[QUOTE=olds56_98;379343][QUOTE=WHIPOLDS;379043]Olds56_98 -

Very nice car! Looks like you installed electric wipers. How did you do that and keep the original air cleaner? I would love to put electric wipers on mine. Where did you get yours? I like the old suitcases !
Rick[/QUOTE

Newport Engineering makes the conversion motor. You need to buy the extension piece for the switch as an extra so you can keep the original switch for the dash. The motor looks like one made for that era and the wipers work great with two speeds so unless you are a diehard original kind of fan knowing they didn't make electric for that year, most people won't know.. I got tired of the vacuum motor as they hardly worked. I bought mine through eBay and you can ask before you buy for the switch extension. No problem fitting with the air cleaner. Here is the link to buy. You can also check out the Newport Engineering, the price is about the same:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-56-OLDS...0d490e&vxp=mtr

Thanks...I like the antique touch for my trunk with the vintage suitcases and a coke Ice Cooler

The ad shows a price for an intermittent delay switch which is not the piece you want to keep the stock switch. It is called an extension which is about $20 extra. You have to modify the washer button which will no longer work the washer which never worked on my car when the vacuum wiper worked. You can add a washer unit but I am not sure how that works if at all with the old vacuum bottle. I would check out New Port Enginnering site first as they show all the options than the vendor selling at eBay.

 

I don't know about clearance problems for the bat wing, but I will look in to it right away . My car is in another shop and my wiper motor is on the shelf at my house. Now you got me worried.I show my car at a few points event and planed on just taking the points hit on non original wiper motor but no way will I leave that beautiful bodacious air cleaner off the car.....Tedd

 

Thanks - Olds56_98 and Tedd for the information. I do not want to stop using that batwing air cleaner.
Rick

 

You won't have any problems with your air cleaner if you use the New Port Engineering motor as you can see I have the batwing AC that was used for the Olds which has a flat spot in the back. The cadillac version of the batwing is rounded all the way and I don't think you would have a problem with that one either as the electric motor is designed so it doesn't stick out any further the the vacuum motor only it is wider.

 

As for car shows, I got a second place in the 1955-57 class twice last year beating out all the chevys including convertibles with over 50 cars at both shows with the electric motor which the judges didn't know the difference in my opinion losing out only to a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria with the bubble top so unless you are competing in an all Oldsmobile National Meet I think most people won't know unless they are Olds especially 56 owners. The electric motor looks like the early electric motors which came in use for the first time in 1957 for the Olds. Some Chevy's had it though in 1956. I got tired of poor wipers if caught in a sudden rain. It is a great upgrade!

 

Olds56-98

I sometime go to non Olds judged events but it is the Olds judging that I worry about the most. The car did eek out a first at the Nationals last year which is hard for a twelve year old restoration. I agree that at most regular car shows an Oldsmobile is an oddity and the judges have no idea if something is correct or not , if it was on a Chevy or Ford at that time period you are good to go...Tedd

 

set of fenton headers on evilbay ,do these normally sell for this amount?Would it be cheaper to have a set custom made?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oldsmobile-3...8cd326&vxp=mtr

 

The price on these is probably what you can count on paying if you can find a set any where else. It would be cheaper to have headers made custom , but they would not be fenton headers . Somebody building a fifties style model a street rod with an olds engine would want these to show off with no hood or fenders running down to a lake style side pipe . Can you imagine the fat white walls,baby moons and no fenders.......Sorry I faded away into a fantasy land again.

 

ck out this pair of rechromed vent window frames, on ebay right now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rechromed-Ol...item5892bfa784

 

I'm getting very much involved with a '56 Olds 98 2-door hard top Holiday. It has power steering, power brakes, Wonderbar radio, power (tinted) windows. Dual exhaust. It is black and white, and has factory air conditioning as well. We hope to have it back here in Southern Ontario by June or so.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=3&theater

Regards, Howie

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=3&theater

 

The Link is not working. Says not available. Sounds like a nice car. I can't wait to see pics. pics of mine at www.cincyoldsclub.us click on members cars on the left side . mine is the only 1956 listed. let me know what ya think . By the way I need a cowl to fender brace if any one has a one.

 

nice

 

here are some of my 56 pictures

 

 

Here are a few shots of the new carbs and one of the new headliner i installed.The headliner still needs to be heat shrinked but it looks better than the bare metal and sound deadener.

 

nice, the carbs look killer and that headliner came out nice and tight

 

Don't know who's car this is fs on ebay but love that lower stance on it







http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-...c4515f07#v4-43

 

Shaun and others: It is really nice to see the following the '56 Oldsmobiles have on the forum as well. Much will be picked up on learning about them from here for sure! The offer of the shop manual is a very kind one, I may very well be asking for the copy. Regards, Howie

 

from all i have read on here so far i have fixed my vacum wipers set the choke and idle on the 2 barrel . i understand they have two different shop manuals for these cars one for the USA and another for Canada were can i get one for a canadian car and can they be found on line as a printable version

 

here are some canadian ones on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Oldsmob...0cecde&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-OLDSMOB...2c9d5e&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Oldsmob...347cad&vxp=mtr

 

Its actually a new 455, keith black pistons, polished rods, arp rod bolts.
pretty tame C heads.
same intake, carb and Distributor I have been running for years.
Its running pretty well.
Now Im bodging up an interior for this summer.

 

I am looking at buying another 56 . this one is a super 88 two door post. somebody cut the quarters out to fit a wider wheel /tire. its bad. is there any one that might know about repair panels or quarters . i would like to get this one to custom.But the quarters are messed up. thanks
mike

 

I'm digging the tri-power set up. Saw one at the flea market for a j-2. Wouldn't price it. Looked rough. Headliner looks great!

 

thanks 55 miketn,I am almost done with the interior and will be taking some pics soon hopefully this weekend.I am calling the glass shop tomorrow to schedule the new windshield install and i need to adjust a few things like the front bumper and the fender to door molding atitude,then shes ready to go for a ride.I do need new tire also so it will be a short ride since the car hasnt been on the road since 93 the tires look in good shape but i dont trust rubber that old.

 

Working on interior myself and brake issues.

 

hey tom that wagon is cool looking.

 

THANKS, It was a sedan in a former life.

 

x2

 

Love that tri carb set up,would love to do something like that to my 53.

 

Hi all its been a few weeks since i was here.i finally got the interior done except for the grab handles and sun visors which i just got word they are ready to be picked up.Here are a few shots ,let me know what you think,my fiance helped with the colors as i am color blind and she wouldnt let me do it all in green.Glen

 

Ok i guess i havent installed the seat sides either.But they are all repaired and ready to go in.I gotta go to the boat and relax for a few days !!!

 

How are they being repaired? Fiberglass/plastic? Or are the just needing paint? Would like to have new ones for my '55!

 

I plastic welded them,and used pieces from a spare to fill missing tabs and back fill holes then some plastic filler and sanded to shape ,primed scuffed and painted them with basecoat no clear.They look really good.

 

Hmm still no opinions on the interior.

 

It looks real good.

 

Nice job glen - huge progress...

Are your window cranks original, or did you restore them? I have the plastic-knobbed ones too and I'm attempting to restore them - removed the ***** and got the cranks chromed, but have not restored the plastic part yet

 

I bought a bag full from ebay and used the nicest ones i had,a little rubbing compound by hand cleaned the ***** up nicely.

 

Doubt if you can find sheetmetal repair parts for that, but you might find a rough donar car with good rear quarters that you can salvage. Otherwise, it is looking for a good sheetmetal man with sheet metal tools. I have a set of '56 bumpers that need re-chromed if anyone is interested.
Railroad Mike

 

Hi, Sorry I have been MIA stuff to do home autos etc. Anyway have any of you Oldsmobile Fans seen any numbers on how many 1956 Oldsmobile 88 Convertibles are left in the world?? I wiil start.......ONE..... Thanks, Kurt