Hey guys! Just a little introduction. I'm an 18 year old from Mississippi. I've been around old cars most of my life. I'm in love with the 50s music cars everything. I recently picked up a 1958 Oldsmobile 88 holiday 4door. It's a rust free Montana car and I'm doing a complete restoration. Right now I'm trying to get the motor freed up, but I've already picked out a exterior color. But I'm looking for a couple ideas for the interior. I'm thinking white tuck and roll but I'm worried about how hard it would be to clean. I'm going to try to post a picture of the color I'm hoping to use. It's on a 58 impala but I think it'll look great on the olds. Thanks for any suggestions.
I hope you have all of the trim and it's in good shape. There's a lot of chrome on those cars, and I'll bet some of it is hard to find. Good luck with your car. My dad bought a Super 88 four door new in 1958, and my older brother and I (18 & 15) talked him into ordering the J2 option (see dad? It'll get better gas mileage!). On a subsequent trip back to the dealer, he had the end carbs disconnected. He hung the parts the dealer had removed on a nail on the wall in his workshop; I think he was taunting us. Before he removed it however, my older brother taught one of the loudmouth rich kids at school with a '58 Pontiac Chieftain (standard engine) a badly needed lesson.
White tuck & roll should be okay as long as you don't puke on it after a night of Mad Dog 20-20. That shit ain't ever comin' out... Your work is cut out for you with a '58 anything. My theory is that a lot of the bigger cars of the era were junked due to how much more they brought at the junk yard.
Amazingly most trim is there and the chrome is not rusted at all it shined up beautifully! The car is incredibly straight and rust free! I've found a j2 intake to go on it that I will be picking up shortly.what about the dash do you think it would be okay to go with metal flake red on it and mouldings? Were there any of these cars customized back when?
Sorry I'm new to customizing anything my previous cars were factory originals. And this car will be driven ALOT so that's why I was wondering about the tuck and roll.
The way she sits right now. I know major project she's my second restoration project and she's in ten times better shape.
Awesome I'm trying to go a very similar direction with my car except mine is a 1956 Cadillac sedan deville I'm 17 and it's my first car so it's cool to see other people my age with the same interests. I think I'm going to leave my paint but I do like tuck and roll maybe red and white to match the paint.
That is a nice car! I've always wanted a Cadillac! Never found one I could get my hands on. So I got the second best a Buick roadmaster!
The white tuck and roll will be fine. Just don't sit on it with NEW blue jeans as they will leave it tinted.Many customs had white interiors. Go to the Custom Car Chronicle site and search thru Riks pictures. Most likely you will find some inspiration there. There is also a Mild Customs Face Book group that has lots of great pics as well. You will be surprised as to how many of these were customized back in the day. 4 doors included. Good luck and have fun. Torchie
Looks like I'm going to have to make a Facebook account after all I've been avoiding it due to too many relatives on there. How does a metal flake dash do for drivability? Is that gonna blind me?
I second the votes on yes to the tuck and roll. I've driven cars with white tuck and roll interiors as daily drivers for 30+ years. Just regular cleaning and they are good to go.
White is OK if you get the good material. I had a Tee bucket for years with white. We always carried a can of spray cleaner, and used it often. It never stained in years of use, including out of town trips. On the back of the material was written "Genuine Marine Grade Naugahyde". It was not cheap.
I'm way too grubby to use white on my seats, but any color other than brown or black will look dirty after use if you don't keep it clean. White vinyl was popular in the late 50's and early 60s which I assume is the period you're shooting for so I'd say go for it. You can actually buy white vinyl in bulk with pleats already sewn into it, makes it really easy to cover your own door panels and visors and kick panels and stuff. My girlfriend's 51 Chevy has a metalflake dash and it's not overly blinding, not like a chromed dash top would be. I think you'll be fine there too.
Thanks everyone! Looks like it's decide! I think I'll continue to post on here to keep up With what I'm doing. Right now I'm actually a working on pulling the motor so will post later bout it.
Agree with SQUABLOW on the metal flake dash. A lot of it has to do with the dash shape itself. The convex curved style of dash will reflect the sun somewhat. But the chrome dashes that were the fad in the late 40's to early 50's style customs must have been a bear to drive in the sun shine. Not to mention getting hot. As also mentioned unless you are wanting to go with legitimate tuck and roll style upholstery you can get pre sewn pleated material as well as heat sealed pleated material which is what my 56 Merc had. It was a early 60's build. And you do want marine grade as it holds up much better. As far as the FB thing goes. I'm 60 plus and I am on there. Mostly for car related pages and a few old friends. I routinely turn down "friends" request from family members..... Torchie
I have white interior and a mostly chromed dash. Never had a problem with either. I keep a bottle of "goo-gone" and clean paper towels in case the interior gets marked and I have thrown a towel across the dash once in awhile for the sun reflection. But that only usually happens in the mid-morning sun and when driving south.
Well the motor is definitely locked up. It's real good and stuck. It's torn down now and it's been soaking for months but it aint budged. Out curiosity how hard would it be to put a different motor in here and what would require little modifications so that in the future this one can go back in?
If you want to stick with Olds rockets, then 57-64 engines will bolt right in. This includes 371 and 394. I would sell you the 58 Olds engine in my Olds, but I don't think you would want to spend $1,000. My engine is a low mileage rebuild with a cam and edlebrock 4bbl carb. Runs excellent.
Pick up a book titled "Kustomland". It is full of great examples of kustom cars and paint jobs in a specific area of California in the late 50s. I *think* there is a '58 Olds or Buick in there. As for white tuck & roll, I've had it in my '59 Chevy for well over 10 years. It doesn't take any more effort than any other vinyl, but any dirt will be more obvious, faster. It cleans up easily with Simple Green. Flaked dashes take a special car. Pick a theme and stick to it. Don't try to mix too many styles or themes, especially fads.
So is the rocket the only motor that will easily go in? Like a early chevy won't require just a motor mount?
Ok so update on the motor. Still stuck. Removed the timing chain and was trying to pull distributor but no luck. The distributor will not budge at all. Tried to get the transmission off but no luck there either. how do I get to the bolts on the flywheel for the torque converter?
If it has a Hydra- matic and the engine is stuck you are in for a bit of a struggle. As I recall there are quite a few bolts. Should be an access plate on the bottom . You can reach a few thru there but if you can.t turn the engine you won't be able to get to then all. And if you do get it loose be ready for a deluge of tranny fluid. Dyna flow have the same issue. They don't go together like a SB and a Turbo 350. The Hydra -Matic and the Dyna-flow don't have torque converters as we now know them. They are called fluid couplers and are a part of the trans. Torchie
That's what I had heard. I'm wondering if I'll really have anything once I get it freed up or should I just go get another block
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