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'49 Oldsmobile 88 restoration


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Looking forward to seeing your work @Tford!

 

thanks to @F&J I've figured out the conundrum about the camshaft thrust plate and why my camshaft wasn't coming out, a few days of soaking the bearings, pulling and rotating the camshaft with Free All worked like a charm! Safe to say though that the camshaft is pretty much toast but will serve as a nice keepsake.PXL_20220418_093056331.jpg.9a38795a13829082b58d5eb6462d9f2e.jpg

You'll see plain as day that the cam bearing closest in the picture had a REAL rough time! 

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Finally wrapped up filming this morning for the next part of the teardown series on YouTube just waiting for my video editor to finish doing it thing...

 

It's pretty grim on the insides and I'm glad I'm doing this. I haven't seen any numbers or marks stamped on the rods so I'm safe to assume that no one else has been this deep into the engine...PXL_20220420_145638162.jpg.0e5cd474578ce3af383e96dfbdf2176c.jpgPXL_20220420_105910232.jpg.5a57adeaa80a34c52908a0e0995c416a.jpgPXL_20220420_145727948.jpg.d513122c21d080a4db63b4b86dda8264.jpg

 

I'm not sure exactly what on earth has happened to the oil pump pickup but...16504866555888084434306954871060.jpg.e4b6fe1cf4c7f0a26e2a053d0f6ee6ac.jpgdid it get broken off or something?!  There is a pin hole just below where it looks like it's broken off but the screen is low enough to catch the stuff! 

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On 4/22/2022 at 2:02 PM, Tford said:

Wow! That bore looks pretty rough! Great thread!

 

Yeah, the bore does look pretty rough! Haven't had a chance to get back into disassembly. But I'll put a link in to the newest video I have up. It's not a short video by any means just a heads up!

 

 

 

 

 

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Quick update!!

 

Machine work is underway on the cylinder heads! New valve guides, intake, exhaust valves and springs are being replaced, valve seats ground for the new valves but new seats aren't required ( thank goodness!) 

 

As far as the block goes. I'll have to scrounge pennies and save but the machine shop did offer to clean and measure everything on the block and coat everything in cosmoline afterwards so it doesn't rust the bare metal...which is nice! Least then my garage will stop smelling like old grease and oil! And I'll be more prepared for what's needed on the block.

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On 5/1/2022 at 11:08 AM, Tford said:

What/who are you going with with replacement pistons at this point? Or maybe go a little bigger?

It's very tough at this point....from what I've found the majority of suppliers that have the pistons are getting them made under contract from a foundry in Taiwan. As far as Fusick, I haven't asked them but most certainly they are getting it from the same place...Egge...I'm not sure if they still make pistons in house anymore. but charging almost $700 for a set they better be! 

 

Most of the parts I've gotten so far (camshaft, valve guides) have been from an eBay store called Falcon global. They sell the pistons as well so I might just get it from them and I'll update y'all with my untrained eye "quality inspection" when I get them! 

 

Now, piston size is a whole other story! Besides one supplier that has them at .020' oversize everyone else is .030' and beyond. Good luck getting these pistons from JE or Silv-o-lite unless you want to custom order them! But long story short...I'll probably go .030' over but that depends on what the machine shop says.

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On 5/3/2022 at 1:24 PM, Tford said:

Looked up their store, $1300 don’t sound too bad for their rebuild kit, strange that they specify it’s for 50-53, but I reckon they’ll work in a 49….

I suspect it's probably to do with the timing gears as the pitch change from 1/2" to 3/8"? I can't remember. I do also recall the ratio changed from 1.5 to 1.8 but thats not until the 324 was released? Again, I can't remember! If you need help with the camshaft I can let you know which one I got from them just PM me.

 

Veering back on course. I FINALLY broke loose the dipstick tube, but. Don't bother with using a 9/16" deep socket. As I found out you just end up squashing the end of the tube and flare it out. What actually worked perfectly was a drive punch from none other than harbor freight. The punch itself was just a little smaller than the ID of the tube and the shoulder rested over the lip of the tube, a good 15 minutes with MAPP gas, few shots of freeze spray and solid blows shocked it loose. Now I just have to get a file and remove the flared material and off it comes! 

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14 hours ago, Tford said:

I take it like most, it’s just a press in fit…

Ah, so much to look forward to…..

Pretty much. But you know what...

 

It's not so much as if it's a PITA. Which, to be honest anything that we work with that's going to be this old will be. It's the joy of taking it apart and learning from it. To me that's the most satisfying thing of doing this and documenting my journey on doing this is all the more worthwhile! 

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Check Ross racing pistons in CA. They made my set of custom forged aluminum and they were much cheaper than Egge who has cast aluminum. You might have to send them one of your originals if they don’t have the same year in their file. My pistons were a work of art and my 32 olds runs wonderfully.

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  • 6 months later...

Hey everyone!!!

 

I know it's been a long awhile since I posted...a lot of things have been going on but now back on course! I did make a part 4 which was the last bit of disassembly but I can't get the link to work on here so just scroll up and find it through the YouTube channel I got!

 

The engine rebuild is on hold (still) but don't worry it will get done!

 

Lately I've been starting to buff out the chrome for the Olds and surprised how well they are coming out! PXL_20230219_141932963.jpg.effac6596f782c5146fbb42a8721aaa4.jpgPXL_20230219_150259378.jpg.6862ed3c469b5559846787c8e61e3a18.jpg

Excuse the messy workplace!

 

It took me awhile to find some clips for the beltline and upper window moulding and for the price per clip i found a place in Cali called Truck and Car Shop. Now yes the parts they supply are for Chevys but some GM parts were interchangeable at the time

PXL_20230320_140403666.jpg.69d5f0cf8d6267232a984a69d9e5d7fd.jpg

Now these upper moulding clips were an absolute pain to install I ended up sitting one ear into the hole on the door and push the clip till the other ear slid into it. Normally it needed a light hammer to finish it off. 

PXL_20230320_140313796.jpg.b6a4224712981379760ef110aa4bc0bc.jpg

I got this side mostly done but I'm having trouble getting the upper trim to "snap" onto the bottom side of the clip in some places. Any suggestions would be great!

 

As time goes on, I'll add some more pictures

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

PXL_20230402_142539675.jpg.951f5c28364fdb67998773a9aae056c5.jpgwe're slowly getting there with the clips! Still a pain in the backside to put on!PXL_20230402_153806208.jpg.ac8e037c14080495c3683138f71711ea.jpgMuch better! Found out how to put the upper window trim on A LOT easier and faster. Just used a c clamp (make sure the jaw pads are on it!) And slowly tighten it along the edge where the clips are so the trim will push the tabs in and over the inner lip of the chrome! 

PXL_20230405_002425609.jpg.9a058298d875b48ca45dfe364783b800.jpgand the other side now, rinse and repeat!PXL_20230405_002815677.jpg.6d6dcd2ed858e49f34697a16f545eee4.jpg

More pictures soon!

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Just looked at the 41-57 Truck and Car shop catalogue. Are those the 49-52 “Side Window Reveal” upper and lower beltline molding clips? Trim polishing looks great! Did you get any windshield clips from them too?

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/10/2023 at 12:35 PM, Tford said:

Just looked at the 41-57 Truck and Car shop catalogue. Are those the 49-52 “Side Window Reveal” upper and lower beltline molding clips? Trim polishing looks great! Did you get any windshield clips from them too?

 

Screenshot_20230419-192219.png.0ce5a6817aecc480ecc1b26f18bde322.png

Here are the clips I ordered to help you out, I have to warn you the ears on the upper molding clips don't like to bend too much and are easy to snap so get extras. For all the doors I think after shipping for me was just over $100...

 

For the front and rear window I found a place on eBay that that has something that are "close" to the OEM but I haven't ordered them yet...the original seems to let the bolt slide back and forth and the reproductions don't. I'll be ordering them soon and let you know how they turn out ..I have enough originals to put on both the left and right front trim on... I have, however bought a center moulding trim from a Chevy fleetliner for the windshield and let y'all know if it fits! 

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  • 1 month later...

PXL_20230531_124417010.jpg.fab40beb344e09b45fe90d6e5cf7bf4e.jpgPXL_20230530_201432392.jpg.19b60c06ff4c7109619ba87216bc7440.jpgsurprised how well these are turning out!

PXL_20230601_163656893.jpg.5f324855a371ae63613f41ccaed26669.jpgfinally got the driver side trim on

 

PXL_20230530_184205660.jpg.cb18002860890f92a88547599a4b7a9e.jpgtest fitting how the windshield trim and the wiper transmission looks. Having trouble with the transmission bracket but I sourced the brackets from a 1952 model....the brackets are inverted when comparing pictures for a 1949 model but I'm hoping it will work

Edited by Seedee (see edit history)
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  • 3 months later...
  • 6 months later...
On 9/28/2023 at 1:07 PM, Tford said:

What’s up with the Rocket??!!

 

Hey everyone!

 

Figured I'd revive this old thread, don't worry restoration is still on going...with life and family it's kind of hard to keep on track with everything!

 

I haven't done much with the car itself but thankfully I have FINALLY saved up enough money to send the block and internals to the machine shop... It'll be a few weeks to give y'all an update on that but I'm just glad I was finally able to get the ball rolling.

 

Also, I took the block to a fabricator to have a run stand made but at first glance it may look "tall" but I did that so I wouldn't be stooped over the engine and killing my back.

PXL_20240403_132714583.jpg.3fb71f9e668a65074430066a76038e7f.jpg

Least I have enough room to mount the muffler, exhaust pipe etc underneath!

 

 

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Alright! Good to see the thread continue! Did you have the block/heads power cleaned or will the engine shop do that? Gonna leave it stock or take it up a notch? BTW, in the interim of keeping an eye on this thread and researching my own 49 I found a GREAT Facebook site for Olds 303’s. Probably old news to many here but it’s a great and informative group!

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  • 2 months later...
On 4/16/2024 at 10:52 PM, Tford said:

Alright! Good to see the thread continue! Did you have the block/heads power cleaned or will the engine shop do that? Gonna leave it stock or take it up a notch? 

The block is being done at the shop, the heads were done quite awhile ago at a different shop. New valve guides were put in. I used NORS intake and exhaust valves I found on eBay. Had hardened valve seats installed on the exhaust ports and had them decked.

 

Now. The block is being decked as well, it is being bored .040" oversized. ( Me and the Machinist decided to go straight to .040" instead of taking the worst cylinder to .030" and seeing if it needed to go larger!) and we're grinding the crankshaft main bearings and rod bearings to .020"

 

I tried sourcing my Pistons from egge but they had a 4-month lead time! So instead I found a company in New Jersey called Kanter that had a master rebuild kit for a price I couldn't pass up! So that stuff should be here by the end of this week. It's hard to believe that it's finally all coming together after so long!

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Good deal! Man, I’m so jazzed to get started on my sedanette! Gotta finish a 26 T roadster pickup, then this fall the 88 gets going! That’s wild that egge is that far behind on orders, glad you found a good substitute! Kanter had .040 overs?

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On 6/26/2024 at 11:09 AM, Tford said:

glad you found a good substitute! Kanter had .040 overs?

The max size they have a .060 over! I think their supplier is called Rebuilders Choice but not sure. I'll be keeping an eye out for when you starts yours

 

I did a thing the other day...

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I picked up a spare engine and transmission which came out of a 1950 olds 88 convertible I believe? I'm going to be breaking down the engine for some odd and end internal parts I need so if anything would like something let me know! I'll most likely be posting parts up on eBay at a later date! 

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Posted (edited)

Quick update!!!

 

I received the parts and they are with the machine shop! Machinist said if everything goes well and no unexpected surprises happen, the block and crank will be completed by the 17th! 

 

He did bring something to my attention though on the block that I didn't even notice before! Apparently there's two water passages that were capped by freeze plugs next to the water passage "restrictors" ( two freeze plugs with holes drilled through them) I told him to just go ahead and punch all four out and drill through the two new ones. 

 

I still need to tear through the spare engine asap so I can free up the stand for the new one though... definitely got my hands full, again! 

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  • 4 weeks later...

HELP!
Trying to take out the windshield on the 49, which obviously entails removing the trim molding. I’ve GOT the shop manual and following along the steps I come to this exact instruction after removing the center trim escutcheons and mirror as well as the garnish moldings and spacers:
“4. From inside the body, remove the lower reveal molding retaining screws and cup washers located directly under the reveal molding”
From inside the body? Where the heck are these screws and cup washers? Way up under the dash, maybe behind the glove box?
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