HI all, I am in the process of getting a 1970 Delta 88 2door hardtop coupe. It is a beautiful car. Took 2nd in Nationals some years back (did not get a first due to incorrect fan belt that had to be replaced in route to the show). 47K orig miles. 455, Th400, anit-slip, white vinyl top, aspen green body. Fabulous condition. I have the VIN. She was assembled in Southern CA - South Gate Facility.


The car is on the Nevada side of the Donner Pass and I am on the California side, so the weather is a huge problem. I can't bring her home for a bit. I thought the VIN would help be determine the options. Wrong. (Last time I saw her was 1994). I'm so anxious to get this baby home. Is there some other code on the car I can ask her care-taker to get me?

 

Only picture I have so far.....

 

Welcome to the site, congrats on a beautiful car.

 

Congrats. Nice car. There is nothing in the VIN other than specific model, body style, year, and assembly plant. The cowl tag will have more info, but still precious little about options. Only the build sheet (which usually isn't even in the car) has that detailed info. Good luck with it.

 

Hi and welcome to the site. Until you can get your hands on it, you might try some google searchs for equipment and options available.

something like this...to keep you excited.
http://classiccardatabase.com/specs....70&model=33315

 

Welcome, that's definitely a cool car!

 

Welcome & Congrats on the purchase.


Three 455s could be had in the 1970 Delta. 320hp 2bbl, 365 hp 4bbl & the 390 hp W-33 4bbl with dual exhaust (and other engine upgrades). Which one does your car have?


Most of these cars came with the 2.56 gears but 2.93s were in some. Which does your car have?


Does the car have the seldom seen boxed lower control arms & rear sway bar? FYI the rear lower boxed arms interchange with the A body cars but NOT the sway bar (which is totally different dimension).


Post more pics please.

 

Thanks Dave - problem is the car is 6hrs from me until snow conditions vanish thru the Donner Pass.


I believe it does have a 4barrel and dual exhaust, so that'd be the 390 hp W-33 4bbl Yippee!

 

My car has a blog: https://myoldsscoop.wordpress.com/
Updates will be slow as she is in captivity in north east Nevada for now.

 

When you get the car, check to see whether the dual exhausts are original or not.

According to the 1970 SPECS Guide, the 88 could be ordered with a variety of engine options, including the 390hp W33 with dual exhausts, but the 98 was available only with the 365hp L31 engine with single exhaust.

N10, Dual Exhaust, was not offered separately on any full-size car in 1970.

It would not have been impossible for a 98 to roll down the line with the W33, but it would have been very unlikely, as it was not offered.

If your car has its original transmission (verified by the presence of the correct VIN derivative stamping), then an OL transmission would have been used with a W33 engine.

Please let us know what you find.

- Eric

 

Welcome! Cool car!

 

Welcome to the club please post some pictures when you can

 

Eric the OP said it was an 88.

 

Oh crap, you're right. Even the photo is of an 88. Duh.

- Eric

 

Photos under goofy fluorescents just don't cut it.

Wowza. OK, I registered for the forum, posted my intro, where have I been? I still don't have the car home due to weather/road conditions. I have found a trailer and will rent a diesel truck to tow her the 360ish miles home. We did take a road trip couple weeks ago and saw the car (terrifying ride home thru a blizzard). Car largely looks like it could be in a new car show room. Spectacular. I had not seen it since 1984 so this was quite exciting to see her again. Vinyl top, paint, chrome (wow lots of chrome), interior all just beautiful. Current owner has a few 1st place trophies that I'll inherit as well. Under the hood needs some elbow-grease and there's a little oil drip going on. And I affirmed she has drum brakes.

I was reading a bit on line and found a detailed post from years ago on converting from drum to disk and also found posts about original 1970 rotors just not being available. Then today I watched a tv show (episode about a Volvo) that changed from normal to some Kevlar etc etc drum brake shoes and claim very improved stopping power. Thoughts?

Lighting to take more photos was a problem - the interior looks perfect, but the photo color is way off - need her home in natural lighting to have a photo shoot.

 

The only options for front disc brakes on 65-70 Olds 88s and 98s is either stock parts; which are rare as hen's teeth, or Scarebird aftermarket kits:

https://scarebird.com/

The Scarebird kits are well reviewed. I have yet to hear a negative comment.

 

Not familiar with the Kevlar shoes. The drum brake setup with serviceable parts when bled and adjusted properly is a very good system and stops well. I still have them on my car and have run them on most cars that I've owned in the past 40+ years.

 

Hi jimbr70,

I am the current owner of your car. It has made its way to Germany near Hamburg I enjoy driving it very often to car shows or sunny weather. It was so cool to find you posts and get to know a little bit of the story of the car. And I also would like to know more.... I am also curious if you still have the trophys and any data sheets, papers, etc of the car? If yes, maybe can make a deal about it?

best regards

Patrick

 

Patrick, it's good to hear that you have Jim's car. Jim hasn't signed on since 2022, but hopefully he gets an email that we responded to this thread. You might also click on his user avatar and send him a Private Message.

 

I will try that too. Thanks.

in the meantime I have changed the wheels and rims but still have the original ones

 

Lookin' pretty sporty!

Are those wide whitewalls Diamondbacks?

 

Yes

245/60r15 on 15x8 in the front and 295/50r15 on 15x10 in the back.