Can any useful information be decoded from the oil fill tube? I know these pieces are easily removed so therefore aren't reliable but the number had to indicate something

The first digit indicates what year the engine is/should be but can anything else be decoded or is the rest of the number just a derivative?

 

Not as far as I know. You're right bout it being easy to replace. The only other numbers that might be on the fill tube could be the part number stamped into it. It is exactly the same part from 1969-1974. My Olds parts catalogye shows it in Group 1.745 part number 563962. If you lightly buff down the tube where the numbers are maybe you could check that out.
The Z on your cowl tag means that the car was assembled in Freemont CA.

 

Originally each vehicle had a paper ID tag affixed to the oil fill tube. On this tag was engine code ID and (I believe) the transmission code ID. Because this item was paper and was glued to the tube you can imagine about how long these things stayed on. With oil, heat, engine washing etc. they would either disintegrate or peel off rather quickly.
(Still got my original) You can today get reproductions of these. With my original I covered it with the wide clear packing tape so it would not come off.

Regards,

Fred

 

Has anyone ever seen an ORIGINAL paper tag on the oil fill tube (as opposed to a repro)?

 

yes, actually i have the one from our '70 w-30 and i also have some photos of one from our extremely low mile '72 442 (just over 4k mi). the numbers and letters are black. i've made several just like originals for some '70 and '71 cars. hope this helps........

 

Black lettering, huh? Interesting since many of the repros I've seen are red. That's very cool info. You may be the first person I've spoken with (well, spoken in the virtual sense) who's actually seen one.

 

i had one on my '69 cutlass s, until i steamed the motor clean, back in '83.
what was left of it, before the cleaning, was black print on a white-ish background. it was about 2/3 intact.


bill

 

Just saw one yesterday at the Northern Ohio show on a 4,700 mile '72 442. In addition to the two letter code, it had '410475 A4AYN' in additional printing on the side. What a perfect time capsule that car is. Wish I had the funds to buy it the last two times it turned up for sale (once in ~2001 and again just a few weeks ago).

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Terry

 

Hey Terry, that is pretty cool, thanks for the pics. I guess you can put that label on crooked and twisted and it would be totally correct, got pictures to prove it.

Allan

 

Unbelievable!!! Someone who bought a 442 to look at instead of drive. A 455 that will never get broken in or go for a gas foot down ride. Should have put a mock up in that car.

Ok, I'm over it now. Just seems like a waste of such a great car.

BTW thanks for the pics of the engine detail. Got any others that show the car and interior? Would be really nice to see how well the rest of the car stayed.

 

Pitiful ...

 

Here you go.... It's nice to have a benchmark car or two around to see how they were really made. With so many people building crappy red W30 tribute cars out of any available Cutlass, it's nice to see these cars even if it means they didn't get driven much.

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Terry

 

An absolutely stunning looking car. Laser straight body, subtle chrome accents, dual exhaust. Nice. Do you have a pic of the VIN on this car? It looks to me like this is the W29 package for 72. Would you happen to know if it's posi 3:23?
One thing I don't get though is the thin white stripe tires. Our 72 came with a wider white stripe Goodrich F78/14 tire. Didn't the 442 come with polyglass raised white letter G78/14 tires, or was that an option? Looking at the pictures the tires look like they are the old bias ply non radials (I'm surprised they aren't rotted out. Most of the cars at shows, unless you're going concours have radials. BF Goodrich Radial TA seems to be a really popular choice.)
And there's the little fasten seat belts pod that's needed for rallye pac equipped cars. Properly labelled on the glovebox as Cutlass instead of the clone or tribute 442 mistakes.
You must have had a fantastic time. I'm looking at all the rolling stock in all the pictures and I wish I was there.

 

It's definitely nice with only 4,700 miles! ; ) It has the W29 option - a lot of original paperwork was with it. It was built in Framingham, MA, sold new in Lancaster, PA and is a U code car (250 net hp 455/TH400). Those are the original bias ply tires - all 5 are there. Since you noticed it, the seat belt buzzer on the dash is correct for all Rallye Pack cars built after January 1, 1972. Late 1971 Rallye Pack cars did not have it. I have a printout from when this car was on Ebay in 2001 or so - if I find it , I'll scan and post it.
Terry

 

I have the reproduced labels for '70 & '71 442's available. See my post in the for sale forum. Any questions, feel free to email me at tjk6277@me.com