'72 442 w-30 project

[AJ442W30]

Hello to all at CO.
Have looked at many posts and have picked up alot
of valuable information - Seems like a well run site so
I became a registered user.
I have a 1972 442 w-30 (yes, it has an "X").
455, 4 speed, Flame Orange.
I have owned it since 1978. I rebuilt the motor myself
in 1980. Barely drove it from 1981 - 1983. Couldn't afford
to feed and insure the thing. It has not seen the road very
much since 1988. I am in the middle of a frame-off that I
am groping through myself.
Small world - I think RCORRIGAN5 and I were at the CGC Comanche
in Eureka, CA. I had the 442 and he had a newer model. He should
remember that. He was the XO and I was the ships yeoman. Indeed
a very small world. Al Johnson

[agtw31]

welcome to the board.

post pics of your W-30 if you can.

sounds like a neat car.

[AJ442W30]

Thanks for the welcome.
I will get some pics and figure out how to post them.
My wife of 28 years can't figure out why I can be so
happy covered in grease and gunk.

[Oldsguy]

Some women just don't get it, mine is about the same. Welcome to CO.

[citcapp]

Welcome aboard,

Tell her the grease and gunk slows the aging process in fact in some cases you revert to a teenager. This usually happens when you stomp on the gas after getting all greasy Helps you stay young

[coachhino]

to post pics all you have to do is make a photobucket account and upload them on there.... after that the pics you want to share, you just copy the link they give you for forums and paste it here..... i posted my 72 cutlass s pics on another post.... if you need some help just let me know...

[wmachine]

Welcome, Al! If you know Randy (RCORRIGAN5), you know one great Olds guy!

My wife not only understands the grease and gunk, she's quite happy to jump right in.
When it comes to the Olds stuff, I look to her to be the voice of reason, but she fails miserably! She's usually worse than I am

[AJ442W30]

Once again thanks for the welcome.
I think photobucket is the way to go from what I have read this
is easier and I don't have to deal with the photo size limit.
I will get some pics this weekend - She's not much to look at
right now - but I can tell you guys/gals will be gentle.
Counting on this site to keep me motivated.

[2blu442]

AJ are you in Eureka now? We've one more CO member I know of over there with a 1970 442 and I'm in Medford Oregon. John

[AJ442W30]

No John. Was in Eureka only from 1978 to 1980.
(seems like yesterday, but to type it and read it-
jeez--that's a long time ago.)
Live in Tracy, Ca. Work in Pleasanton, Ca.

[AJ442W30]

[AJ442W30]

I thought I was uploading a link to photobucket.
I figure this out sooner or later

[AJ442W30]

Can anyone see the photos? I can see them, but they look like they are over the size limit. Hope I didn't do something wrong here - Can one of the moderators let me know. Thanks for your help.

[citcapp]

AJ your pictures turned out fine. Nice start. lots of work ahead. keep the pictures and the build story comming

[derek nesdoly]

Originally Posted by citcapp

AJ your pictures turned out fine. Nice start. lots of work ahead. keep the pictures and the build story comming

Man , that console is in great shape! My 69 442 has a 4-spd. with console,and the Virginia sun [from whence it came] has played havoc to the tune of 4 cracks.....gives me something to shop for at the car shows! Welcome to the site and keep the photos coming. You're working on a piece of art!!........Derek....69 442 post

[AJ442W30]

Thanks Derek and Pat. I'm glad the pics showed up OK.
Having a blast working on it so far. The console is in great shape
since the car has been garaged nearly it's whole life. The frame is
in outstanding shape, with the surface rust coming right off with a
wire wheel. The front end pieces have already been cleaned and powder coated. The only rust I have found so far in under the battery on the radiator support - It cleaned up perfect and the powder coat came out nice.
I'll post pictures of that and the rest of the pieces this week.
Does any body know what the 1283 on the frame in chalk/kiel is for?
It was on the frame at a spot that would be right under the drivers
door. I hope to have the frame cleaned up and delivered to the powder
coater early next week. This site has worked so far in keeping me motivated!

[Oldsguy]

AJ, thanks for the photos, it looks like you have everything lined up for your restoration with some cool goodies for the car. Go to it! We will try to keep you motivated as much as we can. Moving this thread to the major builds forum for you.

[csouth]

Welcome aboard. Nice car, interior looks GREAT! If your wife needs some encouragement helping you, show her these pics. My girlfriend helping me with my 350 install some time ago...LOL Good Luck with the build

[jensenracing77]

i don't know what the mark on the frame is but right there at the frame rail in the same place you should find the last numbers of the VIN stamped in the frame. the people that do my powder coating wants everything sand blasted before they coat it. i tried to just wire wheel a 4 wheeler frame and they would not accept it till i had it blasted. they said the powder coat won't stick proper if you don't. you may want to ask about it.

[AJ442W30]

Thanks for the posts Chris and JensenRacing. While my wife has been
very happy for me to be happy working on my car, she will not be
getting her hands dirty. I was just happy that she did not complain
when I told her, her beloved mustang would have to be outside in the
driveway for about a week. She loves having not to deal with a blazing
hot car in the summer or a cold car in the winter.
My powder coating guy sandblasts the parts as part of the service.
They do require the parts to be clean. I feel better about the process
(contributing something instead of just writing a check).
I figure if I can bring him pretty clean parts and it lets me know
what condition the pieces are in before I deliver them so I can make the
decision to repair or maybe replace. So far everthing looks great. I also
think that they appreciate it and in turn will treat the pieces as their
own. But who knows, I always assume people will react to things the
way I would but in reality that has rarely been the case.
Have a great day.

[AJ442W30]

Oh, I did find the vin# stamped on the frame.
Found it on the front and back sections
on the same (drivers) side with a "12"
stamped on the middle section of both sides.
While the welds are in good shape, they could
have been a little cleaner. But there it is again,
me expecting others to react or treating things as I would.

[AJ442W30]

Thought I would post this old picture of me with the 442
from 1978 - My goal is to have it run and look like it did
when this photo was taken.

http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/a...42W30/al12.jpg

[citcapp]

I bet you'll have the same smile on your face when your new ride is completed, just a few more wrinkles maybe

[csouth]

AJ,

I'm sure the finished product will well worth the effort. I can't wait to see your progress...

[AJ442W30]

Happy 4th of July to all!
Yesterday got alot accomplished getting the frame and other
parts ready for the powder coater.
Here are photos of the first batch. So far I am glad going the
powder coating route. I don't think I could get the same results
with anything I could accomplish.

[AJ442W30]

Here is another photo - This one of the W-30 intake.
The only rust damage I have encountered so far still
is the core support area shown in the previous batch
of photos.

[AJ442W30]

Picked up the frame from the powdercoater.
They turned it around in 5 work days, completing it on Monday.
Caught me off guard, and I could not pick it up until Friday.
They were to call me after sandblasting but that never happened.
I really wanted pictures of the clean frame.
I am really happy with the finished product.
Here is a quick photo I just took.
My photography skills do not do it justice. It looks amazing.

[citcapp]

Looks great now the big jigsaw puzzle assembly begins, take lots of pictures and keep us posted on your progress

[AJ442W30]

Thanks Pat,
I have had an assembly manual and have been looking at it so much I can nearly turn to the correct page in a heartbeat. Still have some parts on order and some that I have not decided yet where to get them from yet. This site and the many threads have put me on the right track. So far my goal of working on it at least 3 days each week is holding up ---- at this rate it will be done around 2015! Al

[442much]

Originally Posted by AJ442W30

Thanks Pat,
I have had an assembly manual and have been looking at it so much I can nearly turn to the correct page in a heartbeat. Still have some parts on order and some that I have not decided yet where to get them from yet. This site and the many threads have put me on the right track. So far my goal of working on it at least 3 days each week is holding up ---- at this rate it will be done around 2015! Al

Al, Looks like this is a project of the heart....so you fit right in with the rest of us. I've owned my 442 since 1979 and I'm happy that my wife doesn't give me grief about all the time I spend with it. Love the post so far. Keep the pictures coming. You better finish the job before 2015. I watched a show this month about how the world is ending in 2013.

Here's my baby...

[AJ442W30]

Hi Ken - Your car looks nice! I bet you turn many heads.

The time on my car this week was all spent on the rear end.
I had a shop install new bearing and seals and check it out.
My time, roughly 20 hours, was spent wire brushing, degreasing
and then sanding, and eventually painting. I think it came out pretty good.
The Eastwood products were easy to use by a rank amateur like myself.
Next time, if there is a next time, no rattle can for me. I think I will go with
the sandblasing and powdercoating.
Here is a picture I just took.

[foo]

this looks really great, you have just inspired me to get working on my car again. Keep up the good work and post lots of pictures i love looking at them.

[meoff]

Originally Posted by AJ442W30

Hi Ken - Your car looks nice! I bet you turn many heads.

The time on my car this week was all spent on the rear end.
I had a shop install new bearing and seals and check it out.
My time, roughly 20 hours, was spent wire brushing, degreasing
and then sanding, and eventually painting. I think it came out pretty good.
The Eastwood products were easy to use by a rank amateur like myself.
Next time, if there is a next time, no rattle can for me. I think I will go with
the sandblasing and powdercoating.
Here is a picture I just took.

your whole build looks like It's running very smooth,and you had a good base to start with!your gonna have a beautiful ride when complete
but 2015? as 442much said 2013(I thought it was 2012)is when all the world calenders end.get er done before then

[Eddie Hansen]

AJ Nice work man that thing is coming out beautifully, like the other asked keep us posted with pics etc... keeps the rest of us going LOL...

[#1CutlassSupreme]

Originally Posted by AJ442W30

Picked up the frame from the powdercoater.
They turned it around in 5 work days, completing it on Monday.
Caught me off guard, and I could not pick it up until Friday.
They were to call me after sandblasting but that never happened.
I really wanted pictures of the clean frame.
I am really happy with the finished product.
Here is a quick photo I just took.
My photography skills do not do it justice. It looks amazing.

The frame looks great...and very familiar!!! Way to be on your build man! I was going to do a frame on with mine, but decided to go the same route. keep up the good work!

[AJ442W30]

Thanks Foo, Meoff(jack), and Eddie for the encouraging words.
I have had to slow down on the work on the car with work (and life) getting in the way here lately.
I have been able to put only a few hours
a week into it. I will posts some pictures this weekend. Some things are
taking me a lot of time to complete - for example, compressing the front
springs and getting the a-arms/spindles together. Never did a spring without the benefit
of the car weight helping out. I struggled to get one side done - had to compress the springs so much
it felt like I was holding a bomb in my hand. Once I got one side done, I'm spending a lot of time sorting out
a better/safer way to go about it. I have a good compressor it's getting the perfect coil to be on and the EXTREME
compression needed. Rest of the time has been on the rear brakes - came out sweet - control arms bushings and fuel and brake lines,
and lots of "where did I put the ziplock with the (fill in the blank)". As an afterthought to this whole process, I should have got
the assembly manual and chassis service manual completely copied and put the extra page in the ziplock with the part
circled/marked. This would work better than my hastily written description. Have still had time to check CO every
now and then - Glad I found the site - always cool stuff to look at and being posted. Al J.

[AJ442W30]

#1 CUTLASS SUPREME -

That looks awesome! When you did yours did you find it very hard
to protect the surfaces on all the items already done? I am learning
the some of the assembly is virtually impossible without nicking
something. The powder coated stuff is extremely durable but the
painted items sometimes take a beating. Al J.

[AJ442W30]

#1 CUTLASS SUPREME -

I am using QA1 shocks - On the rear shocks I wanted to put
rubber boots on like your shocks show - Did you add them,
or did they come with the shocks? There are a lot of them
out there, just want a recommendation on a good set.
Thanks. Al J.