So, I own a 1976 Oldsmobile 98. My dad's friend originally bought it at an auction many moons ago. This was the car I drove to my high school grad in '01, on the stipulation that I wax and polish it. He then sold it to me for a meager $300, which wasn't much less than what he paid for it. The car was a little rough as he was a drywaller and used the car to transport his tool from site to site, not that It was pristine when he first acquired it. It became my daily driver after I spun a bearing in my old blazer right up until after my first deployment overseas. I ended up "storing" it at my aunt's acreage in the tree line back in '05 until just recently. My aunt sold the acreage and I arranged for the car to be move to a friend's farm just before I deployed back to Afghanistan for a third time. When I get home, I plan on bringing it to the auto club on base and begin rebuilding it.

This may become a very large project since damn near everything needs to be rebuilt. I plan on doing as much of the powertrain myself, but having someone else do the interior and exterior. I want it to look like a nice Sunday driver, but sound bad *** and blow the doors off any civic that rolls up beside me.

From the bit of research I've done on this forum and other sites, I've figured some stuff out. Rocket Racing Performance will be getting a lot of my money for heads and such, and Edelbrock will be seeing a healthy share for a carb, manifold, and other things. I've decided on Crane Cams for the cam job, but that's about it. I am right now thinking that with what I've been looking at, I would like to have around a 5500 RPM redline but still get close to 400 or 500 hp, if possible. I don't have any of the numbers off the car, engine, tranny, or rear end yet but will when I get the car back into my custody.

I'd appreciate any help that I can get. whether it be advice on parts, tips on the rebuild, where and how to get the info from the block or heads to make sure I order the right parts, anything. I was a truck and transport apprentice for a few years before I went full time infantry, so I am a little mechanically inclined and have a tool box that is best lifted by two men. I am also pretty out of the know for what a lot of the numbers mean for the details in stuff such as cams, valves, all the numbers that people advertise about their heads, and such. I get what they are measuring, but the significance can be lost on me as to what I should be shooting for.

In the end I'd like a car that I can drive comfortably through the city or on the highway, suck you into the back of your chair when I choose, and leave a big black strip on the road when the definite need arises.

Again, I look forward to the knowledge of this forum and any help that is offered.

Cheers.

 

Welcome. Sounds like you have a plan.