Just purchased a really nice solid driver 71 442. Vin starts with 344 and it's a LAN car. Has a W25 hood but no breather assembley underneath. The 455 in it is a 1970 with what looks to be all the original parts. Cranks and runs REALLY well. Even the right 1970 #s on the Q jet. Am planning on restoration and getter her slick up to a point. Just don't want to go overboard if the 70 motor will hold back the value. Any opinons on how deep to go with a resto. It's my first Olds project. Thanks

P.S. keep trying to post pics and keep getting a message "missing security token" any help on this?

 

Your pics are too large, you'll have to reduce them in size.

 

Thanks wil give that a try

 

Congratulations on your new acquisition. There are very few cars whose value will be substantially more than their owner's investment (and if you count your own labor even less). With that in mind, and you plan on enjoying the car and are not trying to 'flip it' for a profit, you should spend what YOU are comfortable spending and do what YOU want, with the ultimate goal of ending up with a car that makes YOU happy and not think of it as an investment or how it will affect future value for SOMEBODY ELSE. This is a great site with many knowledgeable people that can/will help you with your project. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Mmurph just hope mine will be as nice as yours someday. One thing I'm not gonna do is be in a hurry. Just had a new exhaust system put in and need to know proper position of the bugles in corilation with the cut outs in the rear bumper. got any pics?

 

Thanks for the compliments. The 'Trumpets' location is a much debated issue. There are specific measurements in the Assembly Manual, which, by the way I STRONGLY suggest you invest in to assist you in your project. I've had them for every car I've done and they are invaluable. IIRC, the measurements don't give a specific measurement for how far they extend out, just up/down/side-to-side. Here's a picture of mine - sorry it's not more detailed but you get the idea. Again, remember these cars were monotonously mass produced by human beings so there were slight variations.

 

That pic definitely helps thanks. By the way your shop is way too clean....now I'm ashamed to post a pic of my car in my shop

 

Welcome, let's see some pics

 

Sorry so long coming. Finally had time to post a few pics. sorry no wheels but the ralleys are at the blasters

 

Just a couple of more

 

I love the Green on Green!! Here's my 2 cents:
Just make it reasonably nice and drive it. You can improve the stuff that really drives you nuts as you go along. I've got new parts for mine that I bought the week I brought the car home. They aren't installed on the car yet because I don't really notice those little imperfections anymore. Sure it will all go on eventually, but I'm having a blast driving it the way it is right now. Mines not even a real 442, but I don't care. It makes me grin every time I go in the garage. It's also not perfect, which means I can drive it most places I'd like to take it and not be totally freaked out about where I park it. It still gets more attention than I want. I had a Cuda I was afraid to drive. That took all the fun out of it. My Wife drives this one to work on nice days once and a while, and I'm only a little nervous! It makes me happy that she can enjoy it as much as I do.
Congrats on the find,...and good luck with whatever you decide!

 

Nice. How does it look to be under the vinyl top? Is that a '69 Chevelle for a room mate?

 

Nice and greeeen inside and out!

 

The top is original and pretty much history BUT....no bubbles of rust under the material ! so she's gonna be a hard top coupe and yep that's my baby beside it a rompin stompin 69 chevelle SS BB w 400 TH and 3:55 posi The guys over at Team Chevelle are gonna call me a "traitor" !

 

That looks like a nice, clean, solid driver. Too bad the original motor is gone but still is a nice car. I have the same car in a convertible. Green code 49 (antique jade) on green and supposed to have green top. I'm just driving mine but it could use some TLC. If I were you, I would just try to tighten it up a bit and stop any corrosion or rust if any. I would then just pick away at the little things like: OAI air cleaner set up, fix console box door. The headlight bezels are for a 1972 also, maybe find some nice 71 used or repops. Its really up to you and how much you want to spend and how much you like the car and if you plan on showing it. This is a great forum for resources and advice. Good luck!

 

Those bezels were a mess. someone had blacked out the corners with a brush and some really bad paint. i scrubbed on em with some 00 steel wool and now they are nice and shiney. need more info on th 49 paint code is it antique jade ? The only number on the cowl tag is 49 followed several spaces to the right by "G" Is that the code for interior also? Also had a shifter from the mid 70's in the console.I now have the correct piece but need some diagrams or pics to make sure I have all the pieces

 

49 is the paint code for antique jade and G is the code for the green vinyl top.

 

Wow... that car really takes me back. My first 442 was a '71 in that same color scheme! The only difference was mine was a column shift with a bench seat. I really like your car!

 

Hello Bugman & congrats! I agree with Bluemeanie. I bought mine last year - a real 442 but not a real W-30. It is a nice driver and my kids love it!. I too bought a bunch of parts to fix the important things and I will chip away at the other things as I go. Get it on the road and improve it when you can.

 

In picture DSCF8992, i can see what appears to be 2 open firewall holes behind the washer pump. For some reason there are 2 unused hold on the firewall at this location. The factory would plug the holes that lead into the Heat/AC air box with a piece of cloth tape. After a few decades the tape falls off, leaving two small open holes to suck engine fumes into the heating system.
I plugged mine with 3M caulking.

Looks nice.
Miles

 

Good looking Olds.

 

Just started my tear down. Everything going well. My bumpers look to have been rechromed in the distance past and need so again. Weighing options on rechrome vs repops but wonder about quality of repops. Any suggestions as far as sources or what to look for ?