Wisconsin 1969 442

ctreutel · June 9th, 2009, 03:21 PM

I recently picked up a 1969 442 4-speed and thought I should join the Olds folks at Classic. I used to have a 72 cutlass when I was a kid, now I'm reliving my childhood!

The body is in great shape...a bit of work was done on the rear quarters, but other than that, no rust and in good shape. I do need several parts for the interior. Been buying on OPG and Year One...is that the best place to get parts. I've checked the local bone yards but not much there.

Also, I have a debate going with the local repair shop. I took the car in for new tail pipes. I told the mechanic to take off the traction bars as long as he had it up on the lift. I figured the traction bars were put on by some kid trying to soup it up. The mechanic thought they were "factory traction bars". I've never heard of such a thing, but if they are original, I would keep them on. I have to admit they do look like they were factory installed...fit perfectly.
What do you guys think? ever heard of a factory traction bar?

citcapp · June 9th, 2009, 04:46 PM

Welcome to the site. They are control arms and are factory installed. Someone into the newer Olds can give you more detail hang in there you'll get better information soon

I spoke to soon and didn't look at the picture closely to see the traction bars. My bad. The car does come with the factory control arms. The traction bars are aftermarket

csstrux · June 9th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Upper and lower control arms are factory, those slapstick looking things are anything but. Nice ride...I'm trying to resurrect its poor stepsister as we speak. Should look similar when its done. Welcome to the site.

jensenracing77 · June 9th, 2009, 06:11 PM

nice ride. and no they are not factory. they look more like a leaf spring traction bar.

2blu442 · June 9th, 2009, 07:21 PM

Welcome to the site! If you would post a couple more views from different angles it would help, but I agree with the idea that they look aftermarket. Factory would have had channeled control arms and a rear sway bar. Bars that runs from the rear end forward and have rubber bumpers that bumps up against the frame would be aftermarket. John

Jamesbo · June 10th, 2009, 04:34 AM

Welcome aboard

69's are my favorite.

Now crawl up under there, take some pics and let's see what we're discussing here. Oh yeah turn your head side ways cause those 14" rims make it a might tight. Or of course you could Jack her up a take some pics.

Oldsguy · June 10th, 2009, 06:47 AM

Glad to have you with us. Nice looking car but I am partial to Oldsmobiles and green so I can't loose in this case!

ctreutel · June 10th, 2009, 07:04 AM

Thanks for the reply guys...below are some detailed photos of the traction bars.

Should they stay...or should they go?

wmachine · June 10th, 2009, 07:08 AM

Welcome! And nice car!!
Need pics to be sure, but if you have anything more than upper and lower control arm and a sway bar, it is not factory, for sure.

joe_padavano · June 10th, 2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctreutel

Thanks for the reply guys...below are some detailed photos of the traction bars.

Should they stay...or should they go?

Those are Lakewood (or similar) aftermarket slapper bars. Old tech. There are better traction solutions if you care about drag strip launches. If not, you can remove them with no ill effects.

ctreutel · June 10th, 2009, 03:01 PM

The Lakewood coil spring bar does look very similar but it does NOT have the clearance notch for the sway bar.
That's what lead me to belive the bar might be factory.

Your probably right Joe. Thanks again for your help!

greyghost · June 16th, 2009, 01:54 PM

Nice looking car, hopefully this site will be helpfull it already has been for me.

68Tom · June 16th, 2009, 05:03 PM

Very nice car. Not sure if you're buying products involving upholstery (seat covers, door panels), but go with Legendary Auto Interiors if you are. They have far superior covers for the '68 & '69 to the PUI brand most everyplace else sells.

As far as parts, I'd go with Fusick. Quality service, quick shipping, and will resolve any issues you might have. Plus, they only deal with Oldsmobiles, unlike Year One and OPG. I also have purchased some hard to find items from The Parts Place as well.

agtw31 · June 16th, 2009, 07:25 PM

sharp dark green 442.

since those ladder bars are there im going to assume a previous owner had thrashed on this car.i would definitely check your frame around the passenger side spring perch for cracks,since this is a 4 speed car.

dont ruin them taking them off,you could probably get a 50 dollar bill for them from somebody.

as a matter of fact id leave them alone.

there is a new "thing" with cars,called the "day two" car

your car would fit that profile..

cars that have old ladder bars and old sun tachs and old mallory ignitors are considerred this,and people are looking at these harder.

mostly chevy guys are putting aftermarket parts on cars from the 70's to give it that look.

erik68cutlas · June 17th, 2009, 08:14 PM

I really like your pictures. I like 69's as much as 68's maybe more. I really like the shade of green on yours. Happy motoring!

June 9th, 2009, 04:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
citcapp Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 3,455	Welcome to the site. They are control arms and are factory installed. Someone into the newer Olds can give you more detail hang in there you'll get better information soon I spoke to soon and didn't look at the picture closely to see the traction bars. My bad. The car does come with the factory control arms. The traction bars are aftermarket __________________ Pat 1957 Super 88 with a 455 1948 2dr series 76 with a 455 Last edited by citcapp; June 10th, 2009 at 12:44 PM..

June 9th, 2009, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
csstrux Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Janesville wisconsin Posts: 1,659	Upper and lower control arms are factory, those slapstick looking things are anything but. Nice ride...I'm trying to resurrect its poor stepsister as we speak. Should look similar when its done. Welcome to the site. __________________ Chad Greed: in psychology is an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth

June 9th, 2009, 06:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
jensenracing77 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: brazil indiana Posts: 1,022	nice ride. and no they are not factory. they look more like a leaf spring traction bar. __________________ 70 Rallye 350 72 Cutlass 00 Silhouette 90 Toronado Trofeo

June 9th, 2009, 07:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
2blu442 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 2,260	Welcome to the site! If you would post a couple more views from different angles it would help, but I agree with the idea that they look aftermarket. Factory would have had channeled control arms and a rear sway bar. Bars that runs from the rear end forward and have rubber bumpers that bumps up against the frame would be aftermarket. John __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1967 Cutlass four door daily driver 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

June 10th, 2009, 04:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jamesbo Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,862	Welcome Welcome aboard 69's are my favorite. Now crawl up under there, take some pics and let's see what we're discussing here. Oh yeah turn your head side ways cause those 14" rims make it a might tight. Or of course you could Jack her up a take some pics. __________________ 69 H/O 69 442 convertible 69 Vista Cruiser 69 442 hardtop "Growing old is mandatory,Growing up is optional"

June 10th, 2009, 06:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	Glad to have you with us. Nice looking car but I am partial to Oldsmobiles and green so I can't loose in this case! __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

June 10th, 2009, 07:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
wmachine Trying to remember member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,470	Welcome! And nice car!! Need pics to be sure, but if you have anything more than upper and lower control arm and a sway bar, it is not factory, for sure. __________________ Kurt http://wmachines.shubes.net

June 10th, 2009, 03:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
ctreutel Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 21	The Lakewood coil spring bar does look very similar but it does NOT have the clearance notch for the sway bar. That's what lead me to belive the bar might be factory. Your probably right Joe. Thanks again for your help!

June 16th, 2009, 01:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
greyghost Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 37	Nice looking car, hopefully this site will be helpfull it already has been for me.

June 16th, 2009, 05:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
68Tom Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 835	Very nice car. Not sure if you're buying products involving upholstery (seat covers, door panels), but go with Legendary Auto Interiors if you are. They have far superior covers for the '68 & '69 to the PUI brand most everyplace else sells. As far as parts, I'd go with Fusick. Quality service, quick shipping, and will resolve any issues you might have. Plus, they only deal with Oldsmobiles, unlike Year One and OPG. I also have purchased some hard to find items from The Parts Place as well. __________________ 1968 Olds 442 Sports Coupe 4-speed/bench seat

June 16th, 2009, 07:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
agtw31 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: columbus ohio Posts: 746	sharp dark green 442. since those ladder bars are there im going to assume a previous owner had thrashed on this car.i would definitely check your frame around the passenger side spring perch for cracks,since this is a 4 speed car. dont ruin them taking them off,you could probably get a 50 dollar bill for them from somebody. as a matter of fact id leave them alone. there is a new "thing" with cars,called the "day two" car your car would fit that profile.. cars that have old ladder bars and old sun tachs and old mallory ignitors are considerred this,and people are looking at these harder. mostly chevy guys are putting aftermarket parts on cars from the 70's to give it that look. Last edited by agtw31; June 16th, 2009 at 07:28 PM..

June 17th, 2009, 08:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
erik68cutlas Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 19	Beautiful 442 I really like your pictures. I like 69's as much as 68's maybe more. I really like the shade of green on yours. Happy motoring!

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