New to this forum with a 1968 442 (?) convertible
August 23rd, 2011, 08:54 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 13
New to this forum with a 1968 442 (?) convertible
Hello All! What a great resource this site is, with great people too! I have always been a big fan of the Oldsmobile cars of the musclecar era. I finally purchased one! A 1968 442 convertible. It is a serious project car. Restoration was started but the previous owner never found the time to continue its restoration. It was just disassembled. What beautiful lines these cars have! I have a question regarding the VIN and cowl buck tag. They do not match. The VIN tag in the dash tells me it is a 442. The dash is a 442. From the research that I have done this appears to be not only possible, but maybe typical of the 1968 year. Is this true? Please forgive my ignorance. Thanks!
August 23rd, 2011, 10:08 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Seneca Falls, NY
Posts: 5,258
I have a question regarding the VIN and cowl buck tag. They do not match. The VIN tag in the dash tells me it is a 442. The cowl is a Cutlass. From the research that I have done this appears to be not only possible, but maybe typical of the 1968 year. Is this true? Please forgive my ignorance. Thanks!
August 23rd, 2011, 12:50 PM
#5
Randy C.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 3,244
Mine is also a Lansing 4-4-2 vert with a Cutlass cowl tag. As I recall, all the assembly plants used Cutlass cowl tags on '68 4-4-2s but they all changed to a 4-4-2 cowl tag (with the exception of Lansing, who continued to use Cutlass cowl tags) for '69 4-4-2s.
For twosfamily, I picked my car up in 2003 as a body on a rolling frame, the engine on a stand, the THM 400 tranny laying on a dirt basement floor, and a bunch of parts scattered throughout the basement - some in boxes. It took about 4 years from the time we picked up the car to the time the restoration was completed.
As you start restoring and assembling your car, use this site if you have questions and you will surely get the answers you need. I know this site helped me tremendously in my restoration, plus in my general knowledge of Oldsmobiles.
Welcome aboard!
Randy C.
For twosfamily, I picked my car up in 2003 as a body on a rolling frame, the engine on a stand, the THM 400 tranny laying on a dirt basement floor, and a bunch of parts scattered throughout the basement - some in boxes. It took about 4 years from the time we picked up the car to the time the restoration was completed.
As you start restoring and assembling your car, use this site if you have questions and you will surely get the answers you need. I know this site helped me tremendously in my restoration, plus in my general knowledge of Oldsmobiles.
Welcome aboard!
Randy C.
August 25th, 2011, 12:48 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 13
Thank you for clearing up my confusion with the cowl buck tag and the VIN. The VIN begins with 344678M. I do not have the original engine or transmission. I do have a 1970 Oldsmobile 455 4v that I was thinking about putting in it. Or, should I find a 1968 400? Any thoughts? If my research is correct, it would be impossible to find the original engine with my VIN stamped on it.
August 25th, 2011, 05:56 PM
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Flint, Michigan
Posts: 156
Put a 455 in it. I have a 68 442 as well, and it's #s matching 400 block in it right now. Those 400G blocks are P.O.S. I am building a 455 to put into mine, but will crate the 400 motor obviously for when I want this car to be original again.
Trust me, save your money on a 400 block and go right for a 455
Trust me, save your money on a 400 block and go right for a 455
August 26th, 2011, 08:58 AM
#10
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,259
Welcome, and as you've found out, the discrepancy between the VIN and the cowl tag on the 1968-69 442s is well documented in the factory literature, specifically in the Fisher Body Manual for those years. Even my 1969 Hurst/Olds has a 33687 cowl tag.
August 26th, 2011, 09:27 AM
#11
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 1,565
Welcome to CO!
Long live the '68's! Glad you are with us. It may seem a daunting task, but you WILL be able to get the 442 back together. Much help from the folks on CO. Progress report when it's available.
Long live the '68's! Glad you are with us. It may seem a daunting task, but you WILL be able to get the 442 back together. Much help from the folks on CO. Progress report when it's available.
August 26th, 2011, 09:49 AM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Flint, Michigan
Posts: 156
If it Makes ya feel any better, I have a LONG road ahead of me with my car as well. I just rebuilt my 400 motor last year, and now I have a blown gasket and (hopefully not) more damage, and I wasn't ever driving it hard. (Reason why I said to avoid the 400G blocks) I've already got a lot of money into my 68 and it's not even close lol but I (and you) will be there eventually!
August 31st, 2011, 03:13 PM
#14
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 13
Thanks for the reassurance and guidance. Unfortunately, the recent tropical storm has put a damper on my plans. My barn has several issues now that must get fixed. I will be selling the 68 and a few other cars I have to pay for repairs. Thank you all again for your help.
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