Gearhead442

Hey guys i know this seems like a stupid question which i think it is but i want to hear some feedback from Old's nuts like you guys. I just want to know all of the differences between these to car besides the emblems and motor etc. I have spotted many differences myself but would just like to see some of them in a list so i can know "The Official Differences" Sorry if i bore anybody

2blu442

OK, here's a few:
Rear bumper with exhaust trumpet cutouts
Exhaust trumpet tips
Rear Bumper brackets with tabs for exhaust
FE II suspension, sway bars and springs
Boxed lower control arms for rear sway bar
Grill Panels
If automatic transmission, it will have a code showing 442 application
You already mentioned the engine and emblems

Others can add to the list.

John

Jamesbo

Also some Cutlass have a chrome stripe around the rear tail light lens and a wide chrome strip on the bottom of the trunk lid covering the trunk key hole[442's have a very thin one at the bottom of the trunk lid] They have a different hood and the air cleaner snorkle is longer and narrower [W learnt me that]

joe_padavano

You all missed the most important difference - the G-block 400 motor!

Of course, in 1969, the BBO in the A-body used the different motor and frame mounts than the SBO, thus starting a lifetime of motor mount confusion in the Olds community. The base 442 came with bucket seats and a HD 3 speed manual trans with floor shifter (the console was optional. The base Cutlass came with a bench seat and a Saginaw 3 speed manual with column shifter. Of course, both had optional seating and transmissions. Note that the 69 Cutlass was only available with the Jetaway and TH350 automatics, the 442 was only available with the TH400 automatic.

Other differences are the use of fuel return on the non-A/C 442 but no fuel return on the non-A/C Cutlass. The 69 442s got the internal regulator alternator. Lesser Cutlii got the standard external regulator. Standard wheels and tires were also different.

wmachine

Oops! Strato buckets were standard. Bench seat was a "deduct cost" option.

Eddie Hansen

there is a little rocket emblem on the door panels while the cutlass s got just a small s, boxed rear control arms sway bar, I believe the radiator is thicker.

joe_padavano

Yeah, that's what I was trying to write and for some reason had "bench" on my mind. I guess they were just very narrow "benches".

Jamesbo

My apologies

I thought he said "besides the emblems and motors etc."

kevdog442

Are you sure the hood is different?

Four Four Tony

I believe the S hood and 442 were the same with the seperate bulges. The Supreme has the single plateau style hood.

Jamesbo

The Cutty hood says "Oldsmobile on it also.Where as the 442 doesn't say "Oldsmobile" anywhere on the car. It does of course have the rocket emblems.

wmachine

Good one that is often overlooked.

wmachine

Okay, we haven't mentioned this small detail: The "344" in the VIN.

allyolds68

Left front of the hood on the Cutlass S has the "Oldsmobile" script, a 442 doesn't have it. I know this is true for 68 & 69, not sure about other years.

joe_padavano

So did all four doors and wagons, as well as the two door F85 (unless the W-31 package was ordered).

junior supercar

except of course on the Cutlass S W-31 .... if we want to start getting that detailed

other tidbits

the double hump hoods are the same. one has an emblem, one doesn't

442 on the glove box or Cutlass S on the glove box

The chrome stripe on the taillight lens is on F-85 and Supreme

since someone mentioned the VIN, do we have to mention the dataplate also

stlbluesbrother

Great info guys. Now I'm going to go out and clone a car

On the good side, this allows us to spot potential fraud when someone tries to pass off a Cutlass as a 442 during a sale.

wmachine

I didn't mention the data plate, because many 442s (most, I believe) carry the "336" on the their dataplates!

wmachine

With the 442 being a model from '68-'71 thus having identification in the VIN, that particular fraud is a lot more difficult to do.

Gearhead442

Thank you all for the replies, they have helped me a great deal.

4fortwo

A few other unlikely changes to a clone:

The front fender gutters under the hood are flat and not crush crimped.

Front sway bar will be .970" vs the Cutlass .937" with a nub on the passenger side.

junior supercar

very true

joe_padavano

That doesn't apply to the 1969 model year.

4fortwo

Joe, I trust you beyond most, but I have to ask....are you sure?

joe_padavano

Yes. The dimples were designed to allow the front fenders to crush and absorb impact energy in a head-on collision and started with the 1971 model year. This really only applies to 1970 vs. 71-72 front fenders, since these years are interchangeable but the 1970 fenders don't have the dimples whereas the 1971-72 fenders (and the factory replacements) do have the dimples. In any case, it is not a 442 vs. Cutlass distinction.

Summerof84

How about the pin stripe along the bottom of the dash, or is that a '68 only thing?

junior supercar

68 only

4speedBench

Both could be had with Forced Air Induction, I believe.

Neil Morrison

You guys are so helpful and knowledgeable about 442,s, but do you know the paint code for engine Bronze ?

joe_padavano

How many different places do you plan to ask this same question? And FYI, most of us just buy pre-mixed Olds bronze paint from places like Bill Hirsch or Supercars or Fusick.

Neil Morrison

They wont ship paint from USA to Canada, unless its a business account.
We dont have places in Ontario to just go buy it.