1950 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket– Restoration Project

Owner: Mike Loughrey

Work Performed

  • Electrical system (brand new electrical harness installed from front to back, along with new switches)
  • Fuel system (installed new fuel tank, rebuilt pump, sender, lines, and fuel gauge)
  • Cooling system (installed new hoses, clamps, water pump, thermostat, rebuilt radiator, and flushed system)
  • Brake system (installed new master cylinder, wheel cylinders, brake lines, brake shoes & drums, and bleed system)
  • Installed rebuilt starter
  • New battery and accessory components installed
  • Mount and balanced new white wall tires
  • Ignition service (installed new plugs, coil, igniter, points and capacitor, and set the proper timing)
  • Oil service
  • New engine & transmission mounts installed
  • Repaired exhaust system (manifolds and exhaust pipping)
  • Driveshaft serviced (new u-joints installed)
  • Rear differential service
  • Valve cover gaskets replaced
  • Front and rear seat belts installed
  • Reupholstered carpet, headliner, and sun visors
  • Interior lighting installed
  • Installed rebuilt carburetor
  • Overhauled front suspension (installed new sway bar link, control arms & bumpers, idler arm, springs, knee shocks, idler arm support bracket, tie rods, and king pins)
  • Overhauled rear suspension (installed new rear differential bushings, rear springs, knee action shocks, track bar bushings, shock links, control arm pivot pins, bar link, and axle support arm bushings)

Briefly about the project

When Mike purchased this 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Rocket he trusted us to restore this classic back to better than new driving condition. What started out as a general service and inspection to see what the vehicle needed, snowballed into a restoration project of nearly all major vehicle systems, along with reupholstering and adding seat belts to the interior. The very first component that needed to be addressed was the failed starter, resulting in a rebuild. The vehicle’s entire electrical harness, from front to back, was tossed and replaced with a brand new one. Fuel delivery and ignition was poor in every aspect which concluded to new components being fitted, some of which including a rebuilt carburetor, plugs, lines, as well as dialing everything in. Both the cooling and brake systems were addressed and redone. To complete the package the entire front and rear suspension was overhauled to ensure the vehicle performs well as a complete driver!

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