Projects brought another one home 56 olds 88

scored this about a week ago. but finally got it drug home last night. (thanks to david73750 for all the help.)

 

Congrats - I have a 55 two door sedan. Really like the 56 front end and rear better. Great driving cars. Have fun.

 

That is very similar in condition to the 56 Super I recently acquired. The body on yours appears to be pretty good shape. Are you planning to restore it or part it out?
Nice find.

 

Nice score! Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, you have any plans on what you would like to do to it? have fun!

 

front floors have a little cancer, backs are good, truck is good, rockers and front frender have a little cancer as well but nothing to bad. deff to nice to part out. im going to get it back on the road. i think i will leave the patina on it but I have been thinking about what rout to go with it gasser crossed my mind for a minute because you dont see any out there.... because of weight? or???? but im sure it will just end up getting a nice stance and try to get so decent gas milage.

 

One of my all-time fave cars. The dash is one of the most iconic ever created; the dashes on many '56 Olds "junkers" live on in almost any make you can name !!

Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

that's going to be a fun project! congrats on the find.

 

There's a thread right now with an Apache with one in it.

 

a very good year for olds,

 

I have heard that these dashes are wanted by alot of people for thier customs. what are they worth out of curiosity. not going to part it out but wondering if I paid for a dash and got a car for free

 

That's a good one!

 

very cool, love 56's..................john

 

Good score, but in my part of Okla. we call that rust. In my mind patina is the weathering acquired on metals that are more noble than tin or steel. I guess to each his own, put I would at least put it in primer.

 

you would be shocked on what clr can do and how much "rust" will go away and paint will come back through

 

Nice score! Looks like a real solid foundation to start with.

Supremes? Drop? Stripes?

 

Will tri 5 patch panels work on floors/rockers? Its nickname is catfish the grille looks like fish mouth.

 

buick and olds are the same from what I have seen so far

 

Nice score! TRADER!!!!!! Just kidding, someone will be getting a nice chevy with all the hard work done!

 

Nice start! In high schol I had a 56, 98 convertible. MY buddy, Jim had a 56 super 88 painted the same colors as your new car...red and cream. Polished up, it looked absolutely great! Had dual exhaust with glasspacs and the car came with the early slant-pan hydro..chirped 2nd gear every time.
My 56 had the stupid jetaway trans..hated it.

 

so witch motor/trans is in this one or could it be either one? ill try to pull numbers tonight for some on you olds guys to school me a little on my new jewel

 

There are some patch panels available for the 56 through ebay or through an outfit called C2CFabrication.com. I believe there is another source called classic fabrication also.

 

well tried to get the motor to turn friday night with no luck. put some diesel in it and let it set. last night I pulled the valve covers and no rust so I smacked the valves with a rubber mallet so see if they were rusted shut all seemed to move but still no luck with getting it to turn. now I am just pissed I guess Ill start pulling the motor tonight and start tearing into it unless one of you have any other ideas to get it to free up?

 

Pull the starter and work the flywheel with whatever bars or bent screwdrivers you have.

You could also drop the starter half bell for a better bite.

 

so it is stuck tried everything I can think of. I would love to run this motor but the $$$$ to rebuild it is out of the question for me. I am wanting olds for sure so I found a 403ci, 350 and a 455 to bolt up to my th400. witch one on would you guys run if you had to or maybe some of you would rather run besides the factory 324

 

I would run a 394, same old school rocket style with more cubic inches but all the nostalgia. Check this '55 out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ctgQwm9BE GOATROPER02 has lots and lots of go fast goodies for all the early rockets. Fusick has a lot of reproduction and rebuilding part services too.

 

No question, put the 455 in there if you have to change it.

 

Don't quit just yet. Search under stuck engines and try some of the suggestions there. I like Marvel Mystery Oil for freeing stuck engines. Olds 324s are some hard iron. Work with it some more. Might be surprised...

 

cool car, congrats on the find. here is a shot of my dads '56 98.

 

(cough, cough) should have stayed with the Chevy! (cough, cough)

 

Definitely a 455, you'd never regret it. A torque monster for sure. I really think my Dad regrets not putting a 455 in his '56.