1984 Oldsmobile 98 Regency from North America - Comments

The year after I bought this car, the valve cover on the passenger side started to leak. On older cars than this one, a valve cover is not such a big thing to replace, and it wasn't on this one either, except for the task of actually getting to the thing through all the plumbing.

Since I bought this car, very little has gone wrong with it. The lock on the drivers door refuses to activate with the press of the power lock button, though all the rest do. This is probably just a matter of removing the inner door panel and making an adjustment or reconnecting a loose wire, something I just have not bothered to do yet as it is no big deal.

The headliner has dropped since last year and I removed it fully this year, to be replaced next spring when it comes out of winter storage.

The A/c has ceased to function as the freon has leaked out due to the seals in the system drying out from lack of use. This car is not a daily driver. It is my "Pleasure Yacht" and as such, only gets driven now and then, which is why the seals dried out. This will all be taken care of when the 403 C.I.D engine makes it's home under the hood next summer :-) ) ) )

The biggest problem that I have with this car is the torque converter. After driving long enough to get everything nice and hot, the torque converter stays "locked up" when coming to a stop, and only disengages just before coming to a complete stop. Something like coming to a stop in a manual shift car without putting in the clutch. This can be taken care of with a manual switch which you can flip to "on" or "off" as you want.

The first car I owned was a '77 Olds 98, which I bought from my father in 1984. I was only 19 then and did not have the money to take care of it mechanically. I basically pounded this car into the ground over the 6 years I had it. That being said, it stood up to the abuse extremely well and never let me down. If I had the money to maintain that, I might still have it today. It was truly a gorgeous car to drive with lots of power coming from the 403 that it had. Sadly, the frame finally let go in it, and the transmission was starting to slip badly. The car still looked great though, as I did take care of it's appearance.

The next car I had was an '86 Pontiac Acadian (Chevette with a Pontiac badge) and after a year of that car I bought an '89 Grand Am, and while I still owned that a friend told me about the '84 Olds 98 that I still own.

This car came from Fla. originally, and was garage stored from Oct thru to May by the man who brought from there. I live on the east coast of Canada, and if you want a car to last, you have to store it for winter.

This car was, and still is immaculate, even tho it has 142,000 miles on it now. It is white exterior with a red interior and is a 4 door. This car is an absolute pleasure to drive, especially on the highway where it just eats the miles.

The only thing I can really complain about with this car, is it's severe lack of power. Around town the little 307 does it's job quite fine. It gets this very heavy car to speed with very little effort, where it lacks is passing power once you are at 50 to 60 and wanting to accelerate.

That is the main reason for the plan of putting in the 403 that I bought this past summer, which is currently in a '78 Olds Custom Cruiser. It will receive a complete rebuild, a hotter cam, and some head work to raise the compression and improve the flow. When all is said and done, and according to a dyno program I have, it will be in the area of 360+ H.P. with over 420 ft. Lbs. of torque. Should be quite a surprise to a few of those little imports around with the stove pipes sticking out the back of em!!

Skunkwurcx.

Steven,

What tranny will you put to a 403 cid engine? It sounds so good coz I also have same problem with my 307. And one thing I don't understand is this over drive that indicates on my tranny's intrument panel bezel? What is the use R N (D) D 1 2 _ of the (D) I'm using it since I bought the car every time I'm in the freeway my engine was crying out loud coz I hopelessly trying to go fast with the accelerator pressed on the floor and it was really bad when the free way go upwards my speed will go slow from 75 to 45. Is it my tranny's fault? Please let me know the combination of your engine I mean engine, tranny and axle.

Sincerely,

Raul

Hi! I have recently inherited a car exactly like your Olds. 82,000 miles pearl white body - burgundy interior. I also had a drooping headliner, which I have replaced. Thanking God and my late Grandmother Mae Belle... Jeff in Garner NC.

You want to put a 403 in your car? You better get rid of that 200 r4 overdrive transmission and get a turbo 350 or 400. A stock 403 would rip that little transmission to shreds. Id hate to think what 360 hp would do to it. The 403 had overheating problems too. It is still an Oldsmobile small block, but has the largest pistons ever put in an american V8 car, 4.351 inch diameter. There are no water jackets between the pistons, so if you increase the compression ratio you increase heat. I would look into some heavy duty auxillary cooling if I were you, or consider a Oldsmobile 350, a much stronger, more reliable and durable engine, stock or modified.