OLDSMOBILE - The 1st Generation Rocket V8s Part 3 of 3

THE FIRST GENERATION ROCKET V8 BLOCK was produced from 1949-64. It started as a 303 in 1949, then grew to a 324, then a 371--(which also came in a special J2 Rocket version that came out in 1957), and finished off with it's largest displacement---a 394 that came out in 1959 (the 394 was produced until 1964). But after the 394 in 1959, the lastly developed engine of this "first generation era" was a special smaller lighter 215v8 with a turbo charger produced in the early 60s. The first intermediate sized musclecar came in 1964 "The Pontiac GTO". But prior to the Intermediate sized musclecars, the early 50s OLDSMOBILE ROCKETS can strongly be argued as being THE FIRST MUSCLE CAR (especially the 88's because they were a few hundred pounds lighter than a 98). My dad was blessed with getting a 303v8 1950 Olds 4dr 88 handed down to him in 1955 when my Grandpa got a new 55 Olds.

[@1967PmdGto]

In 1965 the tall deck block came out (1965-76), 400 425 455. About 640 pounds. Same block as the short deck, but only the deck height is something like 10.3 to the 9.7 on the short deck block. The bore spacing is the same, which is why the Oldsmobile 403 (despite being a short deck) was able to accommodate the largest bore of ANY car engine EVER made in the world, 4.351 inch bore. I had a 77 403v8 in my first car, loved it!

[@1967PmdGto]

The 2nd gen 'short deck' block stuck around till 1990. All engines (260 307 330 350 403) in that block had a 3.3385 stroke. It's a great motor, one could argue they make more power per cube than the tall deck blocks. The top 330v8 was rated at 325hp (almost 1 hp per cube) despite being mildly cammed/tuned.

[@glennmanchester1568]

I had a 330 and had 350 rocket at the same time the 350 had more torque and power than the330

[@onebrightflash]

It is really a shame that GM and Olds abandoned the Oldsmobile heritage. They forgot that people wanted reliability, good looks and power. Then they traded the rocket emblem for a squiggle mark that looked like something from a Korean car manufacturer so that .no one knew they were looking at an Oldsmobile. Really dumb marketing.

[@donm9675]

I remember my grandmother's olds. Her 66 or 67 (?) starfire was a 5.0 mustang , and Camaro destoyer around Chicago in the mid 80's. ( when I visited as a teen) The engine was labeled 425-4bl (?) " ULTRA HIGH COMPRESSION SUPER ROCKET ENGINE " on the air filter lid. Cant remember the cid but always remember that awesome HP. The look on the college kids faces as the posi differential transfered olds ROCKET power into UNBEATABLE SPEED was priceless. Never lost a race. Even on snow tires in the summer. Something was very special about that car. Smooth, and drivable, but brutal when pushed.

[@bryantmatthews93]

I miss speed channel

[@1967PmdGto]

at 1:55 he says "new for 1952 the new QUADRAJET carb"

[@gabrielvieira6529]

Nice

[@brent440]

my favorite, the 55 Holiday 88 barely gets a mention

[@brent440]

oh, they didn't have quadrajets til the mid sixties. Nice video series otherwise tho, nice old footage

[@1967PmdGto]

These 1st gen rockets were so cool/dominate for their time in the early 50s, that Ike Turner made a song about it in 1951 --> watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0 And my dad had one of those early 1950s 88s in that song!!!

[@64oldsf85man]

Also missed the 330 v8 I own a 64 olds

[@1967PmdGto]

@64oldsf85man Cool car and screen name you have! Actually 1964 was a transition year from the 1st gen to 2nd gen block. In 1964 they had one of each.---A 394 which was the same 1st gen 700 pound block they'd used since 1949 in a 303v8 (my dad had a 1950 303v8 Rocket 88). In 64 they also had the first of the NEW 2nd gen -- the all new 330v8 for 1964, which weighed around 580 pounds, but was similar/much-improved/lighter and strong despite being lighter.

[@willgeary6086]

The one thing they got wrong is the Hudson Hornet was made after the Olds 88 came out, and beat it like all the rest from 1952-1954.

[@dimcadallapeorgantone993a4]

Will Geary hudson was best racecar in early 50s in 1953 hudason was lighter and It had 7x race engine twin h big 308 with 207hp in that time it was awesome

[@tarlach1280x960]

Not....

[@1400IntruderVS]

Too much jumping around and they need to get a few facts straightened but otherwise a nice attempt at restoring peoples interest in some great cars. I wish they went into the Gen 2 V8s and added some focus on the 330 put into the original 442 cars.

[@1967PmdGto]

*3.3385* typo, it's 3.385

[@OurHedgehog]

Studebaker led the styling war with Raymond Lowey's design in 1948. Just take a look. www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/studebaker/champion/1820537.html