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What problems are you having ? I have never had a continental kited car but I would think it would be pretty straight forward if it is anything like a conventional bumper... Tedd
What problems are you having ? I have never had a continental kited car but I would think it would be pretty straight forward if it is anything like a conventional bumper... Tedd
Thinking about buying a '56 Super 88, but it has the Continental Kit. Wouldn't buy it if the Kit can't come off. Obviously, I'm not a fan of the Kit.
I was wondering if anyone out there has pictures and info they could give me how to wire a 455 olds engine in a 1956 olds car..i need to know what altinator to get and any other parts and links and if i have to get a whole new wiring harness or if i could use my one i have in the car and what wires go to the starter alt ect ect...thanks shane
Hi Shane, assume your the same Shane from the Facebook group since you have the same car in your avatar pic lol. As said on Facebook, get a 10is alternator, you can use your exciting wiring harness, it's pretty much the same, I would upgrade to a HEI distributor unit, over a normal ignition set up, it's worth the money plus actually easier to wire in. If using a 10is alternator and HEI distributor then the alternator is hooked up using the fat live post straight to the positive battery terminal, then the 2 small wires, the red goes onto the battery (can go straight onto the alternator live post) then the white wire goes of to the gen light for the dash. Use the original 324 coolant temp sensor on place of the original 455 one in any of the inlet coolant ports and wire in as stock 324. Use the 455 idiot light oil pressure sender unit (don't use the rally pac one as it's calibrated different) and wire in as stock 324. The starter motor hook up is the same, permanant live onto the main starter wire and then switched live onto the one small terminal (same as stock 324) and the ignition if your using the stock 455 points and condenser set up found on the early 455s then wire it in as the stock 324 set up, if using the later 455 HEI set up you just need your ignition live feed onto the distributor, lastly a good ground wire onto the battery earth terminal. Very easy to wire it up and pretty much same as the original 324, you may need to lengthen or shorten wires but appart from that, it's that simple
Just picked this up on July 3rd. I am now the second owner of this car. Couple got married in 1955 and bought this new. He passed away some years ago and she is in retirement home. Last licensed in 1997. Has been repainted and interior redone. Wheel covers and fender skirts are in trunk. Motor and trans is 350/TH350. Motor is stuck, possibly from gasket leakage. Was driven into shed 12 years ago. Wife is pretty happy!!!!
Last edited by 37OldsCoupe; Dec 14, 2020 at 04:02 PM.
Very nice. It is surprising it has a 350/350 since it was an original owner. That is not necessarily an easy swap. Do I see two mirrors mounted on the dash? That would be unusual. Fusick has the repro outside mirrors in case you are interested. Welcome to the mid-50's group. There are a good many of us on here.
Last edited by redoldsman; Jul 11, 2015 at 10:21 AM.
Yes, he added them at some point. It's a shame, as the padded dash was perfect. I will take them off and see what I can do to fix the holes, maybe nothing. Outside mirrors would be great.
My wife and I attended many car show events over this past summer. A Good Guys show and a couple of others with more than a thousand cars. Not once did we see any 56 Olds. There were a few 55's and 57's but not one out what would be at least six thousand cars did we run into any 56's. We didn't have ours in driver condition to take or it would have been the only one. Is the 56 rarer than say a 54, 55, or 57? Just wondering.
My wife and I attended many car show events over this past summer. A Good Guys show and a couple of others with more than a thousand cars. Not once did we see any 56 Olds. There were a few 55's and 57's but not one out what would be at least six thousand cars did we run into any 56's. We didn't have ours in driver condition to take or it would have been the only one. Is the 56 rarer than say a 54, 55, or 57? Just wondering.
Agree. '56s are rare at shows, but I did see one today at the VA hospital Loma Linda car show. For sale $30K. Way too much $. Had a crate 350. Finding a '56 88 with a 455 will take a long time I'm afraid.
The major reason you don't see these cars at local events at your local little car show
-- is that all of these cars are in Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc....
I just completed the HERSHEY Car Show -- and easily, half of my sales were inter-national... Americans have become "parsley - pickers" while the International crowd
are "eating" the MEAT and POTATOES.....
Just remember though for those of us overseas to restore one of these cars is easily twice the struggle you guys in the USA have. I got my car on ebay, took a chance, was no were near the condition as described, needed easily 10 times the amount of work it needed, then had to ship the thing to the UK, any parts we order we have to pay a huge cost on shipping, then import dutys on those parts plus finding parts in the first place, the new stuff you can get is fine, it's the stuff you can't get that's a problem, no option of heading to a local wrecking yard over here, I spent 8 months searching online for 1 missing piece of trim.
A lot more goes into owning one of these cars overseas than you may think.
Cobalt: I'm interested in putting a 350 of 455 in a plain 1955 88 2-door hardtop body that I have. Can you post any photo or drawn information on how your modified engine mounts are located and fabricated. I have some thoughts of my own, but would like information from someone with real life experience (what to do, or probably more importantly what not to do in this engine swap.
Hi I'm also here, here being in England. She arrived in September, just in time for winter !!!!!!!.
Whilst I'm here can any of you 54 / 56 experts help me with a technical issue.
i am looking to convert my 1956 88 2DHT from manual to power windows.
I have found a parts 98 4DHT that has the power window mechanisms, but are the rear windows mechanisms on the 2DHT the same as those on the rear of a 4DHT, i always thought not due to the way the 2D rears go down, they rock back then drop.
I am assuming that the window mechanisms in the manuals are totally different from the power windows, and that everything needs replacing.
Hi Mark. You will need to find the 2 door mechanisms. The rear go down at a strange angle plus the front doors on a 4 door are shorter than the doors on a 2 door. Your best bet is find somebody breaking a 2 door 88 or 98 and buy the whole lot from them. Will be pricey though. Fusick sell some of the parts new still, I think switches are available. Have you searched ebay?
I'm new here & also new to this car. I've been looking for solid 57 2dr for awhile because of my dad. Well I ended up grabbing this this 56 88 2dr sedan. The only rust on the entire car is two spots on the fenders (common here) only repairs look to be a couple patches in the floors. Runs great, sounds awesome (355/350TH) Olds fitted valve covers & breather. I'm happy. Plans are to replace the shot bumpers, body & paint to match dads red/black. After that look into upgrading the suspension, brakes, steering etc.
Just an observation
