nitrojunkie1029

I saw on youtube a video of an '86 442 with a 5 speed and was wondering if you could get a manual trans as an option in 86. Thanks, Dom

Rickman48

I believe so - but rare.

fdwheelman

I don't think in 85 they had the option of 5Spd...

I believe the only tranny offered for it was the 200-4R.

I know earlier 78-80s maybe had 4 and 5 spd options, but I believe it was only for the 260 and/or 305 Chubbys...

(shurg)

I do know a 5-spd is very doable!

m455sx

The new car craft that just came out this week has a section about G-Body 4 speeds factory and added. My buddy has the first picture burgundy over silver Cutlass. Has corvette motor and trans.

Allan R

My data book on 442's says the 4 speed automatic floor shift was standard on 86 442s and no option for any other trans. Standard rear end was 3:73

mmurphy77

IIRC, 5-speeds were ONLY available with the 260.

1970cs

To back up Allan here is the brochure for "86" Also notice 2nd page footnote (B) on engine being 5.0 Chevy, wasn't the 5.0 Olds available also?

Pat

Allan R

Pat, according to my sources YES there was a 307 available from Olds. It's code LG8. cr=8.0:1 brake hp = 180 @4000 rpm
I believe it may be the same engine that was used in the 83/84 HO's and the 85 442.

ThePackRat

As stated 200R4 with 3.73's is the only way they came.

Also ...all 83/4 HO's & 85-87 442's were 5.0 307 Olds motors.
(thank god for small favors)

That 1986 brochure posted is a Canada sales brochure.

That is why the LG4 5.0 Chitty 305 is listed as the V8 choice for regular Cutlai' & not the Olds 307 (LV2 IIRC for a "Y" motor).

That brings up some more food for thought :

The biggest gas V8 in a regular Cutlai' (non HO/442) that could be had in 1978-1980 was a 5.0 Chitty 305 ...

Regardless of whether it was meant for sale in the US or Canada.

Of course' the smaller Olds 260 was also available 1978-1980.

However .. on the later (1981+) Cutlai' things got a bit muddy.

All V8 cars meant for sale in the US should have an Olds motor.

For 1981 & 1982 .. it should be a 260.

For 1983-1988 ... you got the 307.
(again - thank god for small favors)

The V8 cars meant for sale in Canada generally came with the Chitty V8's.
(whether or not you could hoot & holler & special order an Olds motor instead I don't know)

Pretty sure it was the 5.0 305's in the later stuff (83+).

Not sure if they did a similar thing as the US cars ... & used only a 4.4 267 on the 81-82's.

Also as stated ... the last Cutlai to have a manual trans was in fact a 260 car.

nitrojunkie1029

Ok thanks guys, so we have ruled out that you could not get the manual trans with the 442 with the 307. And i know all 442's came with 3:73 rear gears, but were they posi-traction?

mmurphy77

Posi was an option even on the 442. Many (my '86 included) were NOT posi equipped.

nitrojunkie1029

Somehow that doesnt suprise me. Im thinking about trading my 72 cutlass for an 86 442 and i just want to know if its worth it. Im really looking for a faster more fun car to drive and i know the 307 isnt a high performance engine by any means, but is it reliable? Is the whole car reliable? Do the carbs get out of tune easy, and am i going to be constantly fiddling with the points?

1970cs

According to 442.com the 85 and later 307 received roller lifters. Not much but yet slightly different.

Pat

1970cs

Dom here is a little personal story for ya! When I first started looking for an Olds is was looking @ 85-87 442's ended up buying my 1970 Supreme and doing a cosemetic restoration on it. (most of 442's less than $5000 in this area were pretty rusty circa 1996) In 1999 found an 87 442 with t-top with fresh paint 122k on the clock, everyting worked on it but interior needed help i.e. carpet and seats, I worked and played with it for 3 years changed many things to make closer to factory. Put it this way the 70 Supreme is still here after 15 years and 442 has been gone for 9 years. IMO the middle eighties 442's are very comfortable to drive and look sharp but I will guarantee that they will not hold a candle to early 70's Cutlass as far as power and quality of build!

p.s. yes it had open 3.73 rear end, I wonder how I found that out Had a very nice conversation with a Troy Police officer on Woodward ave during the dream cruise I was able to talk my way out of the driving award!

Pat

olds 307 and 403

We got the 267 in 81-82 up here. The H/O, 442 were basically US cars, same with the 88 CSC.

Allan R

Pat, I also like your 70 CS better. But then I'm more partial to that body style and power plant.

jerseyjoe

As others said the 86 442 only came with the olds 307 vin code 9 in the USA. The cutlass got the Y engine. They could be ordered with a limited slip 3.73 rear. I was working for Olds at the time and would say about half of them came through with it. The 200 4r trans was probably the weakest link, but with a 180HP engine they lasted as long as you serviced them regularly. I don't recall any major issues with the carb and they did not have points, everything was HEI. They sounded nice but were not fast by any means. I worked next door to a Buick dealer and got utterly embarrassed by a Grand National. I think they were very sharp looking cars and certainly would not mind driving one. With that said, I would still keep the 72 unless is needs major repair and you don't have the time or money to complete. It definitely is not faster then your 72, my 68 with 2.78 gears would easily handle an 86 442.
Any way you can swing both

oldsca

I have an `87 442 and it is fun to drive. Powerful? NO - not even a little. But when they are running good the car performs well (for what it is). Mine is stock and I plan to keep it that way but for guys who want more power they throw in a 350 or 455 and they pretty much bolt in. This is a lot more cheaper than trying to make more hp out of the 307.

nitrojunkie1029

Thanks for all the replies everyone you helped alot. My car doesnt need alot of work although i just had the whole front end rebuilt and power disc brakes added and the trans was redone i think 3 times in the two years i have had it so far. It still leaks and my carb needs help too its running so rich and the mixture screw on the left side in the front of my carb(rochester 2 barrel) is all twisted. When you go to screw it in to adjust it it doesnt go in straight it does a corkscrew motion. Ive spent about 5 grand in the car allready and i wanted a car to drive and hot rod but instead ive just spent all my hot rodding money on general maintinence and olds parts are not cheap lol i was thinking about seafoaming it to see if that would help anything. Any opinions on seafoaming?