I just acquired a 55 Rocket 88 four door no post. It runs but needs work so I look forward to using this forum to help me get through things.

 

Welcome to our site! My guys here are the best and will be glad to help you out in any way they can! We like pics, if you can post some. I'd love to be in Phoenix.... someday, that's my dream! Sun.... Blue skies..... hot..... I've already forgotten what those things are around here in the cold, ice and snow and gray......

 

Welcome aboard, As Sandy said post some pictures when you can.

 

Welcome aboard

If I were you, I would be too frinedly with Sandy [Cutlassgal] She's libel to want to move in with ya.

 

55-57 are my favorite year. Then com the 40'

 

Here is the car which is technically my wife's since I prefer to drive the '62 Scout (picture also attached), but I have to admit I really like driving the Olds. The '55 is an older restoration and looks great from about 15 feet. It drives pretty well but the transmission cooling lines were removed (a small hose exits the tranny then immediately goes back into the tranny ) and the engine ticks pretty bad, but it is a good car overall that has never had any rust beyond some surface areas that were not repaired very well. I can't find any evidence that the radiator is set up to cool the tranny, so I plan to add a separate tranny cooler this weekend. I will probably post some questions on this later today, but luckily the tranny shifts fine and does not appear to be damaged yet from the lack of cooling. I am also gathering parts to do a Mike Pemberton power disc brake conversion to get rid of the manual drum brake system, and am considering my options for tightening up the steering since the pitman shaft coming out of the steering box has a lot of play. In other words do I pay $500+ to rebuild the stock steering box or do I buy a 605 steering box or similiar one and hack up the frame to make it fit. I am also waiting for a new fuel sending unit from Fusicks and need to get the speedo and heater working. If the engine does not require major work to fix the ticking, I also plan to put in a modern A/C system so we can drive it this summer in the AZ heat. We have 5 kids and all seven of us fit in the car just fine (although I need to add the 7th seatbelt before all seven of us go anywhere together in the car).

 

Don't believe these had transmission cooling lines.

These are fun cars - have three - one drives, one's being restored, one's - who knows...maybe parts maybe restore - can't yet decide...

Good luck with it

 

Welcome to Oldsmobile's suicide forum...just when you feel like killing yourself over your car, we're here to talk you down.

 

She's a beauty!!! And look at that blue sky...... God! I wanna be there, lol!

 

Nice looking '55. Looks like a mild custom. What kind of grill is that? It looks like a custom 'doorknob' type.

 

Oldsguy,

It is a poor man's version of the poor man's doorknob grill. The PO used washers and bolts instead of doorknobs and it looks pretty bad up close, but cool from about 20 feet. I have the original grill and may put it back in, but it has been painted silver over the chrome and I am missing the two supports that connect the grill to the bumper.

 

Greetings, fine looking 55 you have there. I don't think your car should have a transmission cooler, or at least if it has a stock trans in it.Can't remember ever seeing one in a 55 unless it a tow package option or a after market add on that I haven't seen yet.

Lost in the fifties ....Tedd

 

and am considering my options for tightening up the steering since the pitman shaft coming out of the steering box has a lot of play. In other words do I pay $500+ to rebuild the stock steering box or do I buy a 605 steering box or similiar one and hack up the frame to make it fit.

Check with Chip at Power Steering Services, Inc. He is a great guy and does excellent work. Lot's of folks here have used him. He will probably be less than $500 but the freight will probably be $150-$200 round trip. Putting a 605 box in this car is not like putting one in a 55 Chevy. Here is the link to PSI http://www.powersteering.com/

 

This topic came up in a thread I started recently about making the 2nd gen. olds V8's fit in my 55. A member with the user name 88fan has started the 605 conversion on his and had a lot of good information and even posted pictures... The link to that is here https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ds-engine.html Its a couple posts down.

Beautiful car by the way I wish mine was even half as far along as yours is... Myself and a bunch of other members have the original service manual for 55 so let us know if you ever need any info you might not have out of it. Enjoy your car keep us updated on the progress

 

Nice 55, The 50's cars are the best

 

The 55 Olds did NOT have cooling lines or cooler for transmission. I have a 55 and the transmission has had no problems not having cooling.

 

Bajaway, that really surprises me, but Olds Dad said the same thing. I am confused, however, by the newer looking hose that comes out of the passenger side of my tranny then loops back in. I wonder if I have a newer hydramatic, and if so, might it require cooling? Since I live in AZ, do you think a tranny cooler is a good idea? Too cold of fluid is bad too, but not as bad as too hot.