Old's Rocket Motor

Have a question about a Olds motor. I found a 53-54 ( not sure what year.) olds rocket motor and tran's. It's complete, does not run. The guy want's $150.00 for both. Is it worth it? I dont have anything to put it in but Im thinking of a future project? Let me know

Thanks.

 

Is the trans standard or auto? Well, either way, if it is complete, that is a deal.....I'd take it. If it happens to have a 4 barrel carb. it is a real deal.

 

id go out on a limb and say yes

 

It's a automatic.

 

If the block is not broken as in great big chunks missing, I'd say it's a deal.

 

As long as it hasn't laid outside and filled with water, that's a fair deal.

 

The motor was in the car under a shed, I have known about for two years. The guy pulled the motor and trans out together. Been sitting on his shop floor ever since. Im going to go get it today.

Thank's for the help.

 

Well, give us the head number (should be a single digit), and it'll narrow down the application.

 

I hope I did this copy and paste right. Here is a thread that tells you a great deal of info on the early to mid 50's Olds motors.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47584

Yup, it worked. Look through the complete thread because there is a whole bunch of info you can use.

 

Thanks for the link Ratatat. I bought it yesterday. Yes it's a 4 barrel carb Randaddy. The guy thinks it is a 55 year. What c.i.d. is it? Also because it might be a 55 model does it make it less desireable?

Thank's

 

if you had to ask that question, you don't deserve to own it...

 

That's kinda mean, but I have to admit I thought it was funny.

 

It's only less desirable if you are trying to restore a numbers matching car that does not match the engine you have.

 

Im thinking of putting it in a late 40's/early 50's chevy truck.

 

Any '54-'56 Olds engine is 324 cubic inches.

 

Thank's

 

Above the center exhaust port will be a #7,8 or 10. If its a 55' it would have an 8 there, 7=54, 10=56. Either one would be a 324 cube motor, the #10 heads flowed better from the factory and are the most sought after, fine score either way.

 

two motors for 150 bucks? i dont have anything to put em in either but for 75 bucks a pop i would find something. heck id buy em just to sit and look at them. im weird like that.

 

It's one motor with trans. I thought it was a 52-53 but it might be a 55.

 

Thanks for the info badger. I will check the numbers tomorrow.

 

Checked the number today and it is an 8, so that means it's a 1955. Thank's for the info.

 

Sounds like a 324, Id buy that sucker FAST.

 

Been nearly 2 years ago, but I made a good buy on a pair of restoration shop built 1955 Oldsmobile engines. Even proper code paint on them and every bolt replaced. Needed the balancer, carb and distributor, but at $305 each, why not?

One went into my 55 Olds Holiday and the other is still in my friends shop that I got the Holiday from. I've had nothing but the best of luck with the Olds 324's even when they were abused. The one in the Holiday had 95K on it and I don't think the oil had ever been changed. The oil pump pick-up screen was caked solid with crude except for an opening about the size of a thumbnail and the rocker area looked like piles of coal. But the engine still ran strong and didn't smoke. I was just fortunate that the shop owner was retiring and didn't put a minimum on the engines that were nearby.

The 4 speed air cooled tranny tested out great and was just resealed, cleaned and painted while out of the car. For only being rated at 205 HP, it's a good set up................

P.S. Repainted it to suite the car, but it WAS green......

 

I know that it needs rebuilding, I tried to turn the engine by hand and it didnt move. Did they come with a 3 speed automatic?

 

Read my post just ahead of this one. The only automatic trans is a 4 speed air cooled unit that is very strong. Not easy to find someone to work on them, but good mechanics know how very good that particular trans is. The very same unit was used in large city buses.........

 

I agree it is most likely the 324 and they are particularly good engines. Easy rebuild, lots of parts available and still popular after all these years. 324's were in 54 -56 Olds', from 50 thru 53 they were 303's, another popular engine.

Can't speak to the 55-56, but Olds had both a 3 speed auto and a 4 speed auto in 57. Likely the same in 55-56

I have the 371 which came out in 1957.

 

The air cooled 4 speed hydromatic ended part way through the 56 model. The 56 heads were a much better design for greater horsepower and hooked up to the 4 speed hydros were the best combination you could hope for. Another interesting note of the air cooled 4 speed hydro was that it has no park position on the indicator. After turning off the engine, you would put the trans in reverse that has a parking prawl in it to keep it in place even if you forget to put the emergency brake on.

 

ssrs71 Try kanter auto supply in Boonton New Jersy for rebuild kits for engine , complete and cheap

 

57 Oldsmobiles had one, and only one automatic, the 4 speed Jetaway hydramatic. The 1-2 and 3-4 shifts, especially the 3-4 shifts were barely noticeable, so alot of people thought these transmissions were 3 speeds, but are really 4 speed automatics, the successor to the single coupling hydro being mentioned in this thread.