Asusport

Please clarify. Thanks!

joe_padavano

The primary engine difference was the cam. The 310 HP version of the 330 in the 1964 442 got a 278/282 degree cam with 0.432" lift. Lesser 330s got the 250/264 deg cam with 0.389" lift. Of course the 442 also got the dual snorkel air cleaner and the rear anti-sway bar, but the cam was the reason for the difference in HP.

Keener

The crankshaft bearings also are made of a different material. The 442 bearings are made of moraine M-400 rather than M-100 and this will be stamped on the bearing. If you take the engine apart, be on the look out for these differences.

oldsmobiledave

As I am not familiar with the 64 suspension options was there a stand alone FE2 or equivalent suspension option for the 1964 F-85 that was not a W-29 car?

joe_padavano

Not according to the SPECS booklet, however the page below is from a Feb 64 printing and would not include options that became available after that. Note that the bar MAY have been available with the B07 police package. As an example, in 1967, you could only get a rear bar on the full size cars as part of the police package.



Well, for what it's worth, the 1965 SPECS booklet doesn't show an FE2 or other suspension option for lesser Cutlii either.

oldsmobiledave

That is an interesting fun fact.

Asusport

So, looking at the 1964 options and accessories, the L74 290HP option could be ordered on a standard F-85, but the option itself was called a 290-HP Cutlass V8. So can a standard F-85 have this optional 290HP engine without being a Cutlass?

Keener

The 290HP 330 engine was an "option" for all 3000 and 3100 series F-85's. The 3200 series (i.e. cutlass) received a 290hp 330 as standard equipment

joe_padavano

Correct, but the OP asked about a "four barrel, four speed, dual exhaust" F85 as compared to a 442. The only way to get an F85 configured that way was by ordering RPO L74 and RPO M20.

Keener

Joe, I'm not answering that way. My interpretation was "can" a 3000series car have the 290 hp engine without being a cutlass? Yes. Of course, if it was answered in your reference to first post, then it would need the options as you stated to be closer to a 442 look, but still wouldn't be a cutlass.

joe_padavano

Here's the OP's question:

Not "can you get" but "differences". If you hadn't already ordered L74 and M20, you'd be pretty hard pressed to answer this question.

Keener

I answered his question from post #7. Which does not ask about difference b/w f85 442 vs cutlass 442. It's a question about a 290hp engine which was NOT in the 442. Hence the way I answered as a non-442 question. Make sense?

joe_padavano

Not to me. I read his very first post as essentially asking the difference between the 290 HP L74 motor and the 310 HP 442 motor for 1964. To me that was a reasonable question, since they outwardly look the same.

The reality is, you should ask the OP what his question was.

Keener

He's asking if the f85 could have a 290hp engine and not be called a cutlass. If so, this helps him understand that an f85 could be cloned easily if already equipped with a 330, M20 and duals....just add a sway bar, emblems and dual snorkel. Available from dealership back then.

joe_padavano

Sorry, I don't get that from the question at all, but again, ask the OP what he means, not me.

Keener

From the OP, in post #7:"So can a standard F-85 have this optional 290HP engine without being a Cutlass?"

I guess I'll let Asusport clarify what he meant.

joe_padavano

I'm sorry, I completely overlooked that post.

I was too focused on Post #1 and never even saw that one.

joe_padavano

Of course, the answer had already been provided in the page from the SPECS booklet in Post #5 (it was a $34.43 option).

Keener

You are killing me, Joe. Thought I was losing it.

Asusport

Great discussion guys! I had to go show some houses so I couldnt check back in until now.

In an effort to exhuast hypotheticals, I wondered if a base club coupe - like mine, could in theory be equipped to appear as a 442 using a series of checked boxes on an order form because, it seems you could order that 290HP engine, get a 4 speed, and have dual exhaust at the beginning of the model year without ordering a 442 - and that engine is visually the same, right?

In addition, other posts I have read say that the heavy duty frame is the same for all manual equipped cars.

So basically, what I am getting is the 442 package had internal engine components that are hard to verify, higher spring rates that are hard to verify, the dual snorkel air cleaner, three emblems, boxed control arms, rear sway bar, and trunk lid access holes.

I also read that if equipped, the manual steering box should have a 20:1 ratio. How do I check that?

Is the driveshaft bigger? Is the front sway bar bigger?

Just me being uptight...trying to cross ts.

Thanks for the input!

TK-65

In 65 the front bar and driveshaft are bigger on a 442. Not sure if that helps you.

Asusport

Thanks for the comment. I have since found out that the front sway bar in a 64 442 is bigger - and my car measures out - but I think they got even bigger in 65

not sure about the driveshaft still...