I recently bought a 55 Olds 88 4 door sedan. This is my first old car, my first rod. I am pretty much a novice so I'm turning to you for help. As an engineer I am good a picking up on new ideas and I am not bad with the wrench either.
Here's what I have. 324 ci rocket V8. Hydramatic trans. 4-barrel Rochester carb. Seems like everything is pretty original. Runs okay, the rear main seal leaks like a seive, and I think the front seal does too.
I would like to keep the Rocket and get rid of the Hydramatic and put in a TH350 or 400 trans. I also have an interest in redoing the carb and intake or possibly putting a EFI on it. I think the old V8 is a good starting point and I am sure that I can squeeze more HP and torque out of it than the stock 188hp. Of course anything I do would include a total teardown and rebuild, maybe overboring the cylinders, etc, etc.
Does anyone know much about the 55 Rocket block? Is it the same as a Chevy? There are tons and tons of small block Chevy (SBC) parts available but very few Olds. I'm sure it would be easier to get a crate SBC and start from scratch. But I am sort of nostalgic and would like to keep the Rocket. Everyone has an SBC, you even see them in Fords sometimes. I'd like to steer away from the SBC if possible. Does anyone know any resources for compatible 55 Rocket parts? Although I am somewhat nostalgic I would like to put on new performance parts when possible.
Any ideas guys?
Thanks
Here's what I have. 324 ci rocket V8. Hydramatic trans. 4-barrel Rochester carb. Seems like everything is pretty original. Runs okay, the rear main seal leaks like a seive, and I think the front seal does too.
I would like to keep the Rocket and get rid of the Hydramatic and put in a TH350 or 400 trans. I also have an interest in redoing the carb and intake or possibly putting a EFI on it. I think the old V8 is a good starting point and I am sure that I can squeeze more HP and torque out of it than the stock 188hp. Of course anything I do would include a total teardown and rebuild, maybe overboring the cylinders, etc, etc.
Does anyone know much about the 55 Rocket block? Is it the same as a Chevy? There are tons and tons of small block Chevy (SBC) parts available but very few Olds. I'm sure it would be easier to get a crate SBC and start from scratch. But I am sort of nostalgic and would like to keep the Rocket. Everyone has an SBC, you even see them in Fords sometimes. I'd like to steer away from the SBC if possible. Does anyone know any resources for compatible 55 Rocket parts? Although I am somewhat nostalgic I would like to put on new performance parts when possible.
Any ideas guys?
Thanks