How do i do research on the vin and engine code on my '73 442

REDWARDS67 · 10-25-2007, 11:11 AM

i just traded for a '73 442 and am trying to verify that it is a numbers matching car and all original like the previous owner told me. where can i go to research the vin and engine block id and heads and trany numbers. thank you for your help a website or something would be great.

don71 · 10-25-2007, 03:29 PM

You did'nt tell us what engine or tranny is in your car, but I'll try to help.

The engine CASTING # is located here...this may not match yours...395558 is a common 350 block # 396021 is a common 455 block....again this is not an excusive list........

The head CASTING number (small block) or letter (big block) is located here...

A 73 big block should have J heads or KA head casting letter. A 73 small block should have #8 heads

The VIN of the engine block is located right below the head number or letter below that freeze plug thats on the head . ( Behind the steering pump) Kinda tough to see. Driver side only, on a machined pad on the BLOCK not the head. Sorry, I don't have a picture handy now--EDIT, Ok try this picture to identify the spot--

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...es/Head_ID.jpg

I can't tell you exactly where a turbo 350 trans will have the VIN, but it will be stamped on there, my guess...the drivers side.

The 400 turbo trans WILL have the VIN stamped on the drivers side on the case, just above the pan rail. It WILL be located between the selector gear (linkage) and the electrical connecter for the kick down, passing gear.

You'll need a wire brush to remove the gunk to seed the numbers. These pieces should match the last 6 digits of the VIN.

REDWARDS67 · 10-30-2007, 10:29 PM

thanks a lot for your reply. i appreciate it and you're right about all that but i was wanting a web site or something to research the #'s now that i have all of them.

joe_padavano · 10-31-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDWARDS67

thanks a lot for your reply. i appreciate it and you're right about all that but i was wanting a web site or something to research the #'s now that i have all of them.

You can research the VIN here:

http://members.aol.com/drewinva/olds/vin/

That website is not complete, but it's a start.

REDWARDS67 · 10-31-2007, 10:36 PM

thank you very much that helped. it said it was a '73 old cutlass with a 350 4bbl. there were other options for "350 4bbl dual exhaust" but that's not what mine is. does this mean that mine is not an original 442? i thought 442 stood for 4bbl 4spd dual exhaust? mine is also a 3 speed. i'm confused a bit here.

Oldsguy · 11-01-2007, 04:57 AM

No, that is a misconception. That was a marketing deal at first but later the 442 was for a while an option on the Cutlass, then for a while it was it's own model line, then went back to an option. But every 442 does not have a 4bbl, 4 spd, dual exhausts. Think of the 442s in the eighties after they went to fuel injection, wouldn't be possible.

joe_padavano · 11-01-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldsguy

No, that is a misconception.

Dan is correct. In the introductory year of 1964 the 442 used a 330 cu in 4bbl motor and 4 spd trans exclusively, thus the "4 spd, 4bbl, dual exhaust" definition. In 1965 the engine was bumped to 400 cu in and a Jetaway automatic was optionally available. Olds changed the definition to "400 cu in, 4 bbl, dual exhaust". By 1966, a 3 x 2 bbl induction was available and the name became meaningless ever since. By 1968 you could order a 442 with a 2 bbl motor and a 3 spd manual trans. In 1970 the engine went to 455. In 1972 the 442 was demoted back to an option package and was available with any Cutlass engine, including the single exhaust 350 2bbl motor. By the mid-1970s there was a V6 and 5 spd. And don't even get me started on the Quad442...

Olds64 · 11-01-2007, 05:55 PM

Hey Joe, didn't those Quad 4 engines set some land speed records? 1987 Aerotech...

I know, it wasn't a stock car. LoL

http://www.motortrend.com/features/c...le/index1.html

88 coupe · 11-01-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olds64

........ I know, it wasn't a stock car .........

And not the same "quad 4" engine either.

Norm

10-25-2007, 11:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
REDWARDS67 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	How do i do research on the vin and engine code on my '73 442 i just traded for a '73 442 and am trying to verify that it is a numbers matching car and all original like the previous owner told me. where can i go to research the vin and engine block id and heads and trany numbers. thank you for your help a website or something would be great.

10-25-2007, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
don71 feed the pig Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 136	You did'nt tell us what engine or tranny is in your car, but I'll try to help. The engine CASTING # is located here...this may not match yours...395558 is a common 350 block # 396021 is a common 455 block....again this is not an excusive list........ The head CASTING number (small block) or letter (big block) is located here... A 73 big block should have J heads or KA head casting letter. A 73 small block should have #8 heads The VIN of the engine block is located right below the head number or letter below that freeze plug thats on the head . ( Behind the steering pump) Kinda tough to see. Driver side only, on a machined pad on the BLOCK not the head. Sorry, I don't have a picture handy now--EDIT, Ok try this picture to identify the spot-- http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...es/Head_ID.jpg I can't tell you exactly where a turbo 350 trans will have the VIN, but it will be stamped on there, my guess...the drivers side. The 400 turbo trans WILL have the VIN stamped on the drivers side on the case, just above the pan rail. It WILL be located between the selector gear (linkage) and the electrical connecter for the kick down, passing gear. You'll need a wire brush to remove the gunk to seed the numbers. These pieces should match the last 6 digits of the VIN. __________________ 1971 cutlass S 455/th400 Last edited by don71 : 10-28-2007 at 05:57 PM. Reason: vin link

11-01-2007, 04:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,557	No, that is a misconception. That was a marketing deal at first but later the 442 was for a while an option on the Cutlass, then for a while it was it's own model line, then went back to an option. But every 442 does not have a 4bbl, 4 spd, dual exhausts. Think of the 442s in the eighties after they went to fuel injection, wouldn't be possible. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

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10-30-2007, 10:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
REDWARDS67 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	thanks a lot for your reply. i appreciate it and you're right about all that but i was wanting a web site or something to research the #'s now that i have all of them.

10-31-2007, 10:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
REDWARDS67 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	thank you very much that helped. it said it was a '73 old cutlass with a 350 4bbl. there were other options for "350 4bbl dual exhaust" but that's not what mine is. does this mean that mine is not an original 442? i thought 442 stood for 4bbl 4spd dual exhaust? mine is also a 3 speed. i'm confused a bit here.

11-01-2007, 05:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Olds64 Landyacht Club President Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawton, OK Posts: 1,095	Hey Joe, didn't those Quad 4 engines set some land speed records? 1987 Aerotech... I know, it wasn't a stock car. LoL http://www.motortrend.com/features/c...le/index1.html