So I rolled the dice on a 76 442 awhile back, rough but hopefully restorable. Turns out there is a rust issue on the rear inside frame which is probably beyond my ability/budget to fix. I'm gonna get a second opinion, because I really like these 442s and hate the idea of sending it to the salvage yard, but the car also needs floor and trunk pans, and rear quarters, so its all adding up and sometimes you gotta know when to walk away.

I have a line on a much less rusty 77 Cutlass Supreme which I could make into a decent driver/project for my son and I. IF the 442 turns out to be a parts car, I am thinking of putting the front end from the 442 (which is my favorite thing about the car) on the Supreme. I know the Supreme never came with that front end, but looking at the 76 Oldsmobile Illustration Catalog I bought, these two front ends look interchangeable. It looks like the catalog calls them a "Panel ASM," which I assume means "assembly." I've also heard the 442 front end referred to as a "NASCAR" front end, but the Dale Earnhardt estate isn't returning my phone calls, so I can't back that up!

Anyone think of a reason this won't work? Photos of the cars in question are below.

 

The 1976-77 two doors used the same front fenders and the same core support, so you should be able to just swap the header panel and associated parts.

 

Make sure you post pictures if you do this swap. Be interesting to see the S nose with the opera windows vs the colonnade windows.

 

I will definitely post a picture of that! If I find someone who wants to fix the 442 as is, I will probably scrap this idea, because there are so few 442s left I hate to part one out if someone thinks they can save it. We'll see how it goes.

 

Hi Chris. Just wondering if you ever did front end swap, and if it fit properly. Thanks. I'm looking at doing the same thing. Thanks

 

Hi David,
I didn't wind up doing it; I found someone who wanted the 442 and I found a 76 Cutlass S in great shape, that I'm going to fix up. If you wind up doing the swap, please do post a pic, I am interested in seeing how it would look.

 

Hi there. I'm definitely doing the swap. I hate the 77
front end. I've got the cutlass S front asm and fenders. Needed fenders anyway. Hoping hood will mate with it. And hoping 77 bumper will fit.. will post pics