Does anyone know what the real difference is between a 1955 Olds 88 and Super 88. I'm about to order upholstery for my vehicle and they said that the carpet, door panels, headliner, trunk liner will be the same size, is this true? The material is identical to mine, just received them in the mail. Don't want to pay big bucks for something that isn't going to fit.
SMS is expensive $$$$, but they have everything I want, the exact material that is in my car, just can't believe it. But before I order it, I need to know what is the real difference between these vehicles. Hopefully everything inside the vehicles are the same size.

Can anybody answer these questions for me and does anybody know of any other upholstery dealers that may have it also?

 

The interior was the biggest difference in the 88 and Super 88. The Super 88 had a much nicer interior. The dimentions are identical.

 

I thought the main difference in a super 88, was the engine. The super 88 is a 88 with a 98 engine, the bodys are the same. It is a performance package mainly.It probly has a 4 barrel, and duel exhaust also, where the 88 is more likly to be 2 barrel and single exhaust.

 

I think that probably all Super 88's did come with a 4 barrel but they did not come with dual exhaust. If you put duals on, you have to cut the frame on the left side in the X crossmember to get the pipes through. If it has power steering, it is impossible to put duals on it. I know factory duals were available in 56 but I don't think they were in 54 and 55. Referring to it as a 88 with a 98 engine is interesting. I have enever heard that but think it is cool. That was probably some talk from the 50's. My dad and none of his brothers had Oldsmobiles. The interiors were definitely different. I don't have production numbers but have the impression most of the 88's were Super 88'.

 

Super 88 shared the 4 barrel engine with the 98, beginning in '51, when the Super 88 was introduced.

88 used the 2 barrel engine, beginning in '49.

Carb was the only difference. HP was 185 and 202.

No duals until '56.

Norm

 

No different than any other '40-'55 Olds.

It was common for muffler shops to do exactly that.

I don't know that the dual exhaust option was any different with the P/S option added. I do know that there were few 98s sold without power steering, and many sold with dual exhausts.

Norm

 

 

Ranmat, this is a very old thread. You may get more responses if you create a new thread asking your question.


John

 

Interior mostly and minor exterior insignia. A four barrel carb could be ordered on the 88 without buying the Super 88. With the 4 burl carb it produced 202 HP. And you can add dual exhaust on a 55 with power steering. Mine has power steering & it has the dual exhaust added to the left side.