Hello! 1949 olds rocket 88 here
March 19th, 2019, 05:26 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 11
Hello! 1949 olds rocket 88 here
Hello all, my second post actually, but I inherited grandpas 49' futuramic 88. Cool car but has a bad engine. I'd love to get it going again but I'm afraid a rebuild kit is out of my budget. I made a post in the classifieds looking for another engine though. I'll post some pictures when I can.
March 20th, 2019, 01:31 AM
#5
Phantom Phixer
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 4,660
Here's a list of "donors" . To help your search .
1949 & 50 "88" & "98" 303 CI...…..Fits right in .
1951 thru 53 "88 , "Super" 88 , & "98" 303 CI …………..Fits right in but may require exhaust manifold swap .
1954 thru 56 "88" , "Super 88 ", & "98" 324 CI………...Fits , but requires lower bellhousing and starter swap , in addition to manifold swaps
1957 thru 60 "88" , "Super 88" , & "98" . 371 & 394 CI...…..Fits , but requires that flywheel be "offset balanced " , in addition to Lower bellhousing , starter , manifold swaps .
Crankshaft must be drilled for pilot bearing .
1961 thru 64 "88" , "Super 88" , Starfire , & "98" 394 CI……..May require "custom fabrication" in exhaust area , as well as all previous mods .
1949 & 50 "88" & "98" 303 CI...…..Fits right in .
1951 thru 53 "88 , "Super" 88 , & "98" 303 CI …………..Fits right in but may require exhaust manifold swap .
1954 thru 56 "88" , "Super 88 ", & "98" 324 CI………...Fits , but requires lower bellhousing and starter swap , in addition to manifold swaps
1957 thru 60 "88" , "Super 88" , & "98" . 371 & 394 CI...…..Fits , but requires that flywheel be "offset balanced " , in addition to Lower bellhousing , starter , manifold swaps .
Crankshaft must be drilled for pilot bearing .
1961 thru 64 "88" , "Super 88" , Starfire , & "98" 394 CI……..May require "custom fabrication" in exhaust area , as well as all previous mods .
Last edited by Charlie Jones; March 20th, 2019 at 01:38 AM.
March 20th, 2019, 02:08 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: MA
Posts: 85
WELCOME !
glad to hear you are in ownership of a very cool ride, but sorry to hear the motor is used up.
there are many ways you can go as far as a swap.
An original early 50s 303ci in good shape thats worth the money is gonna set you back some. and the parts are available but expensive.
depending on your budget and or skill, it might be a better Idea to get either a later 60's or 70's Olds motor that has been rebuilt. and you will gain some reliability wth a newer style engine for the most part
I have a 78' olds 350 in my 53 rocket and it has been bulletproof.
you can also, ( dare I say ) go with a chevy small block. you will get a lot more for your money, but lose the coolness of it being all olds.
glad to hear you are in ownership of a very cool ride, but sorry to hear the motor is used up.
there are many ways you can go as far as a swap.
An original early 50s 303ci in good shape thats worth the money is gonna set you back some. and the parts are available but expensive.
depending on your budget and or skill, it might be a better Idea to get either a later 60's or 70's Olds motor that has been rebuilt. and you will gain some reliability wth a newer style engine for the most part
I have a 78' olds 350 in my 53 rocket and it has been bulletproof.
you can also, ( dare I say ) go with a chevy small block. you will get a lot more for your money, but lose the coolness of it being all olds.
March 21st, 2019, 07:54 AM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,714
If the only major issue is the low compression and tired upper and lower end (nothing seriously broken) you can do what we shade tree mechanics would call a freshen up.That is use all the original hard parts, pistons crank and valve train and just replace with new standard rings, do a hand job on the valves, new shells on the rods may not need to do the mains, new gaskets and give it a go. That is not a rebuild by any standards but often a engine freshened up like that will go another 20,000 miles with out issues. I think it would be wise to have a good mechanic look and listen to your motor before you make any decision.
As far as your 49 being popular the 49-50 crowed is well and doing fine. Probably one of the most popular post war models till the mid fifties. Don't listen to your young friends to much they may influence you in ways that are not wise...... Lost in the fifties... Tedd
As far as your 49 being popular the 49-50 crowed is well and doing fine. Probably one of the most popular post war models till the mid fifties. Don't listen to your young friends to much they may influence you in ways that are not wise...... Lost in the fifties... Tedd
March 21st, 2019, 09:41 AM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,004
Rings, bearings, gaskets and lapping the valves will go a long way to restoring power. Call it a "freshen up" in today's jargon or "overhaul" the past. Either way, it will restore power to an old car. You might be surprised how reasonable to get it running nice. Good luck.
March 21st, 2019, 10:23 AM
#11
1968 442 Convertible
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posts: 347
Grandpa cars are usually the best ones to get.
I also like the idea of rebuilding the original motor.
If I were to do something modern to it, I'd put discs on the front and adapt a T5 or AOD to give it the ability to run out on the highway with modern traffic. How often do you see a post war Olds cruising down the interstate?
I also like the idea of rebuilding the original motor.
If I were to do something modern to it, I'd put discs on the front and adapt a T5 or AOD to give it the ability to run out on the highway with modern traffic. How often do you see a post war Olds cruising down the interstate?
March 21st, 2019, 06:11 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,714
Grandpa cars are usually the best ones to get.
I also like the idea of rebuilding the original motor.
If I were to do something modern to it, I'd put discs on the front and adapt a T5 or AOD to give it the ability to run out on the highway with modern traffic. How often do you see a post war Olds cruising down the interstate?
I also like the idea of rebuilding the original motor.
If I were to do something modern to it, I'd put discs on the front and adapt a T5 or AOD to give it the ability to run out on the highway with modern traffic. How often do you see a post war Olds cruising down the interstate?
March 26th, 2019, 06:08 AM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 11
Hey, first off sorry I didn't reply, I stopped getting the email notifications. I have found an engine for a fair price, it is being shipping to me from Nevada. I also should be getting a hydramatic. Both items have been rebuilt, they were this guys fathers but the father passed, the guy was selling the house and had to get rid of them. I am eagerly awaiting their arrival!
April 2nd, 2019, 09:19 PM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: St. Paul Minnesota
Posts: 4,004
April 3rd, 2019, 11:08 AM
#19
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 11
Fellow called me couple weeks ago, had a rocket he was getting rid of, said he found my number from here. His dad had passed a few months ago and he had sold the house and needed everything out of it. His dad was an olds specialist for most of his life, apparently his dad had rebuilt an engine and transmission for another fellow but he then couldn't afford to pay for the work so his dad kept it. The guy that called me needed it gone soon and really didn't want to junk it because he knew how much work had been done to it but had little choice. That's when he says a friend mention there's someone on the forum looking for one (me) and he got my number. We arranged to get it shipped and it was supposed to be here friday. He has since than dissappeared off the face of the earth. Mister Edward Ellis of Nevada if that's even your real name, don't spend that money all in one place now... and I hope you're happy.
April 4th, 2019, 09:53 AM
#24
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 11
Whats your location? I have engines and engine/trans combos but am in no position to ship. I have a 1950 303 and trans out of a 88, another still in a 1951 88, I'll never use them.
Let's see some CLEAR LARGE under hood shots to help determine what might get you going. Front of engine showing belts is important.
Let's see some CLEAR LARGE under hood shots to help determine what might get you going. Front of engine showing belts is important.
I am in Indiana, I see you are in Ohio. I'd be willing to drive that far but I will need more details about the engines. I really don't know if the hydramatic is good so I'd kinda like to get another one that is known working.
Thanks
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JoeB
The Newbie Forum
2
January 13th, 2019 11:53 AM
