help with 78 olds
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Illinois
help with 78 olds
i bought myself a 78 olds delta 88 royale for 200 bucks that im gonna run in the demo this july. it was originally a 350 diesel but someone converted it to gas, the 2 people that have looked at it think its a 350 olds. all i know is its an 8 cylinder with a 4 barrel carb on it. it runs pretty rough because i think its been sitting for a while so tomorrow im gonna get new plugs, wires, cap and rotor and change the oil and rebuild the carb. i was wondering if anyone could help identify the motor for me or let me know if all the olds v8 motors are the same since i wasnt sure if the cap and rotors were different. also if anyone could give me any links to a website with information on 78 olds 88's that would be great, ive already done a few searches on google for information but all i get are parts or sales ads. thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
I need so many parts for my '78 Delta 88 to bring it back to what my grandad bought new.Replace 78 Olds with 92 F150 4x4 and you've got about what I'm thinking. To me they're about the best looking thing ever made.
Last edited by The Fife; May 25, 2004 at 01:25 AM. Reason: posting while talking on AIM makes for typos
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 916
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From: SouthWest Ohio
Rebel...
If the motor has been replaced, you could have anything under the hood. Good chance its a 350, but the big blocks and small blocks look a lot the same. If you saw the two of them side-by-side, you could see that the 400, 425, 455 block is wider than the 307, 330, 350. They all use the same 10 bolt valve cover design, but some of them had some of the bolt holes blanked-out. For years Olds used a large, raised casting number on the outboard side of the cylinder heads. This is a clue as to the engine type/year. If I remember right, the serial number is on the front of the block...but I'm not sure. I think they changed the engine color in the late 70's or early 80's from gold to blue/green. If the engine has the normal-looking GM HEI distributor, I believe all the caps and rotors were the same.
There's a new Olds site called www.oldsmobileforums.com . Its still in beta, but maybe someone there can help you.
Good luck.
MR
If the motor has been replaced, you could have anything under the hood. Good chance its a 350, but the big blocks and small blocks look a lot the same. If you saw the two of them side-by-side, you could see that the 400, 425, 455 block is wider than the 307, 330, 350. They all use the same 10 bolt valve cover design, but some of them had some of the bolt holes blanked-out. For years Olds used a large, raised casting number on the outboard side of the cylinder heads. This is a clue as to the engine type/year. If I remember right, the serial number is on the front of the block...but I'm not sure. I think they changed the engine color in the late 70's or early 80's from gold to blue/green. If the engine has the normal-looking GM HEI distributor, I believe all the caps and rotors were the same.
There's a new Olds site called www.oldsmobileforums.com . Its still in beta, but maybe someone there can help you.
Good luck.
MR
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OK, here's the easy way to tell.
It'll also work to tell the between a 307 Olds vs 305 Chev...
If the headers (exhaust manifold) are below the spark plugs, it's prob. an Olds motor, if you have to reach through them to get at the spark plugs, it's not.
It'll also work to tell the between a 307 Olds vs 305 Chev...
If the headers (exhaust manifold) are below the spark plugs, it's prob. an Olds motor, if you have to reach through them to get at the spark plugs, it's not.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
Is it green? I need interior parts like none other. What condition is the instrument panel in? What radio and other options? How about the stainless trim above the wheels? Are the front side turn markers in one piece? Hood ornamant and 'Royale' badging on the front and sides still there and not cracked?
