derek nesdoly

As somewhat of a victim of buying on Evilbay,just wanted to share this with other "new to the Olds love-in" members[veterans can sit back and chuckle] So I got my "numbers matching factory 4-spd. with air" in Dec./08. Couldn't get down to Virginia from Canada due to work,to see it. In retrospect,without knowing all that I do now through 5 Olds websites,it wouldn't have made much difference.Had it trucked here and started my journey towards figuring out what I bought. Just so you know, the car IS beautiful,straight,great paintand interior,and does havethe following match to these #'s : VIN 344779M424109...Body tag : 33677LAN424259..." C " HEADS CFD894648 ...Exhaust LH W 402295 RH W..." G" Block 396 026...Oil filler tube 9960372...Rochester carb # 7023253...Intake cast 398662 D1S...Engine VIN derivitive 39M424109. The trim tag codes for red on red with buckets etc. also match. Trouble started with not being able to find the trans deriv # where Joe P. told me to find it[ like he would ever be wrong!] Turns out I have a Borg Warner ST-10 4-spd. O.K., so that's not "matching" as per the ad. Got down and scraped the axle tube and found R2, which is a 2.56 rear.Again, not a "match" ...UNLESS the original owner had ordered that as an [available] option...BUT, factory air as per his ad, came 4-spd. with a 3.23! So, a rust free beautiful car,just not what was promised.The car was $23,000.00.DEALor NO DEAL?derek

joe_padavano

Derek,

Those casting numbers and stampings can be tough to read. The C heads should be casting no. 395648. The 3 can look like an 8. Similarly the carb is probabliy 7028253. The fourth digit is the year (1968) and if it really were a 3, that would be 1963, which is before the Qjet was introduced. Finally, since all the other characters match your VIN, I'll bet your engine VIN derivative is really 38M424109. Again, the 8 can look like a 9 (and vice versa).

It's a little ironic that your car has had the Muncie swapped for a T10. My 68 W-30 is also all orignal and all numbers match (including the 4.33 rear axle) EXCEPT that someone swapped in a T10 transmission also. I'd say it was a Virginia thing except that I bought the car in SoCal.

derek nesdoly

Thanks Joe' Trooped back to the garage with a better light and here's the "new" ones : sorry, carb is 7029253 .Heads : sorry, 394548 with a little 18 by #3 plug , A CFD on the left[ The "C" looks just like the Wiki one under Heads i.d.] Lastly, I'm pretty sure [after cleaning with brake cleaner], that the stamped plate at the front near head/block interface IS 39M424109. Not sure if that helps or hurts my cause, but that head # is listed on Wiki forum . Thanks, derek

2blu442

Either the Muncie's gave up the ghost or common thought at the time was the Super T10 was a better gear box. My 1970 442 spent all it's life in Oregon and also had a Super T10 when I bought it!

If it really has a 2.56 rear end you'll need to change that before driving it much. That's way too tall and you'll have to slip the clutch pretty good to come off the line without stalling the engine. John

derek nesdoly

We were surprised to see the R2[2.56] on the axle, 'cause as we started work on the car we did a rough driveshaft rotation to wheel turn ratio and came up with OVER 3,so maybe 3.08 or3.23? Maybe he threw some new gears in too?By the way....do you guys with the Kazillion Olds have wives!? If so, what's the key to getting a car "harem " like Joe P. or John ? derek

oldsdroptop

Let me know if I'm right about this.....aren't the 256 gears stock on the turnpike cruiser option for the early model Cutlass and stock on the SX models...I have a 12 bolt posi with 256 gears in my 1970 Cutlass SX convertible....I was under the impression that's what these gears were commonly used for.....but I guess you could order any combination back in the day.....seems kinda outta the ordinary though....especailly with a 4 speed...let me know if i'm right or not here....Oldsdroptop

2blu442

Derek, If I was married there's no way I'd have time (and money) to be dragging home every Oldsmobile I could lay my hands on!!!

Oldsdroptop, they used the 2.56 in a lot of models. I've found several in 1968-72 Cutlass's and had a 1970 Vista Cruiser with a 2.56 posi. John

joe_padavano

Whoops.

For some reason I was thinking your car was a 1968. The numbers you quoted are correct for a 1969. Sorry for the confusion.

derek nesdoly

No worries Joe....."confusion" is MY middle name,and you were answering at 2:30 in the morning!! derek

derek nesdoly

So my teen daughter has showed me how to get pics to this site.Can we only do 5 at a time or is that a restriction on my end? Have threads here in transmission, newbie and trim forums. Interior in disarray now as I wait for carpet and armrest back plates...console fixed[man they're brittle after 40 years!],and want to redo package tray as the screen covering is badly faded.Derek

derek nesdoly

So stay tuned as I try to get some pics on here showing the progress on this resto. Couldn't bring myself to pay the high price here in Canada for the dividing board and shipping [behind rear seat]so made my own with masonite and filter cloth. Same with the shift boot under the console...made one from inner tubes that fits under the ring around the hole on the tranny hump and around the Hurst stick.

derek nesdoly

Decided to go non-original and put in TWO rear speakers,but stayed with the original radio. Trunk is solid and splattered with right paint...trunk liner/mat is generic.Rebuilt the S-T10 tranny[3.23].On my 3rd can of SEM paint,having redone the headrests,armrests and rear windlace

derek nesdoly

Rear seat has great surfaces,but needed some restuffing/foamwork due to mice that also love Olds!! The door panels are great,but I'll need to replace the driver's side B pillar trim.We pulled the rear window to clean up the expanded black butyl,and found no rust.Replaced the windshield Saturday,and luckily no rust[as was common on 68-69 cars]

derek nesdoly

Just waiting for some decent weather to be able to take her out and do a proper cleaning! If anyone noticed the missing washer pump,the new one is sitting in the garage ready for install.Moved the driver's bucket back to accomodate my 6'5" frame...and artificial right knee[thanks to college ball!] And finally,I hope to fill those other 4 garage bays with Oldsmobiles a la some of this sites illustrious moderators!!

csstrux

What else you got hiding in that there coliseum er garage

derek nesdoly

Boring stuff...my 2006 Durango, wife's 2006 Altima, son's 2001 Intrepid ,daughter'sPontiac G4. Strange as it may seem, we're building another 3-car garage,as I have no room for my son's fiance's car[she lives here], my snowmobiles and all the lawn and garden equipment!! Derek

ent72olds

Sweet car...sweeter garage!! More garage space? Chad, we must be in the wrong business!!!!

GoodOldsGuy

Perfect garage

GOG

Cameo White

Nice car and garage, Derek.
I live in the city, on a 25 foot wide lot. My garage is 20 feet wide (exterior dimension). As you can image, I NEED a garage or garages like yours!

wmachine

I have 5 Oldsmobiles, a 1500 s/f carbarn (in addition to a 2-car attached garage), and a house that inside looks more like an Oldsmobile museum. But more importantly, I have a fantastic wife. She is more that an enabler. She doesn't just tolerate it, doesn't just accept it, she encourages it. We're in it together.
I've done nothing more than been lucky enough to find the right woman.

mugzilla

I appraised a house in Newport Beach Ca. ...

It was U-shaped with a house on top of subterraneous garages ...

There were 5 two car garages that housed a fully equipped work area and his Corvette collection, ('64-'70)

agtw31

red/red is a awesome combo

so is 4 speed with a/c

very sharp car

Jamesbo

S-W-E-E-T

IDAS 69

IDAS 69. Is she not a Find? 76500, Same parts as born with. p/plate, original bill of sale, storage recieps, re-registration reciepes. I did rebuild 400 trans. Original engine never taken apart. Acutally talked with her. She's 78 now. Sorry if I've overstepped my bounds. I'm just proud of my car!

Thanks,
Eddie

derek nesdoly

Idas69, There's nothing wrong with being proud of your car,especially when you've got some neat "human interest" background . ref.prior ownership. Gotta keep those 68 and 70 442 fanatics on their toes about genetic pure-bred Old's!! Derek

Rdrokit

Derek,
You got a deal. You'll never lose money on that deal. Way to go!

IDAS 69

We are the Men! 69's Wood Stock, landing on the moon, Viet Nam war protest, VIET NAM WAR etc... I was 17 at the time. I'd have to say It was the greatest time of my life. I felt so free... Off the soap box...Thanks for wasting your time.

derek nesdoly

Started out with a perfectly driveable ,great lookig 442....then the "tinkering" started!! Thought I'd replace the rear package tray...no problem,but had to take out ONE rear panel to get it out.Lo and behold,it could use a lil' freshenen up.But hey,why not do the OTHER panel too?!And then you notice the two window cranks look a bit rough...may as well get 2 new ones!!And ya know,having done that much,maybe a fresh new carpet to really set things off....and do those headrests look a bit blotchy??...bring on the SEM paint.What???you need adhesion promoter and special soap first??!!Well bring it on.Crap...that cap colour looked right.Maybe it's the OTHER red.You'd think the last owner would have sprung for the real chrome armrest backplates ..what the heck,lets get all 4,they're only $15.00 each.you veterans were right ...watch out for the "may-as-wells" [ and I've only had the car since December!!]