jimbr70

400 miles to go, hang on!

After waiting months for the weather to cooperate over Donner Pass, the 1970 Delta 88 is home! Brutal trip. Keys were lost between our visit months back and when we went to get her. $250 locksmith fee later we had an ignition key. Next morning we went to load up - keys found! Ugh. Pic attached. Beauty. What was surprising - 2BL carb and a smidge inside wear on left front tire. OK, so some front suspension bushings are a smidge old. Not areal surprise, but a 2 barrel! OK, where do I find an original olds 4BL intake manifold for this baby? Prefer to keep it stock, but with a 4BL. And I'll have to find an air cleaner....

oldcutlass

Good looking car, so now you have your first car story.

CRUZN 66

Congrats, looks like a real clean vehicle....

don71

Really nice example of the model. That should be a great driving and riding car with just a little TLC, if much. Thanks for sticking with us and giving us an update on your progress.

Give the want ads a try for your intake and other needs, here at this site.

RocketDevo

Nice Car.

jimbr70

Um, help! How the heck do I tell which intake manifold is a good path forward? Here's two samples... (did not see an in forum's parts for sale):


http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLDSMOBILE-4...lSN9fQ&vxp=mtr


or


http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLDSMOBILE-S...RYeSgn&vxp=mtr


Both are oldsmobile made it says.... My Delta 88 has A/C, and a T400.....

jimbr70

Went out and read some numbers:
Block area (behind water pump) 396021F
On oil filler tube: 0096237
Intake Manifold: 18436572

olds 307 and 403

This is another option if you want to run a spreadbore carb.
https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...ake/oldsmobile
The second dual plane intake is better for your heavy Delta 88. I would get the Street Demon 750 cfm carb or Quickfuel Slayer 750 cfm if you want a Holley style carb.

coppercutlass

I love it !!!! i would do some cragar 30 spokes with a nice white wall. Love that look on stock b bodys. besides that i wouldnt change a damn thing. Nice car.

MDchanic

If you want to keep it original, why not use a cheap original Oldsmobile parts instead of expensive aftermarket parts?

By the way, you've got a 9:1 compression, rated at 310HP and 490 ft/lbs of torque.
The 4bbl, 10.25:1 version was rated at 365HP / 510 ft/lbs.
You may gain some power by changing the carburetor and manifold, but you'll never get the extra horses that go with the extra 1¼ points of compression.

I'd leave well enough alone - you've got a nice car there.

- Eric

70Post

What did you mean when you said this?

You can get a factory original cast iron intake in plenty of places but try "locally" since shipping could be ridiculous.

You're probably not going to notice much, if any, difference in performance with any of the aluminum intakes compared to a factory 4 bbl intake...but you will save some weight.

olds 307 and 403

Hoisting around a 70 pound intake is no fun. If he could find a early-mid 70's 455 factory intake and Qjet, that would work but 70 pounds! He would gain mpg and power over the 2GC carb. If he wants the Chinese air gap dual plane he has linked, a calibrated Street Demon 750 cfm would run great with it. A tuning kit should be purchased to match it to your combo, to get optimum mileage and power.

jimbr70

Cleverly those manifold adds say they are made by Olds. I don't think so. I will continue to hunt as I am in no hurry. Stock 4BL intake is preferred... just for originality.

jimbr70

Hey, Possible manifold... where do I go to know this casting number is what I want? 4V implies what? I could drive to pick this up!


" a original 4V intake manifold for big-block Olds (400, 425, 455, etc.).
Nice condition, has been off the car and in dry, heated storage for 30+ years.
Was removed from a 1972 Cutlass; casting number 410448."

jimbr70

If it is casting 404521 that I want (?) I can't find ant offered on line as yet....

70Post

404521 is the correct 1970 casting. They are out there....check with some folks in your area first (whatever area that is.....don't know your location which REALLY helps sometimes). I have one here (customer has it) but the guy wants some $ for it and then shipping would be ridiculous although I could bring it to the OCA Nats in Albuquerque this summer.

"4V" means 4 bbl.

jimbr70

I'm in Meadow Vista, CA - just up I80 from Auburn.


Part of my motivation for going to a 4 barrel is just in case I had to do a major repair inside that 455, going for an RV Cam would be worthy only if I had a 4barrel. But with 49K mi, not likely I'll see the innerds for a long time.

don71

Jim, I hope you get to enjoy your car for a long time. I'll caution you on doing doing some things now.

Sooner or later you'll need a timing chain. There is plenty of time for that. That alone will open up a lot of " might as well" can of worms. Don't be too concerned with a cam change and four barrels. I'm not trying to preach to ya. You've got a lot of fun sitting right in front of you and I don't want you to miss that. Thats just my opinion.

70Post

I concur with Don.....I'm not here to try to sell you an intake. From your pic I can only imagine how cool that car is in person. We had a 4 door '70 88 many years ago and I have always thought the 2 door versions were extremely cool looking.

I'd just tune the heck out of it "as is" and enjoy the darn thing. Jeeez.....with those low miles I'd be hesitant to tear into it and start changing things.

Run GOOD oil in the car.....get some of the good stuff with the high zinc/phosphorous levels like Joe Gibbs Racing Hot Rod oil (the conventional version, not the synthetic).

MDchanic

Get in the car and go get it, provided it's not expensive, then just keep it in case you need it.
Don't install it yet.

As noted above, "4V" is how F_rd guys say "4-barrel." "V" is for "venturi."

- Eric

Oldsmaniac

I will agree with some the 4bbl upgrade is not necessary. It will give more top end power but I doubt you will notice any general driving increase in power. You WILL notice increased power if you install a true dual exhaust system.

Tedd Thompson

You are a easy driving distance from Sacramento or Grassvalley both have active car clubs, no doubt there are parts out there for your car, just be patience and keep your eyes open.

Keep in mind your car weighs around 4800 lbs it will never be a quick racer but always a classic ride and a great cruiser. Personally I would spend the most money on the look good stuff and less on the go fast stuff.... Just thinking, it's your car. Try Craigs list stuff comes up all the time.... Tedd
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/6113050007.html

droptopron

I say go for the four barrel, just for the fun factor. Stock intakes are out there, you just have to be patient. Hit the swap meets if there are any by you. Just my preference, but I'd try to find a pre-EGR, just so it can look original to the naked eye. Carb I'd get a QJet & have it gone through by a reputable rebuilder.

jimbr70

Thanks guys. I decided now is not the time for performance matters other that keeping an eye out for that 404521 intake manifold just to have for some day - maybe. I have to fix the AC - or did I? Yippee. The AC Clutch was not working. Found bad connection. appears good, now if I could just find the "sight-glass" thing to see if bubbles or ? are going by.... my 69 Firebird had one... don't see it on the Olds. I may just have it checked/charged. Biggest fear: the clock does not work. I have a replacement (orig Olds) but getting into the dash - lots of foul language may be emitted. With the AC and Clockk resolved, it is engine cleaning time. Upside is all beautiful, but engine needs a bath. Then it is time to inspect fluids and look for any dried up front suspension rubber.
First outing - tomorrow evening!

MDchanic

The sight glass is usually visible through a hole in the top radiator holder, or in the core support itself, and, if original, the hole will be covered by a black rubber plug.
Good luck getting the glass clean enough to see the bubbles through, though.

Sounds like it's coming along great!

- Eric