♻️ Grizz’s ~~ ASTRO Van 🚙 Renault SCENIC 1.5dci 🚙 1966 Chevy C10 🚘 1991 Oldsmobile 88 🚙 8/5/26 FORGIVE ME I HAVE SINNED

[Stinkwheel]

23 minutes ago, grizz said:

Probably not this. 
 

It adds more things to go wrong. 

 

Having little clue about what to do, I guess shorter shocks n springs could do it. 

Yeah much as Low rider bagged is a fun thing, I’ve rarely seen budget builds that stay 100% reliable and in theory lots of bracing should be done etc.

I’d go with the shorter springs option (without just cutting them if possible, cut springs are fine and all but these ride nicely and you wouldn’t want to jeopardise that ideally I don’t think) 

[eddyramrod]

Someone's been spotted!

Spotted this late 90’s Olds Eighty-Eight near Worcester on the M5 this afternoon. Made my boring job just that little bit brighter.
I love to see the “Ordinary” Americans being used and enjoyed, just as much as the muscle cars and trucks. 

Facebook group, "American Cars UK"

[grizz]

49 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Someone's been spotted!

Spotted this late 90’s Olds Eighty-Eight near Worcester on the M5 this afternoon. Made my boring job just that little bit brighter.
I love to see the “Ordinary” Americans being used and enjoyed, just as much as the muscle cars and trucks. 

Facebook group, "American Cars UK"

 

Of course you knoe that is the car 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[grizz]

I asked the seller to use the car this week. Yesterday he was 225 miles from home. 

Today….. spotted in the wild. 
 

Looking forward to this 

[grizz]

Took Pedro to Gatwick yesterday afternoon. He’s off to Spain till next year. 
 

Trip includes town and motorway driving. 
 

This picture was once I got home. 

I have seen 64 plus over 200 miles of pure motorway driving  

Love it. 

[grizz]

Found a few more pictures 

One is on bags
One is missing springs outright 

But I hope to find an alternative

[grizz]

  have a local charity tractor parade. ENJOY. 

 

[Westbay]

Pppplllleeeaaasssseeee tell me you're not going with those chrome wagon wheels .... 🥺

[grizz]

1 hour ago, Westbay said:

Pppplllleeeaaasssseeee tell me you're not going with those chrome wagon wheels .... 🥺

Not sure which ones you are referring to. 
 

I love chrome. 

 

.

 

But I love Gold. 
 

 

.

[Westbay]

1st & 4th .... 

[grizz]

2 hours ago, Westbay said:

1st & 4th .... 

Fourth 😍

 

Or Steels. 
 

These two sets below are both £100/set

And both sets need to be repainted and possibly four new tyres (part worns are perfectly acceptable) 

Not sure if any alloys need welding or repairs. 
 

First colour choice on steels is black. 
Alloys either whore gold or some colour that would compliment the final car colour. 
 

Of course, if I could have a set of wheels free of charge, that would decide my route  

[eddyramrod]

Does Not Compute.  What's wrong with its own wheels?

[grizz]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

Does Not Compute.  What's wrong with its own wheels?

Errrrrmmmmm…..

 

Probably old 😉

 

I completely understand your point though  

 

 

 

 

 

But seriously……..

 

Paint needs to be renewed. 
 

Keep in mind that this is a turd being polished. 
 

Which opens a bucket full of worms. 
 

I have turned £50.00 sets of wheels into £50.00 sets of wheel ms by spending days on paint, prep etc. 

 

On my S10 I removed the decent (not great) Cragar wheels and like new but 10 year old tyres  and bought knackered ZQ8 alloys with dead tyres and had them diamond cut, and fitted new tyres and back on including new center caps, wheel bolts. All for about £900.00 to get it back to factory. 
 

 

This will not be factory. 
 

But hopefully it will sell once I get bored and it’s shining like a diamond in a goats ass (copyright Richard Rawlings) 

[grizz]

I am in love with these. 
 

But not £700.00 worth. 

[comfortablynumb]

Hang on till after Xmas, I doubt they'll sell beforehand, and they might be a bit more reasonable afterwards, particularly when the bills come in...🥺

[grizz]

25 minutes ago, comfortablynumb said:

Hang on till after Xmas, I doubt they'll sell beforehand, and they might be a bit more reasonable afterwards, particularly when the bills come in...🥺

I think you know that I am just cheap on this sort of thing. 
 

I don’t think it would ever be a £200.00 set of wheels.  But they are super aged and very much out of fashion. 
 

But……. On a 1992 Oldsmobile they would be right at home. 
 

They would suit the style of the car as it is in my head. 
 

.

[Westbay]

12 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

Hang on till after Xmas, I doubt they'll sell beforehand, and they might be a bit more reasonable afterwards, particularly when the bills come in...🥺

or, make 'em a cheeky offer while they are full of mince pies, turkey ,  festive drinks and seasonal bonhomie .. ! 🤣

[Schaefft]

Ooh, Oldsmobile 88, it'll be good to see another fwd GM on here! These are finally gaining a bit of a following, after having been everyday beaters for decades people finally realize what they had with them. Since there are millions of them and it's siblings about (at one time) ownership should be smooth sailing. I'm pretty sure that's the one I've sent @Jim Bellas well since he wanted something 3800 powered...

About modifications: I don't think it'll be the best base for a lowrider or donk but if you need inspiration, have a look at '91-96 Caprices and Impala SSs. Completely different cars but vaguely similar looks with a huge following that's very much into what you are trying to accomplish.

Hopefully I'll get my Riviera on the road in the new year. The Buick 3800 is an obscure engine in Europe but one of the greats for very good reasons! Don't forget that the same engine could be had with a supercharger in the 98 Touring Sedan (which I'd still love to own) and Bonneville SSEi.

[Jim Bell]

Yeah I had a good old stare at that one. 

What a honey. 

[grizz]

2 hours ago, Jim Bell said:

Yeah I had a good old stare at that one. 

What a honey. 

Thanks for not buying it 😉

 

Lets see what happens next. 

[Jim Bell]

1 hour ago, grizz said:

 😉

 

Lets see what happens next. 

Really looking forward to seeing how it goes. 

[grizz]

11 hours ago, Jim Bell said:

Really looking forward to seeing how it goes. 

 

I started a wheels thread because the car is on these…….. picture below. 
 

Any help or ideas on wheels appreciated. 
 

 

 

[grizz]

16 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Ooh, Oldsmobile 88, it'll be good to see another fwd GM on here! These are finally gaining a bit of a following, after having been everyday beaters for decades people finally realize what they had with them. Since there are millions of them and it's siblings about (at one time) ownership should be smooth sailing. I'm pretty sure that's the one I've sent @Jim Bellas well since he wanted something 3800 powered...

About modifications: I don't think it'll be the best base for a lowrider or donk but if you need inspiration, have a look at '91-96 Caprices and Impala SSs. Completely different cars but vaguely similar looks with a huge following that's very much into what you are trying to accomplish.

Hopefully I'll get my Riviera on the road in the new year. The Buick 3800 is an obscure engine in Europe but one of the greats for very good reasons! Don't forget that the same engine could be had with a supercharger in the 98 Touring Sedan (which I'd still love to own) and Bonneville SSEi.

If they are getting a following, I would love to see it. 
 

But of course I don’t really do groups, cliques. 
 

Preferring to be hated, heckled and harassed for my bad choices 😉

[MrBig]

I always find these opinions interesting. For a start, if it winds other people up, I'm far more likely to do it anyway 😁

The Americans forget that we didn't get those cars here, what's our equivalent? A Mk2 cavalier? So the Olds is significantly more interesting for us. You're very unlikely to see another while tooling around in sofa-like comfort with a smooth V6 purring away up the front, which to me, always adds to the appeal.

Having said all that, the first time I went to the US would have been when these were new, and I remember being blown away by the place, so late 80's and early 90s US metal holds a special place in my heart. Maybe I'm odd, but given the means, I'd be buying a Chevy Cavalier and Buick LeSabre just for the sentimentality!

Which way are you going home? Your route probably won't be too far away from me!

[Westbay]

Oldsmobile 88 X H-body Facelift [1996 .. 1999] 3.8
205 hp

    Generation: X H-body Facelift [1996 .. 1999] [USDM]
    Production: [1996 .. 1999]
    Sales regions: USA+
    Power: 205 hp | 153 kW | 208 PS
    Engine: L36, V6 , Petrol

    Center Bore / Hub Bore: 70.3 mm
    Bolt Pattern (PCD): 5x115
    Wheel Fasteners: Lug nuts
    Thread Size: M12 x 1.5
    Wheel Tightening Torque:
    unknown

Tire       Rim       Offset Range mm     Tire Pressure (front / rear) bar         
OE 205/70R15 95S     6Jx15 ET47     45 - 49     2.1     
    
225/60R16 97S     6.5Jx16 ET52                 2.1

[grizz]

16 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Ooh, Oldsmobile 88, it'll be good to see another fwd GM on here! These are finally gaining a bit of a following, after having been everyday beaters for decades people finally realize what they had with them. Since there are millions of them and it's siblings about (at one time) ownership should be smooth sailing. I'm pretty sure that's the one I've sent @Jim Bellas well since he wanted something 3800 powered...

About modifications: I don't think it'll be the best base for a lowrider or donk but if you need inspiration, have a look at '91-96 Caprices and Impala SSs. Completely different cars but vaguely similar looks with a huge following that's very much into what you are trying to accomplish.

Hopefully I'll get my Riviera on the road in the new year. The Buick 3800 is an obscure engine in Europe but one of the greats for very good reasons! Don't forget that the same engine could be had with a supercharger in the 98 Touring Sedan (which I'd still love to own) and Bonneville SSEi.

I am certainly not doing traditional lowrider or donk. Neither appealed to me. 

BUT……

I am taking inspiration from lowriders for paint and finish. 
 

The paint on this 88 is very much TERRIBLE and for a £1500.00 car, perfectly acceptable. It’s also a prime example of GM’s paint quality of the era and after. 
So some paint could be in order. 
 

My plan with the paint may include actually going to and asking paint shops for left over paints. And to create a bit of a multi colour harlequin, using free paints. Obviously, this would not include reagents, hardeners, and labour. Clearcoat would also be for my bill. 
Of course the paint shops most likely would tell me to just  Аҽышьҭыхра

 

You are right about the 3800 of which there are 3 versions. 
The car I am getting is a Series 1 with 170bhp and well respected. 
Series 11 and Series 111 got more power and mods like superchargers in sporty versions. 
 

As you say, a virtually unknown engine here but known to do 300 to 450k miles with just the regular maintenance of a FWD car. 
 

On the car I am getting official fuel consumption is claimed to be up to low 30’s on open roads which is backed up by the sellers experience. 
 

 

MY IDEAL WOULD BE TO USE FACTORY OR AFTERMARKET LOWERED SPRINGS (not cutting) TO REDUCE RIDE HEIGHT BY 2-3 INCHES. 

 

No stupid hard slamming. Just a bit lower for aesthetics. 
 

 

The actual car on the road below. 

[grizz]

9 minutes ago, MrBig said:

I always find these opinions interesting. For a start, if it winds other people up, I'm far more likely to do it anyway 😁

The Americans forget that we didn't get those cars here, what's our equivalent? A Mk2 cavalier? So the Olds is significantly more interesting for us. You're very unlikely to see another while tooling around in sofa-like comfort with a smooth V6 purring away up the front, which to me, always adds to the appeal.

Having said all that, the first time I went to the US would have been when these were new, and I remember being blown away by the place, so late 80's and early 90s US metal holds a special place in my heart. Maybe I'm odd, but given the means, I'd be buying a Chevy Cavalier and Buick LeSabre just for the sentimentality!

Which way are you going home? Your route probably won't be too far away from me!

 

PM me your approximate location or post here. 
 

The only other thing I may like, for the way I am conservatively modifying this car, would be a single or pair of exhaust cutout valves. 
 

I would love a bit of selective ASBO potential. 
 

Anyone got a random 2.5” cutout and pipe laying around?

 

Let me know. 

[Westbay]

Just had a quick look at  https://sizemywheels.com/lz-pcd/5-115 ...

the centre bore may be a problem the Olds is 70.3 and the Vauxhall one's are 70.2 ... some careful 'opening up' may be required ! 😄

[grizz]

33 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Oldsmobile 88 X H-body Facelift [1996 .. 1999] 3.8
205 hp

    Generation: X H-body Facelift [1996 .. 1999] [USDM]
    Production: [1996 .. 1999]
    Sales regions: USA+
    Power: 205 hp | 153 kW | 208 PS
    Engine: L36, V6 , Petrol

    Center Bore / Hub Bore: 70.3 mm
    Bolt Pattern (PCD): 5x115
    Wheel Fasteners: Lug nuts
    Thread Size: M12 x 1.5
    Wheel Tightening Torque:
    unknown

Tire       Rim       Offset Range mm     Tire Pressure (front / rear) bar         
OE 205/70R15 95S     6Jx15 ET47     45 - 49     2.1     
    
225/60R16 97S     6.5Jx16 ET52                 2.1

This car is a 92 on it’s VIN NUMBER 

But it’s a 91 at DVLA

So that makes it a Series 1 in my opinion 

[grizz]

21 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Just had a quick look at  https://sizemywheels.com/lz-pcd/5-115 ...

the centre bore may be a problem the Olds is 70.3 and the Vauxhall one's are 70.2 ... some careful 'opening up' may be required ! 😄

I would like to believe even 66mm C/B can be machined to 70.x mm