78Cutlass4Speed

I just purchased my first non-Cutlass Oldsmobile, a 1978 Delta 88 Holiday coupe. It arrived here on Thursday, Dec 20th from SC. It has the 403 V8 4bbl, TH350, and optional 3.23 rear. It has 41K miles and is all original. It even still has its original spiral rear shocks. The interior is almost mint with only a sagging headliner that needs some attention. The paint is thin in a couple of spots and there are a couple of worn out spots but otherwise the exterior is in great shape. The trunk is exceptionally clean (and huge). The engine compartment just needs some minor detailing. Couldn't be happier with the purchase.

78Cutlass4Speed

Always seem to have trouble loading the pictures...

blakes7

Cool car with some nice options, good luck and enjoy!!!!

joe_padavano

Very nice. FYI, whoever flipped the air cleaner lid had no idea what they were doing. That flex line to the air cleaner snorkel allows the engine to pull in colder outside air, for slightly more HP. Flipping the lid defeats that feature and lets the engine suck hot underhood air. Rule of thumb is about a 1 HP increase for every 7-10 deg F reduction in inlet air temp. 180 deg underhood air vs. 70 deg outside air does make a difference. Of course, the open air cleaner SOUNDS faster, so I'm sure the butt dyno registered an improvement...

don71

I like them Holidays. A two door gentlemen's car, and it'll except a few upgrades too.

oldcutlass

Very nice, congrats.

78Cutlass4Speed

Thanks. I'm sure this will be a nice cruising car. Reminds me of my 1996 Buick Roadmaster Limited sedan I used to have as my daily driver.
To be honest, I did think the air cleaner lid looked funny. Didn't realize it was inverted until I just went out to look at it again just a moment ago. Was that an old hot rodder's trick to get more air into the engine? I know I've seen this done on a couple of cars at shows I went to this past summer. In any case, mine is now corrected. I'll have to get a new decal for the correct side of the lid, though.

78Cutlass4Speed

I have a copy of the window sticker and the broadcast sheet. I couldn't find the build sheet under the rear seat. Any other places to look? I'm trying to decode the broadcast sheet and can't figure out 5 of the codes. The 1978 inspectors guide I have was compiled from data prior to 8-11-77 and my car was built on 6-21-78. I'm guessing that's why some of the codes don't appear. Can anyone figure them out? See the following pictures (hopefully they'll load this time)
Box 61 is a K, Box 69 is a J, Box 81 is a 3, Box 87 is an M, and Box 89 is a K.
Can anyone shed some light on these codes?
Thanks

jcdynamic88

VERY cool car phil ! those holidays are pretty rare and with the 403 and 3.23s it probably moves out smartly.good luck with it.

mjrj

That car looks sharp! Are those gauges mounted underneath the ashtray? And a non-A/C car as well! I don't think I've ever seen one without A/C out on the west coast. I've only seen one other Holiday 88 and it must've been over 20 years ago.

jaunty75

You won't find one. The M in the VIN indicates Lansing-built, and the Lansing plant is well-known for not leaving build sheets in the car.

therobski

I used to sell those here in Dallas, worked for Jim Allee Olds. In fact during that time give or take a year or 2, Oldsmobile ( thanks to the success of the Cutlass) was actually out selling Chevy in the North Texas market! Nice car enjoy.

78Cutlass4Speed

From what I was told by the previous (2nd) owner, the original owner special ordered the car in 1978. He wanted a full-sized car but something sporty and quick. He ordered the Holiday 88 option to get the bucket seats and console, the biggest motor available- the 403, and the deepest gears- 3.23s. It has an interesting mix of options. It has power windows and locks but no AC! I've NEVER seen a Delta 88 without AC until now. He opted for the 3.23s but not the limited slip. It has standard wipers, electric rear window defogger, Y67 reminder package, Y72 HD cooling (required with the optional axle), windshield antenna, but no gauges. That's why there's a Stewart Warner 3-gauge unit mounted under the dash. Come spring, I'll fix the headliner, add a posi unit, and a rear sway bar. The car will get a good detailing and be ready to cruise. I'm sure I'm really going to enjoy this car.

Sugar Bear

Very nice...good luck with it!!

Eddie Hansen

Joe, I know you are correct, I was laughing at your butt dyno comment and thought of this vintage road test, check out video at 5.08 it really doesn't make sense either but it sounds faster which may be why they did it for the road test.

Eddie Hansen

By the way Great Car and very good luck with it!!

Local Hero

I thought it was odd to see the wire wheel covers. I thought the "sporty" portion of the Holiday package included some sort of mag/rally wheel. That's the look the previous owner was going for on my 78. I really like the console, bucket seats and steering wheel though.

jcdynamic88

the delta 88s (not just holidays) did use the 15inch cutlass style mag wheel with a larger center cap that covered the lug nuts,i really liked that look.

joe_padavano

The OP's car has a 403, which means that it should have come with the big brakes and thus the 5 x 5" wheel bolt pattern from the factory. If so, SSII/III wheels won't fit (unless you happen to score a set of the hand-built custom ones used on the actual 1977 pace cars built for the track).

78Cutlass4Speed

Joe,
You are correct. The car has the big brakes and the 5x5 bolt pattern. It also has 1/2" wheel studs instead of the normal 7/16" ones. The code on the axle is 2KG, which according to the assembly manual, is an 8.5" 3.23 open rear with 1/2" wheel studs. The limited slip version would have been 2KT.

Local Hero

Interesting info. Thanks!

jcdynamic88

out of the many,many 77-79 deltas i have owned or worked on i had never seen one with the big bolt pattern but i never saw one with a factory 403 either. that must be a rare option.that sure limits the factory wheel options.not sure if the 80s custom cruiser aluminum mags would look good on that.

joe_padavano

The big brakes and large bolt pattern were used on 403 cars and on police/taxi/HD suspension cars only. This is just the brakes and spindles used on the Ninety Eights and wagons, bolted to the D88 cars.

jcdynamic88

what was done in the rear? just 98 axles or the whole diff?seems to me the deltas had a small rear end where the 98s had a much bigger one.