Bought a 1977 Delta 88 4dr, 350, turbo 350 trans
Thread Starter
Rocket "Scientist"
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 252
From: Roanoke "Roa-Joke", Virginia
Bought a 1977 Delta 88 4dr, 350, turbo 350 trans
Firstly I'd just like to re-introduce myself again, popped on a couple of years ago debating which of my two wagons I was gonna fix. I had a 1989 and 1986 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, 1989 was wrecked in the passengers side, 1986 ran great until May of 2013 when the transmission went out. Sold 'em both, bought a 1977 Delta 88, 350, turbo 350 automatic, no options except AC, and the 350 that I can tell.
I had planned to fix up the '86 with a good set of sway bars, some better steering linkage, and suspension to tighten up the chassis so the cruise would be more enjoyable through the blue ridge mountains I live in. Though, that clearly fell through, it is my plan to attempt this with the '77 Delta 88 I bought, photo bucket album link below of the '77 Delta 88.
So, my '77 Delta 88, it's as follows.
Paid $650 for it, valid inspection thru 2nd of 2014.
Things that the car has had done (Going back about 10 years, mess of receipts in the glovebox, love finding that with used cars). All of these things where done before I bought it.
New alternator and starter, 2013, both cheap remanufactured units.
New radiator, unknown year, recent, still clean and the aluminum hasn't started to fade yet.. Cheap radiator, plastic end caps, not much faith in it, but it's nice that I don't have to wonder if the radiator is 36 years old like the car
Newish tires, little worn, good enough for now, 215/75R15.
New battery (2012), again, cheap unit, but it seems good enough.
New air filter, unknown brand, within past few months, little sign of use.
New exhaust was put on sometime in the past 10 years, but it's got some damage, will be replaced.
New drums, dunno how new, but they still have a bit of red paint and the rear drivers side drum still has a sticker. It isn't readable anymore.
Recent oil change, though it was cheap oil, it was the proper weight. Will change again soon.
airbox blower motor was replaced at some point, found old one in trunk.
Fuel pump was replaced 10 years ago, airtex unit, cheap, but American made, seems fine.
Transmission filter and fluid was changed 10 years ago, fluid still looks bright red, was likely changed again when new radiator was installed.
Engine was changed back in 1993 for a GM Goodwrench crate 350, when the car had 81k miles on it. Car now has 178k miles on it.
AC was updated to R134a in 1998.
Rear shocks appear to have been replaced, don't know when or what was used, they are painted red metal flake, definitely not factory.
And what the car needs is as follows:
Rear drivers side brake shoe has come off the latch at the top, been chewed on by the drum, makes the car unsafe to drive due to the fact that I can't tell how hard the car will stop when I hit the brakes. Will order new Wagner brake shoes and wheel cylinders soon.
Front shocks, front pass side shock bushing is no longer attached to shock absorber. Will replace with Monroe SensaTrac when I do the rear brakes.
Exhaust, as I said, system is newish but damaged, muffler is dented, several rust holes. Will replace with aluminized stainless catless system, cherry bomb 2" inlet, dual 2" outlet muffler
Starter, don't trust the Advance Auto remanned unit that it has, seen 'em fail. Don't like being stranded.
Water pump, no record of it being replaced, miracle it has survived 178k miles. Will replace, better safe than sorry.
Could use another drivers seat, got the back covered with a bed sheet because the back is torn open and spits out dry rotted foam.
Rust repair on drivers side door.
Stereo, Pioneer head unit, Kicker CS speakers, speaker wire for the rear, never had speakers back there, couldn't use stock wire if it did, common ground will fry modern head units. I like having music when I drive
That's about all I can think of, the car will need other work later on, mostly safe than sorry or cosmetic, but, I don't want to be going up the road and have my car leave me stranded.
http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Dead...?sort=3&page=1
I had planned to fix up the '86 with a good set of sway bars, some better steering linkage, and suspension to tighten up the chassis so the cruise would be more enjoyable through the blue ridge mountains I live in. Though, that clearly fell through, it is my plan to attempt this with the '77 Delta 88 I bought, photo bucket album link below of the '77 Delta 88.
So, my '77 Delta 88, it's as follows.
Paid $650 for it, valid inspection thru 2nd of 2014.
Things that the car has had done (Going back about 10 years, mess of receipts in the glovebox, love finding that with used cars). All of these things where done before I bought it.
New alternator and starter, 2013, both cheap remanufactured units.
New radiator, unknown year, recent, still clean and the aluminum hasn't started to fade yet.. Cheap radiator, plastic end caps, not much faith in it, but it's nice that I don't have to wonder if the radiator is 36 years old like the car
Newish tires, little worn, good enough for now, 215/75R15.
New battery (2012), again, cheap unit, but it seems good enough.
New air filter, unknown brand, within past few months, little sign of use.
New exhaust was put on sometime in the past 10 years, but it's got some damage, will be replaced.
New drums, dunno how new, but they still have a bit of red paint and the rear drivers side drum still has a sticker. It isn't readable anymore.
Recent oil change, though it was cheap oil, it was the proper weight. Will change again soon.
airbox blower motor was replaced at some point, found old one in trunk.
Fuel pump was replaced 10 years ago, airtex unit, cheap, but American made, seems fine.
Transmission filter and fluid was changed 10 years ago, fluid still looks bright red, was likely changed again when new radiator was installed.
Engine was changed back in 1993 for a GM Goodwrench crate 350, when the car had 81k miles on it. Car now has 178k miles on it.
AC was updated to R134a in 1998.
Rear shocks appear to have been replaced, don't know when or what was used, they are painted red metal flake, definitely not factory.
And what the car needs is as follows:
Rear drivers side brake shoe has come off the latch at the top, been chewed on by the drum, makes the car unsafe to drive due to the fact that I can't tell how hard the car will stop when I hit the brakes. Will order new Wagner brake shoes and wheel cylinders soon.
Front shocks, front pass side shock bushing is no longer attached to shock absorber. Will replace with Monroe SensaTrac when I do the rear brakes.
Exhaust, as I said, system is newish but damaged, muffler is dented, several rust holes. Will replace with aluminized stainless catless system, cherry bomb 2" inlet, dual 2" outlet muffler
Starter, don't trust the Advance Auto remanned unit that it has, seen 'em fail. Don't like being stranded.
Water pump, no record of it being replaced, miracle it has survived 178k miles. Will replace, better safe than sorry.
Could use another drivers seat, got the back covered with a bed sheet because the back is torn open and spits out dry rotted foam.
Rust repair on drivers side door.
Stereo, Pioneer head unit, Kicker CS speakers, speaker wire for the rear, never had speakers back there, couldn't use stock wire if it did, common ground will fry modern head units. I like having music when I drive
That's about all I can think of, the car will need other work later on, mostly safe than sorry or cosmetic, but, I don't want to be going up the road and have my car leave me stranded.
http://s55.photobucket.com/user/Dead...?sort=3&page=1
Thread Starter
Rocket "Scientist"
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 252
From: Roanoke "Roa-Joke", Virginia
Anyway, aside from the work I knew had to be done when I got it, some of which still needs to be done (Carburetor and exhaust, shocks, and brakes are already done), it's been a great car. Oh and I had to replace the fan clutch 'cause it decided to go out and leave the fan on full throttle sending my gas mileage plummeting into the single digits.
It was back when we got those mysterious near 90F days back in March I think it was. The car has already gotten some blood and sweat from me, but no car has gotten tears from me, nor will this one. But, as I said, over all, great car, fun to drive, could use a little more power, think a new carburetor will sort that out.
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