Hello all. I am looking to buy a Deta 88 and was hoping to fix some of the issues myself. I have next to no mechanical experience but would like to learn some basics while upgrading/fixing a car that I am proud of.

So here are some of the issues..



Sorry for the huge images.. But I wondered how difficult/expensive it might be to install the back seat and a new truck lock. Also the hood latch on the inside is a set of locking pliers (but I saw the pull latch on the floor).
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Welcome newbie,
Newbie rule #1. Always include year make model and drive train specs. Takes the guesswork out of it for us trying to help you. I cant see the pictures at work so sorry if captain obvious pipes up.
Get the GM assembly and fisher body manuals. They can be ordered or sourced on evilbay
Fusick is a good resource for parts and literature. You can call them to ask technical questions.
Youtube is your friend as well.

 

The pics look like it is an early 80s B-body Delta 88. To reinstall the rear seat just pop it back into place. The bottom of the rear seat latches onto the floor pan by pushing it down and back. To repair the trunk lock find a salvage car and take the trunk lock cylinder and keys from it.

 

Or maybe just take the whole trunk lid and replace it. The existing lid is damaged around the lock cylinder. The replacement lid would likely have to be painted to match, but the existing lid would probably have to be repainted as well once the dents were worked out of it.

 

If this car really is a '77-'90 Delta 88, Fusick won't have much. They specialize in pre-1976 full-size, and even those pickings can be pretty thin depending on what you're looking for. Their site says "'61-Up 88-98-Starfire-Toronado," but the pickings thin out considerably for the '71 to '76 era full-size cars and disappear completely for the '77 and later.

As noted, if you plan to spend any time with this car, find on ebay and purchase the Olds chassis service manual and Fisher Body manual for your year.

Mechanical parts (tune-up, brakes, etc.) should be easily gettable at your local auto parts store as well as online from places like rockauto.com. Body and trim parts are not reproduced for these cars (or any full-size Olds of any era), so good used is your only option as we've pointed out with the trunk lid.

 

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I believe it's an 81 Delta 88 Royale, I don't know the miles but am meeting the seller tomorrow (He has a lot of cars and doesn't know the miles until he looks, but says it runs good). I know it's not much info but I was interested in learning to fix it and thought this would be a good place to start. I will add more photos I have below, and will have much more info after looking at it tomorrow. Thanks again!

I was hoping the seat would be easy, that's great to hear. I was hoping the trunk key would be like a house door **** replace.. guess not. If I pop on this I will definitely look into a salvage lock and key. Thanks!

If I were to get this car and fix some of the cosmetic things myself I think I could afford a paint job. This is a whole entire new box of worms, but 4 is my budget and I think the body is nice enough to get a good paint job (he is asking 1800, I find out the miles tomorrow). Although I doubt I could afford a new trunk lid AND a paint job.. was really hoping the lid and key would be an easier fix.

Thank you much. I will definitely invest in this literature if I purchase this car.

Guys.. I really want some American steel. I'm fed up with the fiber glass suv crap and miss my dependable classic. 4k is my budget.. and an 07 equinox im selling. This Delta 88 is 1800.. maybe I can talk him down? Maybe I have enough left over to make it perfect for me? I really don't know because I'm pretty inexperienced at buying/selling cars. I will see how miles tomorrow but he dosnt think he will have the other cars moved yet for test drive. Says it runs good. Here are more pics.. I cant find anything worth fixing up or right in my price range. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate the information.









I know it's not a lot of info to go on.. I will be with the car tomorrow, so anything I should look out for or be asking? Thanks again!

 

$4k is not a lot of money to purchase fix up a car including a paint job, your setting yourself up for disappointment. Find something that runs and looks nice for the money. These cars do not bring a lot of money even fixed up.

 

Looks like a fun car to start working on, and $1800 seems like a decent price.

Keep in mind that you would not be getting a new trunk lid. Those don't exist. You would be getting from a junkyard car a used one that is in better shape than yours. I have no idea, but I would think that such a thing might be had for $50 or something in that ballpark, which isn't going to break the bank. Keep in mind that there's a reason that these cars are not supported in the aftermarket. No one collects them! But that cuts both ways. There's not a lot of availability, but there's not a lot of demand, either. So anyone who's got something to sell for one will be glad to have any buyer at all and would probably sell for reasonable prices.

I've got a car, a '78 Toronado, that is in the same boat as yours. No demand as a collector vehicle, relatively speaking, even among Toronado enthusiasts, so no body/trim parts in the aftermarket. With the notable exception of the radiator, I've been able to easily get pretty much any mechanical part needed for this car, including a fuel tank. But I do have searches set up on ebay, and whenever anything body/trim-wise pops up that I might have a chance of using, I'll usually jump on it.

You have an advantage with your car because it's newer and because parts from any '77 to '90 full-size Olds, with occasional exceptions, will probably work. So, for example, the trunk lid you buy, assuming you do, doesn't necessarily have to be from an '81. I don't know exactly what the interchanges are, and you'd have to do some research on this (which is part of the fun!), but it's entirely likely that a lid from an '80 or an '82 would work as well, and probably other years of that body style as well.

 

That makes sense. I am having trouble finding anything around my price range. I see 10k for mint and 1k for rust, and nothing withing 200 miles of me. I don't mean to offend the Olds but I'd fox with a clean steel body buick, chevy, man even something like an 86 crown vic. But it seems like real slim pickings. A bad time to need AND want a car at the same time i guess.

 

The idea of the hunt and research excites me but I'll be eager to use the turnk asap. I also like the fact it's not collector Id be fixing it for me, and ive never flipped a car. We have some decent junk yards in my area too so It'd be cool to find another. Idk about that same color tho.. haha the adventure begins

 

Is there an amount of miles I should avoid on an 81 in this shape? I tried to to google the average but came up short. Any type of check list I can think of before visiting the car tomorrow would be great.

 

I get nervous with any car over about 125,000 miles. They get mostly used up beyond that millage. I didn't see much rust but the pictures were lacking where rust would hide. Be advised cost goes up substantially when rust is involved. If mine or about to be mine I would see if it will start, move forward and back and some what stop. Remember there was a reason it was parked in the first place. It would be good to know that if you can before you make the payment thing. It cost nothing to walk away, big bucks if you get to excited and make a mistake.

Have you thought of having someone experienced look at it that has no skin in the game, they will see issues that you may be looking over.

Other wise it's not a bad looking more door, just don't plan on making money on a flip down the road...... Lost in the fifties ...Tedd

 

Thanks for the feedback @Tedd Thompson I am getting a bit anxious to find a car (my equinox has a headlight out) . I will definitely test drive before purchase. Whenever he moves the other cars lol. I will also take some pics of the trim and under areas tomorrow in case of rust. I hope the miles are reasonable, fingers crossed.

 

I was going to recommend offering $800. Then hopefully you can agree on $1000 or $1200. As the others said, these cars aren't very collectible, but parts for them aren't that difficult to come by. If you buy it and want to paint it I suggest enrolling in an evening auto body course at a local vo-tech. That's how I painted my 71 98.