I need to know as much info on this model as far as horse power, engine optoins and transmissions. I have found a 1964 Jetstar 88 4 door sedan in ok shape and i would like to purchase as a driver cruiser. I have no info on the car as it has been sitting for 7-8 years. I notice there were a lot of different 88's. Your have the super88 then the Jetstar 88 and lastley the Dynamic 88. What are the differences?

 

All of that information is in the 1964 SPECS booklet on Wild About Cars in the Dealer section of the Factory info.

Wild About Cars. http://wildaboutcars.com. An information supersource, especially Oldsmobile. More Olds content than anywhere else on the internet and continuing to grow.
You'll find Chassis Service Manuals, Product Information Manuals (AKA Assembly Manuals), Inspector's Manuals, and other documents that will contain this and much much more.
Dealer Brochures, magazine ads and articles, and a home page for you online. You can even have your very own club there and a personal forum.
Free to join, free to learn.

 

In short, the Dynamic and Super 88s will have 394s of varying HP, backed by a "Slim Jim" Rotohydramatic trans. A Jetstar 88 will have a 330, most likely backed up by a 2 speed "Jetaway" transmission (SOME were built with 3 or 4 speed manual transmissions). There were low and high compression 330 engines, with 2 and 4 bbl carbs, ranging from 230 to 290 H.P. It seems as well that some late year '64 J88s may have been equipped with a 310 H.P. 330 as well (same basic motor as in the 442s that year).

ON EDIT: Yes, the link Wmachine provided will have more comprensive (and more gauranteed to be correct!) info.

 

Thanks!!! Are there indentifying marks or numbers on engine to show what it is and what letter or # the heads should be? I am going to look at it again this afternoon so i can come up with a price. Hopefully i can get it cheap so i can stay out of the dog house.

 

Best to look at the resource wmachine linked to when it comes to casting numbers; most people will not have that info. on the top of their head, and would have to look it up (which you can do yourself easily enough at wildaboutcars or elsewhere on the net). I can say that 1964 330 heads would have a big "1" (near driver's side front-most spark plug and passenger side rear-most plug).

 

it might be me being dumb but that web site is hard to get around.

 

You're not being dumb. The site is very complex, as there are so many different things there. There are navigational tools there too. It takes some time to learn how to drive there. But I have to believe it is worth the effort.

 

Someone needs to guide me to the section with statistics?? Engine number etc. I can't find it.

 

Okay, the engine numbers will be in the Chassis Service Manual. Go to the very first section in the first manual for the engine numbers (and other good info). Then in the Tech section are pages that show you where to find the numbers in the engine section. Here are links to those:

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=21

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=21

http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=21

 

i was the same way for a while but it is very much worth the time to figure out. Kurt and anyone else involved with it has done a great job of making this info available to people.

 

My tips from driving one for a few years daily: Compared to the other big cars from 1964, the make great drivers. You can actually get parts for the engine, which is nice. The brakes, while undersized, are virtually identical to the 1960's A-bodies, meaning you are drowning in parts and upgrades. The transmission can be easily changed out to either a TH350 or 2004R, and the differential is, again, the same as the Cutlass. 5x4.75 wheels are everywhere, at least compared to 5x5 wheels. The engine has an alternator, which is much better for a driver than a generator.
In short, get it!

 

good to know. The car is in very good shape for a driver. Definately not restored. It is white top with burgandy lower. I would like to paint it a dark gray or black and get wheels like on the car from the Green Hornet. That car was awesome.

 

I don't think black works too well on those cars. I would go with a creamy white, with black stamped-steel wheels.

 

you could be right. I need to look at photos. I hope i can get the car for a good price. Right now it is not running. was running when parked. It has factory power steering and brakes and a non AC car, heater core is bypassed but no problem on that. Is the turbo 350 trans just a bolt in like with the chevy's? What is the standard axle ratio on these Jetstars. I do have access to a vista cruiser with a 455 i might consider? Possibilities could be endless!

 

I tried to post pictures but size was an issue as usual on this site.

 

There's a few web sites that can resize the pictures to the constraints.
As for the oily bits, the TH350 is almost a direct swap. You have to make sure it has the BOP bolt pattern, and also rig up a kickdown cable for the carb. Of course, A Vista Cruiser drivetrain would be even better, but then you have to move the crossmember back, which isn't hard unless you have a convertible or the car has the heavy duty frame option. The automatic cars had a 3.08:1 rear end.
Good luck on the price!

 

Hopefully i can get the car for a decent price. I will get it running properly and then get olds SSIII ralley and go from there. The more I reseach 88's the more i like them!

 

what do yall think about that fawn biege color like on chevys

 

I think it would look nice, and the nice thing about that color is that it will match almost any interior color.

 

It has dark red interior.

 

Hmm...in that case I would suggest either black or a nice metallic dark grey.