Will have more pics in about a week, but here's a few before shots. Just rolled it into the shop. Going to repair the floors, rockers, and quarters and then get the body off the frame so I can clean up the frame and rebuild suspension etc. I've got a few more before shots, I'll edit those in when I've got a bit more time. What do you all think? (sorry these pics aren't the best...camera phone...) Update: Found a donor car! Sorry, progress has been a little slow...but, things are looking to pick up in a hurry. I just took delivery of this nice 4 door. Does the frame interchange between the 2 door and the 4 door??? I also picked up a tri power...which I'll have to work out some linkage for etc. Hoping to get a good productive day in on Saturday and have some pics of the metalwork on the 2 door to share. Update 3/4/12 Got the 4 door started and ran it through the gears. Also, got going on removing the remains of the floor on the holiday. I know, the car isn't braced up...turns out, it wasn't even still attached to the frame in the middle anymore, so I decided to just get cutting. Will make sure the doors shut etc, and then build in bracing and so on before pulling the body and making the new floor/rockers/lower quarters. What a rusty car!
Look's good, always wanted one. A frend's Mom had one that I would get to drive and LOVED it. It was dark blue with power blue top, never saw another one with that color sheme. Maybe some day.
i have a factory power brake set up for a 54 olds. everything from pedal with power on it to the booster and linkages. if you need it, let me know.
Two toned a lot better than the 55, (which I have). Looks like a great beginning. What colors will it be?
I plan on sticking to this color scheme (mine was actually this orange/copper with white two tone from the factory, with the green interior). Not sure if this orange is exact to the factory orange, but I love this color scheme:
Those are some of the most beautiful cars GM ever produced! Good luck, and I look forward to seeing "after" photos.
Can anyone confirm that the frames interchange between the 2 and 4 door 88s??? I have the shop manual, and it gives alignment specs, and things look like they should line up, but prior to proceeding, I'd appreciate the wisdom of the HAMB on this one. As you see in the pics, I have a pretty rough holiday and a pretty straight 4 door. The 4 door is a runner, so if the frames swap, I think it'd be easier to use the 4 door frame (I already have the body off the 2 door frame) as it's a lot cleaner already and I know it's a running setup. Thoughts on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Take some measurements since you have both frames there. It looks like the share the same wheelbase, so look at location of body mounts etc!!
To the best of my knowledge, it should interchange. If both cars are "88" series, the wheelbases should be the same. They both should also have an equal amount of mounting points between the body and the frame. On full-frame GM cars of that era typically, the only bodystyle of car within a series of similar make- and model of cars (=such as the 1954 Oldsmobile 88 in Your case) to have its unique frame by itself would be the convertible, with its convertible -spec reinforcements and extra bodymounts. Why are You looking to swap frames, BTW?
Considering the 54 is such a classic it seems a shame to waste the 4 door! Maybe that could get the worse frame and try its luck elsewhere. I kinda like that 4 door. Ed
I have the 2 door body already off it's frame. The frame for the 2 door is rough (but serviceable...just a LOT rougher than the 4 door frame). The 2 door was drug out of a field, so you can probably imagine what the underside looks like. With the 4 door in as good of shape as it is, my father in law has suggested I clean it up and drive it for a while to sort out the chassis/drivetrain. I like the lines of the holiday a lot more than the 4 door (always wanted a holiday) so I picked up the 4 door primarily to provide parts. The interior of the 4 door is something out of a horror movie (unfortunately, it's decimated thanks to sitting in a barn for a couple years). Swapping bodies is surprisingly easy, and since I intend to clean up/paint whatever frame goes under the 2 door body, if the 4 door frame is the same, it's the clear choice since it's in great shape. Maybe I'm crazy??
I have some plans for that 4 door/whatever frame isn't used under the holiday, but that will be a different build thread!
As you have both cars there, check it out. I have been told, however, that the hardtops and convertables share the same frame and that the sedan frames were not as stout.
With all due respect, but this particular piece of hearsay myth appears to come up every time anyone contemplates on cutting the roof off their hardtop car on this site, and should be noted to be BUNK. Even if it´s a style of car with an "X" in between the rails of a full rectangular-style frame,(like on an early-to mid-50´s Buick or Cadillac for instance), the convertible frame is still unique with its added reinforcements on the underside of the rails+ extra body mounts that no post sedan- or hardtop car has. I do agree with You though, on that in the event of swapping parts between two cars, it´s always a good idea to make close comparisons between things before taking anything major apart.
Right you are, Sauli. In the 88 series, the frames should be identical, excluding the convertible with its extra add-ons to compensate for absence of roof-joined 'B/C' pillars.
According to the Hollander Interchange manual, all 1954 Olds 88 and Super 88 frames interchange except the convertible. There is a note saying the Holiday hardtop does have extra brackets.
BINGO, Thanks for that info-I was more worried about frames being completely incompatable. I can swap a couple of brackets (well, with how rusty the 2 door is, I will likely be fabricating whatever brackets are needed). Thanks!! Gotta love the HAMB.
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