iuhoops83

I received my edition of "Oldsmobile 442 and W-Machines". It has a red, 1970 442 on the cover. The small picture on the bottom of the cover shows an engine with a red 442 air cleaner assembly on an engine with GOLD paint. Did 442 ever come with a 350 engine? Why the gold painted engine? Larry.

442much

No. The 442 model came with a Bronze coloured 400 engine (1968-69) and a blue coloured 455 engine (1970-71). Cutlasses with the 442 option came with a variety of engines even 4 cylinders (Quad 442). A 1970 442 should have the blue engine and a black air cleaner. I don't know why the colour is gold - it's not correct. Are you sure it wasn't a 1972 Cutlass 442? The air cleaner would still be the wrong colour but the engine could be a gold block 350.

iuhoops83

To clarify, I am looking at the cover of the "Oldsmobile 4-4-2 and W-Machines Restoration Guide" published by Motorbooks, T. Patrick Sullivan - author. I'm sure lots of people own this book. It has a picture of a red, 1970 442 on the cover. It also has a smaller picture of an engine in the bottom right corner. I'm assuming the engine goes with that car, but maybe it does not. Anyway, the picture of the engine shows a gold block (could be bronze), with a red air cleaner with "Oldsmobile 442 " identified on the air cleaner. Maybe the picture of the engine is for some other car. Based on your response, I have another question. I am considering creating a 442 clone from a 1972 Cutlass. If I understand your response, it was possible for a 1972 Cutlass to have the 442 option with a 350 engine, correct? If so, would the 442 markings be on the car (sides, front hood, rear deck lid, etc)? Thanks for your help!

Run to Rund

In 72, the 442 package reverted to an option like it was in 64-7. You could start with a 350 Cutlass and add the 442 package W29 "442 Appearance and Handling Package"

68Tom

Did they make a Ram Rod 350 in '70? Check the front quarters. there should be a sticker/emblem that says "Ram Rod"

Run to Rund

In 1968 the marketeers used Ram Rod 350 and Ram Rod 400 on the fenders for What in 1969 would be labeled W31 and W30 on the fenders.

70oldsW30

It all looks right for a 400 CI 442 motor but I can't tell what year except that it is bronze and not gold and has an early air cleaner. Maybe someone else can recognize it from the photo. Defintely does not go with the car shown above it. IMHO.

68Tom

A bit off the subject, but seeing as I just ordered one (and then received a free copy of the old edition), does the new edition have any color pics, or are we still looking at B&W?

442much

Ram Rod 350 was on the Cutlass models as no 442 came with a 350. A Ram Rod 400 was seen on the air cleaner not the fender - at least I've never seen one on a fender. In 1969 a W31 was on a Cutlass and the W30 (and W32) was on the 442. In '69 W31 was a 350 and the W30 and W32 were 400 CID.

Coltonis

Well I these are my thoughts:

Either A) The pictured engine is in a different car (though I must admit the red seems to match). Or B) Its actually a cutlass that someone cloned into a 442 (did a damn good job if so). Or C) I have heard of people repainting the engines to try and turn it into a "sleeper" of sorts. Either make gold 350 blue so people think its bigger, or maybe the case here, make a blue 455 gold so people think it "only" has a 350. (LOL)

For what its worth, I'm pretty sure 71-72 had round parking lights on the front bumper that makes me lean towards it actually being a '70. Bumpers can be replaced too though... Sweet looking car reguardless.

70oldsW30

The car is a 70 plain as day and whether it is a real W-30 or not I cannot imagine that anyone who can dummy up the car to look so nice would "fake" the wrong motor. None of the cars skin is shown in the motor picture and Oldsmobile never bothered to color coordinate air cleaner and car color. (Sorry, I just had to point that out ) Color of the motor in the picture is bronze. Well, at least it is to my eyes. I think that what are on the cover is just pictures that some publisher's photo set guy that doesn't know an Oldsmobile from his Volvo thought looked pretty, picked out of a huge pile of photo's provided by the author.

joe_padavano

The Sullivan book (at least in the edition I have) has a large number of errors. about ten years ago I compiled a list of all the mistakes and posted it to the old Oldsmobile email list server. The list ran a couple of pages. I'll see if I can find it.

desert442

Actually, 442's in the beginning years being 66 and 67 also had the 400 cube motor. There were some 65's, and I believe those also had the 400 cube motor too. If I am not mistaken ( and I could be, so please bear with me) Olds changed the motor to a 455 starting midway in 68 due to new smog regulations passed courtesy of the EPA. The 455's ran cooler and produced less emissions, even for a big block.

I like the 400 motors, they have tons of torque and HP for what they were in stock form. Also, early 442's that have their original 400 cube motors are becoming more rare, heck even finding a 400 block and heads is very tough..

just my 2 cents worth.. hope it helps..

joe_padavano

OK, to be completely correct, here's the list of 442 engines for 64-72:

1964 330 small block (4 speed only)
1965-67 400 short stroke
1968-69 400 long stroke
1970-71 455
1972 any available Cutlass engine (350 2bbl through W-30)

The switch to the 455 had nothing to do with "running cooler" and everything to do with GM lifting the 400 cu in limit on A-body cars in 1970.

442much

Just to add, the 442 model was only built for 4 years, 1968-1971. My 442 has a 455 but to be correct my 442 is a 1976 Cutlass with the 442 option. Olds went to the 442 option again after insurance companies started making it difficult for young people to buy the 442 models.

bocoogto

442Much,
I don't understand your statement that the 442 was only built from 1968-1971. The first year was 1965, with the 330 cu. in. engine.

If you're referring to the 442 being an option on the Cutlass, Pontiac did the same in '64 with the GTO. GTO was an option package on the LeMans. Insurance companies could care less about whether the GTO and 442 were options or distinct models. They set rates by engine size.

joe_padavano

The 442 was only a separate model with a unique VIN in the model years 1968-1971. From 64-67 it was an option package available on certain Cutlass and F85 models, but the package had a unique engine. For 72-up it was a "handling and appearance" package available on pretty much any 2dr Cutlass model and available with any Cutlass engine and trans (including the Buick V6, the dreaded 260 Olds, and even the 305 Chevy in some years).

442much

Joe's got it right. The first year of the Cutlass 442 was 1964. In '65 the option came with a 400. In '68 it became a seperate model until 1971. Insurance companies could tell a 442 by the VIN. In 1972 the VIN said Cutlass. Cutlass' came with a standard 350 and in later years smaller engines. The Rallye 350 was a fast muscle car that basically was a Cutlass with a 350 engine, at least that's how the ins. co. looked at it.

Back to the original answer - a 442 never had a 350 engine, Cutlasses with the 442 option could have.