I have read several histories of the 1949 Oldsmobile and Cadillac V-8s, but never seen Bouvy mentioned. A diagram of where the hydraulic or solid lifter fits in a flathead might be helpful to readers. And just where is this crazy car heaven where Rocket 88 Oldsmobiles and Avantis are parallel parked on the street side by side? (This cant be viewed as an entirely altruistic effort, since GM still owned a major stake in the Ethyl Corporation, the principle producer of the tetraethyl lead additive that was the primary octane booster used in contemporary gasoline.) Output was 185hp (138kW) and 320lbft (430Nm). The Oldsmobile 88 (marketed from 1989 on as the Eighty Eight) is a full-size car that was sold and produced by Oldsmobile from 1949 until 1999. 34-41; Arch Brown, Richard Langworth, and the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, Great Cars of the 20th Century (Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd., 1998); F. Gibson Butler, History of the Rocket Engine, originally written 15 November 1977 and excerpted in Desert Rocket Report: Newsletter of the Oldsmobile Club of Arizona October 2004, pp. Other American manufacturers would reach the same conclusion. ), If one was trying to tally how many Rocket engines were built in Olds cars in 1949-50, do you have those numbers? The _gat cookie, which may appear as _gat_gtag_UA_6113964_2, was sometimes set along with the _ga and _gid cookies to control how frequently requests were sent to the Google Analytics servers; this cookie typically persisted for only a few minutes at a time. 1950 Oldsmobile 88 | Hemmings By contrast, both the Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s were oversquare, with a wide bore and a short stroke. It used a 4.126in (104.8mm) bore and 3.975in (101.0mm) stroke. It has been noted to go up to $100,000 at some auctions. It was a sliding gear like a manual and held in some fashion I cant remember because it couldnt lock to the engine through the torus member. (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). Clarke (Cobham, England: Brooklands Books Ltd., ca. In shape and size, the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 is not much different from the Pontiac Streamline and Chevrolet Fleetline whose body shell it shares. However, former Cadillac engineer Harry Barr, who led the development of Cadillacs first OHV V8, later asserted that Charles L. McCuen, then GMs vice president of engineering (and the former general manager of Oldsmobile) had ordered Cadillac chief engineer Jack Gordon to show Cadillacs OHV design to Oldsmobile carburetor engineer Tony Wauters. Big block Oldsmobile Rocket 442 crate engines are also available. Performance modifications included a "hot" camshaft (in reality, just a camshaft used in various applications during the '70s with .440"/.440" lift and 196/208 duration at .050"), stiffer valve springs, a larger vibration damper (same as all '73-'79 350s, 403s, and 455s), a Y-pipe dual-outlet exhaust system, and richer secondary metering rods in the carburetor. If anyone at GM had had doubts about offering the big engine in the smaller body, the sales alone would have been enough to convince them. The placement of the valves also means that the combustion chamber has a smaller surface area and thus greater thermal efficiency some 20% better than a comparable flathead. 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. Thanks, I have enjoyed reading your many excellent articles. The final 1990 configuration was rated at 140hp (100kW) at 3200 rpm and 255lbft (346Nm) of torque at 2000 rpm. Plus, there is a cool mix of a preserved chrome cruiser with the right upgrades to make it more enjoyable for modern times. The Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s represented the start of several major trends in American engine design. Classic Oldsmobile Rocket 88 for Sale - ClassicCars.com I have read and accepted the Privacy Policy Raises and Lowers - 4 Leg Suspension - New Paint Job 2 Tone Black & Copper - New Starter - New A/C - Cloth Bench Seating - New Battery - New Flowmaster Exhaust - MSD Ignition - Headers - $5000 of Mechanical Work Just Done Oldsmobiles companion make, the Viking had a horizontal-valve V8 with two-plane crankshaft in the early thirties. Some auction action surrounding 1956 Oldsmobiles tells a similar story: (4,705 cc) displacement of the original prototypes once higher-octane fuels became widely available, raising compression ratios to maintain the same output with lower fuel consumption. Im not sure about the early Hydramatics but later ones, 54-56 you put in reverse to park. Whether you are looking for a Rocket 455, a 350, or maybe an Oldsmobile 403 engine for sale, we have the ideal replacements ready . [12] The Oldsmobile engine was very similar to the Buick engine, but not identical: it had larger wedge combustion chambers with flat-topped (rather than domed) pistons, six bolts rather than five per cylinder, and slightly larger intake valves; the valves were actuated by shaft-mounted rocker arms like the Buick and Pontiac versions, but the shafts and rockers were unique to Oldsmobile. Most components and accessories are interchangeable. 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 - RK Motors 16, No. in. 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. Oldsmobile like mine are real popular in australia. Some of the photos in our Avanti article, and those of our story on the Packard One-Twenty, were taken at the same time. I dont know what its survival rate is, though. The shape of a flatheads combustion chambers also limits its maximum compression ratio (the amount the fuel mixture is compressed before burning). I have a 62 olds super 88. The Rocket V8 was the subject of many first and lasts in the automotive industry. Those were the good old days. ), When you list the OHV Detroit engines that came along after the Rocket, the DeSoto Hemi of 1952 and Plymouth Poly of 1956 may merit mentioncant recall if the 1955 Packard V8 got its curtain call. (Author diagram). Horsepower: 135 hp at 3,600 RPM Torque: 263-lb.ft. 1957 also offered the "J2" option, with three 2-barrel carburetors atop the 371 cubic inch V8; making this a true luxury performance . Crane said Bouvy was Engine/Camshaft designer of the 1949 Cadillac V-8. It has gained popularity among young muscle car lovers. From 1950 until 1974, the 88 was the division's most profitable line, particularly the entry level models such as the 88 and Dynamic 88. 76. Adding turn signals, backup lights, windshield washers, and heater tacked an additional $112 to the price these items wouldnt be standard for several more years. (For more information about our discontinuation of Google Analytics tracking on this website, see the "Online Tracking" section of the Privacy Policy. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 has a current value close to $96,250 at some auctions. When the engine is running, transmission oil pressure disengages the pawl. Even still, the same design philosophy carried with it throughout its production run. The first generation of Oldsmobile V8s ranged from 1949-1964. iThemes is one of the Liquid Web family of brands; iThemes and Liquid Web are trademarks of Liquid Web, LLC.). The prototypes, which first ran in November 1946, were 287 cu. Note the quadrant for the Hydra-Matic atop the steering column. ), Diagram of a typical pushrod/rocker-arm layout of an overhead-valve engine. Its tempting to speculate what might have happened had the the U.S. industrys push in the fifties been for efficiency rather than the (ultimately Pyrrhic) horsepower race, although that would admittedly have been unlikely. The other members may be able to help you decide whether a price is fair, and in some cases, they may even know the specific car (Ikes 53? An Ultra High Compression Toronado Rocket version of the 425cuin (7.0L) V8 was made for the 1966 Toronado. $8,888 or BEST REASONABLE OFFER. Hemmings Motor News has been serving the classic car hobby since 1954. However, the cookie may remain on your device for as long as the settings of your browser (or other user agent) permit. Nice Article thank you for preserving our history. Some early 307s were painted GM Corporate blue, but most were painted satin black. (These cookies are not usually set for administrative users, since comments they submit while logged in are associated with their user ID number and user profile information rather than a manually entered name and email address.). I think current brand-management logic would probably consider Oldsmobile rather hopeless. Diagram of a typical pushrod/rocker-arm layout of an overhead-valve engine. Oldsmobile might be gone, but the Rocket brand hasn't been forgotten by collectors shopping for a 1950s American automotive icon. Output ranged from 160-325hp (119-242kW). hi, i have a engine with thename oldsmobile rocket on it, where can i see what sizethe engine is, 305, 394 plse i need this info as i want to rebuild this engine, thanx. in. I would certainly agree that the Rocket V-8 was overshadowed pretty quickly, in part because Oldsmobile didnt pursue the competition or performance avenues to the same extent Pontiac did in the late 50s. This problem did not appear until the engine had over 50,000 miles (80,000km) on it. 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.) OHV engines can also support much higher compression ratios. Its true Oldsmobile didnt really maintain that position for long and didnt try again to go for the performance market until the 60s, but having a short season isnt the same as being overhyped. Call 800.979.0122, 7am-10pm, everyday. It was rated at 350 horsepower (261kW) and 440lbft (597Nm) of torque with a Rochester 4-barrel, and 360hp (268kW) with the L69 tri 2-barrel option in 1966. Each PayPal payment or donation button may also incorporate a tracking pixel called "pixel.gif" (which loads from paypalobjects.com). 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). Oldsmobile 88 - Wikipedia . [[[Chevrolet Corvair#First generation (19601964)#{{{section}}}|contradictory]]]. (Thats a lesson that many Jaguar and Porsche owners have learned the hard way.). "Alternative Engines: Part 2--Buick V8", in, Davis, Marlan. Thank you so much for further refining my understanding of my 52 Super 88 Holiday Coupe.I love this car for its rich history, and the fact that I inherited it from a dear, tragically taken friend. Terry Ehrich and Richard Lentinello (Bennington, VT: Hemmings Motor News, 2001), pp. ), This cookie was set if you clicked the "Disable Google Analytics Tracking" link to prevent the Google Analytics service from tracking your use of the Ate Up With Motor website. Oldsmobile's 1949 overhead valve V-8 launched an engine revolution Based on the Cadillac Northstar engine, this 4.0-liter engine, called Aurora, was a DOHC design with four valves per cylinder. A special 1963 10.5:1 version was also produced with 345hp (257kW). Olds were very popular in Brazil but I can t give you any numbers. All 425 engines were fitted with forged steel crankshafts with harmonic balancers. Oldsmobiles first OHV V8, dubbed the Rocket engine, had a 3.75-inch (95.3mm) bore and a 3.44-inch (87.3mm) stroke, compared to 3.25 inches (82.6mm) and 3.88 inches (98.4mm) respectively for the straight eight the Rocket replaced. The Olds Rocket 88 engine went through modifications during the 1950's For the 1955 model year Oldsmobile increased the compression ratio which helped put out 185 horsepower for the Olds 88 model. The Generation II V8 ended production in 1990. Classifieds for Classic Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The icing on the cake was that fuel consumption was reduced by about 10% compared to the old L-head engine. The 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88s were considerably cheaper than the 49s, although that was largely because Hydra-Matic, which had been standard equipment on all 1949 V8-powered cars, reverted to being a $185 option. 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. 1951 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 VIN: 517K2919 - CLASSIC.COM Some things, like the Hydra-Matic, arent so bad, but trim pieces can be a major pain, and even the early Rocket engines can be challenging at this point. Talk to the experts. I came here to pick up some information for a book Im writing and was pleasantly surprised to find more than I bargained for. ), These cookies were previously used by the Google Analytics service to collect information about visitors and their use of the Ate Up With Motor website. In practice, owners who did not regularly drive hard enough to engage the front and rear carburetors experienced problems with the linkage and carburetor throats becoming clogged, and some J-2-equipped cars had the front and rear carburetors removed and blocked off. 1956 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket The engine design for the Rocket 88 came from GMs chief researcher, Charles Kettering. Rockets, Vikings and Your Old Man - Engine Builder Magazine 1960 to 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 for Sale on ClassicCars.com Clarke (Cobham, England: Brooklands Books Ltd., ca. Anyway, thanks for making my visit here an enjoyable one. 4 speed hydromantic transmission. Model: 1949 - 1960 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 Engine/Motor: V8 Horsepower: 135 Torque: 283 Pros Cons Design Let's try and forget the full-size Oldsmobile 88 models that were produced all the. . An engines static compression ratio is the ratio of the swept volume of each cylinder to the volume of the combustion chamber; the higher the ratio, the more the engine compresses its fuel mixture before combustion. The 324cuin (5.3L) version was produced from 1954 until 1956. Theres a longstanding popular assumption that the OHV V-8s were dramatically more powerful than the older flatheads they replaced, but it sort of came down to, Well, yeah, eventually. The earliest postwar OHV V-8s didnt start out with much higher compression than the L-heads (since premium fuel capable of supporting higher compression ratios wasnt reliably available until much later) and werent THAT much more powerful. (4,214 cc) L-head straight eight. Required fields are marked *. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 1949 Oldsmobile 88 Futuramic Rocket Engine Magazine Print Ad W31 at the best online prices at eBay! 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. The Oldsmobile engine block formed the basis of the Repco 3-liter engine used by Brabham to win the 1966 and 1967 Formula One world championships. The 303 was available from 1949 until 1953. For engines built during the first part of 1955, the 324 skirted pistons had a reputation for failing due to the cast aluminum skirt separating from its steel interior brace. The Turbo-Rocket V8 was offered exclusively on the Oldsmobile Jetfire, a special version of the Cutlass compact hardtop coupe, which is noteworthy as it is one of the world's first (in fact the second) turbocharged passenger car ever offered for public sale. The second generation of Oldsmobile V8s was produced from 1964-1990. (author diagram). A pushrod layout is more expensive than a flatheads valve gear and the extra mass of pushrods and rocker arms hurts mechanical efficiency. Classic Oldsmobile Rocket 88 for Sale. The desire to raise compression ratios had prompted Kettering and his staff to develop tetraethyl lead as an octane-boosting gasoline additive in the early twenties (as discussed in greater detail in our article on the 1970-1981 Chevrolet Camaro), but the research staff had been working to raise compression ratios even higher. The Rocket Engine Story by One Who Was Thereby Gibson Butler. 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. 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. The Rocket 88 would vacuum the chrome off V8 Fords (unless the Fords owner had made a substantial investment in aftermarket parts) and it took a semi-exotic like the new Jaguar XK-120 to soundly beat the Olds. Any interest in better fuel economy was quickly forgotten; gasoline was cheap and speed sold more cars than parsimony. Additionally, the 403 had windowed main webs, which reduced the internal strength of the block in the crankcase area. Deciding Burrells ideas had promise, Wolfram and Skinner organized a new advance design group to develop a new overhead-valve (OHV) V8 engine and assigned Burrell to lead it. The early Rocket V8 weighs a bit over 700 pounds (318 kg) and had an SAE gross rating of 135 hp (101 kW). Unlike all other 425s, this version was painted slate blue metallic. Hoo, boy, you better run away right now). Revisions to the engine for 1986 included roller lifters with a slightly smaller camshaft (.435"/.438" lift and 194/210 duration at .050"), new heads with smaller, swirl-port intake runners, floating piston pins, and larger piston dishes for lower compression (8.0:1 v. 8.4:1). It was offered in the Hurst/Olds version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais and in the 4-4-2 version of the Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon. As far as I know, the transmission was not harmed. The super-fuels the engineers wanted would probably have added even more. They were all painted Bronze and had V and G stamped on the cylinder heads. It shared the same compression ratio of the Toronado Rocket at 10.5:1. Except as otherwise indicated, all written content and images are copyright Aaron Severson dba Ate Up With Motor. Lakeland, FL 5 years at classiccars.com 3 28,500 1955 Oldsmobile 88 gasoline blue manual New interior paint and re-chromed bumpers. The 303 was produced from 1949-1953. 1956 Oldsmobile Classic Cars for Sale - Classics on Autotrader More Oldsmobile Classics 44. 26-33. From 1961-1963, Oldsmobile manufactured its own version of the Buick-designed, all-aluminum 215 cubic inch (3.5L) V8 engine for the F-85 compact. 1955 Oldsmobile Super 88, 324-V8, 4 bbl carburetor, engine free, I have owned this since 1973, good 4-speed hydramatic transmission, interior useable, nice dash. This car has the pushbutton radio, which cost about $96. Oldsmobile used the popular LV2, a 307-cubic-inch (5.0L) engine, commonly known by the VIN code "Y", from 1980-1990. 1955 Oldsmobile 88 Classic Cars for Sale - Autotrader Classics BMEP, IMEP), you will immediately see that bore/stroke ratio does not directly effect engine power. In short, the flatheads breathing ability is only mediocre. Shortly after the war, Ketterings engineers built an experimental 181 cu. Most contemporary road tests at least mentioned fuel consumption. Produced from 19681980, the Rocket 350 was entirely different from the other GM divisions' 350s. Larry Young. You never mentioned it but the 50 Olds in the photo has the single piece windshield. Cadillacs OHV V8, released around the same time as the new Oldsmobiles, was itself an important and influential engine that earned Motor Trends first Car of the Year Award, but it was the Oldsmobile Rocket 88 that started an avalanche. For more information about how Akamai may collect, process, and/or use personal data, visit the Akamai "Privacy and Policies" page and Privacy Trust Center. The Olds FAQ (www.442.com) has info on where to find and how to decode the engine and body plates for different model years. As mentioned earlier, the Rocket V8 was initially offered only in Oldsmobiles flagship 98, a big luxury car that gave away little to Cadillac in size or appointments. The starting gun of that race was sounded by Oldsmobile, with its advanced new overhead-valve V8 and the new mid-size model that shared its name: the 1949-1950 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. You see, this 1957 Golden Rocket 88 Holiday two-door hardtop, with the J-2 setup and only a few more than 30,000 actual miles, is owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Tom Hummer. 442 . Oldsmobile V8 engine - Wikipedia 303 Oldsmobile V8 parts in-stock with same-day shipping. For anyone interested the 1950 Mexican road race where 12 Olds 88s entered and 10 finished, eight of the 10 were beaten by a flathead Nash. These cookies manage your cookie and privacy preferences. The Oldsmobile Cutlass, Rocket 88, and other classic models remain very popular among car collectors and Oldsmobile fans. Both the Cadillac and Oldsmobile design teams were strongly influenced by the work of GM research chief Boss Charles Kettering, who had been working on high-compression engines since the end of World War I. A new Cadillac was dramatically more expensive and also heavier, and Buicks with the big straight eight engine probably had Dynaflow. They call mine the black ace and they have a club division in the oldsmobile club of america. I never had one apart to that extent, but my understanding from the theory of operation is that there is a pivoting pawl that will engage a toothed wheel when the engine is stopped with reverse selected. The new, mid-sized Oldsmobile Rocket 88 went on sale February 6, exactly seven weeks after the 98. Google, AdSense, Google AdSense, Google Analytics, and other related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. Set an alert to be notified of new listings. The commonest type was the Super 88 4-door sedan, Hydramatic equipped. 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 The Oldsmobile 88 was introduced in 1949 as a replacement for the 70 series. 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. Both of the practical options available in the 1930s and 1940s a train of gears or a metal chain drive were complex, expensive, and noisy. It was the seminal American muscle car, predating Chrysler's Hemi-powered 300-C by . I had been running a very healthy flat head that had several modifications such as a stroker crank, racing cam an two stromberg 97 carburetors. We are known for our high quality,attention to detail and meeting our customers goals. Thanks for the great write up on the history of one of the most influential engines in the automobile industry! The engine was designed by Charles L. McCuen, who later had a hand in approving the Rocket engine for production. Although Oldsmobile (as well as Buick and Pontiac) had used eight-cylinder engines for more than a decade, Cadillac was not happy about the idea of Oldsmobile offering an OHV V8 and convinced corporate management to deny Oldsmobiles request for development funds.