Good morning- My son has acquired another Olds. This one is a 1964 Delta 88 Fiesta station wagon 6 seater. We purchased it from Kennewick WA. a few months ago. My son is 15 and he has been doing 62-63 Starfires and 88 convertibles and coupes since he was 12.

The Fiesta wagon has needed a few things.Tighten the line running from the underneath of the master cylinder and power steering hose. A new fuel tank from the desert of Idaho and we rebuilt the fuel pump from a kit in Arizona. New fuel hoses from the local Napa dealer. New tread off of another one of our cars.

My son has cleaned it out entirely. He loves working on cars so much that he has even slept in the back of the Fiesta wagon three times while the car sits in the garage. He folds down the back seat and walla a bed.

We eventually got it started and running. So we both got in the vehicle to take it for a test drive. He started it up and then he put it into drive and NOTHING. We checked the linkage to make sure the linkage was moving correctly and it was. The fluid smells new and is full. The car doesnt even move or act like it wants to move. The car has sat for almost 8 years and maybe the transmission is dried up? Any hints or things we can try to do without having to yard out this big bulky hunk of metal transmission? I have heard of pulling a trans cooler line to see if fluid is being pumped. Jacking up the rear wheels and moving the wheels to try and get the trans to go? Any thoughts from the EXPERTS????

Thanks you- trackz man Bend, OR

 

We tuned the engine again and warmed it up. Low and behold after 2qts of transmission fluid the old vehicle moved forward and then backward. Case solved...

 

I'm a bit confused. In your first post you said "the fluid smells new and is full" but the car wouldn't move.

In your second post you say you added 2 quarts of transmission fluid. How could you add any fluid to an already full transmission, and what prompted you to even think of doing so?


By the way, the car is not a Delta 88 as that model name was not introduced until 1965. You have a Dynamic 88 Fiesta.


Can we see some photos of this car?

 

Photos would be nice, just don't see these wagons.

 

It could also be a Super 88 wagon.

 

I've had a 63 Wagon 63 Ambulance and a 64 Wagon, that slim jim transmission is the worst thing ever invented, even after rebuilding they never shift smooth as when they were new.

 

No. The Super 88 was offered only in four-door models, sedan and hardtop, for 1964. '63 and earlier, yes, a Super 88 wagon was offered and also called Fiesta. But not for '64

 

Yes. I stand corrected. It is a Dynamic 88 Fiesta wagon 6 seater. I will have my son post son pics soon. What we did was tune the motor once more- gapped the plugs, reset the dwell and adjusted timing. It was warming up for about 20 minutes when I decided to re-check the trans fluid. This time it was about 1/4inch below the full mark. So the engine was warm and idling so i decided what the heck i will add some more fluid. Each time i added the level did not change until i got to 2qts and finally the level went up to full. Intuition? Im not sure. My son almost wet himself when he put it into drive and it went forward and then backward and then we decided to take it for a ride up the street at 10:30pm last night. He was on cloud 9. I just think it needed to be warmed up and then it worked. We are going to put dual exhaust on it and get it painted this year. We will post our progress....Thanks guy for the encouragement

 

Remember the rule for checking transmission fluid. Engine and transmission fully warmed up. Engine running. Car in park and idling.

Can't wait to see photos.

 

Yes and a flat surface, like a garage

 

cool ride...

 

Sounds like a cool ride. Seriously, we need to see some pics!!!

 

Cool story, I would have liked to see your sons face when that thing engaged!

Looking forward to any updates on your progress.