hello hambers .... i purchased this 1953 olds 98 a week ago ,( ok it's a four doors !!!!! ) it is an original car 100 % rust free, only the paint has been (badly ) redone... seats , door panels , dash , are all original and in a very good shape... this car is very low mileage , odometer broken at 00895 miles , don't know how many miles it runs since , but when you drive it , you can see this car is not used a lot. there is no lash in the steering box , even the look and hinge doors have no lash .. already drive this car almost 1000 miles for a week .. i love it ...
Nice! There is just something about a survivor car that appeals so much to me. I will walk past 10 nice restored cars to check out one that tells a story.
oh yes this car is very confortable , and is floating on the road , perhaps too much floating !!!! i already ordered new rear shock absobers , and a front sway bar kit from summit ....
Great car. I love fifties Oldsmobiles. My dad bought a brand new 1953 Super 88 two door sedan. Arguably, the fastest USA made car that year. The old man was a performance freak back then. A two door sedan was not the ideal choice for a family of five, but he did it anyway.
Lucky you - wind up windows ! Those are the most sensitive power brakes ever installed on a car. Hoping your hydro is still crisp, as you have a new friend under there. If I won a lottery, but could only own 5 cars, a Glade Green 98 4 door would be one of them.
Beautiful car! If you don't have them on the car, radial tires will make it handle a lot better. I had a 53 Olds that had only been rolled once. I bought it as an insurance write off, so that I could use the engine and running gear in my 34 Ford pickup. I love those cars. Have a great time enjoying your project. Bob
this car already have radial brand new tires , the hydramatic shifts smooth ; the engine runs like a charm .. a dream car .. only the shocks have to be redone .. i already ordered rear shocks and a front sway bar kit , but can't find front shocks absorbers anywhere .... if someone know where i can find those front shocks , or a repair kit for them , please tell me .....
I checked Fusick and it doesn't have them listed online as being tubular as it appears that they are knee action units so yours may need to be rebuilt or exchanged. http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/fusick-2858/1935-60-oldsmobile-parts-july-15-2013-37132/page-75.html http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Oldsmobile/1953 Oldsmobile/1953 Oldsmobile Brochure/dirindex.html
yes those are lever shocks , that's why i'm looking for a repair kit... as i am in france , it will be very expansive to ship them from france for the rebuilt ; and i'm affraid to pay 125 each for core charge.... i also checked fusick , summit , rockauto , kanter , and no luck to find a repair kit ...
A friend here has a 47 Olds with similar front end. He drained the shocks leaving a small amount of residual oil for lubrication. He then fitted telescopic shocks after fabricating frame and lower control arm mounts.
Beautiful car. Should be a small plug in the top of the shock body. A 1/4 inch , I believe. Takes a 7/16th inch wrench. Remove, fill shock with hydraulic jack , or similar, oil. If the oil does not leak out TOO fast, your shocks will probably perform ok. Ben
thanks a lot guys , i'll try to refill the shocks , a friend of mine just got me a call , and said with old shocks , i have to fill with 80/90 transmission oil , for more viscous thicker .... keep you informed for sure ....
Went from Michigan USA to Nova Scotia, Canada in a New 1953 Olds when I was a kid. Nice cars. Dad traded it in for a 56 Super 88 and that took us to Ca. and back.
Don't use gear lube in those shocks - the shock oil we used to buy has been replaced with jack oil, and the shock uses a specific amount. Overfilling will damage the seals.
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