I'm working on a '69 442. a few things don't look right... Question # 1, what kind of wheels came on the 442 ? these look like some kind of Chrysler wheels, not at all like the ones on my own Cutlass with the ralley wheels. Question # 2 , the motor, supposed to be all matching numbers, but the car has AC, and this motor looks like it has never had a compressor on it . Numbers.... on MY Cutlass S , numbers are on the filler tube, which can be removed, swapped, whatever. I don't see the numbers on this 442, ( also has several layers of paint on it, which would hide the numbers anyway ) Are there some numbers elsewhere on the motor ????thanks, guys !

 

Check the VIN. If it is a true 442 the vin will start with 344. VIN can be found on the dash (and numerous other places on the chassis and frame). You can't use the data plate on the cowl because that is body # not VIN # so sometimes the data plate will have a body # for a Cutlass. Wheels and motor can be changed and most have after 44 years. You have to use the VIN. Hope that helped. Cheers.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. Are you trying to verify a numbers matching car or just the pedigree of the car?

 

Well, here's some pictures of what to look for on the engine to know if its correct. Let us know if these are the things your looking for, or if 69oldsguy and I misunderstood your question.

The oil fill tube is not the vin number. You want to get the number off the top of the dash, driver side and write that down. Then check the engine, there is a small pad on 1968 and newer engines that will have the same number stamped into it.

Look at the driver side front, just below the head. It may be hard to see if your power steering pump and alternator are in the way. You may need to get a strong flashlight and mirror, once you find the pad use a rag and maybe solvent to wash the gunk off.

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A few more things to look for. The correct engine in the 442 would have been a 400 cubic inch motor and the block casting number between the water pump and intake manifold would have a large letter G at the end. Here's a 455 that has a large letter F

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It should also have heads with a large letter C where this 350 motor has a number 7

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There's some other things you can check like the application number on the carburetor and distributor, but check the block for the correct numbers first, if that's correct for the car we can walk you through the other things next.

John

 

OK, thanks guys !!!! That's exactly what I need ! Mainly it's just form own curiosity ....

 

So all the 442's started with a vin # 344? The block would start with 344 as well?

 

All 1969 442s started with a 344... VIN. The block number is a VIN derivative. It will be nine characters as follows:

First character is the division = 3 for Oldsmobile = same as first character of the VIN

Second character is the model year = 9 for 1969 = same as sixth character of the VIN

Third character is the assembly plant, usually a letter (but a number for Canadian-built cars) = same as the seventh character of the VIN

Fourth through ninth characters are the sequential build number = same as the last six characters of the VIN.

Note that nowhere on the block VIN derivative does any information on model or body style exist, only division, year, assembly plant, and sequential build number.