rennoc442

Well we finally found a nice 4dr big body Oldsmobile that we could fit into our budget! She has been wanting a 4dr car to cruise around in for the family and take it to work a few days a week. Needless to say it needs a lot of work but I think she will be pleased with once we get her restored!

I will have to upload pics tmw as I can't seem to do it from my android?

Hope to find some parts we need here on the forum!

brddg

Pics, pics pics! Good to hear that she is happy!

brddg

BTW. I haven't figured out how to load pics from my PC, I have to do it on my android right when I post. Suggestions? My PC always says security upload issue or something like that.

rocketraider

If it's a hardtop Holiday Sedan you're traveling in style!

Except for the weird one-year-only water pump and dearth of good trim parts and rear bumpers, she'll find her J-88 to be a comfortable and stylish ride that stands out from the crowd. With 330/Jetaway it'll be easy to live with too.

MDchanic

Yes - set your browser to accept cookies from the site you are visiting.

Either that, or take less than about 15-20 minutes to finish with the window - it it stays open too long, the cookie expires.

- Eric

rennoc442

Here is some pics from last night!

http://IMAG1253_zps4842db50.jpg
http://IMAG1246_zps230347c7.jpg
http://IMAG1237_zps6040bab5.jpg

maheider

Looks good. Would love to see more pictures.

Based on the comment from rocketraider, the water pump is an issue on this model?

rennoc442

Thanks! yes I will post more soon!

The only issue is that it flows in the opposite direction.

ent72olds

Nice!

jaunty75

Beautiful car. Whitewall tires would do wonders for it.

aliensatemybuick

Australian export?

Nice car by the way!

jaunty75

As nice as the car is, when you start talking about using it as a family hauler, I really think you need to keep a few things in mind.

A 1964 Jetstar 88 has nothing going for it in terms of safety compared to anything built in the last 30 years.

To my mind, the most glaring problem is that it has a single braking system. I think it was a year or two later that GM went to dual braking systems so that if you sprung a brake fluid leak, you would lose only half your braking ability, not all of it. With this car, if a brake fluid leak should happen, the brakes are gone.

Does it have seat belts in the rear? I think by '64 front seat belts were standard, but I'm pretty sure they were optional in the rear. If they're not present, I'm sure the mounting points are, so all you would need are the belts themselves and mounting hardware. Also, there might only be mounting points for two sets of rear seatbelts, instead of the three you typically see now, but I'm not sure. Of course, there are no shoulder belts.

Remember, also, that the Jetstar was introduced to be a competitor in the "low-priced field" back then. It was unique in that, while it was a full-size car on a full-size frame, it used the Cutlass engine, drivetrain, and brakes. One can argue that the brakes are undersized compared to the size and weight of the car, and, of course, they are undersized compared to what came on the other 88s that year. Also, there are drums on all four wheels, not the more modern drum rear/disc front setup that has been pretty much standard since about 1970.

Of course, it doesn't have air bags, anti-lock brakes, etc. The dash is thinly padded.

I owned a '64 Jetstar 88 two-door hardtop from 1991 to 1996, and I had a lot of fun with it. But I don't think I ever would have been comfortable having my wife use it as her daily driver.

Here's a photo of it taken in about 1993.

rennoc442

Jaunty,

The car is far from nice, as always the camera helps hide alot of flaws

I do not view a few days a week to equal every day, but as in maybe two days a week. She would be driving only 15 miles, which the top speed she would be driving is 45mph.

Yes I know its not as safe as today's cars by any standards, but neither is her current daily driver a very "safe" car.

I plan on restoring the car before she is to drive it anywhere, and upgrading the braking system.

BTW, nice looking car

aliensatemybuick

Rennoc, Jay Leno wrote an article some years back about driving on old car; his point was not to be afraid to drive it just because its antiquated.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras...ar/#item=84665

As for the brakes, if the system is in good shape, there's no reason for concern. My own 1965 Jetstar I had the bigger 11 inch brakes to go with its power powerful 425, but it is a also single circuit system and I have no plans to upgrade it; what I DO do is check the wheel cylinders regularly for leaks, and the fluid reservoir level as well.

I'll assume with the 330 in the car, and considering the preciousness of your "cargo", that you and your wife won't be driving the car like you stole it.

Macadoo

I passed up a '65 Jetstar 4 door for my 71 Cutlass, just a few weeks ago. That Jetstar was a clean machine; white with no rust and a beautiful red interior, only 42k miles. But I had to go with the Cutty for sentimental reasons. My only regret? I didn't get both!!! Lol. Make it safe and then enjoy the ride :-)

rennoc442

Just skimmed the article, couldnt of said it better myself!

Actually watching her drive the car home last night, was just amazing! She took her time, paid attention, and was not on her phone! I think the fact that you know this car is 50 years old and how it drives, makes you slow down and appreciate the drive. All I know is that she was all smiles driving her home and didnt want it to end!

Here is an article on the car from the previous owner;

http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/...feature16.html

The plan is to at least upgrade the brakes, getting rid of the small size drums.

IMAG1257_zps28445f7e.jpg
IMAG1260_zps91aa2dcd.jpg
IMAG1262_zps925e47d3.jpg
IMAG1258_zps8d83ed42.jpg

Hard to imagine that only 5 years ago it was repainted , I guess it must of been a real fast and cheap job cause that does not look like 5 years of rust to me!

So the engine is not the orignal 330, it has a 350 now. But even that engine has a nice rod knock, so the plan is to build a nice stock 455 and put behind it a turbo 400. Should be a fun car to drive then!

MDchanic

"A fully rebuilt Rocket 350 V-8 out of Indiana eventually slipped into the engine bay..."

I guess they don't make fully rebuilt engines like they used to...

- Eric

rennoc442

My guess is on the kids driving habits. The father told me his son would even drag race the car............hmm 1+1=spun bearing

ent72olds

Was this car on e bay recently? A father was selling as his kid was using it as a DD....

MDchanic

These dadburned kids with their dadburned drag racing in their dadburned jalopies...

- Eric

lshlsh2

Car looks good and have fun with it. When you start after the rust cut it all out and weld new metal in. The rear window will be the most fun to repair. Take your time and have fun.

Larry

rennoc442

Not sure? Could of been.

rennoc442

The best part is that the car is the same year as our house!