Cal

Did any of the 442s come with a 350?

joe_padavano

Starting with the 1972 model year, the 442 was demoted to an "appearance and handling" option package, available with any engine offered that year. As a result, it was possible to buy a 1972 442 with a 350 2bbl single exhaust motor that was rated at a pavement-ripping 160 HP net. Sad but true. Prior to 1972, the answer is no.

Cal

Thank you, that is what I have found also. But, I have someone telling me they had a 69 442 with a 350. No idea if he's just to old to remember our is just confused. 🤷🏻‍♂️

joe_padavano

Not from the factory. Look, this is easy. From 1968-on, every car built by Olds had a VIN derivative number stamped on the block that matched the VIN of the car (hence the term "matching numbers"). If the engine doesn't have a matching VIN derivative, it wasn't installed in that car by the factory.

woodie582

Engine swap at some point, could be a 307 in there.

Cal

This was a car he had as a kid. The car is long gone. I just think he is mistaken on it being a 442 or it being a 350. He used Google to prove that the 442 could come in a 350. But, he is one of those people that will argue this to no end. So, I figured I would just verify (for my own personal info) what I had already beloved to be true.

joe_padavano

I learned long ago that it is a waste of time to try to prove someone like that wrong. I just smile and nod and move along.

Schne442

I have a 72 442 Convertible that was born with a 350 2 Bbl single exhaust and even though it is a documented W 29 people still wont believe it is a real 442
I have since upgraded to 4 Bbl dual exhaust with trumpet tips so as long as I don't open the hood they don't think to argue with me

goatwgn

or a 260.......

69HO43

1980 442 had a 350. And as mentioned, the 72 442 could be had with a 350. That would complete the list of all the factory 350-powered 442s.

joe_padavano

Not quite. The 350 was offered with the 442 package every year from 1972-1977 and again for the 1980 cars (and the 1979 H/O if you count that). In fact, the 350 was the base engine with the 442 package for model years 1972-1974 and again in 1980. For the 1975-79 model years the base engine was the a six (the Chevy I6 and then the Buick V6). Think about that for a second - a 1975 442 with the I6 and 3-on-the-tree manual trans. Talk about pavement-ripping!

69HO43

Ooh, yeah forgot about the boat era 442s. D'oh! Wasn't thinking that very clearly. That was a pretty big mis-remember there. I'm getting too old for this crap. I'm not even going to count the 78/79 442s at all, even if you couldn't get a 350 in them. For one thing, the body style wasn't anything to write home about. You could get your 442 with a 4 on the floor again, but you had to get power from a 305 Chebby V8 to do it.

I'm not counting the 79 H/O since it wasn't a 442. And 78/79 442 didn't have a 350 available as it was. Even the H/O's in the boat era based the W-25 with the 350 and you had to get W-30 to get the 455 in '75. There were a bit more 350 H/Os that year than 455 H/Os. Hence, you just knew THAT was the year all good things were coming to an end...