been driving my 73 88 now for over a year. it up for sale 8,500 only 34000 miles clean. finished replacing all the brake-lines on my Bel air. so that going to be my new everyday driver. Now I have time to work on my 55 holiday. It drives now but the brake lines need to be replaced. not as easy as the 70 Bel air. since I have to remove the engine to replace a bolt. going to tear it down and spend a a couple of years doing it all I'm the one that ask if a 69 88 will fit under my body of my 68 Demont 88. said it would so I'm going to get the 69 and stick it in my yard until I have time. Oh yea had to buy a 7/8 deep socket to remove the bumper. yes I have the cars. but no money. and not a lot of knowledge that where I'm going to be asking for suggestions. like when I get the motor out and send it to the machine shop. what do I need to do. and yes the sale of my 1973 delta is for the insurance my wife needs. and the price of the 68 88 so all I have left is a couple of thousand. and what I have seen online is just a engine rebuild kit is in the 2-3 thousand range. not giving up just wanted you all to know that no deep pockets here. and only work a little on cars. but I can turn a wrench. and have some tools. well that all for now. didn't make it to the Oldsmobile car show. trip was over 2 hours away. and even tho I need a 68 demont rear bummper. didn't feel the trip would of been worth it.
going to try and attach photos. well that all for now.

my everday driver, up for sale 8,500. 34,000

going to do it 55 holiday.

my Demont 1968 waiting for a frame and back bumper.

going to have to drive my 70 Bel air. but I really want to drive my Demont.

 

Nice rides. Nice black 55. Keep us updated. 👍

 

Just curious but which motor are you rebuilding (55 motor, 68 motor, 69 motor) and why do you plan to rebuild it? With a limited budget unless the motor is showing major problems (lost compression, knocking, major smoking & blow-by, etc) I might suggest thoroughly checking it out and refreshing it yourself. Machine work gets expensive really quick. The last work I had done was for the heads in my Toronado in 2018. Over $600 for cleaning & magniflux, surfacing, new valves, and a valve job. Unfortunately there was no way around this work as there were 2 stuck valves and the other 14 had excessive guide wear. Good luck with your builds. The 55 4 door hardtop should make a really neat car.

 

How bad is the motor in the 55,or do you know? Back in the day, a low buck mini do it your self overhaul was done under a grand , probably two now. Maybe you could pull the heads and measure the taper in the holes and see if you could get by with a short hone and standard re ring, hand lap the valves and replace the mains and rod bearing or if they plastic gauge in a safe range, leave them alone. Is it what I would do now, probably not or no, but when I was young and broke, you bet.
This isn't a long time fix, but I have gotten better than 30 thousand miles out of this type band-aid fix. This is hard to do in a 55 without pulling the engine, but it can be done and trust me you will learn the ends and outs of a 55 324 engines. I don't know your skills, but if you ask enough questions, we can get you out of most problems you will encounter... Tedd

 

Thanks , I'm pulling the motor on the 55 325. because the exhaust manifold left and right side have a broken bolt. when I bought the car the guy said that the cam shaft probable needs milling. I don't know. but it drove around and was loud because of the exhaust manifolds. he also said that the brakes need done and the manifold need fixing other wise he said he would not put a lot of money in it. that it could be a good everyday driver. he also the Oldsmobile guy in these parts. The 68 Demont. has no motor problem. 350. the 67 delta 425 need work from what the guy said.the person that had it before rode it hard. but I will not know until I get it home. I said that because the guys not a mechanic just a keeper of olds cars. I hope that the motor and tran is good because I just want to pull the body off the demont and stick it on frame and all. that my hope and dream. I like old cars.that being said I know where a 55 Pontiac.if I can get it dirt cheap. 350 or 425 will go into it.

 

Whew,I don't know where to start. If you are doing this on a budget, this is one of those projects that often end up on the resale market down the road in baskets at a bargain. Not saying you won't get it finished, but the pitfalls are many and expensive. In my experience, I would stay with the 324 and transmission and with original body, it's already converted and needs nothing to adapt. Your manifold bolt problem is a common issue as two bolts on each side that go into the water jacket often rust tight. Unless you are an experienced welder, those bolts could give you some problems, but it's all doable. Not sure what would need milling on a cam unless he is talking about a regrind. 56 came with a soft cam and many went bad, most have had that issue resolved over the years. 55 didn't have that problem, but cams sometimes just go flat, so maybe it has a flat cam? So put a new cam in it.

Nothing you have or want will bolt up to a slant pan Hydro-matic that the 55 has, not the Delmont or the Delta bolt pattern, is correct. All is doable but takes fabrication skills and the tools to do the work and money. I don't know your skill level, but if this is your first major project, maybe you should team up with someone that has been there done that. I don't want to rain on your parade, but Have you ran a tape to see if the frames and bodies are close to the same length, will the steering box get in the way of anything, will you have to lengthen shorten drive lines just a ton of stuff I haven't thought of. Check with others with a real plan and see what they have to say. Best of luck in your endeavors, what ever way you go...Tedd

 

Thanks for getting back with me, Tedd. for the 55 I'm just going to pull the motor out to remove the manifold bolt. You really know your cars. being able to see the bolt problem that I have. I also want to clean the bay out and look over the engine real good. I can still start the engine. should I do a compression test on it first before I pull it. will that help me find out what really needs done. cars been in my garage for almost a year.. only started it twice. but there are no leaks on the floor. but it has not really warmed up.. a lot of oil on the motor that why I figured I replace some gaskets. other wise I'm thinking of just putting a paint job on it and get some new covers for the seat.. there are also some small parts I need. but am going to order from the Oldsmobile catalog.
I ramble some times and get lost on what I said and what I think. What I would like to do is get the 1967 delta 88 with a 425 engine I think it also 4 door. and pull out the frame. and put the 1968 Demont 4 door. body on it. I"am hoping that will work the 68 car was outside in the mud for years and the frame is trash. when the tow truck dropped it the A frame on driver side rusted thru. the 67 delta 88 been in a garage and look to be in good order.know more. soon. said I wanted to take a better look at it before I pay. in his garage with no room to really look. said I wanted to clear it off and push it outside. its 4:30 am now. didn't want to spend the extra time looking for the catalogs to get a clear understanding of which catalog I order from. also the guy named Merlin is the person I purchased the 55 from.he is the Oldsmobile guy in these parts.when over to find the rear bumper I need for the 68 demont. he salvage his cars. but he has Oldsmobile motor a day long. also I ask if I could get 4 extra wheel hub for the 55 he said sure. he does machine work on engine. I don't know what all he has stashed away. latter today I get the catalog name and give you his info..pulled the bumper of the 55 am going to pull of more front shroud stuff today.