1958 Oldsmobile 88 revival

This is part 3 of our 1958 Oldsmobile 88 revival. We've found the problem, now we have to fix it.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

I have a 1963 Oldsmobile with the 394 version of this engine, and what most people don't know or don't care to mention is that parts for these "early" Oldsmobile engines are hugely expensive. Shoestring budget? You can spend $7500 on an engine overhaul on one these if you "send it out" like the moneybags Starfire convertible owners always do. There aren't many people that can even work on these engines, much less the Hydramatic transmission behind it. I saw this car running in the later video, so kudos to you for demonstrating that a backyard "rebuild" WILL work.

[@theotrmechanic3624]

I really appreciate it, I did take a lot of heat for doing it this way. My thoughts were like you thought. 7-8k for a true build. Which I could do, but the owner wasn't sure about. He was thinking about converting it to an ls engine. I'm a fan of originals, so we decided to get this one going on a budget first and see how it turned out. If it was too far gone, then I'd pull it and swap. My grandmother had a 63 in the backyard I'd play in as a kid. I wish I had gotten a chance to get it running, but a flood finished it off. Thanks for the support.

[@sinistersilverado965]

that's so cool, my brothers 1st car was a 58 Oldsmobile

[@wedge4hire]

Oldsmobile had the same illness many carmakers had when they introduced the 1958 model, the styling of the 1957 was FAR superior!!!!

[@davidpancerev9658]

No way. Plus people didn't prefer the tri-piece rear back lite.

[@bob5074]

I work on fire alarms with black cabinets and I use a silver sharpie paint marker. The best.

[@thequietestengine]

Got a sub from me for all your hard work on getting this classic running again. Been working on my 1958 Edsel and I had the same issues with a failed cylinder head gasket. Problems is it happened on cylinder 6 way down in the cylinder so tons of pitting. Gotta pull the engine to get it resleeved. Ah well, honestly? I'm loving every second, especially the oil, rainy days. All the best to you and yours, sir!

[@joselobo7148]

Buen trabajo amigo....saludos desde buenos aires argentina!!!

[@danobrien3109]

Your wife came to get her nail polish back😂😂.👍🇨🇦

[@MrBrianbusch]

Shame the owners got a shoe string for a budget, that motor should be pulled and done right. Good show!

[@theotrmechanic3624]

For sure. I appreciate it.

[@ronjones1077]

Just hit the subscribe. I’m more versed with the body restoration part but have done a few engines over the years. I’ve got around 50 old classics from 30’s through 60’s. Had a few Oldsmobiles in the past, still have Buicks Chevy Pontiac caddy ford Edsel Lincolns on & on Currently working on a 55 Chev 2 door wagon with 383 stroker and two 75 Vetts. All in Alaska. I’m 73 so slowed down a bunch. Take care and I’ll be checking on your progress

[@theotrmechanic3624]

I really appreciate it. It's amazing that you have such a collection in Alaska. We need to get one running and road trip it back to Georgia. Haha. Good luck with all of your projects. You can't go wrong with vettes or chevy wagons!

[@tompastian3447]

That car has a lot of personality. Love those forgot cars like this. They are forgotten gems. What cubic inch engine is that? Good if you can still get parts for it, like bolts and gaskets etc.

[@theotrmechanic3624]

It definitely has a personality, I'm starting to think it not a nice one though. It's a 371 engine. Most parts are available. There's a company in Connecticut that has had everything I've needed in stock. They've been great. Thanks for watching.

[@tompastian3447]

@@theotrmechanic3624 You have what most garages in Florida don't have; room. Drive around a lot of the warehouse areas where there are auto repair shops and body shops, there's cars and trucks all over the place, packed with no room to work. Lucky to find someone who speaks English. Wouldn't even think of leaving my car at one of these places. I was so ripped off years ago, leaving my car at a body shop, where it sat almost untouched for two years. Finally I volunteered to do the body work my self, if they would do the painting. Even with me doing the body work, I could hardly get them to paint anything. Every other car that came in took priority over me. They did the same thing to a girl who brought in a Volvo. Here we were both working on our own cars. Finally they wanted to charge me rent, so I took the car and the parts that were all over the shop and went somewhere else. And these were Americans who spoke English. Four years the car was at this shop.

[@gordonborsboom7460]

Cooling system corrosion causing overheating causing head gasket failure? Pretty plugged in passages around the cylinders.

[@theotrmechanic3624]

I'm not 100% sure. The water passages were definitely blocked, and the head gasket was definitely blown. It sat for 13 years that way. I don't know in what order it happened, but it was detrimental to it. I'll be dropping a new video on it soon. Thanks for watching!

[@diydarkmatter]

beautiful car . dont know why you dint just pull that engine and give it a full overhaul . would have been hard at first to get it out but once it was out it would have made life alot easier . take care work safe .

[@theotrmechanic3624]

I talked it over with the owner. We decided to see how this worked out. If the engine comes out, he would like an ls put back in.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Because it's insanely expensive.

[@davidpancerev9658]

Dynamic 88, I take it. Nice it has a 4-pot carb..or does it?

[@theotrmechanic3624]

Yes it does

[@stuarthughes5988]

get a new timing chain I have 1955 holiday coupe down under its taken years . good luck

[@theotrmechanic3624]

That's a great car. Thanks

[@MrJerry160]

City boy from cali here. George Straight🇺🇸 right?

[@theotrmechanic3624]

That time was George Jones, but I'd take George Straight any day.

[@Lisa-ft3uo]

I can send over my cobra if you want some real interesting content lol

[@theotrmechanic3624]

If you ever need anything, bring it on.

[@Lisa-ft3uo]

@@theotrmechanic3624 she’s got some compression issues in cylinder 6. Leak down showed that it’s possibly a stuck exhaust valve. She doesn’t burn oil, smoke, or anything. The only reason I checked it was bc she’s got a rough idle and changing the plugs didn’t help. I would love for you to look into that at some point.

[@theotrmechanic3624]

Good stuff. After I get some of these sorted, I'd be glad to take a look.

[@michaelfraser5723]

engine OUT, sir

[@theotrmechanic3624]

Yeah. That would definitely have been the best way to go. I don't do this for profit, I'm just helping out a friend. That being said, I'm doing as he wants done. I'll have another video coming out soon. It turns out pretty well. Thanks for watching.