This is a 1957 Oldsmobile 88 4-Door Sedan (production of 53,923 units) with a 371 V-8. The paint is Shantung Beige. There were three different Oldsmobile series in 1957: 88, Super 88, Starfire 98. This car is well-optioned: Air conditioning was $430, Hydra-Matic transmission was $215, power steering was $100, Deluxe radio was $96, heater/defroster was $85. Base price on this model was $2,538. An electric clock was a $19 option. G-78 14-inch is the size of the spare (8.50 x 14 was the original tire size).
In the early eighties, I bought a 1958 Olds 98 holiday hardtop sedan which had been ordered at the 1957 Earls Court (London) Motor Show. It had an amazing list of options - 6-way electric seat, power windows, Safety Sentinel, Autronic Eye, Wonder Bar radio and power antenna, power brakes, power steering, 4-speed auto box, but aircon had not been ordered - England never really got hot enough to justify the extra cost, I suppose. Colour scheme was Rose Mist metallic with Victorian White roof. By the time I came to own it, it had moved from London to South Wales, but had been sitting unused at the back of a car dealer's premises for 17 years. I hired a beavertail and collected the car in the depths of winter. Arriving home 200 miles away in a snowstorm, the car was unloaded and left until the following day. The seller had assured me that the car started and ran, but that it had been some time since it had been tried. I put a battery on, sprayed a bit of petrol into the Rochester 4GC, cranked, and within a few turns the 371 fired up, clattered for a second or two and then settled down to a steady tickover. There was a problem with the trans - I could only get low and reverse, and this was eventually cured by combining the best of the parts from a Cadillac box with some of the original components.. (This being England in pre-internet days, parts were hard to come by !). It was incredible to find that all the electrical systems except the radio worked perfectly, not even any bulbs to change. An old TV and Radio repair specialist managed to get the radio working, so after cleaning out the fuel tank and lines, refurbishing the brakes and fitting a new exhaust system (some of it made up from Bedford truck parts), the car was now usable. I found it to be a very comfortable car with a surprising turn of speed when needed, it would leave many a sports car standing from the lights. It was eventually sold on, moving further north, and was last rumoured to have been cut in half lengthwise and mounted on a pub wall in Newcastle, although I have never seen any evidence. If that was it's fate, what a shame - it was a very fine car. As a memento, I still have the original Oldsmobile ignition key, a lovely thing with the Rocket emblem encircled by the 'Oldsmobile' lettering.
I was lucky to be able to buy a Super 88 J2 371 power, copper paint, cream leather seats with only 56,000 on the odometer. The woman I bought it from was afraid of it even after having a mechanic remove and block off the front and rear carbs. Which I immediately found 2 2G Rochester 2bbl of a 64 GTO 389 . Loved it.
Pretty stupid to run it around the yard in this condition, misfires.. possible stuck valves which could have been bent or broken, not the way to do things.
Yeah, right after they ran a train on the poor girl.. 😫 I... I... FELT... SO... POWERLESS WATCHING!! I was yelling at the phone, and they just WOULDN'T STOP!! I got the PTSD now!😳
Now THIS is the kind of ancientmobile video that I love to see! I watched the entire video. That glove compartment was HUGE! And if that's THEE original paint, I say buff it and patina it. I clicked on the ebay link to the ad...WHAT?! The ad says that if it doesn't sell, he is going to WHAT?!...part it out?!?! No! You part out something that is a too far gone, that is, a hopeless, hapless, helpless lost cause, because it's wrecked, roasted, or rusted, but not merely racked up in miles, or rested under a tree for 30 years. Anything that straight and complete, with a minimum of cancer, that still can start, and then go forward and backwards, even with no brakes and no interior, after a 30 year sabbatical as a murine hotel, is a prime specimen for at least a driver resto in my book!
I remember being a small child laying under that big back window. My dad driving across the pan handle of Oklahoma at very high speeds. Watching the Prarie cathedrals glide by and that OLDS engine running hard. Car was pink and blue two tone same model and year.
1968. I was working in a boron gas station in Western Pennsylvania afterschool, Saturdays and Sundays, and summers. A co worker had the same car, a gun metal gray 57 olds.. he drove it to Pittsburgh international dragway on Sundays and he won his class every time. It was just a $50 beater that he picked up because the transmission leaked pretty bad. He just kept putting transmission fluid in it every day. I think it was the front main seal.. from just being an old car it had sort of a satin finish to the gunmetal gray paint that was the original paint. When we would close up the gas station at night we were both working in at 11 PM. We would go to McDonald’s to get something to eat. Occasionally he would drag race other cars stoplight to stoplight, and he would usually win. The car had a name, the tank. It was very comfortable, very softly sprung. It was totally stock but, a locally famous drag racer named Joe then drag raced to a 63 Pontiac I think it was a Catalina or a Bonneville, successfully. He tuned it. nothing special, just carburetor adjustments, new points distributor cap rotor plug wires and spark plugs. I don’t remember all the cars that he raced with me in the car stoplight to stoplight, I do remember one of them was a fast back mustang. I don’t know if it had a six or a 289, but the 57 olds won.. Bill, a high school student like myself had an unlimited supply of used tires available, since we both worked at a gas station/garage and there was always a pile of used tires. That 57 olds would lay rubber all the way across the gas station parking lot. Easily 150 feet.. if I could have any car from the 50s as my personal street rod. I think I would want the 57 olds. I just love that Front bumper and the three piece rear window
If you are interested in buying Paulie’s car it’s o eBay here www.ebay.com/itm/325459045907?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=SpiT8eA6Q2m&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=epjSmXm6QEq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
We had a black 57 just like that, red interior. I had forgotten how cool the instrument panel was. We drove it to Nova Scotia towing a travel trailer on vacation around 1964; lots of power but rather thirsty. Thank you for the memories!!
A rocker arm is loose and backfiring through the carburetor. My 55 Pontiac did that. When we tightened it up it ran perfectly. Try that to reduce the knocking.
The popping could be due to the cylinder firing when a valve is open. Need to double check firing order and make sure all plug wires are connected properly, and take valve covers off and check for stuck valves. The car would be a cool project and the original radio would be also be a cool project. The electrolytic capacitors in it are are sure to be shot. Thanks to the video, and the tool list.
The rattling is a sure sign the lifters had collapsed and are probably gummed up,so it will take a while to clear it out. A trick I learned from Aircraft engineers is pour a gallon of jet fuel into the oil and run it up. Works wonders!. Just change the oil and lifters sometimes come back again .
I had a 57 and 58 Oldsmobile. One problem I ran into on these cars was the retaining clip on top of the lifters falling off causing the lifter to fall apart-take the valve covers off and watch the rockers. These engines have awesome power and torque once running good.
I tried the same thing over Christmas break to start our 57 that was parked in the yard for years. At the time ( decades ago) I didn't have the slightest clue what to do. But I tried. It wasn't such a great idea to try it with below freezing temps either. Eventually my Dad made me tow it to the junk yard. To this day I never got over losing that car. Since then, I've done frame off restorations, so I know with more experience I could have fired that car. I was close. Great seeing the inside of that girl again.
I have a huge appreciation for classic cars like this. They had style and every car brand had its marquee signature. Wish they made cars like this still. Of course with added safety features.
The one thing I always liked about 57 Oldsmobiles and I've had 32 of them since 1975 when I've got my first one because Dad wouldn't let me have the 63 Impala super sport I wanted and made me buy what I thought was the ugliest thing I had ever seen at the time because it wasn't an Impala super sport. My favorite thing is when you're an 18 year old kid sitting at the stoplight racing from light to light never ever ever ever ever slap the thing into low. Gently position it into low. For those of you that know, you know exactly what I'm saying. For those that don't you don't want to find out. And that isn't the deluxe radio I don't see a foot pedal. Thanks for the memories. I have had 88's, holiday 88's, super 88's 98's in two door, four door, station wagon and convertible. Why? Because nobody else was collecting them. And any 57 Oldsmobile would walk away from a 57 Chevy like it was standing still. Thanks for the memories. I gave up to 57 Oldsmobile collection years ago when I did the stupidest thing I ever did in my life and got married and the woman made me get rid of my collection. Before I ended up getting rid of her.
My grandfather had an '88 2 door sedan, he put a custom paint job on it, dropped in a 383 with a blower and NOS and had loads of fun with it. That car could haul! (All work done by himself, including the paint.)
Nice 1957 olds rocket 88 really nice original find, and actually 4 doors are making a comeback. Back in the day 2 doors were very popular but nowadays I've been hearing a lot of people are looking for four doors.. great find it's in great shape 👍🏼
Around the 23:00 mark, I was starting to feel really bad for that starter. Incredible that it survived! Also, great improvement on the audio from previous videos, especially when it comes to the engines running. Don't know what you did, but it sounds great!
@@theetravisb Love your channel.The radio has bad filter caps in it and you can still buy even better ones but you have to take the radio out of the car. It may be a vacuum tube radio where it warms up before it comes on but since you get the hum/buzz right away, it's almost always filter capacitors. For the tuning dial mechanism, you have to just take it apart and clean and regrease the gearing mechanism. I just repaired a Philco that came out of a 67 Lincoln Continental. It was solid state tho.
My grandparents had this exact car. Bought it brand new. Was a turquoise blue color. Loaded with everything including power windows. Was a gorgeous car. In and out. They traded it in 1965 for a new Buick. My parents bought a 1958 cadillac in 1960. My mom got the car when my parents sadly divorced. She didn't drive much so she kept the caddy, which made me happy as I loved it and told her many times I would love to have it someday.yeah, im a total car nut. I was 1 year old when they bought it. By the age of 12 I was doing the oil changes on it and my neighbor taught me how to change the plugs and points and other stuff. In 1982, mom signed it over to me and I took possession of the caddy..lifelong Southern California car, its in good shape and still on the road... she's a 58 model, I'm a 59! Were growing old together lol. The olds cranking sounds just like my caddy. But it should crank faster than it is. Either the battery is weak, or the battery is not strong enough. Keep up the good work.
57 Olds, my favorite car ever. I bought one 35 years ago with motor locked up and heads off. factory J2, complete. parked since 75? still my dream to rescue.same color as yours. thanks for showing it.
Nothing beats a 50s era GM. My first car was a '57 Bel Air. My father bought it from a sucker that did not know how to put gas in it. It was some podunk auto lot. They took it out for a joyride and ran it out of gas. Apparently they were imbeciles that did not know how to find the gas tank and follow the filler neck. It sat in their parking lot for several years, and my father just walked up and made them an offer. He gave them $500 for it in 1996. He had it towed to a gas station, aired the tires up, put a battery in it, filled it up, and limped it home. It had 44K original miles on it. We replaced the tires, braking system, and fuel pump, and that was it. It was his everyday driver for a couple of years. He told me it would be my 16th birthday present. I drove it a few times and drag raced a Corvette in it (I won). He decided three weeks before my birthday that he didn't feel like paying child support anymore, sold it for $800 so he could skip town, and I didn't see him for nine years after that. I loved that car.
Greeting from a Frenchman (near Paris). Thank you for these very interesting videos. It is a real pleasure to watch them. Have a good Christmas, and a good New Year, and I wish you a long life to your chanel!
Hi all, as an old Brit, the 88 has always been one of my favourite cars, maybe as I`m now 75 years of age I guess it resonates with my old brain from when the 88 was in a period I only read about in the then modern America.. Well, It runs and drives just. Maybe some sticky valves or wrongly placed plug leads but it runs, and the speedo works.. Thanks for making me smile, and I hope to see more videos on the old girl soon.. Ian - UK.
That is so damn cool I hope to see more on this car I was kind of amazed to see the engine Bay complete and no one had robbed any of the AC parts except for the air cleaner which is it's probably gonna be a little bit of a tough one as a side hobby I like to collect vintage valve covers and air cleaners and the best thing I can say is about the 40s and 50s stuff it's getting pretty expensive now but it's a really hard to beat an oil bath air cleaner.
It’s all about the curves!👍 😊she needs a lot of personal attention for sure! I love it too Travis! I would paint it the original colors and do the interior original as well, if I could afford to. I love watching you work with your dad! I miss mine.😊
Wow! My dad had a 58' Super 88 just like that, but black in the mid 60's. Blue vinyl interior. Our father loved it, lik me and my three siblings, but our mother hated it. Ended up when my mother chrushed a VW in a crossing. The Olds took it with just the bumper bent into the front wheel, the Beetle was totaled... Many good memories from when we traveled to our country house in the olds, us kids playing and jumping around inthe back seat....
💛💛💛 I'm a few months behind here (4 that is...) but can you tell who loves this 'OLDS 88' ? Also some fond childhood memories came flooding back into my 65 year old brain bank as I watched you mess with the knobs on the radio and A/C controls. When I was just a wee tyke, I recall visiting my mom's father that had fixed/repaired cars out in his garage, so there were many 1940's and maybe even a few early 1950 models just sitting behind his cavernous old garage back in the 1940's in Madera California, where me and my two older brothers had fun pretending we were operating them old relics. Yeah, we pushed all the buttons amd turned all the knobs and dials as well we grabbed with our wee hands and arms them big ol' steering wheels doing a lot of pretend driving round and 'round until it was time to pack it up and head back home to the S.F. Bay Area. I hardly saw my grandparents due to the distance between our home in San Pablo, California and the home my mother grew up in and worked on cars as a teenager in that garage helping her father with various non traditional daughter/girl tasks. Too soon we'd pile into our 1959 Ford Galaxie 500 (two door), pushing the front seats forward, uh huh, to climb into the (the brothers three) back seat to trek 100+ miles to our home just north of Berkely where my pop had begun his career as an autobody refinisher back in the very ealry 1960's. Thanks for taking me back again. 4:50 📸 great mental snaps/images pop up in my aged memory 🏛bank 🛴🚲🛼I could say so much more but I'll leave those memories to myself and my one surviving brother to share as we expect to have a life celebration of our parents this year at our younger sister's place in Yellville Arkansas. Missing my pop heaps as I watch you and your dad work together. Yeah and mom too! 2nd Edit: Hearing your father reminisce on a similar pretend childhood driver memory was ironic. I had told about my story before that portion of the video. Then to see him tooling around and 'round at the end of this episode must have been a really great time for him on this revival.
Something most people don't know is the the very first full on Rock N Roll song of known recordings and hits was "1951 Jackie Brenston Rocket "88" Check it out it is the real deal and it's GREAT!
A friend of mine in high school in the late 60s had a early 50s Pontiac Bonneville. Four door powder blue with black diamond tuck apolstry what a Tuna Boat . Would love to have it now.
This was my brother’s first car he had in 1966. He was 16 and I was 11. Great time hearing that throaty carb sucking gas like no other. You could push start this if you got it going around 30 mph. I remember the rear springs were shot and car bottomed out all the time. Like I said, great memories!!
Thanks for the memories. My uncle would by a new car every two years. He would alternate between Olds and Buick. He had a 57 Rocket 88. Baby blue. I got to help him bleed the brakes on it when I was probably eight. Pump and hold. But one you have is in great shape for the years. When you see that black bubble coming out of radiator tells you there is a blown head gasket between water jacket and a cylinder. That popping is from that also. Blown between two cylinders. It's well worth a rebuild.
Cheers from Greece, beautiful huge car, head gaskets are almost certainly blown fumes pass to the cooling circuit, carb needs rebuild otherwise it is a very complete car great find. Keep up the interesting content!
Sounds like you definitely need to check the timing and for stuck valves. My Granddaddy had a Rocket 88 that he drove from Elkhart, Indiana to Selma, Al., back in 1957 0r 1958 for Christmas. It was a tank.
We Had the 98, 371 cu in w/ J2 tri-carb. Believe the clock was in the center of the dash "waterfall", just under the wind screen. To set the stations, manually tune to station, pull out the desired per-select button and then push the button al the way in. Press on the "deluxe" radio badge. Some models had the Signal seek (scan) feature called a wonder-bar, and may have had a second high beam floor switch to activate the radio tuning. '98 had a bullet center in the center of the taillight bezel. Engines had bad valve guides and were prone to failing at about 60K miles. 14 in factory rayon tires were crapola. Good Luck. Narragansett Bay
I recommend using 2 stroke gas instead of starting fluid. The oil helps bring up the compression were the starting fluid removes any traces of oil causing no compression.
A few months ago one sold for 19.5k in North Royalton, OH. It was a Mint example silver/black stock super 88. It sold for 5500 less than when I originally seen it for sale. Beautiful ride!
I hope whoever gets this car will respect it for it'as heritage and restore it to it's original beauty. We've got enough junk on the roads now, so let this one live as it was built!
Daaaamn!!! Those curves on that body! Dash Cluster is so cool!! The 50s kick ass. Looks great w/ 4 doors too. Thanks again for taking us with on these projects!!
Just from hearing & seeing the engine run, the popping is valves....sticky valve or bent/burnt or maybe weak or broken valve spring. The carburetor really needs cleaned & rebuilt or replaced and it appears to have a bad head gasket by the bubbling in the radiator. Not hard stuff to fix. All in all, a cool car to bring back to life and would be a great car to restore being solid and almost loaded with all options. Great find!
THANK'S TRAVIS AND RICK ,, GREAT CAR !!! KEEP WORKING ON IT GREAT LOOKING I LIKE THE DASH AND THE GRILL ..BAD CARB. MY SON MAX AND I LIKE HEARING BOTH OF YOU WORKING ON CARS WHOS THE BOSS ?? YOUR A GREAT TEAM..GREAT SHOP THERE IT HELPS..RICKS HAVING A GREAT RIDE ,,. WE NEED PART 2 SOON ,,. THANK'S .. HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!!!!
That emergency brake light may also have doubled as a warning light for hydraulic pressure. 6:016:01 GM would use that circuit and attach it to a switch on the master cylinder so if you lost brake pressure, the light would turn on. Handy if you have a wheel cylinder leak and you get out in the morning and start the engine and all the brake fluid leaked out overnight. I know my 69 Buick set up that way and so was my 91 GMC.
I had a '59, never got it going and an ex got it, sad, that car is a gem in the rough, in my minds eye I see it Sherwood forest green small pearl metal flake with a dark beige leather interior, white-walls and some original hubs, duel exhaust through a pair of cherry-bombs, yes, I live a vicarious dream, but that old beast is very sweet :) Big cheers from BC Canada!
When I was a kid, we had a nieghbor that was a drag racer and he had a 57 Olds W30 with a 371 Tri power engine that we used to race on the street. Only car that ever beat him was a guy with a 49 Ford with a built 327 Chevy in it!!! Loved growing up in the early 60s!!!!!
Cool video. That popping in the intake system is most likely the result of sticking intake valves. With all of the valve clatter in the engine, the lifters are probably suspect too. No matter. The car is pretty cool and worth doing a complete restoration on. Maybe even a resto-mod?
the radiator shop told me one day explicitly NOT to use distilled water and to use regular hard tap water. according to them distilled water can damage the block and radiator as it seek Ph balance. he called it "hungry water". apparently it strips what it needs from the metal
That is not the original spare, the size designation with lettering came in with the fiberglass belted tires in the late 60’s. Some models had clocks, but it would have been mounted on the right side of the dash. When I was a kid our neighbor had a dark green ‘57 Ninety Eight 2 door hardtop. What a great find you made. I can’t wait to see it up and running again!
A 100% survivor worth the time to make her run like Rolex. (or at least like a Timex) Do the basics like carpeting try to get the AC working cause that's a very rare option. Good catch mate. Keep it up mate. Cheers from Ashford.🍺🍺🍹🍸🍷
This is a 1957 Oldsmobile 88 4-Door Sedan (production of 53,923 units) with a 371 V-8. The paint is Shantung Beige. There were three different Oldsmobile series in 1957: 88, Super 88, Starfire 98. This car is well-optioned: Air conditioning was $430, Hydra-Matic transmission was $215, power steering was $100, Deluxe radio was $96, heater/defroster was $85. Base price on this model was $2,538. An electric clock was a $19 option. G-78 14-inch is the size of the spare (8.50 x 14 was the original tire size).
Thanks for sharing yes it was highly optioned
In the early eighties, I bought a 1958 Olds 98 holiday hardtop sedan which had been ordered at the 1957 Earls Court (London) Motor Show. It had an amazing list of options - 6-way electric seat, power windows, Safety Sentinel, Autronic Eye, Wonder Bar radio and power antenna, power brakes, power steering, 4-speed auto box, but aircon had not been ordered - England never really got hot enough to justify the extra cost, I suppose. Colour scheme was Rose Mist metallic with Victorian White roof. By the time I came to own it, it had moved from London to South Wales, but had been sitting unused at the back of a car dealer's premises for 17 years. I hired a beavertail and collected the car in the depths of winter. Arriving home 200 miles away in a snowstorm, the car was unloaded and left until the following day. The seller had assured me that the car started and ran, but that it had been some time since it had been tried. I put a battery on, sprayed a bit of petrol into the Rochester 4GC, cranked, and within a few turns the 371 fired up, clattered for a second or two and then settled down to a steady tickover. There was a problem with the trans - I could only get low and reverse, and this was eventually cured by combining the best of the parts from a Cadillac box with some of the original components.. (This being England in pre-internet days, parts were hard to come by !). It was incredible to find that all the electrical systems except the radio worked perfectly, not even any bulbs to change. An old TV and Radio repair specialist managed to get the radio working, so after cleaning out the fuel tank and lines, refurbishing the brakes and fitting a new exhaust system (some of it made up from Bedford truck parts), the car was now usable. I found it to be a very comfortable car with a surprising turn of speed when needed, it would leave many a sports car standing from the lights. It was eventually sold on, moving further north, and was last rumoured to have been cut in half lengthwise and mounted on a pub wall in Newcastle, although I have never seen any evidence. If that was it's fate, what a shame - it was a very fine car. As a memento, I still have the original Oldsmobile ignition key, a lovely thing with the Rocket emblem encircled by the 'Oldsmobile' lettering.
I assume you are single with cats
@@kevingreen20 What a great story, thanks for sharing.
Indeed a true treasure for you that car had been while you owned her
I was lucky to be able to buy a Super 88 J2 371 power, copper paint, cream leather seats with only 56,000 on the odometer. The woman I bought it from was afraid of it even after having a mechanic remove and block off the front and rear carbs. Which I immediately found 2 2G Rochester 2bbl of a 64 GTO 389 . Loved it.
That is a gorgeous car, even in that condition. General Motors cars from that era were just beautiful cars.
I’m an olds guy thanks for saving another oldie
Thank you for watching mike !
4dr family car hild families
Pretty stupid to run it around the yard in this condition, misfires.. possible stuck valves which could have been bent or broken, not the way to do things.
So now what happens to the car
Yeah, right after they ran a train on the poor girl.. 😫 I... I... FELT... SO... POWERLESS WATCHING!! I was yelling at the phone, and they just WOULDN'T STOP!! I got the PTSD now!😳
My stepfather had one of these '57 Olds with a 371 tri power carbs We drove it to California and back. What a beautiful car and ran like a charm.
Now THIS is the kind of ancientmobile video that I love to see! I watched the entire video. That glove compartment was HUGE! And if that's THEE original paint, I say buff it and patina it. I clicked on the ebay link to the ad...WHAT?! The ad says that if it doesn't sell, he is going to WHAT?!...part it out?!?! No! You part out something that is a too far gone, that is, a hopeless, hapless, helpless lost cause, because it's wrecked, roasted, or rusted, but not merely racked up in miles, or rested under a tree for 30 years. Anything that straight and complete, with a minimum of cancer, that still can start, and then go forward and backwards, even with no brakes and no interior, after a 30 year sabbatical as a murine hotel, is a prime specimen for at least a driver resto in my book!
I agree!
A/C would have been rare back then, but very nice to have in Arizona.
I remember being a small child laying under that big back window. My dad driving across the pan handle of Oklahoma at very high speeds. Watching the Prarie cathedrals glide by and that OLDS engine running hard. Car was pink and blue two tone same model and year.
That’s a cool memory
I do like the body lines on the 57 Oldsmobile. Glad to see you and your dad working on these old cars. Creating memories!
Yes we are. Half car work half good time.
1968. I was working in a boron gas station in Western Pennsylvania afterschool, Saturdays and Sundays, and summers. A co worker had the same car, a gun metal gray 57 olds..
he drove it to Pittsburgh international dragway on Sundays and he won his class every time. It was just a $50 beater that he picked up because the transmission leaked pretty bad. He just kept putting transmission fluid in it every day. I think it was the front main seal..
from just being an old car it had sort of a satin finish to the gunmetal gray paint that was the original paint. When we would close up the gas station at night we were both working in at 11 PM. We would go to McDonald’s to get something to eat. Occasionally he would drag race other cars stoplight to stoplight, and he would usually win. The car had a name, the tank. It was very comfortable, very softly sprung. It was totally stock but, a locally famous drag racer named Joe then drag raced to a 63 Pontiac I think it was a Catalina or a Bonneville, successfully. He tuned it. nothing special, just carburetor adjustments, new points distributor cap rotor plug wires and spark plugs. I don’t remember all the cars that he raced with me in the car stoplight to stoplight, I do remember one of them was a fast back mustang. I don’t know if it had a six or a 289, but the 57 olds won.. Bill, a high school student like myself had an unlimited supply of used tires available, since we both worked at a gas station/garage and there was always a pile of used tires. That 57 olds would lay rubber all the way across the gas station parking lot. Easily 150 feet..
if I could have any car from the 50s as my personal street rod. I think I would want the 57 olds. I just love that Front bumper and the three piece rear window
That’s a cool story thank you for sharing and the 3 piece window takes the cake
Sounds like the capacitors are toast in that radio. I love the character in these old cars.
Guarantee that any aluminum electrolytic caps in that radio died long ago.
Brings back good memories because my dad had a 55 olds 88 that was his daily driver when I was a child in the early to mid 60’s.
If you are interested in buying Paulie’s car it’s o eBay here www.ebay.com/itm/325459045907?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=SpiT8eA6Q2m&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=epjSmXm6QEq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
We had a black 57 just like that, red interior. I had forgotten how cool the instrument panel was. We drove it to Nova Scotia towing a travel trailer on vacation around 1964; lots of power but rather thirsty. Thank you for the memories!!
That’s awesome thanks for sharing
A rocker arm is loose and backfiring through the carburetor. My 55 Pontiac did that. When we tightened it up it ran perfectly. Try that to reduce the knocking.
The popping could be due to the cylinder firing when a valve is open. Need to double check firing order and make sure all plug wires are connected properly, and take valve covers off and check for stuck valves. The car would be a cool project and the original radio would be also be a cool project. The electrolytic capacitors in it are are sure to be shot. Thanks to the video, and the tool list.
Thanks for watching and yeah could be a bent pushrod or valve
Plus the buffers.
That's exactly what it sounds like to me 🔧 needs a compression test and timing light check
IT might have a burnt valve or probably head gasket but! That car is worth it 🔧
The rattling is a sure sign the lifters had collapsed and are probably gummed up,so it will take a while to clear it out. A trick I learned from Aircraft engineers is pour a gallon of jet fuel into the oil and run it up. Works wonders!. Just change the oil and lifters sometimes come back again .
I had a 57 and 58 Oldsmobile. One problem I ran into on these cars was the retaining clip on top of the lifters falling off causing the lifter to fall apart-take the valve covers off and watch the rockers. These engines have awesome power and torque once running good.
I tried the same thing over Christmas break to start our 57 that was parked in the yard for years. At the time ( decades ago) I didn't have the slightest clue what to do. But I tried. It wasn't such a great idea to try it with below freezing temps either. Eventually my Dad made me tow it to the junk yard. To this day I never got over losing that car. Since then, I've done frame off restorations, so I know with more experience I could have fired that car. I was close. Great seeing the inside of that girl again.
Wow. Sorry to hear that but thank You for sharing that’s cool
Every car of the 50s era had crisp lines. I love em.
I like how the tailghts are smaller identical versions off the headlights.
I have a huge appreciation for classic cars like this. They had style and every car brand had its marquee signature. Wish they made cars like this still. Of course with added safety features.
The one thing I always liked about 57 Oldsmobiles and I've had 32 of them since 1975 when I've got my first one because Dad wouldn't let me have the 63 Impala super sport I wanted and made me buy what I thought was the ugliest thing I had ever seen at the time because it wasn't an Impala super sport. My favorite thing is when you're an 18 year old kid sitting at the stoplight racing from light to light never ever ever ever ever slap the thing into low. Gently position it into low. For those of you that know, you know exactly what I'm saying. For those that don't you don't want to find out. And that isn't the deluxe radio I don't see a foot pedal. Thanks for the memories. I have had 88's, holiday 88's, super 88's 98's in two door, four door, station wagon and convertible. Why? Because nobody else was collecting them. And any 57 Oldsmobile would walk away from a 57 Chevy like it was standing still. Thanks for the memories. I gave up to 57 Oldsmobile collection years ago when I did the stupidest thing I ever did in my life and got married and the woman made me get rid of my collection. Before I ended up getting rid of her.
New subscriber here. Can't get enough of these old car rescues. I have my eye on a 56 GMC grain truck about 4 hours from here.
Sweet thanks for joining!
My grandfather had an '88 2 door sedan, he put a custom paint job on it, dropped in a 383 with a blower and NOS and had loads of fun with it. That car could haul! (All work done by himself, including the paint.)
Nice 1957 olds rocket 88 really nice original find, and actually 4 doors are making a comeback. Back in the day 2 doors were very popular but nowadays I've been hearing a lot of people are looking for four doors.. great find it's in great shape 👍🏼
Four doors are king 👑
A lot of the 4 door car hate went away once pickups became 4 doors and the 2 door car people people figured out how handy they are.
I live just down the road from you, just saw this car sitting out front of your shop tonight and then it shows up on my TH-cam screen. Small world!
As you predicted, I love everything about this car except the 2 extra doors. Great find, great save.
Great video. You made it about the car, not about yourself. Damn rare things these days.
Thanks for the feedback
Spraying some lube on all the controls before wrenching them around is always a good idea. Awesome ride
Around the 23:00 mark, I was starting to feel really bad for that starter. Incredible that it survived! Also, great improvement on the audio from previous videos, especially when it comes to the engines running. Don't know what you did, but it sounds great!
Thank you Ben working on it
So many of these cars that people act like it's so difficult to start. Any car will start if one works hard to do it.
@@theetravisb Love your channel.The radio has bad filter caps in it and you can still buy even better ones but you have to take the radio out of the car. It may be a vacuum tube radio where it warms up before it comes on but since you get the hum/buzz right away, it's almost always filter capacitors. For the tuning dial mechanism, you have to just take it apart and clean and regrease the gearing mechanism. I just repaired a Philco that came out of a 67 Lincoln Continental. It was solid state tho.
I have a "ten second rule" for starters. If it doesn't start in ten seconds, you stop and reconsider if gas, compression, spark timing are correct.
My grandparents had this exact car. Bought it brand new. Was a turquoise blue color. Loaded with everything including power windows. Was a gorgeous car. In and out. They traded it in 1965 for a new Buick. My parents bought a 1958 cadillac in 1960. My mom got the car when my parents sadly divorced. She didn't drive much so she kept the caddy, which made me happy as I loved it and told her many times I would love to have it someday.yeah, im a total car nut. I was 1 year old when they bought it. By the age of 12 I was doing the oil changes on it and my neighbor taught me how to change the plugs and points and other stuff. In 1982, mom signed it over to me and I took possession of the caddy..lifelong Southern California car, its in good shape and still on the road... she's a 58 model, I'm a 59! Were growing old together lol. The olds cranking sounds just like my caddy. But it should crank faster than it is. Either the battery is weak, or the battery is not strong enough. Keep up the good work.
Very cool
My Grandfather had 2 1964 Oldsmobiles an 88 and a 98
57 Olds, my favorite car ever. I bought one 35 years ago with motor locked up and heads off. factory J2, complete. parked since 75? still my dream to rescue.same color as yours. thanks for showing it.
Thank you for watching
Mad respect to you and your dad! Keep it up!! Merry and Happy!!!
I really enjoy watching these “will it run” videos! It’s something to see the old cars come alive after sitting all these years.
Nothing beats a 50s era GM. My first car was a '57 Bel Air. My father bought it from a sucker that did not know how to put gas in it. It was some podunk auto lot. They took it out for a joyride and ran it out of gas. Apparently they were imbeciles that did not know how to find the gas tank and follow the filler neck. It sat in their parking lot for several years, and my father just walked up and made them an offer. He gave them $500 for it in 1996. He had it towed to a gas station, aired the tires up, put a battery in it, filled it up, and limped it home. It had 44K original miles on it. We replaced the tires, braking system, and fuel pump, and that was it. It was his everyday driver for a couple of years. He told me it would be my 16th birthday present. I drove it a few times and drag raced a Corvette in it (I won). He decided three weeks before my birthday that he didn't feel like paying child support anymore, sold it for $800 so he could skip town, and I didn't see him for nine years after that. I loved that car.
Great find !! Someone's going to score a terrific project car.
I agree John!
Greeting from a Frenchman (near Paris).
Thank you for these very interesting videos.
It is a real pleasure to watch them.
Have a good Christmas, and a good New Year,
and I wish you a long life to your chanel!
Thank you for watching! That’s what grows the channel
Hi all, as an old Brit, the 88 has always been one of my favourite cars, maybe as I`m now 75 years of age I guess it resonates with my old brain from when the 88 was in a period I only read about in the then modern America.. Well, It runs and drives just. Maybe some sticky valves or wrongly placed plug leads but it runs, and the speedo works.. Thanks for making me smile, and I hope to see more videos on the old girl soon.. Ian - UK.
That is so damn cool I hope to see more on this car I was kind of amazed to see the engine Bay complete and no one had robbed any of the AC parts except for the air cleaner which is it's probably gonna be a little bit of a tough one as a side hobby I like to collect vintage valve covers and air cleaners and the best thing I can say is about the 40s and 50s stuff it's getting pretty expensive now but it's a really hard to beat an oil bath air cleaner.
I hope you and Dad have a great holiday season this year, and that you have a good start to the new year as well.
Stay safe guys!
Thanks man You to merry Christmas
It’s all about the curves!👍 😊she needs a lot of personal attention for sure! I love it too Travis! I would paint it the original colors and do the interior original as well, if I could afford to. I love watching you work with your dad! I miss mine.😊
Wow! My dad had a 58' Super 88 just like that, but black in the mid 60's. Blue vinyl interior. Our father loved it, lik me and my three siblings, but our mother hated it. Ended up when my mother chrushed a VW in a crossing. The Olds took it with just the bumper bent into the front wheel, the Beetle was totaled... Many good memories from when we traveled to our country house in the olds, us kids playing and jumping around inthe back seat....
Nice car, great find!
I've been looking for a clean driver 57 olds for 30 years...either too late or just never the right time. Maybe someday.
That’s Olds has some great lines. I love the fender emblems. It’s amazing that both are still with the car!
I agree
💛💛💛 I'm a few months behind here (4 that is...) but can you tell who loves this 'OLDS 88' ?
Also some fond childhood memories came flooding back into my 65 year old brain bank as I watched you mess with the knobs on the radio and A/C controls.
When I was just a wee tyke, I recall visiting my mom's father that had fixed/repaired cars out in his garage, so there were many 1940's and maybe even a few early 1950 models just sitting behind his cavernous old garage back in the 1940's in Madera California, where me and my two older brothers had fun pretending we were operating them old relics.
Yeah, we pushed all the buttons amd turned all the knobs and dials as well we grabbed with our wee hands and arms them big ol' steering wheels doing a lot of pretend driving round and 'round until it was time to pack it up and head back home to the S.F. Bay Area.
I hardly saw my grandparents due to the distance between our home in San Pablo, California and the home my mother grew up in and worked on cars as a teenager in that garage helping her father with various non traditional daughter/girl tasks.
Too soon we'd pile into our 1959 Ford Galaxie 500 (two door), pushing the front seats forward, uh huh, to climb into the (the brothers three) back seat to trek 100+ miles to our home just north of Berkely where my pop had begun his career as an autobody refinisher back in the very ealry 1960's. Thanks for taking me back again.
4:50 📸 great mental snaps/images pop up in my aged memory 🏛bank 🛴🚲🛼I could say so much more but I'll leave those memories to myself and my one surviving brother to share as we expect to have a life celebration of our parents this year at our younger sister's place in Yellville Arkansas. Missing my pop heaps as I watch you and your dad work together. Yeah and mom too!
2nd Edit: Hearing your father reminisce on a similar pretend childhood driver memory was ironic. I had told about my story before that portion of the video. Then to see him tooling around and 'round at the end of this episode must have been a really great time for him on this revival.
What great find !!!!
🏅🏆🙏
You & your Dad are incredibly lucky ,
too find that car 🚗 in such
great original condition
They did come with clocks. Yours has the delete plate. It is at the very front of the dash by the windshield. At the middle. Two screws.
Love those old cars you get started. That Oldsmobile sounds like it has a Rod knocking
Something most people don't know is the the very first full on Rock N Roll song of known recordings and hits was "1951 Jackie Brenston Rocket "88" Check it out it is the real deal and it's GREAT!
I would love to have this car it's a beautiful car. I can just imagine how nice it looked when it had it's paint on the car and the interior was mint.
A friend of mine in high school in the late 60s had a early 50s Pontiac Bonneville. Four door powder blue with black diamond tuck apolstry what a Tuna Boat . Would love to have it now.
Luv the old school plug cleaner, haven't seen one of them working since I was a kid, about 1973.👍👍👍
Wow thanks for sharing
It seems that the car has a problem with the head gasket...
This was my brother’s first car he had in 1966. He was 16 and I was 11. Great time hearing that throaty carb sucking gas like no other. You could push start this if you got it going around 30 mph. I remember the rear springs were shot and car bottomed out all the time. Like I said, great memories!!
Thanks for the memories. My uncle would by a new car every two years. He would alternate between Olds and Buick. He had a 57 Rocket 88. Baby blue. I got to help him bleed the brakes on it when I was probably eight. Pump and hold. But one you have is in great shape for the years. When you see that black bubble coming out of radiator tells you there is a blown head gasket between water jacket and a cylinder. That popping is from that also. Blown between two cylinders. It's well worth a rebuild.
You got me at Rocket!
Gotta get me one someday.
Glad for you.
Cheers from Greece, beautiful huge car, head gaskets are almost certainly blown fumes pass to the cooling circuit, carb needs rebuild otherwise it is a very complete car great find. Keep up the interesting content!
That's a G78 tire size. I remember that sizing system from the 70s, I think. In the 50s the size would be all numbers.
Sounds like you definitely need to check the timing and for stuck valves. My Granddaddy had a Rocket 88 that he drove from Elkhart, Indiana to Selma, Al., back in 1957 0r 1958 for Christmas. It was a tank.
Love the 4 doors.. much preferred.. Sweet ride. Love it.
Cool to see that Rocket leaving the launchpad. That's a beautiful car.
Great video. I can’t believe that thing moved after a short time of working on it. I love the body style of this olds rocket 88. Thanks
We Had the 98, 371 cu in w/ J2 tri-carb. Believe the clock was in the center of the dash "waterfall", just under the wind screen. To set the stations, manually tune to station, pull out the desired per-select button and then push the button al the way in. Press on the "deluxe" radio badge. Some models had the Signal seek (scan) feature called a wonder-bar, and may have had a second high beam floor switch to activate the radio tuning. '98 had a bullet center in the center of the taillight bezel. Engines had bad valve guides and were prone to failing at about 60K miles. 14 in factory rayon tires were crapola. Good Luck. Narragansett Bay
That’s really cool thanks for sharing
I recommend using 2 stroke gas instead of starting fluid. The oil helps bring up the compression were the starting fluid removes any traces of oil causing no compression.
Great vidio.....Pls keep'em coming love when a car been sitting for yrs and you try and it going! Like Oldsmobile. Thank You!!!
Some folks love the 50s chevys..,, I like them but I also like the Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile more...
A few months ago one sold for 19.5k in North Royalton, OH. It was a Mint example silver/black stock super 88. It sold for 5500 less than when I originally seen it for sale. Beautiful ride!
I see this car everyday when I drive by it glad its getting some love
I saw a short you posted on Facebook. I’m looking forward to catching up on your videos here.
Thanks for coming from Facebook!
What a great car. I never saw your channel before this but I’m glad you’re out there getting these cool old cars running again
My friend's dad has a '56 88 Holiday 4 door, beige and red, 324 and Hydra-Matic. His parents got it new.
I hope whoever gets this car will respect it for it'as heritage and restore it to it's original beauty. We've got enough junk on the roads now, so let this one live as it was built!
I agree
That is an awesome car.
When I was a child, my father had a 58 nomad, that we traveled across the country in.
I like that team - father & son - that's always the best!
Lol, sorry for the end. She's pumped. But definitely a builder ,thanks boy's made my day. 👍👍👍
I just found your channel.
Another tri- five Chevy fan here, BUT, I ALWAYS LOVED the '57 Olds. 88, 98, no matter. They're beautiful cars!!!
Indeed they are thanks for watching
My Brother told me I might enjoy your videos. I’ve been watching ever since.
Haha that’s awesome
This is so much better than watching a Frankenstein movie ! Great content and job bringing these rustic beauties back to life
There's nothing wrong with 4 doors in my opinion. In fact I prefer 4 doors for a variety of reasons
Four doors for more whores of course
Exactly!
Daaaamn!!! Those curves on that body! Dash Cluster is so cool!! The 50s kick ass. Looks great w/ 4 doors too. Thanks again for taking us with on these projects!!
Just from hearing & seeing the engine run, the popping is valves....sticky valve or bent/burnt or maybe weak or broken valve spring. The carburetor really needs cleaned & rebuilt or replaced and it appears to have a bad head gasket by the bubbling in the radiator. Not hard stuff to fix. All in all, a cool car to bring back to life and would be a great car to restore being solid and almost loaded with all options. Great find!
THANK'S TRAVIS AND RICK ,, GREAT CAR !!! KEEP WORKING ON IT GREAT LOOKING I LIKE THE DASH AND THE GRILL ..BAD CARB. MY SON MAX AND I LIKE HEARING BOTH OF YOU WORKING ON CARS WHOS THE BOSS ?? YOUR A GREAT TEAM..GREAT SHOP THERE IT HELPS..RICKS HAVING A GREAT RIDE ,,. WE NEED PART 2 SOON ,,. THANK'S .. HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!!!!
That’s cool you and your son watch ! Thank u I and merry Christmas
Thats a cool car ! Love how it was popping through the carb and still able to drive around ! lol
When I started college in 1969, a fellow student had this exact car in blue that his grandfather bought new. The 4 speed Hydra-Matic is a beast.
The hydramatic is awesome
That emergency brake light may also have doubled as a warning light for hydraulic pressure. 6:01 6:01 GM would use that circuit and attach it to a switch on the master cylinder so if you lost brake pressure, the light would turn on. Handy if you have a wheel cylinder leak and you get out in the morning and start the engine and all the brake fluid leaked out overnight. I know my 69 Buick set up that way and so was my 91 GMC.
I had a '59, never got it going and an ex got it, sad, that car is a gem in the rough, in my minds eye I see it Sherwood forest green small pearl metal flake with a dark beige leather interior, white-walls and some original hubs, duel exhaust through a pair of cherry-bombs, yes, I live a vicarious dream, but that old beast is very sweet :) Big cheers from BC Canada!
Finally someone other than me that loves 4door cars like me!!❤❤😎👍
4 doors are king
When I was a kid, we had a nieghbor that was a drag racer and he had a 57 Olds W30 with a 371 Tri power engine that we used to race on the street. Only car that ever beat him was a guy with a 49 Ford with a built 327 Chevy in it!!! Loved growing up in the early 60s!!!!!
Great video! I love the car as I am an Oldsmobile lover. I have a '61 Olds 88.
Cool video. That popping in the intake system is most likely the result of sticking intake valves. With all of the valve clatter in the engine, the lifters are probably suspect too. No matter. The car is pretty cool and worth doing a complete restoration on. Maybe even a resto-mod?
Yes make it a street and strip car! Hot rod, but keep the interior and body original
I well remember my dad's 1956 Olds Rocket 88. Four door; turquoise and white. Great old car.....a real tank!
That’s a beautiful car
the radiator shop told me one day explicitly NOT to use distilled water and to use regular hard tap water. according to them distilled water can damage the block and radiator as it seek Ph balance. he called it "hungry water". apparently it strips what it needs from the metal
your addictive guys, My dad had a 1957 with a 394 four barrel back in the early 60s.
That is not the original spare, the size designation with lettering came in with the fiberglass belted tires in the late 60’s. Some models had clocks, but it would have been mounted on the right side of the dash. When I was a kid our neighbor had a dark green ‘57 Ninety Eight 2 door hardtop. What a great find you made. I can’t wait to see it up and running again!
A 100% survivor worth the time to make her run like Rolex. (or at least like a Timex) Do the basics like carpeting try to get the AC working cause that's a very rare option. Good catch mate. Keep it up mate. Cheers from Ashford.🍺🍺🍹🍸🍷
Thanks for watching from Ashford
My father used to have an Oldsmobile like that he had two of them I started watching this video the first time I found your videos
Restore,Repaire,Upgrade this gorgeous Car! After that-Run&Drive...
One of the coolest Oldsmobiles ever produced in my opinion.
Beautiful car, I agree 4 doors are fine, I prefer them as well, I can open the back doors and put packages on the seat
The first car I remember growing up was a 1957 Holiday 88, white over yellow. Wish I had it now.
You definitely gotta get rid of that flexie hose. New ones are junk, so I can only imagine how bad a 30 year old one would be.