JetFire
 

Brought this home today, been in a garage for 20+years, factory all aluminum Turbocharged V8, all original:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps4c95389c.jpg


If you don't know what it is, see this:
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/iieDedNEYuI"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/iieDedNEYuI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

Re: JetFire
 

Greg,

Congratulations. Tell us more about how you found it and include some pics!

Gregg

Re: JetFire
 

Factory boost gauge:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps76277f3b.jpg

Factory Turbo, carb, and injection unit going out for restoration:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psf1f1b013.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps057516d1.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

Don't forget the 'Rocket Fluid'!!! Water/alcohol mix injected post turbo for a little liquid intercooling!

Re: JetFire
 

----Moose Milk!!!.....Bill S

Re: JetFire
 

Oh yes, the Turbo Rocket Fluid. And it has the <span style="font-weight: bold">4</span> speed Hydromatic transmission

Re: JetFire
 

Could that be the only factory console-equipped car to have the old style automatic trans shift pattern? (reverse at the opposite end as Park)

Very cool find, by the way. How neat is that technology for 1962?!?!?! Love the youtube commercial, too....bow tie wearing driver giving the car's no-seat-belt-wearing occupants whiplash from the turbo rocket power [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

Re: JetFire
 

Trans is a Jetfire only OX562 stronger 4-speed Hydramatic auto with a 3.64:1 first gear, 3.03:1 2nd, 1.58:1 3rd, 1:1 4th, 3.36:1 rear
and Bill you just made me notice that my car has NO seatbelts!

Garage find at home:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps9ef486c8.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps79677ce9.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

This is the original Jetfire motor that I just rebuilt. I call it ZL-1 &quot;lite&quot;. 215 all aluminum snarling cubic inches! 1hp per cubic inch, same power to weight ratio as a 442!

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps1316ac84.jpg

Turbo almost ready:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps06b689a6.jpg

Interior just needed carpet and front NOS uphostery:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps6507724a.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

WOW! Neat car. I had heard of these back in the day but never seen one. Great score on a neat car.

Dave

Re: JetFire
 

Isn't that the same engine design Range Rover put in their vehicles until recently?

Re: JetFire
 

----Yes!!!.....Bill S

Re: JetFire
 

Same as the Buick?

Re: JetFire
 

----No!.....Bill S

Re: JetFire
 

Greg,

Put me in line for a ride when you get it done!

Gregg

Re: JetFire
 

You got it Gregg. When it ever gets done. Still waiting on some parts. Turbo Rocket Fluid tank is installed. It gets pressurized by the Turbo to the same PSI (6-7PSI)and injects the methanol/water mix into the carb to prevent detonation and add a little power. Maybe substitute Nitro Methane? This really is a well engineered system. The only problem was customers not keeping fluid in the tank. A light on the Boost gauge would come on warning of low fluid. The wastegate would open and a 2nd throttle body would close to prevent engine damage. Customers would bring the car to the dealer and complain of low power!

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps0b4bf68e.jpg

Spare bottle to use on the road if you ran out:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...pseee288bb.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psd089ae9f.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: earntaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Same as the Buick? </div></div>

It's a Buick 215 V8. Buick did all the design and cast all the blocks, and it was first available for the 1961 Buick, Olds, and Pontiac line. Obviously, the front mounted distributor was a telltale sign that it was NOT an Oldsmbobile or Pontiac engine, but it was still marketed as a &quot;Rocket V-8&quot; by Oldsmobile, and as an &quot;...available 155 hp aluminum V8&quot; in the Pontiac Tempest.

Mickey Thompson entered a stock block Buick 215 V8 in the 1962 Indianapolis 500 (driven by Dan Gurney). It was the only non-Offenhauser engine in the entire field, and Gurney qualified 8th, retiring about halfway through the race with a trans/rear end problem.

Buick abandoned this casting a few years later due to a very high scrap ratio. They had massive porosity problems, which resulted in massive oil leaks. The aluminum Buick 215 V8 was discontinued after 1963. They sold the the design, tooling and manufacturing rights to British Leyland (Rover/Jaguar/Triumph), which evolved into 3.5, 3.9, and 4.2 liter engines for many British cars, like the Land Rover, Rover 3500, TVR, TR8, and in the early 70's was available in the MG.

In 1980, Pontiac introduced their Turbo Trans Am (and Turbo Formula), using the 301 V8 as the platform. Many automotive writers of the day erroneously billed that as the &quot;first turbocharged American V8&quot;, but that incorrect. Oldsmobile had the first turbocharged American V8 with their 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire.

The Oldsmobile Jetfires were cool little cars. I really like them. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: JetFire
 

Buick and Olds versions used different cylinder heads..different bolt patterns too.Lance Reventlow ( of Scarab racecar fame ) did a lot of development work on these engines for early midengine racecar use...before the Can Am series.

Re: JetFire
 

Yes, thats right. And the only difference between the Buick and Olds versions was the pistons and heads. Olds used the combustion chambers to get various compression ratios like Chevy did, the Buick 215 used different pistons and the same nailhead looking type heads on their versions. Olds also had an extra headbolt around the cylinder, like the ZL-1 has.
The Jetfire was the WORLDS 1st turbocharged production passenger car engine!

Re: JetFire
 

Neat car.
What is the back story on the car?
Where can you buy the &quot;rocket fluid&quot;?

Re: JetFire
 

I found this car in August in Los Angeles. It was sitting in the garage for 25+ years because it was not running. I found out later that the harmonic balancer had broken. The original owner had died 2 years ago and his estate was selling it along with 2 80's Caddys and the house. The Executors of the Estate are the owner's son-in-law and the owner's brother. They both remember when Tom (owner) bought it.
Its in great shape with no rust at all and all original.

The Turbo rocket fluid has been decoded and there is a recipe for it:
-35* windshield washer fluid (Methanol and water) + HEET (Methanol) + a little Prestone radiator Anti rust solution. There is a JetFire website with a regestry (about 5 working Turbo 1962 Jetfires in the world)with lots of info:

http://oldsjetfire.com

Re: JetFire
 

Pics of one at Pavillions today...

Jetfire at Pavillions (towards the bottom)

Re: JetFire
 

WOW. Thats a 1963, and a very rare 4 speed!

Re: JetFire
 

It was cool as heck! I asked him about the rocket fluid....he looked at me like...How do you know? I fessed up and told him about yours!

Re: JetFire
 

I may have some unpublished production info these cars. If you can give me codes for the options, I can reference what I have.

Re: JetFire
 

My cowl tag reads: 07C
STYLE 62-3147 BODY LA 2564
TRIM 973 PAINT H-C
ACC 631(this is the number I need decoded)
Motor HHI423515
Head: S191148T (on this car, the number on the right head is the Motor designation S---T is the Turbo motor)
Trans: OX562 4333s (special Hydomatic 4 speed auto for Jetfire)

Got lots of info here:
http://oldsjetfire.com

Re: JetFire
 

Yea I know what you mean. I only meet 1 person that even knows that these cars existed. Great photos. I never saw that car before, it is just amazing. I checked and it is in the 1963 Regestry. Even though the 1963 looks alot different then the 1962, they are the same under the sheet metal. The 63 is bigger and the interior is differnet. Heres my tailights:

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psb3b1fc3c.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69SSZL1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ACC 631 (this is the number I need decoded)
</div></div>


I have a few old lists of the pre '63 Accessory Codes and will take a look.
600 range codes for '62 were sometimes for trans and rear axles but being an Oldsie I'd guess it refers to your seat config. buckets and/or console?
Very cool car!
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]
~ Pete

Re: JetFire
 

Saw the video you posted---was great! Neat idea for it's time! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: JetFire
 

I do know that the buckets and console were standard on the Jetfire. It was a top-line car, above the Cutlass. Also was the only available hardtop model. The F85 and Cutlass were Post cars. No covertable Jetfires. Oldsmobile used a Cutlass convertable body and welded a Buick hardtop to it.
I'm guessing the 631 refers to the A/C and/or power windows.

Re: JetFire
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: JetFire
 

Here's what I do have:

3147
&quot;A 4 Trans&quot; shows 203 built
&quot;Synchromesh trans&quot; shows 16 built
&quot;Hydramatic trans&quot; shows 3546 built

Don't have anything else pertaining to Jetfire.

Re: JetFire
 

----I owned a low mileage 63 Jetfire a long time ago. Guys that knew anything about them (few and far between) called the methanol mix &quot;Moose Milk&quot;. I didnt keep the little bugger long as it only had about 7000 original miles on it and someone offered me way more for it than I paid. It was a really nice little car and always turned heads......Bill S

Re: JetFire
 

Got the Turbo Rocket running this weekend. I am amazed at the power, especially on the top end! I am sure this would beat many stock small block muscle cars. And this car is LOW. The top of the body above the door handle is 34&quot; above the ground. Only 2750 lbs also. Is this an early Muscle Car?
The Turbo Rocket Motor:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps640d1920.jpg

MooseMilk:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...pse45f9395.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps725a797a.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps2bc4bcef.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psc288d51c.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psd00fee45.jpg

Re: JetFire
 

You've been busy Greg! It looks GREAT! Not something you see very often. I'll bet Hemmings Classics would be interested in your ride.

Re: JetFire
 

That little devil has &quot;sleeper&quot; written all over it ... ENJOY!!

Re: JetFire
 

What a neat car.

Re: JetFire
 

Greg, Are you in Socal? Are you gonna take it out to any shows? It's very cool!

Re: JetFire
 

Very nice car.

With that tree farm next door, I would guess central valley somewhere, although I have seen terrain like that in San Diego county.

Re: JetFire
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbsides</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very nice car.

With that tree farm next door, I would guess central valley somewhere, although I have seen terrain like that in San Diego county. </div></div>

Yes, San Diego. I plan on attending the Heartbeat Happening car show on April 27th. I don't know about the Good Guys Del Mar Nationals on April 4-6 yet as the paint on this car has alot of patina and is not great.