check for the cast no's and how do I no which transmission I have early or later type also how do I post pictures as I don't understand the http normally you have the browse come up and go to pictures in my docs

Tedd Thompson

There could be as many as three transmissions(more with adapters) that would bolt up to that engine. The original, a slant pan 54 through early 56 and a jetaway. all are 4 speed auto but the jetaway has a designated park position where as the slant pans park is achieved by putting the car in park and turning off the key, this will lock up the rear end.The original hydramatic acts and works like a slant pan but doesn't have the pronounced angled pan (hence the name slant pan ).This transmission was OK for the power of the 303 engine but routinely gave it up with the added power the 324.

There is a sticky on the newbie site that will explain posting pictures better than I but generally if the pictures don't post it is because the file is to large for this forum and will need to be re sized down... hope this helps, if not ask again and we will work it out....Tedd

dax181

Tedd here is a pic of my 1950 Olds Rocket 88 V8 324 and the engine did have a 10 on it and the auto pan is nearly square and is the same height front to back

Erik Andersen

dax181 are you still on the ClassicOldsmobile forum? I'm in Cairns and have just bought a 1950 88 in Florida so would be keen to touch base and learn from your experiences.
Cheers
Erik Andersen erik.andersen@gadens.com or 0434325912

oldcutlass

Erik, you might try a pm or an email, dax181 has not been on since 2014.

Erik Andersen

Thanks other Eric(k)

dax181

Hi Eric yes I am still here but haven't been in in ages but your welcome to contact me

Erik Andersen

Thanks dax . I am not very familiar with the forum's systems, but have'nt yet managed to work out where to find your contact details. I did try sending a PM with mine. I am at Erik.andersen@gadens.com, or 0434325912.
Cheers
Erik

49rocket88

just today i finally found mine on my 49 , after all the different places everybody said to look ,i found gm's antique regiter and emailed them yesterday and they responded this morning . i was told to look under drivers seat area , which mine was actually under the drivers floorboard area, not too far off. a little wire brushing and sandpaper , look at it with a mirror and rub a little chalk on it and , boom there it was , big as day. after all my looking in the wrong places i was told i was getting pretty frustrated.