442 stands for ?
April 23rd, 2014, 07:17 PM
#1
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442 stands for ?
age old question ...what does the 442 stand for / I always thought it was for 4bl , 4 speed , dual exh. I was told today, it does NOT mean 4 speed . Says it was originally foe 64?(?) 4 door Police cars ????????
April 23rd, 2014, 07:26 PM
#2
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Nope, you got bad info today. You were right the first time! In 1964 the only way you could get the car was with a 330 4bbl engine, 4 speed transmission, and dual exhaust. That gave it the name. From 1965 forward you could get an automatic transmission if you wanted, but the 442 name still applied.
John
John
April 23rd, 2014, 07:45 PM
#5
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It doesn't really mean anything.
As John said, in '64 it had a meaning in the marketing literature.
After that, the specifications of the car no longer corresponded to the stated meaning, so you could make up anything you wanted, but the factory never said it meant anything after '64.
- Eric
As John said, in '64 it had a meaning in the marketing literature.
After that, the specifications of the car no longer corresponded to the stated meaning, so you could make up anything you wanted, but the factory never said it meant anything after '64.
- Eric
April 23rd, 2014, 08:30 PM
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First generation Z28 Camaro's were all four speeds, the stripes were optional, but real first gen Z28's all had a 302 engine and all were four speeds. The first Z28 available with an automatic was in the 70 1/2 where you could choose either. As the muscle was soon to depart the muscle cars.
April 23rd, 2014, 11:29 PM
#9
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Two points:
1. In 1964, the 4-4-2 meant 4-barrel, 4-speed, 2-exhaust.
But there is meaning after that, as in 1965 it meant 4-hundred cid, 4bbl. carb, 2-exhaust.
2. Stripes were standard on the Camaro Z/28. It was the only Camaro to have "band-aid" stripes aside of the '69 pace car; otherwise, the SS shouldn't have those stripes.
1. In 1964, the 4-4-2 meant 4-barrel, 4-speed, 2-exhaust.
But there is meaning after that, as in 1965 it meant 4-hundred cid, 4bbl. carb, 2-exhaust.
2. Stripes were standard on the Camaro Z/28. It was the only Camaro to have "band-aid" stripes aside of the '69 pace car; otherwise, the SS shouldn't have those stripes.
April 24th, 2014, 08:09 AM
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One thing is certain, there is a correct way to pronounce it:
1 (Redneck Style): "Forrrrrr Forrrrrteeeee TOOO"
2 (Hood Style): "Fow Fow Too"
3 (Correct Style): "Four Four Two"
All it was was a marketing technique. Successful one, as I think people talk it up
more than they talk about the Gran Turismo Omologato, which is Grand Tourer Homologated, for those that don't speak Italian.
1 (Redneck Style): "Forrrrrr Forrrrrteeeee TOOO"
2 (Hood Style): "Fow Fow Too"
3 (Correct Style): "Four Four Two"
All it was was a marketing technique. Successful one, as I think people talk it up
more than they talk about the Gran Turismo Omologato, which is Grand Tourer Homologated, for those that don't speak Italian.
April 24th, 2014, 08:24 AM
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One thing is certain, there is a correct way to pronounce it:
1 (Redneck Style): "Forrrrrr Forrrrrteeeee TOOO"
2 (Hood Style): "Fow Fow Too"
3 (Correct Style): "Four Four Two"
All it was was a marketing technique. Successful one, as I think people talk it up
more than they talk about the Gran Turismo Omologato, which is Grand Tourer Homologated, for those that don't speak Italian.
1 (Redneck Style): "Forrrrrr Forrrrrteeeee TOOO"
2 (Hood Style): "Fow Fow Too"
3 (Correct Style): "Four Four Two"
All it was was a marketing technique. Successful one, as I think people talk it up
more than they talk about the Gran Turismo Omologato, which is Grand Tourer Homologated, for those that don't speak Italian.
Don't forget immigrants, took a while to teach my wife (Vietnamese) it was not four hundred and fourtytwo but four four two! And my Chevelles were not SS three hundred and ninetysixes.
Henry
April 24th, 2014, 08:55 AM
#15
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Sad to see how we've lost our history here. All of these posts and not the whole story. So here it is again (as this has been answered in this forum before):
In 1964, Olds defined 442 as "4-bbl carb, 4 on-the-floor, Dual Exhausts"
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50
In 1965, with the auto trans available, Olds changed it to "400-cubic-inch V8, 4 Barrel Carb, Twin Pipes"
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50
After '65, Old did not give any definition to the 442 numbers.
That's all there was.
In 1964, Olds defined 442 as "4-bbl carb, 4 on-the-floor, Dual Exhausts"
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50
In 1965, with the auto trans available, Olds changed it to "400-cubic-inch V8, 4 Barrel Carb, Twin Pipes"
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...aldisplayed=50
After '65, Old did not give any definition to the 442 numbers.
That's all there was.
April 24th, 2014, 09:11 AM
#16
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What's it mean?
It means this here ain't just no F85, Cutlass or even Cutlass Supreme. It's got something SPECIAL.
Exactly what that special part is, varied from year to year.
But, it makes the owner feel good, folks discuss it, and the other driver intimidated.
Task accomplished, marketing.
It means this here ain't just no F85, Cutlass or even Cutlass Supreme. It's got something SPECIAL.
Exactly what that special part is, varied from year to year.
But, it makes the owner feel good, folks discuss it, and the other driver intimidated.
Task accomplished, marketing.
April 24th, 2014, 08:28 PM
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April 25th, 2014, 04:56 AM
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One example I found on Olds Faq:
Definition of 4-4-2 from the Oldsmobile Factory Literature:
1964 (Original meaning)
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
4: Four On the Floor
2: Dual Exhausts
1965 (First year of automatic transmission option on 442)
4: 400 Cubic Inch Displacement
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
2: Dual Exhausts
1985 to 1987 (Last of RWD 442s)
4: Four speed automatic
4: Four barrel carburetor
2: Dual exhaust
1990 and 1991 (FWD 442)
4: Four cylinders
4: Four valves
2: Two camshafts
Definition of 4-4-2 from the Oldsmobile Factory Literature:
1964 (Original meaning)
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
4: Four On the Floor
2: Dual Exhausts
1965 (First year of automatic transmission option on 442)
4: 400 Cubic Inch Displacement
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
2: Dual Exhausts
1985 to 1987 (Last of RWD 442s)
4: Four speed automatic
4: Four barrel carburetor
2: Dual exhaust
1990 and 1991 (FWD 442)
4: Four cylinders
4: Four valves
2: Two camshafts
April 25th, 2014, 05:04 AM
#21
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April 25th, 2014, 05:09 AM
#22
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Though these references were made, I don't believe they were offered as *definitions* of the 442 numbers for those years.
April 25th, 2014, 06:21 AM
#25
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April 25th, 2014, 10:25 AM
#27
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June 26th, 2014, 03:50 PM
#33
Amazing how many people come up to me and ask if I have a 442 cu in engine. I just smile and say yep!
Same when I drove a Charger. Most people would look and say is that there one of them hemi's? Yep!
If they cannot look and at least get in the ballpark it's no use trying to explain
Same when I drove a Charger. Most people would look and say is that there one of them hemi's? Yep!
If they cannot look and at least get in the ballpark it's no use trying to explain
August 17th, 2019, 09:52 PM
#36
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Add two zeros to the end and that's what you're supposed to expect at a fancy auction. (Adjust your actual reality accordingly) That's pretty much what 442 means today. For a W- anything... add another zero I guess.
Last edited by Daiv8or; August 17th, 2019 at 09:58 PM.
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