Frame off restoration of my 1972 442
June 17th, 2011, 07:00 PM
#1
Kjr442
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,660
Frame off restoration of my 1972 442
This is not the beginning of this restoration. I have had this car now sense 1990.
After a few years of trying to buy this car I was finally able to buy it from a man here in Dallas for 1300.00,she is a all numbers matching 350 4 speed car,full gage and tachometer, electric drivers seat, hood lock, trunk release,and with all the history. After making her road Worthy I drove it for a few years.
I sold this car to a Friend of mine on a payment deal and after two years he had payed about 2000.00 and could not complete the deal and returned the car to me. I some how fell in love with this car and made the decision to never sell it.
I have restored the frame completely about four or five years ago. the frame is all powder coated as is the rear end,box control arms, sway bar and front suspension.
I now have the car in a body shop in Ovilla Texas.
Here are a few picks before the body shop started. I will add more as things progress.
Please feel free to add your comments or advice as things move along.
Thank you.
After a few years of trying to buy this car I was finally able to buy it from a man here in Dallas for 1300.00,she is a all numbers matching 350 4 speed car,full gage and tachometer, electric drivers seat, hood lock, trunk release,and with all the history. After making her road Worthy I drove it for a few years.
I sold this car to a Friend of mine on a payment deal and after two years he had payed about 2000.00 and could not complete the deal and returned the car to me. I some how fell in love with this car and made the decision to never sell it.
I have restored the frame completely about four or five years ago. the frame is all powder coated as is the rear end,box control arms, sway bar and front suspension.
I now have the car in a body shop in Ovilla Texas.
Here are a few picks before the body shop started. I will add more as things progress.
Please feel free to add your comments or advice as things move along.
Thank you.
Last edited by kjr442; June 17th, 2011 at 07:18 PM.
Keep the pictures coming
June 18th, 2011, 07:22 AM
#4
Kjr442
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Texas
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I sure will John, I plan on going to my shop on Sunday to remove all the un-needed metal from the quarter panel I got from you. I think it will be like a n o s quarter when I am done.
I have never taken a car down this far John, and I must admit the wiring in the dash is a little intimidating to say the least.
I have never taken a car down this far John, and I must admit the wiring in the dash is a little intimidating to say the least.
Hello, Nice Cutlass
July 25th, 2011, 06:10 AM
#7
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Location: Hague, VA...1-1/2 hours from the year 2017
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Do you know if this car originally came with the factory W-29/442 option or is it a Cutlass with 442 emblems and grilles that someone added later?
It looks like it might've had the factory Cutlass body side and rocker mouldings on it.
It looks like it might've had the factory Cutlass body side and rocker mouldings on it.
July 25th, 2011, 12:08 PM
#8
Kjr442
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I was puzzled too, at first, but the original owner cleared all of that up for me.
This car is the way it was from the dealership,but still, I wonder about the stripes. In the assembly man, it shows that stripe to be canceled, but all of the paint is original, and so is the stripe. I will be adding the correct 442 stripe.
The vinyl top was a dealer add on,this will not go back on.
I know of a orange 72 442 that is still in the original owners possession, and it is a 350 two bbl, bench with auto on the column, single exhaust and it has the same cutlass trim on it too!
With the 72 442 it's hard telling what you will find.
July 25th, 2011, 02:51 PM
#9
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I have seen some real strange 72 442's, that I know to be original, and this is one of them. I bought it from the second owner and have spoken with the original owner about this car.
I was puzzled too, at first, but the original owner cleared all of that up for me.
This car is the way it was from the dealership,but still, I wonder about the stripes. In the assembly man, it shows that stripe to be canceled, but all of the paint is original, and so is the stripe. I will be adding the correct 442 stripe.
The vinyl top was a dealer add on,this will not go back on.
I know of a orange 72 442 that is still in the original owners possession, and it is a 350 two bbl, bench with auto on the column, single exhaust and it has the same cutlass trim on it too!
With the 72 442 it's hard telling what you will find.
I was puzzled too, at first, but the original owner cleared all of that up for me.
This car is the way it was from the dealership,but still, I wonder about the stripes. In the assembly man, it shows that stripe to be canceled, but all of the paint is original, and so is the stripe. I will be adding the correct 442 stripe.
The vinyl top was a dealer add on,this will not go back on.
I know of a orange 72 442 that is still in the original owners possession, and it is a 350 two bbl, bench with auto on the column, single exhaust and it has the same cutlass trim on it too!
With the 72 442 it's hard telling what you will find.
September 4th, 2011, 10:52 AM
#14
Kjr442
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September 6th, 2011, 08:36 PM
#16
Kjr442
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I went to the body shop again today, so posting more pictures. Last night I installed my brake lines.I started to install my fuel lines too, but found that I do not have the return fuel line, so I had to stop for the night.
September 18th, 2011, 10:31 AM
#18
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Location: Lansing, Michigan
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That is going to be one very nice car when it is done! i sold him the driverside QTR and am very happy that it will be used on a high end car! The work looks beautiful! Keep at it. It will be done sooner than you think. I really hope to meet you some day soon. It is about time for me to visit my friend in Dallas.
Keep the pics coming! Love it!
Keep the pics coming! Love it!
September 22nd, 2011, 08:40 PM
#19
Just an Olds Guy
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Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
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Nice looking build. Can you post some detail shots of the FE2 suspension? I need to see how the stiffeners bolt to the chassis and rear control arms. It's on my project to do list. thx.
September 22nd, 2011, 08:47 PM
#20
Kjr442
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That is going to be one very nice car when it is done! i sold him the driverside QTR and am very happy that it will be used on a high end car! The work looks beautiful! Keep at it. It will be done sooner than you think. I really hope to meet you some day soon. It is about time for me to visit my friend in Dallas.
Keep the pics coming! Love it!
Keep the pics coming! Love it!
Last edited by kjr442; September 28th, 2011 at 09:24 AM.
September 22nd, 2011, 08:49 PM
#21
Kjr442
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September 22nd, 2011, 09:10 PM
#24
Just an Olds Guy
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Excellent photos. That is exactly what I was looking for. In your opinion, would it be hard to install the braces with the body on the car, and while it is up on jack stands? I also need to install my boxed control arms and rear sway bar. Lots to do while it's in the air.
September 22nd, 2011, 09:18 PM
#25
Kjr442
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442
Interesting. With some original documentation one might entertain the idea of keeping it as it came from the factory, i.e. with the Cutlass side pinstripes (Y70 i think) and the side moldings. I remember an article on an original '72 Cutlass with W29/442 option in the Journey With Olds mag that had the striping down the middle of the hood like the '71 442 non-OAI.
I am somewhat of a purest, but I am putting this back as it should have been if GM would have had it together in 72.
September 22nd, 2011, 09:25 PM
#26
Kjr442
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Excellent photos. That is exactly what I was looking for. In your opinion, would it be hard to install the braces with the body on the car, and while it is up on jack stands? I also need to install my boxed control arms and rear sway bar. Lots to do while it's in the air.
Is your car a 455,if so do you have the front fender braces?
September 23rd, 2011, 05:26 PM
#27
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Excellent photos. That is exactly what I was looking for. In your opinion, would it be hard to install the braces with the body on the car, and while it is up on jack stands? I also need to install my boxed control arms and rear sway bar. Lots to do while it's in the air.
September 23rd, 2011, 05:29 PM
#28
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I also installed the front fender braces. I did however have to tweek the passenger side just a little for the inner fenderwell. Aftermarket?
September 28th, 2011, 09:16 AM
#30
Kjr442
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October 11th, 2011, 09:20 AM
#32
Just an Olds Guy
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Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
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I just have to suck in my gut a bit when I go under the car. It (the car frame) is only off the ground about 13 or 14 inches. There appears to be plenty of room up from the LCA to the body mount area, and it appears there may already be a bolt in the hole I need to mount the brace. I haven't changed LCAs before. I read Rob's thread when he did his, but at the time his was driveable; mine isn't. Do you have any suggestions or tips to make the job go smoother and quicker?
October 12th, 2011, 07:37 PM
#33
Kjr442
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Body shop and engine pictures.
I stopped by the body shop today,things are moving slow,but I'm ok with that.
I have started my engine build now for this car, it looks like the timing chain was about gone.
I have started my engine build now for this car, it looks like the timing chain was about gone.
October 12th, 2011, 07:53 PM
#35
Just an Olds Guy
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Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
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Do you mind a suggestion? Since you're at the stage where the car could be going for paint fairly soon, I'd have them drill the door and front A pillar for a power accessory boot. I regret not having that done when I did my car. Now that I have PW and PDL to go in, I have to take the doors off to drill the necessary holes. The hole is about 1.75" and I believe there are 3 screws that also secure the boot. Don't know what your plans are for this car, but it's just a thought.
October 12th, 2011, 08:42 PM
#36
Kjr442
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Do you mind a suggestion? Since you're at the stage where the car could be going for paint fairly soon, I'd have them drill the door and front A pillar for a power accessory boot. I regret not having that done when I did my car. Now that I have PW and PDL to go in, I have to take the doors off to drill the necessary holes. The hole is about 1.75" and I believe there are 3 screws that also secure the boot. Don't know what your plans are for this car, but it's just a thought.
I'm doing that next week, I am a purest in allot of ways, but I will add a few G M extras.
I have been collecting things for this car for a long time now, the power windows and locks were at the top of my list.
October 12th, 2011, 09:00 PM
#37
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Kevin, Allen
I've got a spare door that has what I believe to be the factory hole for power windows/locks. If you'd like I could take some pictures and measurements of the size and location. John
I've got a spare door that has what I believe to be the factory hole for power windows/locks. If you'd like I could take some pictures and measurements of the size and location. John
October 12th, 2011, 09:35 PM
#38
Just an Olds Guy
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Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
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That would be great John. If you post them here we'll both see them. Kevin, your body shop probably knows where to drill, but the pic is worth a thousand words. I thought it might be in the AM, but it's not there or in the CSM that I can find.
October 13th, 2011, 05:55 AM
#39
Kjr442
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October 13th, 2011, 07:56 AM
#40
Kjr442
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Hey john, I can see where to drill, but can you tell me the size of the hole on that door please. The hole in the body is larger,I only know this because I have the new boots in hand.
