Vince76 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 Please Help identifing a factory J2 3 duece engine option. I just picked up a 1958 Olds 88 4dr HT.(field find) Under the hood is a 371 with a triple deuce manifold. How do I tell if the car originally came with it? Or was it an implant?The vin# 587M03037 The data tag has: Style 58-3639 Body no L 658Trim 362paint 30-31Acc. K4Any help would be greatly appreciated.Vincent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsfan Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 It is my understanding that instead of casting 2bbl, 4bbl and J-2 intake manifolds, they only cast 4bbl and J-2 manifolds. On a 2bbl car, there were block-off plates that covered the front and rear J-2 openings. None of the info you have provided above indicates a J-2. I think the only way to prove original J-2 equipment is with original sales documentation.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince76 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Share Posted April 10, 2013 How do I come up with original documentation?That is interesting. The manifold does have 2 carb holes blocked off. The number on the manifold is 571145. Does that help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 hi paul, i think your understanding is wrong, oldsmobile was part of the original rochester fuel injection program along with pontiac and chevy, when oldsmobile determined that the fuel injection wasn't for them, they went with the j2 option for 1957 & 1958, i've seen many base model oldsmobiles of these two years with a regular two barrel intake manifold, from the production cost point of view, your understanding is wrong, there's less cost in producing a two barrel manifold and less parts also compared to your idea of block off plates added to a j2 manifold to make it just a two barrel intake. if what you understood was true, that would have applied to pontiac and chevy also. it just wasn't the way you understood. charles coker, 1953 pontiac tech advisor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince76 Posted April 10, 2013 Author Share Posted April 10, 2013 I did see on one site that the system was prone to problems and that it was common to block off the front and rear holes.I also looked in my Hollanders interchange and there was no listing for a 57/58, 2 bbl Manifold. I'm not sure what that means? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bob Call Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 Vince, yes there were some problems with the 3 carb set up but most were people didn't like them because the 2 end carbs were either open or closed and extra maintenance. So, unless you had your foot buried you were driving on the center carb only. Therefore, you could buy the block off plates at the dealer parts counter. I had a 59 Chevy 348 with the 3 carb set up and on normal driving it got fair mileage. But, put your foot in to it and you could literally see the gas guage move. Great sucking sound at full throttle. Sucked about 10 MPG of that 25 cent gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsfan Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 My '62 Olds Chassis Parts Catalog lists the following:1957 & 1958 W/J/2 & 2BC* (W/choke heater tube)...571898*NOTE - When ordering part no. 571898 manifold to replace production manifold for 2BC equipped cars which have only one carb. opening, it will also be necessary to order 2 part no. 573588 cover and 2 part no. 573590 gasket.Olds didn't offer ANY 2bbl carbs for '57. Even the base Golden Rocket 88 came with a 4bbl. 2bbl's returned for '58, and apparently at one time had their own manifold, but in service (and possibly later production), Olds didn't feel the need to cast two different manifolds - instead offering the J/2 manifold with block-off plates and gaskets.My reference to documentation meant an original buyer's order or bill of sale from the original selling dealer indicating that the car was originally equipped with the J/2 option. If that documentation isn't already with the car, the chances of obtaining it are slim.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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