rare 1964 jetfire

[clemdaddy]

I know this is off topic but since this is the only forum I visit and I'm considering buying this little car that I know very little about...

Does anyone know anything about them? All I know is its super straight and seems complete. Seeking advise...

[60chevyjim]

wow that's pretty cool .

[flashed]

I say go for it ,its a cool car .

[aerotruk63]

Boy and I thought modern day cars were full under the hood. I would say a rare car for sure.

[jonzcustomshop]

looks like a rare car, same platform as the tempest, and sylark, which were all front engine versions of the corvair... aluminum 215 v8... I copied this from Wikipedia:

Aluminum 215[edit]

From 1961-1963, Oldsmobile manufactured its own version of the Buick-designed, all-aluminum 215 engine for the F-85 compact. Known variously as the Rockette, Cutlass, and Turbo-Rocket by Oldsmobile (and as Fireball and Skylark by Buick),[8] it was a compact, lightweight engine measuring 28 in (71 cm) long, 26 in (66 cm) wide, and 27 in (69 cm) high (same as the small-block Chevy),[9] with a dry weight of only 320 lb (150 kg).[10] The Oldsmobile engine was very similar to the Buick engine, but not identical: it had larger wedge(rather than hemispherical)-shaped combustion chambers with flat-topped (rather than domed) pistons, six bolts rather than five per cylinder, and slightly larger intake valves; the valves were actuated by shaft-mounted rocker arms like the Buick and Pontiac versions, but the shafts and rockers were unique to Oldsmobile. With an 8.75:1 compression ratio and a 2-barrel carburetor, the Olds 215 had the same rated hp, 155 hp (116 kW) at 4800 rpm, as the Buick 215, with 220 ft·lbf (300 N·m) of torque at 2400 rpm. With a 4-barrel carburetor and 10.25:1 compression, the Olds 215 made 185 hp (138 kW) at 4800 rpm and 230 lb·ft (310 N·m) at 3200 rpm with a manual transmission. With a 4-barrel carburetor and 10.75:1 compression, the Olds 215 made 195 hp (145 kW) at 4800 rpm and 235 lb·ft (319 N·m) at 3200 rpm with an automatic. The Buick version was rated at 200 hp with an 11:1 compression ratio.

The Buick version of the 215 V8 went on to become the well known Rover V8, which still remains in limited production, utilizing the Buick-style pistons, heads, and valve train gear.

The Oldsmobile engine block formed the basis of the Repco 3-liter engine used by Brabham to win the 1966 and 1967 Formula One world championships. The early Repco engines produced up to 300 bhp (220 kW), and featured new SOHC cylinder heads and iron cylinder liners. The 1967 and later versions of the Repco engine had proprietary engine blocks.

In the mid-1980s, hot rodders discovered the 215 could be stretched to as much as 305 cu in (5 l), using the Buick 300 crankshaft, new cylinder sleeves, and an assortment of non-GM parts.[11] It could also be fitted with high-compression cylinder heads from the Morgan +8. Using the 5 liter Rover block and crankshaft, a maximum displacement of 317.8 cu in (5,208 cc) is theoretically possible.[12]

Turbo Jetfire[edit]

In 1962 and 1963 Oldsmobile built a turbocharged version of the 215. The small-diameter Garrett T5 turbocharger with integral wastegate was manufactured by Garrett AiResearch and produced a maximum of 5 psi (34 kPa) boost at 2200 rpm. The engine had 10.25:1 compression and a single-barrel carburetor. It was rated at 215 hp (160 kW) at 4600 rpm and 300 lb·ft (410 N·m) at 3200 rpm. In development, the high compression ratio combined with the charged load created problems with spark knock on hard throttle applications, which led Olds to develop and utilize a novel water-injection system that sprayed metered amounts of distilled water and methyl alcohol (dubbed "Turbo-Rocket Fluid") into the intake manifold air-stream to cool the intake charge. If the fluid reservoir was empty, a complex double-float and valve assembly in the Turbo-Rocket Fluid path would set a second butterfly (positioned between the throttle butterfly and the turbocharger) into the closed position, limiting the amount of boost pressure. Unfortunately, many customers did not keep the reservoir filled, or had mechanical problems with the turbocharger system which resulted in many of the turbo-charger installations being removed and a conventional 4 barrel carburetor and manifold installed in its place.

The turbocharger was offered only in a special Jetfire model, this was special and noteworthy as it marked one of the world's first (in fact the second) turbocharged passenger car ever offered for public sale. The Chevrolet Corvair Spyder Turbo, likewise a forced induction i.e turbo-powered car, predated the Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo, however by only a few weeks, thus being the world's very first turbocharged commercially sold vehicle.

[chevy2tom]

I'd pick it up just for the cool turbo, 4 speed factor. Then do some research on it, who knows may be a factory experimental car that got away.

[chevy2tom]

Factor production car https://youtu.be/axhVVhptbEI

[chevy2tom]

How much $?

[62jimmy]

I love it! I've never been a big Olds guy, but if the moneys right, that's probably one your never going to see again. Vintage V8, Turbo, 4 speed=drool. Looks really complete, which is probably good cause I would imagine it will be a nightmare to find parts for, but that's have the fun! Definitely a piece of GM performance history that should be returned to its glory days!

[clemdaddy]

here is what i'm thinking… pull motor and sell to a olds guy that needs one bad. that alone may pay back the small investment. then build a turbo-charged chevy 5.3, 4-speed car with a built rearend.

the car is small and lightweight, very straight with only a few missing trim pieces. probably would need some meats out back.

check out the console, thats a boost gauge in front of the shifter, for the turbo…
even the interior is complete.

don't know what to do… dang, its cool.

[alsriv2]

That car would be an outstanding candidate for a restoration, if you have the funds and time to do it correctly. It would be a unique and unusual conversation piece once its done.

[Mister Chevy]

I had the '63 Pontiac Le Mans rope drive version. I'd keep it as built and restore. Would be very unique!

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Would be a great car for a stock restoration. To original and rare to modify in my opinion.

[chevy2tom]

turbo rocket fluid!? Sounds expensive!

[clemdaddy]

i hear you guys about restoration and rarity and all, and you're right but the turbo has design defects and has to have a special mix of fuel to not knock. alcohol and water injection, mixed in a special reservoir, it just seems like a hassle.

a friend said that a similar car was very quick when tuned right and ran in D-stock at the drags. and because of lightweight and small cubic inches would put a lot of cars on the trailer in stock eliminator.

truthfully, i had never heard of them before. JetFire... just sounds cool.

a complete restoration is way out of my budget and most of the parts would have to be from other cars and who knows how many there are or were.

the tempting thing is its very cheap. i going to see if there's a Oldsmobile forum out there... need knowledge...

[chevy2tom]

Meth alcohol & disteled water = turbo rocket fluid

[MikeN]

A fully restored Jetfire (with auto transmission, not 4-speed) on ebay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oldsmobile-J...081&rmvSB=true

[62jimmy]

I think it would be a shame not to restore that car back to original, I'm a hot rodder too, but that's to interesting and complete to break up. If the price is that good I'd buy it, then put it out there in the olds world for barter, I would venture to guess you would find someone willing to swap you an even better candidate for a hotrod for the opportunity to restore that one, either way if the price is that good, load it up, it will be a sweet ride!

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 62jimmy

I think it would be a shame not to restore that car back to original, I'm a hot rodder too, but that's to interesting and complete to break up. If the price is that good I'd buy it, then put it out there in the olds world for barter, I would venture to guess you would find someone willing to swap you an even better candidate for a hotrod for the opportunity to restore that one, either way if the price is that good, load it up, it will be a sweet ride!

x2

[chad64chevy]

that thing is pretty cool Clem! there's a 1965 Oldsmobile f85 the next street over from my mother-in-laws that belongs to an elderly couple that I want! it's complete and looks like not dings or dents! just sitting under the carport for what I know has been at least 10 yrs. plus!

[chevy2tom]

If its a good deal & you can't restore it, flip it to someone who can & to help further your project. At least save it from the crushed.

[Captainfab]

I will have to agree that this car needs to stay complete and original. It is just too cool and complete. I would think if you purchased it and just cleaned it up good, you could make a few bucks on it.

[67&72]

Sent PM.

[jonzcustomshop]

sad to remember .. one of the local yards around here had one of those... I remember telling my dad about it; because I thought I had found something cool, since it had an aluminum motor and a turbo... this was probably in 1990...of course he was into big cars, bonnevilles, 98's, so he told me it was junk, not much better than a corvair, so we left it.
that yard has long since crushed out

[clemdaddy]

i hear ya... i want to save this car but i have a good friend that i trust and he thinks it needs to be cheap because aluminum blocks and heads don't age well and this one looks like its been many years since in running condition. it may be nothing more than a parts car for someone else. really nice body and toast mechanically.
my friend says the 215 was adapted by range rover and many of their parts may work. but i don't really want to mess with that engine or its turbo, thats too far from my comfort zone. i've talked to the owner and he said i could wait to decide, he's had it for years... so, thats where we stand.

another factor... the one on ebay is up to 18k, which is about a third or less of the money to restore one.