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Projects 1951 Olds Rocket 88

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by 1stGrumpy, Oct 12, 2018.

  1. Just took delivery of this today. I have been wanting a highway cruiser for awhile now, this should fill the bill. Previous owner had lowered it but it's otherwise stock, I'm gonna have to get the ass end down a bit more, add a set of lakes, some chrome tip's and some Appletons and then start on converting to 12 volt. Future plans are to nose, deck, shave the door handles and some sort of custom paint on the top. Suggestions? 3.jpg 1.jpg 31.jpg 35.jpg 42.jpg 36.jpg 34.jpg
     
  2. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Grumpy, That's a 50 Deluxe, the engine looks 51 or newer.
     
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  3. You may be right Marty, I haven't had the chance to check things out.
     
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  4. i.rant
    Joined: Nov 23, 2009
    Posts: 4,301

    i.rant
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. 1940 Ford

    Nice car, if it were mine I wouldn’t touch the body,Enjoy!
     

  5. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    I like it.
     
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  6. Marty... Tell me what it is that you're seeing that makes you say it's a '50 model and that the motor is '51 or newer. Thank you...
     
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  7. goldmountain
    Joined: Jun 12, 2016
    Posts: 4,442

    goldmountain

    I agree. In the past, shaving the nose and deck would separate you from the masses, but today, on a late model, that would just involve peeling the stickers off. Anymore, leaving this stuff on gives the car some class.

    Sent from my SM-T350 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
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  8. quick85
    Joined: Feb 23, 2014
    Posts: 3,047

    quick85
    BANNED

    I love that car. I've never been big on visors, but that's my own personal thing.
     
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  9. 42merc
    Joined: Dec 19, 2010
    Posts: 894

    42merc
    Member

    The windshield is a one piece 1950. That's about all I remember from back when.
     
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  10. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    IIRC, the "stand-up" taillight housings with the "88" on them were '50 only. Also, the two "feet" on the hood ornament were longer on a '49 than on a '50 and wend further forward on the hood. I wouldn't touch the body, either.
     
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  11. 48fordnut
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 4,215

    48fordnut
    Member Emeritus

    It's def a 50s delux. I have had 10 or 12 of them / The eng has later v/c and intake with carb.One of the best eng mods on a 49 51 is to replace the 1.5 rocker arms with the 52 up 1.8 rockers. Probably a 20 /25 hp increase.Huge seat of the pants feel.
     
  12. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    Yes!
    I really dig the dash cluster on these!
     
  13. Thanks to all for the input. The v.i.n. is 517M****0, which say's it's a 1951 and the Fisher body tag reads...
    Style 51-3769
    Body L-8406
    Trim 1A
    Paint 58

    Anybody know how to decode?

    48fordnut... Thanks for the rocker arm info, that's good to know. I want to also switch the carb to a 4 bbl so with the later rocker arms it ought to pep it up!
     
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  14. 48fordnut
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 4,215

    48fordnut
    Member Emeritus

    I have heard of 50 olds that were actually 51s look the same. I also thought some one just made a mistake. Yours looks authentic. Never saw one with the vin nos. Congratulations. Actual 51 88s had a larger body style. That would account for the v/c and intake ,carb system.
     
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  15. Again, thank you for the information. The car actually beat the title here, it should be here Monday and that will hopefully clear things up. Thankfully no money has changed hands yet!
     
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  16. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    A closer look reveals it's a 51 88A. The giveaway is the letters Oldsmobile on the hood are in an arc, and the 49-50's were flat below the world. They were built as 2 and 2 door sedans only, using up all of the leftover chassis. Car looks great !
     
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  17. 'Mo
    Joined: Sep 26, 2007
    Posts: 7,432

    'Mo
    Member

  18. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    To use the 1.8 rockers, you must also get 1.8 rocker shaft stands.

    .I might have a 303 4 barrel intake & carb, but shipping would be pricey as they are heavy. The 303 intake will have the small ports to match your 303 heads. The 54-56 324 intake will bolt on, but the runners are much larger, so it would be best to open up the head ports, but then you need to pull the heads. You can try it as is, but you'd need 324 intake gaskets either way. >>>Edit, I think you may need a thin plate with 303 gaskets on the head side, then 324 gaskets on the intake side

    Not sure if I have spare 1.8 stands and rockers, but I can take a look if you can't find them local.

    .
     
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  19. Thanks Mo...
     
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  20. Thank you F&J. I think that you are right about the cost of shipping fro CT to AR.
     
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  21. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    Congrats - enjoy the miles of smiles
     
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  22. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,916

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    '51 eh? Now that you mention it, I seem to remember something about this. My old man had a new '49 and '51 (as well as a '53, '55, '58, and '62) and the '51 sure didn't look like your car. The taillights and grille were different, and it seemed to be a bigger car.
     
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  23. 48fordnut
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 4,215

    48fordnut
    Member Emeritus

    The later 55 56 intake works good with the intake having a more modern carb. If you really want something out of a 49 51 303, mill the heads .125 use a shim j2 head gasket and use the 1.8 rockers .The stands must be shimmed .125 to make up the difference. I saw this in the 50 s in HRM/or carcraft. It really makes a change in the car without doing any thing drastic. Just my experience.
     
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  24. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    '51 88 A … all '51 parts in a '50 body. Yours should read Style 51-3769 D, or the stainless gravel shields were added later.
    Bought many for parts, was very unhappy to learn all the 3 speed stuff was for selector trans. Your '51 hydro has 1 advantage over the earlier - you can shift into reverse without stopping the drivetrain, helping rock out of snow or mud …
    Please reconsider adding more jewelry - the '49 '50 Olds doesn't need that stuff.
     
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  25. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    Brings back memories of the 51 I bought right out of high school in 79,can not remember if it was a 88A but it did have a compass where your clock is and a clock on the steering wheel that can bring good money these days. Got it from the original owner for 150.00 but it had never seen a garage.
     
  26. Body plate said 51-3769, no D.
     
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  27. dan griffin
    Joined: Dec 25, 2009
    Posts: 505

    dan griffin
    Member

    HRM had the story on i.8 rocker arms. 15 HP. I have put 1.8 arms on 49-50 motors with the stock stands,but what do I know. FE Ford roller rockers on 371 Olds. I have a real nice set of 56-58 rockers for a $100.00.
     

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  28. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    A few years ago I bought a 1951 88 4 door like the OP's car. Oldsmobile continued to offer the 88 in 1951, as stated in above post, in the 2 and 4 dr sedan models only. The Super 88 was the new model for 1951 and offered a more complete lineup of body styles. The Super 88 was based on the GM 'B' body shared with Buick.
     
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  29. 48fordnut
    Joined: Nov 4, 2005
    Posts: 4,215

    48fordnut
    Member Emeritus

    Dan thanks or the info on the magazine I not remember I do remember toting a head as a 16 y/o to get it milled 125. and the 371 shim gaskets. I walked with the head 1.5 miles . Left the head. walked back home and brought the other head ,picked the 1st one up, went home and installed it, then he routine all over again. I used a set of rockers off of a junk yard eng. The machinist , Jack Samples , East Lake auto parts B'ham Al told me to make some shims. .I did,then used a later intake with a large carb .It sure worked .Best mods for the buck I have ever done.

    If you can remember the month of the HRM I sure would like to get one or have the article.

    thanks,
    jim
     
  30. dan griffin
    Joined: Dec 25, 2009
    Posts: 505

    dan griffin
    Member

    I have been looking for that magazine for 50 years.
     
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