So, I've found a 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 2 door that's in a junkyard, it's pretty nice, medium blue inside and out, been sitting about five years, I can personally get it for about $800. The catch? No motor, or transmission.

I'd love to get the car, but I currently have two vehicles, cannot afford a third, and if I did, I'd be yanking the 350 out of my '77 to put in the '72, though, I don't want to scrap or sell the '77 to someone who will just derby it, I'm tired of seeing good cars like this one junked because they have two too many doors.

So there is my problem, I really want the '72, but I'm not just going to cast my '77 aside, I'd sell it to someone who would fix it up right (I'm not talking a lift kit and giant wheels either). So in short, unless I find someone who actually wants a four door 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 with no options other than AC, in need of paint, a little body work, a lot of interior work, and with no drive train, this project will go nowhere.

So yeah, I'm at an impasse. I can't have both cars, and at this point I'm not getting rid of the Blue Goat unless it falls apart, it's too solid, and I need something solid because keep the '77, or fix the '72, I've got a project ahead of me.

Most people consider things like Mustang's, and Camaro's to be worth keeping out of the shredder, and sure they are American icons, but what about the forgotten cars that moved MOST of America, not just some of it? I feel like if these old tanks that every one else drove are just cast aside, they will be forgotten. I don't want to see the '72 sit and go to waste, but I don't want to see my '77 torn to pieces either. So uh, anyone want a '77 Delta 88 four door roller to fix up?

 

Good luck with your decision, I just listen to what the voices tell me.

 

Well what happens when the voices are telling you to keep both?

I may just stuff the '77 back in the garage that once housed a GMC / Chevy motor home my grandparents had many years ago. I'd have liked to had the 454 out of that thing, only had about 40k miles on it, albeit 40k miles running ***** to the wall probably, we don't live in flat country here. I think I can source a used 305 to drop in my '77 later on then figure out what to do with it.

 

I guess what it comes down to is if you're on a budget which car are you most likely going to be able to get all needed repairs done? It's very possible from the description the '72 is going to need a lot more work than the '77.

 

The voices always tell me to keep them. I should have really stopped listening at 20 or even 30, but I didn't!

 

If it was me i'd get it and deal with the voices later.Maybe that's why i own way to many.

 

Another thing to consider is this: when you bought your car, any of them, once you owned it, wasn't it and isn't it your car to do with as you please? Let's face it, a 77 Olds D88 basic model car has little if any following. If you pull the motor and trans out of it, aren't you sealing it's future yourself? I would either keep the 77 as a driver and put a nice fresh motor, for me it would be a 455 in the 72, or a very nice 350 or even a 403, The other option is sell the 77 and be done with it. It does not matter what is done to the 77 as it would no longer be your car. I don't like some things that people do to their cars. But, the bottom line is if they own it, then they have the right to do what ever they want with it. If you sell it either as a driver or with engine and trans pulled, it is no longer yours to decide anything about.
The odds of anyone preserving a 77 D88 4 door basic model car are very slim at best. If you pull the motor and trans out of it. What is it really worth then? Who would spend the money to put one back in and then have a car that they are in too much money?

I would keep the 77 as a driver. My dad had one for years and loved it. I would get the 72 and like all of us do on a budget, take the time to build or buy a nice motor and trans and put it together.

Just my opinion.

Larry

 

I'd buy it. If you cannot afford to provide it with what it needs, sit on it for awhile until you can. Olds engines and trans seem to go pretty cheap on CL in my area, you might want to look for a sound donor instead of taking the engine out of your 77'.

 

I think lemoldsnut and creepy gave you some good advice. If the car has been sitting in a junkyard for several years it is not going to be just a matter of pulling the engine and transmission out of the 77 and dropping them in the 72 and cranking it up and going down the road. It is probably going to need brakes and who knows what else. If you have the place to store it, buy it and redo it as time and funds allow.

 

If you are married, did you consult your wife? That usually solves a lot of my car dilemmas.


I have a basic formula.
$1000 and under: cost of car plus trip to Olive Garden.
$1000 to $2500: cost of car, Olive Garden, and hair appointment.
$2500 to $5000: cost of car, Olive Garden, hair appointment, new dress.
Over $5000: seek new residence, or fib on purchase price.


Hope this helps, it's an expensive hobby!

 

Ha ha! I like this! Fortunately, my wife is supportive of my old car obsession. Certailanly something for the OP to consider as it is never a inexpensive proposition to bring an old car out of a long hibernation.

 

This is why I don't go to places where I might find something. I can hardly walk through the tool dept of the dollar store without my fingers itching ... and I know it's all junk. It's like grocery shopping when you're hungry ... but you never get full on cars.

Personally ... I love the big cars too. I wouldn't be looking at pulling the '77's engine. That yard has the engine and trans that came out of the '72 somewhere. Or something else that'll fit. If it were up to me .... a car without a motor or trans ... I'm looking long. Maybe a nice little Northstar with a matching tranny. Plenty of busted up Caddies in the yards .. and oddly enough, not many caddy owners head for the bone yard for parts. Plenty of power to motivate that '72 frame, and young enough that parts aren't going to be a drama.

That's what I'd do .... while looking for more parking room.

 

X2

IMO if you pull the drive train from the 77 it's pretty much junk it's not drivable you stated it needed interior help so it's just a parts car at that point

 

Well I had something else typed up, but Firefox decided to rebel while I was backspacing something, and it backspaced to the other page.

Anyway, as I was saying, when I was so rudely interrupted by technology's follies.

I'm gonna go ahead with the project, the 350 I have only has about 140k miles on it, compression and vacuum are great, the engine is strong and stout. My transmission is in great shape too apart from needing a pan gasket and fluid / filter change, but that'll happen when the driveshaft comes loose no matter if you want it too or not.

So the '77 is going to get stuffed into said motor home garage until I find another engine / trans for it, in the mean time, I'll fix the '72.

I've been working on sorting out the Blue Goat so I can rely on it, so far so good, after the new exhaust (catback 2.5" pipe, glasspack, pass side exit in front of rear wheel), and at some point when the Holley gives me too many fits due to it's old and worn baseplate, a new carburetor, it won't need anything, but both of those can wait.

So I've scratched up a list, already realizing what y'all have pointed out about the '72, I honestly haven't owned many cars I didn't have to do brake work too, I didn't know how nice that was until I got my Dodge.

Anyway, tell me if I'm missing anything

The short list is:

Check to make sure the transmission is the right length for driveshaft to be compatible, should be but who knows? (I have a TH350)

Drop and clean out fuel tank, replace any soft lines, check hard lines.

Get new motor / transmission mounts

Check all under hood, exterior, and interior wiring, ensure all signals are working properly

Check all steering linkage, ball joints, springs, replace shocks, I'm sure the old ones are shot

Check brakes, replace rotors, pads, drums, wheel cylinders, shoes, rebuild or replace calipers, master cylinder, and booster

Re-use radiator from '77, it's only about a year and a half old, and in decent shape, replace with new one when budget allows

Tires, it already has some sort of 15" rally wheels, I guess I'll get something cool like 235/75R15 Mastercraft Avenger GT's

Once engine is in in and installed, I'll replace the intake, carb, distributor, and a few other bits, I already have a new alternator, power steering is fine and leak free, should be compatible with box in '72.

Exhaust, gonna check what's on there, if it seems free of restrictions and isn't horribly rotted out, I'll use it temporarily until I can get a new system put on

So, am I missing anything? I know this won't be cheap, but I can squeeze out a budget for it.

 

The 350 engine is not a direct bolt in, your going to have to fab frame brackets. The exhaust is not going to bolt right up it will need some mods to make it work. The power steering hoses may not work with that steering box. The wiring will have to be shuffled around a bit because of the different starter and accessory locations.

Brakes need to be checked also.

 

Really? I was thinking that I could just use Caprice engine mounts of the era since they're both B bodies, guess we'll see.

The exhaust I was expecting not to fit, but again I was going to try it anyway, both the cars are B bodies.

The power steering lines seem a little different cosmetically, but if you look at these two links, first for my '77, second for the '72, and you look up a picture of the line for the '72, they appear the same in thread count, though length and shape is a little different I could work around that.


For the '77

http://www.jegs.com/i/Gates/465/3536...ductId=1534982

For the '72

http://www.jegs.com/i/Gates/465/353560/10002/-1

So yeah, adapting the power steering should not be an issue, engine mounts can likely be sourced from a Chevy B body of the era, exhaust too. Wiring is no big deal, I was gonna replace the alternator, starter, and ground wires with some nicer ones, clean the headlight contacts, and do a few other electrical touch ups.

Thanks for the heads up on those things, considering most GM's probably use this power steering line thread type in this era, I'm sure I can find one that fits. It will make it hell on someone if they end up with the '72 and try to replace the line though.

 

Personally, I like the '77 much better than the '72.
If I were ready to gut the '77 and peddle the remains to have the '72,
I'd save myself some time and work and just peddle the '77 as is, then find a
drive train, preferably
from a car that has all the correct hardware.
Best to find a '71-'72 "88" or "98" parts car with a good drivetrain as well as other useable parts.

 

I would leave the '77 as a unit and find a different drive train for the '72. No sense in having two cars you can't drive for a long while.

 

Exactly. Keep the 77 together. The 72 should be the project, as it already is one.

 

This post confused hell outta me until I went looking and found https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ered-boat.html that your '77 engine is a Chebby. Seriously, the only sane reason to pull the engine from the '77 is if it was a direct drop in for the '72. If you need to mess with mounts and all the rest ... it makes not one lick of sense to spend the time on it. If you're prepared to blow the time messing with mounts and recutting drive shafts ... get a modern pull. I see running motors for $150 on craigslist all day long ... people parting out their old cars and trucks looking for more than the pittance the bone yard is offering. I'll wager that yard the '72 is in will throw in a running SBO and th350 for no more than $150 when you take the '72 carcass off them. Who else is going to want it?

 

I can't imagine that the driveshaft will be correct. '72 Delta would probably have had a long tail th400; and I don't think '72 and '77 B-bodies are the same chassis. Likewise, radiator is likely different.

 

I've been looking into simply getting a new 350, you can get one identical to the 350 in my '77, a GM Goodwrench (Now sold as GM Performance) 350 for $1,500.

I've also researched and found the following as far as the transmission, steering, and motor mounts go:

First, motor mounts, the part number for the engine mounts in the '72 Delta for the 350 rocket is the same as my '77 Delta VIN R (Rocket 350), and the part number for a '72 Caprice is the same as the Chevy motor mounts in my '77 Delta. Logically speaking, the Chevy motor mounts from a 71-79 B body near as I can tell will fit in the '72 Delta 88. The Rocket and Chevy 350's bolted in the same place, they just used slightly different mounts.

Secondly, I was planning on having a new driveshaft made and using a standard short shaft TH350 or TH400, transmission mount is in the same place no matter the shaft location, everything should bolt up.

Third, power steering lines from a '72 Caprice with a 71-79 Chevy power steering pump will go right up to the steering box, the part number is the same for the steering box in the '72 Delta 88 and Caprice. I do need to find or buy a steering pulley with AC, as I'm pretty sure this car had it.

So yeah, the delay in my response was because I've been researching what I disclosed above, also the engine and transmission I'm planning on dropping in, as well as headers, are linked below:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-csumnal1/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-700400/overview/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bi.../model/caprice

It'll cost a bit but it'll be worth it in the end, I came to the same conclusion y'all did this past Saturday. "Why have both cars off the road just to fix one?"

To summarize a few other things I've found out, any accessory bracket system 71-78 or so (Pre-smog pump) will bolt onto this motor and allow me to bolt on the same alternator, power steering pump, AC compressor, and water pump my '77 uses, GM reused the same parts a lot. So I can source those brackets from the junkyard, hit 'em with a wire wheel, throw some engine primer and paint on 'em, call it a day. No chrome, no flash, no nonsense. Just a decent rumbling 350 under the flight deck sized hood of a Delta 88.

I've thought about using a genuine Oldsmobile engine, but they're hard to find, and the cost of the rebuild would likely push my budget that much higher. However, if someone on the forums lives nearby and has one laying around they know the condition of, I'd consider it, but other than that, I'm not likely to mess with any used engine when I can get a stout new one for so little.

 

Sounds like you've made up your mind - but you asked for input.

You're about to spend way more money on both of these cars than they will be worth when done.

Buying a crate SBC for $1500 for a '72 D88 doesn't make financial sense - these cars are available in the marketplace as running driving cars. If you can't find an Olds drivetrain for under $1000 you're not looking. $800 for a roller '72 D88 is not a deal.

Taking the engine out of your '77 more-door, or spending any money on it if it is not a running, driving car is likewise money wasted. This car does not have any significant desirability or value in the marketplace.

Apologies if this is not the kind of input you sought.

BTW, here's a running/driving 2-door '72 D88 for $1900: http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/4734731929.html

 

Offer $400. See how much more they want if they toss in a running 455 & a TH400. Then get it road worthy and sell it if you feel guilty. You had fun, you saved it from the crusher and maybe even made a few bux. Win Win Win. I dont see many 2 door 72 88s around.

 

I maybe can get it for $600, the big thing is that the car is in really good shape, rust free, interior is great, vinyl top is great, whole car is rock solid. Just absolutely filthy dirty.




No, this is exactly what I expected, it's not about what I can get out of the cars financially, it's what I'll get out of 'em owning them. As I just stated, I can maybe get it for $600, but again, as I just stated, the car is rust free. That Norfolk car is rather rough, as they are out near the coast in "Naw-fawk". The pronunciation of that place by the locals is priceless.

As for gutting the '77, yeah, I came to that conclusion, it's not worth it to gut it. I'm going to do as intended, fix the body, repaint it, keep it 'til it falls apart. That's why I'm leaving it intact until the time to do bodywork comes around.

I plan to own both these vehicles for a long time, I don't easily loose interest in a car, the only reason I'm going for the '72 is because it has a lot already going for it. It's blue, my favorite color is various shades of blue, it's in great shape, and it has potential to be a damn nice cruiser. I'll try to get up there Saturday to get y'all some pictures of it.

FYI, the only reason that '72 is being listed for 1900 is because the guy would probably part with it for 1200, if it had a 350 it would only be worth about $600-800 in that shape. Cool find, but man that car needs more than I care to give it. Also, it's brown, I have one vehicle I don't like the color of, I think that's enough.

Oh side note, I know where there is a 455 that may or may not run, but is rebuildable, however I don't want to murder my gas mileage.

But yeah, either way it's not a matter of if the car is worth $400, 600, or $800, it's what they'll part with it for. I know the guy who has it, my father has known him 20+ years, I can likely get it for $600 cash in hand, and yeah even that's a bit much for a roller, but man believe me when I say it's a solid car.

 

Good move keeping the 77 together. Any pictures of the 72?

 

I'll try to get some this weekend, it's hidden up in that yard so people don't yank parts off of it. The hood hinges need some love 'cause someone went up there to see if it had an engine and left it open, and it's covered in dirt, but it'll clean up nicely. It might rain Saturday, so I might not be able to get up there, but I'll try. I'm going up there to try to barter for a set of nice 80's Caprice seats I've had my eye on for a while. Gonna try to get 'em for $40, they've been in that car since '98 (when it was last inspected, it's probably been in that junkyard for 14 years). My seats are disintegrating rapidly, and they aren't even the plush kind. They're more base-model-barely-not-vinyl-seats.

As for the '77, most people don't believe the curb weight of that thing, it's only 3,678lbs. Guess 'cause it has zero options apart from a 350, 4 barrel, and AC. It hasn't even got a split bench, oh how I'd kill for that or intermittent wipers, maybe a heated rear window too?

 

The 1977 Olds just tried to kill me today, stuck throttle pulling out of my driveway with wet muddy tires, and yes I could replace the carb and keep going, but like a horse that tries you kill you, once a car does it, it must go. So I'm gonna go ahead with it and yank the 350, drop it in the '72, hate to junk a good car, but I'll have parts up for sale from my '77 soon. I've got some nice brake lights, and a few other good bits like a really nice front bumper if y'all want it.

 

Do we know what stuck the throttle, could be a simple fix.

 

Christine

 

The most likely cause is that the throttle cable has gone bad. The easy way to check this is to disconnect the cable at the carb and see if it still moves.

 

Or the return spring on/for the carb. I think its a poor reason to scrap a car either way, just my opinion.

 

In almost every dynamic apart from desirability the '77 is better than the '72.
But almost nothing from the '77 will fit the '72. It might as well be a Ford or Chrsler product.
So you really have two projects, a '72 which needs a carb to pan engine, transmission, and what else?. Driveshaft, radiator, are they in the car?. Nothing insurmountable, but time and money will be required.
And a '77 with a sticking throttle, which surely won't be a difficult or expensive repair, and it needs body and paint work. I don't know how much it will cost to fix that, I'm guessing not too much or you wouldn't have started this thread.

Don't get anthropomorphic, your car didn't try to kill you, it developed a dangerous fault. It didn't set out to do you harm, it is a collection of man made parts that didn't work properly because of wear or a manufacturing defect.

Roger.

 

Just imagine the irony is the sticky bit gets transferred with the engine and does kill him in the '72 after all that work ...

 

X2^^^^^^^^^ It will still need to be fixed

 

I understand this, but it's a '77 four door that I have simply lost interest in, if I sell it, it'll just wind up across town on giant wheels, honestly I'd rather yank the motor and get rid of it than see that happen.



Yeah, I hope not, or she's gonna kill me for sure.




Don't think that's the case, I've been having issues with the carburetor, which will be going the way of craigslist or the scrap pile, depending on if anyone buys it. It's a rebuilt one I got for cheap off craigslist, could sort it out, but as I said, I"m done with this car.


The '77 will need a passengers side fender, drivers side door, rear bumper, maybe a trunk lid and hood, lot of bodywork to the roof where it had a vinyl top, plus it needs springs, shocks, the front steering linkage needs to be rebuilt. The interior is shot, don't think there is a single good panel left in the car. It's just no longer worth it to keep putting money in this car. I've already replaced the rotors, drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, master cylinder, and exhaust, so at this point I'm getting away from this car before it turns into a black hole for my wallet.

I originally got the '77 a little over a year ago 'cause it was cheap, didn't need much to be driven. Plus, it was an Oldsmobile, a Delta 88 at that and it was amusing because it had a 350, even if it's a bit of a gutless motor as it sits. I thought about fixing the car up, but slowly realized that just wasn't feasible.

I'm the 5th owner of the '77, the previous 3 at least have not been easy on the car, and it's just no longer feasible for me to bother fixing it. I've seen nicer cars in the junkyard if only they had an engine as strong as mine. There is a grey 77-79 Buick sedan that's grey with a maroon interior in the same junkyard the '72 is coming from, beautiful car, bad motor, no title.

I know for certain I am no more than the 4th owner, probably the 3rd owner of the '72, it hasn't had patch job wiring, or fifty hands trying to fix it, it's just had some fool yank what was probably a strong running BBO out of it. Basically, I'm tired of owning cars which other people have "Fixed". So, I'm going to fix one up myself, and know it's done right, so I'm not constantly battling gremlins left behind by other people. The yard hasn't dried up enough, so I haven't been able to get up there to get pics, but when I get the car, or if I get pics of it before then, I'll start a new thread with the build process. I am in short, completely done with the '77, the master cylinder went out, nearly killed me, the throttle sticks, nearly gets me in a bad wreck, call me superstitious but I don't trust that car anymore. I will have some parts up for grabs for whomever wants them, maybe someone on here has a '77-79 Olds Delta 88 they are more content with than I have been with mine.


EDIT:


Going to be getting a new carb, and intake for the engine, as well as replacing the throttle cable if need be on the '72. I no longer want the hassle of a quadrajet someone else has rebuilt.

Let me reiterate, I know it's a simple fix on the '77, I just don't care anymore, that's all this car has been, a simple fix here, an easy adjustment there, then something breaks, rinse and repeat, I have simply lost interest. I'd rather use it to get a car I might care about or have so little in I could sell or trade later on for something I actually want. The Dodge Ram I had became a problem, I turned it into a Mercedes on a square trade, a car I'm quite content with, though I'm still a Oldsmobile fanatic through and through, this just gives me four wheels to drive until I have an Oldsmobile that isn't haunted by the ghost of mechanics past. May seem a bit silly to just give up at this point, but I'm dumping money into a car I can't even give away, at least if I get bored of the '72 I can trade it for something.

 

Well, if the throttle already sticks, you've got a contender for a great youtube video of it jumping into a river or something.

 

But you don't know, so you are planning on spending the money on a new carb BEFORE figuring out what is actually wrong? Your money, your time, your call. Just seems like a waste to me. There is very little that can go wrong and cause the throttle to stick on these cars, and the things that can cause it are pretty easy to find.

 

If you have decided you really are done with the '77 offer it for sale here. It has a much better chance of going to a good home than if you put it on ebay or CL.

Roger.

 

Don't know who would want a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 sedan with no motor, and little going for it except the body is mostly straight. I need it's engine and transmission for the '72.



I understand this, but I"m tired of dumping money into a car I'm tired of. This body style never was my favorite, it's the only one I've ever seen in person in this body style. Plus it's gold, copper, and several other shades of either gold or copper. It just doesn't have a lot going for it apart from the 350 under it's hood and good brakes 'cause I've already replaced them.

The only plans I had for the car where to fix it up Mad Max style since I've been a fan of those films for a long time, and apocalyptic themed stuff in general. Ya know, tubular front and rear bumpers, skid plates, some meaty tires, fog lights, spray paint job, about it. It may still happen, I doubt it though. I'd need to re-do the suspension and steering linkage though, it's pretty ratty and the car is nearing the time that stuff will become unsafe, somehow the passengers side springs are so worn out that the car leans nearly 3" on level pavement, been like that since I got it, new shocks didn't help.

So yeah, apart from turning the car into some sort of quasi apocalyptic themed automobile for laughs (Though something still street legal and suitable as a daily driver), I see no reason to keep it.