5 vehicles matched Now showing page 1 of 1. It was no longer available in cars in 1961. I have read several histories of the 1949 Oldsmobile and Cadillac V-8s, but never seen Bouvy mentioned. Most contemporary road tests at least mentioned fuel consumption. 78-79; and Josiah Work, 1949 Rocket 88: This Is Not Your Grandpas Oldsmobile, Special Interest Autos #139 (January-February 1994), reprinted in The Hemmings Book of Oldsmobiles, pp. A special 1963 10.5:1 version was also produced with 345hp (257kW). [citation needed] Most 260s were coupled to the Turbo Hydramatic 200 transmission,[citation needed] but a 5-speed manual transmission was also available in some vehicles. It used a very oversquare 4.057in (103.0mm) bore and Oldsmobile small-block standard 3.385in (86.0mm) stroke for 350cuin (5.7L). A tracking pixel, sometimes known as a web beacon, is a tiny image file that loads from a remote server; it's a type of embedded content (as is the button itself, which loads from the same domain). You never mentioned it but the 50 Olds in the photo has the single piece windshield. The Nash finished third behind two 88s. Horsepower: 135 hp at 3,600 RPM Torque: 263-lb.ft. The OHV V8 would dominate the American industry well into the 1980s, resulting in some staggeringly powerful engines whose output has only recently been surpassed. Note the stylized rocket chrome trim on the front fender. The Generation II V8 ended production in 1990. The Vimeo Cookie Policy does not currently disclose the normal durations of the cookies and similar technologies the Vimeo platform uses, but it appears that some may remain in your browser (or other user agent) for as long as your settings permit. Just didnt have any power. R. V. Hutchinson, who was an Oldsmobile engineer prior to transferring to Product Studies #5 when C. L. McCuen was appointed 1st Vice President in charge of engineering, designed and build a heavy in-line 6-cylinder (850 lbs.) An 88 also won the first grueling Carrera Panamericana, the 2,176-mile (3,500-km) Mexican Road Race. They were criticized at the time as being unsafe in city traffic because they picked up their air too close to the tail pipes of cars ahead. A few years later, the Chevrolet engine started taking over the flathead Fords role as the cheap-and-easy hot-rodder choice. That never happened; by the fifties, the industry was far more interested in advertised horsepower than gas mileage. In any case, the early postwar period saw the emergence of the California customizing/hot rod scene; the advent of the fiberglass kit car body manufacturers such as Bill Tritts Glaspar (Tritt was retained briefly by GM as a consultant in 1951 when they were considering building a lightweight fiberglass-bodied sports car); and the birth of modern motorsport in the US with the founding of the SCCA and the advent of road racing as the most popular form of competition. Since the advance design group envisioned a 1949 introduction for their new engine, the project was dubbed SV-49. 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The 425cuin (7.0L) big-block was the first tall-deck "big block," produced from 1965 through 1967. (4,705 cc) and were designed to take advantage of research that had been done by GM Research VP Charles Kettering on high-compression engines (of which well have more to say below). Except as otherwise indicated, all written content and images are copyright Aaron Severson dba Ate Up With Motor. Naturally, GM was extremely interested in the potential of high-compression engines for passenger cars, but there were two hold-ups. Comments may be moderated. (Those pages do not currently discuss the storage of data in your browser (or other user agent) using technologies other than cookies, e.g., in web storage.) SPECIFICATIONS Engine: OHV 90-degree V-8, cast-iron block and heads Displacement: 303-cu.in. 324 rocket v8. Offenhauser 3200 49-53 Olds Rocket Dual Quad Intake, Small Port $889.99 Ships Free . 1957 also offered the "J2" option, with three 2-barrel carburetors atop the 371 cubic inch V8; making this a true luxury performance . These cookies expire in about 15 days if the user clicks "Remember Me" when logging in; if not, the cookies normally expire when the user closes their browser (or other user agent), or, failing that, within about two days. The Oldsmobile engine was then pretty new, a new 88 was expensive, and Im guessing that getting a decent crate or junkyard engine would cost almost as much as a decent Cadillac V-8. Even in markets where fuel is substantially more expensive than in the U.S., fuel efficiency is widely regarded in purely economic terms. It shared the same compression ratio of the Toronado Rocket at 10.5:1. (Ten of the 13 88s that entered that race managed to finish, itself an impressive feat.) Both are well-documented, albeit relatively short-lived. 10-17, 56; Richard M. Langworth, 1954 Packard Pacific: Last of the Great Straight Eights, Special Interest Autos #51 (May-June 1979), reprinted in The Hemmings Book of Postwar American Independents: driveReports from Special Interest Autos Magazine, ed. The end of the Korean conflict sent the country in a foreign exchange crisis that lasted until the middle 90s, cutting imports and providing the basis for national production. Oldsmobile V8s can be grouped into five "generations.". For sale 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 custom, 2 door hardtop. With an 8.75:1 compression ratio and a 2-barrel carburetor, the Olds 215 had the same ratedhp, 155hp (116kW) at 4800rpm, as the Buick 215, with 220ftlbf (300Nm) of torque at 2400rpm. Making its debut in 1957 as standard equipment on all Olds models,[4] the 371 was produced through 1960. The turbocharger fitted to the V8 engine was a small-diameter Garrett T5 model with integral wastegate, manufactured by Garrett AiResearch, and produced a maximum of 5psi (34kPa) boost at 2200rpm. These photos were taken outside the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California (a few blocks south of LAX). It was rated at 215hp (160kW) at 4600rpm and 300lbft (410Nm) at 3200rpm. The Rocket, along with the 1949 Cadillac V8, were the first post-war OHV crossflow cylinder head V8 engines produced by General Motors. BMEP, IMEP), you will immediately see that bore/stroke ratio does not directly effect engine power. This is incorrect, in the context of wider vs. narrower bore sizes with the same displacement. Flory, J. Well, Oldsmobile had had a hard time finding its way once GM started trying to define the identities of each of its brands as the _______ brand (which, it must be said, was fast becoming the most meaningful distinction between them. An outstanding 350 Oldsmobile engine for sale would be perfect in a Cutlass convertible. Google, AdSense, Google AdSense, Google Analytics, and other related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. Although Oldsmobiles official involvement in racing was limited, the Rocket 88 promptly proceeded to clean up in competition. the hydra matic trans was it used in both the OLds and Caddy of 49 and on.I have a 1950 series 62 Caddy. Thanks! Free shipping for many products! in. The engine proved so popular, the division's 88 models were popularly called Rocket 88s. The engine is also known for its reliability, smoothness and quietness. Nice Article thank you for preserving our history. You shared that mileage ranged from 12 MPG 18 MPG depending on the year. Until well into the 1950s, most engines were undersquare, with a narrow cylinder bore and a long piston stroke. The 1955 model upped the compression to 8.5:1 for 185hp (138kW) and 320lbft (430Nm) in the 88 and 202hp (151kW) and 332lbft (450Nm) in the Super 88 and 98. 1948 & 1949 Cadillac Fastbacks, Special Interest Autos #11 (June-July 1972), pp. Oldsmobile's own L34 350-cubic-inch (5.7L) V8 was used in the 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass "S", 1979 Hurst/Olds models and 1980 "4-4-2". The Olds engine performed well and was very smooth running but didnt have as much scat as the modified flat head. This setting is stored in your browser (or other user agent) in the gdpr[consent_types] cookie described in "Privacy and Cookie Preferences" above, so if you delete that cookie or access the Ate Up With Motor website from a different device, browser, or user agent, you will need to adjust this setting again if you still wish to hide the box. The introduction of the "Rocket 8" V-8 for the 1949 Oldsmobiles was perhaps the pinnacle of his achievements, incorporating in its overhead-valve design such features as five main bearings,. 394s were produced from 19591964 and were available on many Olds models. A diagram of where the hydraulic or solid lifter fits in a flathead might be helpful to readers. (5,880 cc) engine was a massive straight eight with nine main bearings may have played a role in that!) The difference is that many of the things earlier generations feared (such as heavy dependence on foreign oil and its associated political ramifications) are now familiar reality rather than speculation. Oldsmobile 88 - Wikipedia Instead, influenced by the Space Race between the United States and the USSR, the legendary Rocket was born, available in Oldsmobile's 88, Super 88, and 98 models. Comments may be moderated. By 1952, the 88 was growing inexorably bigger and although Oldsmobile engineers had little trouble getting more power out of the Rocket engine by 1955, it boasted 202 gross horsepower (151 kW) newer, lighter cars soon surpassed its performance. In 1985, roller lifters, floating piston wrist pins, and swirl port intake runners were added. The effective dates of the current versions are: Paid advertisements and/or sponsored links on Ate Up With Motor will be identified with words such as "Sponsor," "Sponsors," "Sponsored Link(s)," "Sponsored Content," "Ad," "Advertisement," "Advertisement(s)," or "Paid Promotion" (and/or by images or icons containing such words). The following are turn key engines available . The 1976-1979 Cadillac Seville was equipped with a version of this engine featuring an analog Bendix/Bosch electronic port fuel injection system, making this the first American mass-produced car with EFI as standard equipment.[18]. Yes, the Hydra-Matic had a parking pawl, which was engaged by selecting reverse with the engine off. in. Motor Trend (July 1950) mentioned getting 18.8 mpg at a steady 50 mph and a 1950 Olds entered in the Mobilgas Economy Run bettered 20 mpg. (Author diagram). Im not a mechanic, so Im afraid I cannot provide any kind of repair advice. Submitting a comment signifies your acceptance of our Comment Policy please read it first! The engine built in the 1955 Super 88 and 98 models delivered 295 horsepower. All Oldsmobile V8s use a 90 bank angle, and most share a common stroke dimension: 3.4375in (87.31mm) for early Rockets, 3.6875in (93.66mm) for later Generation 1 engines, and 3.385in (86.0mm) for Generation 2 starting in 1964. 770-738-7111. It didnt have an actual Park position until the advent of the controlled-coupling Hydra-Matic in MY1956. 1956 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket The engine design for the Rocket 88 came from GMs chief researcher, Charles Kettering. The Oldsmobile Cutlass, Rocket 88, and other classic models remain very popular among car collectors and Oldsmobile fans. Oldsmobile 1949 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight History Gallery Valuation Rocket 88 (1949 - 1953) 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 These are standard specifications - not necessarily specifications for the vehicle (s) in the photo (s). Liberation is a trademark of Red Hat, Inc. registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and certain other jurisdictions. 16, No. 8-9; Arch Brown, Similar But Different: 1949 Cadillac vs. 1949 Oldsmobile 98, Special Interest Autos #149 (September-October 1995), reprinted in The Hemmings Book of Oldsmobiles: driveReports from Special Interest Autos magazine, eds. Full instrumentation is standard Olds had not yet succumbed to the allure of warning lights. The Rocket 88 won six of nine NASCAR late-model division races in the 1949 season and 10 of 19 races in 1950. Im currently writing a book on Yankee iron of the 1955-1973 period (the true golden age of the American Car in the modern era.) Clarke (Cobham, England: Brooklands Books Ltd., ca. Like all other GM divisions, Olds continued building its own V8 engine family for decades, adopting the corporate Chevrolet 350 small-block and Cadillac Northstar engine only in the 1990s. Oldsmobile V8 engine - Wikipedia The Cadillac engine and the Chrysler FirePower had more power out of the box and as much or more potential. In the mid-1950s, American automakers were engaged in a ferocious horsepower race. Its output of 0.45 hp per cubic inch was 7% better than the 0.42 hp per cubic inch of the popular and widely produced 100hp (75kW) 1949 Ford Flathead V8. Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Mercury were the top sellers and I believe Oldsmobile would come in 5th or 6th place. Did Rock 'n' Roll Really Begin With a Song About a Car? - MotorTrend The Rocket 88 model name was dropped after 1957. Happy to see someone that not only mentions, but appreciates the early Olds. This Is Why We Would Love To Own A 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 - HotCars Your email address will not be published. Two-door fastbacks, like this one, were known as Club Sedans; the four-doors were called Town Sedans. In the spirit of trying to improve a fantastic article. This 1952 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight is a well-priced classic that gives you some of the best styles around. The development testing, however, had been done using the smaller B-body Olds 76 as a test mule. Did G M make a 1949-50 olds 88 or 98 4 door fastback ? Oldsmobiles first postwar engine was born during the UAW strike that shut down GM production from November 1945 through March 1946. The main qualities that make an engine attractive to hot-rodders are how much it costs, how easily it can be hopped up, and how much power you can get out of it without blowing it up. All of this was occurring from about 1948 thru the first half of the 50s. Some competitors were a bit faster all-out and a few could beat the Olds off the line, but the 88 was one of the fastest cars in America in 1949. First, their volumetric efficiency is poor. To learn more about how Google may use information collected by the Google Analytics service, see their "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services" page, the "Information for Visitors of Sites and Apps Using Google Analytics" section of the Google Analytics "Safeguarding your data" help page, and the Google Privacy Policy. 1956 Oldsmobile 88 4dr St Rod, new gas tank, new brakes and tires, rebuilt front end, good body, new paint, nice patina, good original interior, rebuilt . Some consider Rocket 88, recorded by Jackie Brenston in 1951, to be the first rock and roll song. I dont know what its survival rate is, though. PLEASE DON'T SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED CONTENT YOU AREN'T AUTHORIZED TO USE! 12 (December 1964): 36-47; William Kovarik, Ph.D., Charles F. Kettering and the 1921 Discovery of Tetraethyl Lead In the Context of Technological Alternatives, originally presented to the Society of American Engineers Fuels & Lubricants Conference, Baltimore, MD, 1994, revised 1999, www.radford. They may persist for up to two years. Some Oldsmobile employees detested that name, but it remained strongly associated with Oldsmobile well into the 1960s. A nominal 360 hp was claimed in 1967 when equipped with a W30 camshaft, 4-barrel, and outside air induction, 502 of which were factory produced. The bore was so wide that the cylinder walls were siamesed, as in the Chevrolet 400 V8, with no space for coolant to flow between the cylinders. The wp-donottrack_feed cookie, which controls a blog feed, was set by accessing the dashboard menu for the WP DoNotTrack plugin (which we do not currently use on this website); this cookie normally expires in about one year. 2 barrel carburet . The top brass equivocated, but Skinner finally got the green light. Internal combustion engines are essentially air pumps, so their power depends greatly on how much air-fuel mixture can flow into the cylinders to burn. The FirePower, Buick Nailhead, and Chevrolet V-8s didnt exist yet. Fabulous article. Shortly after the war, Ketterings engineers built an experimental 181 cu. And just where is this crazy car heaven where Rocket 88 Oldsmobiles and Avantis are parallel parked on the street side by side? Off.).) Even the flathead Ford held up well (courtesy of the Ardun hop-up parts mail order catalogue.) It also used the .921in lifter bore size of the Toronado Rocket. It was the seminal American muscle car, predating Chrysler's Hemi-powered 300-C by . Rockets, Vikings and Your Old Man. Outlawed by NASCAR: - 1957 Oldsmobile J-2 | Hemmings For the Rocket 88, Oldsmobile came up with a 303 cubic inch V8 capable of a maximum 135 hp and 283 lb-ft of torque. The following year, 88s won 10 out of 19 Grand National races and set a new speed record at Daytona. However, the only badging identifying it as such was a simple "88" underneath each taillight. This was the only engine offered in 1923, when the Model 47 continued alone. 442 . The Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s represented the start of several major trends in American engine design. In MY1950, total production was 407,889, of which only 33,257 were the 76, so 374,632 (91.8%) had V-8 power. Me at the age of 70 in the back seat with a 21-year-old blond. There will typically be several such cookies, each beginning with "gdpr" (e.g., gdpr[allowed_cookies], gdpr&5Bprivacy_bar&5D, and gdpr[consent_types]). The 403 Oldsmobile was generally painted "Corporate GM Blue" on every model line it was equipped in. $300.00. 1949 Oldsmobiles proclaimed that they had Futuramic styling (theres even a Futuramic badge on the front fenders), but it was updating a basic body introduced in 1941.
