1956 Olds 88 build part 1. Back to yesteryear.
October 24th, 2014, 05:43 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 80
1956 Olds 88 build part 1. Back to yesteryear.
1956 Olds 88 build part 1. Back to yesterday.
A little brief on the car & me. On a random summer night cruise-in in 2001, I had spotted a car that stopped in my tracks. Being around cars my entire life, that’s hard to do. Something about it stood out. Perhaps the giant grill (foreshadow, keep reading) and space age dash. Having had a plethora of 60’s & 70’s cars even before finishing college, I wanted something different. Something in the 50’s. Something not mainstream like a tri 5. The seed was planted and the search began. On and off for 10 yrs I’d randomly search what was available via hemming and net searches and even driving the country side. Almost pulled the trigger a few times but for whatever reason, it never happened. One night in July 2011 while closing shop, I decided to search craigslist which can be dangerous as drunk Ebay shopping. Anyhow, ad read 56 Olds bla bla 39k miles bla bla complete , ect ect call for more info. Believe I called that night and went to look at car a day or so later. Questioned the mileage but it was as described. Old guy that died story…check, Sketchy part of town in ghetto garage…check, could I get mugged &/ or shot …check. All things seem in order, lets pull the trigger. A few days later we were off with the new toy.
As found
IMG_1221-Copy_zps59671ee0.jpg
IMG_1226-Copy_zps9daacd1d.jpg
IMG_1231-Copy_zps199f3c66.jpg
IMG_1325-Copy_zps49cb9500.jpg
IMG_1234-Copy_zps6e7bc9ca.jpg
IMG_1330-Copy_zps9a39cde4.jpg
IMG_1327-Copy_zpsdc5c3b25.jpg
The story/ history is a fellow bought this as his last car after retirement or close to it and drove it sparingly until 1978 when he became ill and passing in 1982 I believe. Still have original title for car. Guy I purchased from had it for roughly 20yrs and had begun to strip the body for paint and some modifications. I had been leery on the odometer rolling over and to my surprise, I believe it is accurate. Engine is clean under valve covers, rubber bushings are in great shape, wiring and interior are crisp sans carpet and front seat which is out of a 66/67 car.
Did my basic checks and fluid changes and car fired right up. Went through brakes and drove the car as seen above until this past summer sans newer radials , pertronix ignition and rebuilding and rejetting the carb. Didn’t even install the door handles.
It was time to get rid of the 56 88 4dr I had picked up for the P/S setup (see classifieds) so this guy needed to get revived. All hands on deck and a bit of 16 hr days resulted in the below…
A little playing around
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest13_zpse2edbb1a.jpg
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest21-Copy_zps4997371e.jpg
The idea
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest14-Copy_zpsae16aee6.jpg
A little brief on the car & me. On a random summer night cruise-in in 2001, I had spotted a car that stopped in my tracks. Being around cars my entire life, that’s hard to do. Something about it stood out. Perhaps the giant grill (foreshadow, keep reading) and space age dash. Having had a plethora of 60’s & 70’s cars even before finishing college, I wanted something different. Something in the 50’s. Something not mainstream like a tri 5. The seed was planted and the search began. On and off for 10 yrs I’d randomly search what was available via hemming and net searches and even driving the country side. Almost pulled the trigger a few times but for whatever reason, it never happened. One night in July 2011 while closing shop, I decided to search craigslist which can be dangerous as drunk Ebay shopping. Anyhow, ad read 56 Olds bla bla 39k miles bla bla complete , ect ect call for more info. Believe I called that night and went to look at car a day or so later. Questioned the mileage but it was as described. Old guy that died story…check, Sketchy part of town in ghetto garage…check, could I get mugged &/ or shot …check. All things seem in order, lets pull the trigger. A few days later we were off with the new toy.
As found
IMG_1221-Copy_zps59671ee0.jpg
IMG_1226-Copy_zps9daacd1d.jpg
IMG_1231-Copy_zps199f3c66.jpg
IMG_1325-Copy_zps49cb9500.jpg
IMG_1234-Copy_zps6e7bc9ca.jpg
IMG_1330-Copy_zps9a39cde4.jpg
IMG_1327-Copy_zpsdc5c3b25.jpg
The story/ history is a fellow bought this as his last car after retirement or close to it and drove it sparingly until 1978 when he became ill and passing in 1982 I believe. Still have original title for car. Guy I purchased from had it for roughly 20yrs and had begun to strip the body for paint and some modifications. I had been leery on the odometer rolling over and to my surprise, I believe it is accurate. Engine is clean under valve covers, rubber bushings are in great shape, wiring and interior are crisp sans carpet and front seat which is out of a 66/67 car.
Did my basic checks and fluid changes and car fired right up. Went through brakes and drove the car as seen above until this past summer sans newer radials , pertronix ignition and rebuilding and rejetting the carb. Didn’t even install the door handles.
It was time to get rid of the 56 88 4dr I had picked up for the P/S setup (see classifieds) so this guy needed to get revived. All hands on deck and a bit of 16 hr days resulted in the below…
A little playing around
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest13_zpse2edbb1a.jpg
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest21-Copy_zps4997371e.jpg
The idea
57BUICKSIDESPEARtest14-Copy_zpsae16aee6.jpg
Last edited by Takid455; October 24th, 2014 at 05:46 AM.
October 24th, 2014, 05:44 AM
#2
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 80
Moving on…being most of the original paint had previously been removed and the car etched primed, a good sanding/ block of the material was all that was needed but not before the hood lip and both front lower ¼ dog legs and adjoining rocker sections were repaired. This seems to be a factory standard option on these cars. Overall plan is a nice driver to be proud of but not trailer queen or super high end job. Better than cruise night but not necessarily national show car.
IMG_1693_zps75f23194.jpg
IMG_4193_zpse4973ba8.jpg
IMG_4196_zps8c55d2d1.jpg
IMG_4198_zpscd59965a.jpg
IMG_4201_zpsc6b9c8c1.jpg
Overall, the body was in very good condition. A full skim coat would normally be applied at this stage for a concourse job, but for the intents of this initial build phase, we aren’t going for that level of detail, but it will be very nice.
After applying a high build primer followed by a sealer with blocking in between each, the body looked very straight. Dry guide coat is a wonderful product.
IMG_4338_zpsc466ec94.jpg
IMG_4359_zpsd9664fcc.jpg
IMG_4361_zps4138093a.jpg
Time for color bath! White is Dodge Viper white with HOK flake spray over via intercoat clear. Blue is Nissan Daytona Blue Pearl.
IMG_4368_zpsdf70232b.jpg
IMG_4381_zpsd1da60d5.jpg
IMG_4328_zps3e10e538.jpg
IMG_4393_zps5fd61110.jpg
IMG_4395_zps1ed762f1.jpg
Clear was blocked with 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and then 2500. Initial compounding and buffing was followed by another round 2 months later after everything had dyedback.
First outing with gramps and the whippersnapper. Nic e to have both rides out. Note: trim not fully installed at this point or interior.
9-28-143_zps6dccfc3d.jpg
9-28-142_zps52dad11c.jpg
IMG_1693_zps75f23194.jpg
IMG_4193_zpse4973ba8.jpg
IMG_4196_zps8c55d2d1.jpg
IMG_4198_zpscd59965a.jpg
IMG_4201_zpsc6b9c8c1.jpg
Overall, the body was in very good condition. A full skim coat would normally be applied at this stage for a concourse job, but for the intents of this initial build phase, we aren’t going for that level of detail, but it will be very nice.
After applying a high build primer followed by a sealer with blocking in between each, the body looked very straight. Dry guide coat is a wonderful product.
IMG_4338_zpsc466ec94.jpg
IMG_4359_zpsd9664fcc.jpg
IMG_4361_zps4138093a.jpg
Time for color bath! White is Dodge Viper white with HOK flake spray over via intercoat clear. Blue is Nissan Daytona Blue Pearl.
IMG_4368_zpsdf70232b.jpg
IMG_4381_zpsd1da60d5.jpg
IMG_4328_zps3e10e538.jpg
IMG_4393_zps5fd61110.jpg
IMG_4395_zps1ed762f1.jpg
Clear was blocked with 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and then 2500. Initial compounding and buffing was followed by another round 2 months later after everything had dyedback.
First outing with gramps and the whippersnapper. Nic e to have both rides out. Note: trim not fully installed at this point or interior.
9-28-143_zps6dccfc3d.jpg
9-28-142_zps52dad11c.jpg
Last edited by Takid455; October 24th, 2014 at 05:50 AM.
October 24th, 2014, 05:46 AM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 80
As of last weekend (10/18/14), all trim and interior is on and finished for now. WWW tires would set the car off. Perhaps a springtime addition.
SwayzeMillPark10-19-148_zpsaaa64075.jpg
SwayzeMillPark10-19-144_zpsdfe25914.jpg
IMG_4875_zps50abb239.jpg
This concludes book 1 of this car. Next book will a bit before it gets published which will involve everything under the body and most likely and interior color change to a blue/ white combo. Plans are roughed just not finalized. Hope you all enjoyed the build so far and thanks for all the help with questions I had posted along the way. Not new to building & modifying cars, but this was my first one from the 50’s.
SwayzeMillPark10-19-148_zpsaaa64075.jpg
SwayzeMillPark10-19-144_zpsdfe25914.jpg
IMG_4875_zps50abb239.jpg
This concludes book 1 of this car. Next book will a bit before it gets published which will involve everything under the body and most likely and interior color change to a blue/ white combo. Plans are roughed just not finalized. Hope you all enjoyed the build so far and thanks for all the help with questions I had posted along the way. Not new to building & modifying cars, but this was my first one from the 50’s.
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