I went tonight and took another look at the 88. I went ahead and bought it. I made a deal to pick it up on the 31st. The current owner had removed the serial number tag (it was falling off) but he had it and gave it to me. It would have been on the left, forward of the gear shifter. The spec is 88-0096,  the serial number is 3501721 which by the YT mag site makes it a 1953. I did hear it run and is it ever LOUD with just a straight pipe. Clutch needs work as it grinds shifting into gear. 

I've been looking at this thing through rose (green) colored glasses and obviously seeing it as it could be not as it currently is, so I didn't notice the brakes or filter, but I did see that it still has the wires with good plug on them to hook to the hydra-electric harness. I'm also being given a good hydra-electric cylinder with wiring harness being thrown in on the deal.  

It didn't smoke and I didn't see anything dripping, although it has a seep from around the valve cover and the remotes are obviously leaking judging by the dirty smudge on the home made deck plate welded over the drawbar (hence why it comes with an extra). The only other thing that I question is the fender mounts. I would guess that the fenders brackets bolted on in some fashion, but someone has welded these on. I did note that the air cleaner is a little big so that the side tin doesn't fit snug at the radiator shroud like it should. I'll have to look into that more closely once I start cleaning things up. 

I can't wait to get started on this project. I suppose no matter what it turns out to be that I'm dragging home it can all be fixed. I mean, it's not every day that I find an Oliver 2 miles down the road for sale so that must be an omen.