Does anyone know for sure if the 1966 frames were designated as f85/cutlass automatic used pontiac and 442 or f85/cutlass standard tranny used ao smith. I have a couple 66's and one of my 66 cutlass' was an original 4 speed car with 2L in data plate, correct throttle bracket and correct S4 listed on the protecto plate but has a pontiac frame (large tow hook looking V bracket behind center link and 1 hole is rear spring crossmember). When I did a frame off on my other 66 cutlass 4 speed years ago (15) I took picture of the restoration (Poloroid) and remember that car having an ao smith frame no hook behind centerlink and 2 holes in the rear spring crossmember. Does anyone know if the ao smith frame was used on all 3/4 speeds in 1966 or could a 4 speed cutlass come with a pontiac frame. Any help would be appreciated. I know that the car in question has never had the frame changed and was a one owner car, I just cant seem to find documetation or anone to confirm if a pontiac frame would come a 66 4 speed cutlass. Thanks.

 

Unless i am mistaken...

in 66/67 Pontiac still had downflow radiators- Oldsmobile was the only one with the crossflow- so oldsmobile frames in 66/67 are unique to oldsmobile. The front frame horns are totally different to allow the width of the crossflow.

So its unlikely you have a anything other than a real oldsmobile frame.

 

Yes, but Oldsmobile did use 2 frames and if the second was not produced by pontiact then it was produced by parrish, I am trying to figure out if a 4 speed cutlass would have had a parrish.pontiac frame or only an ao smith frame. Thanks

 

I will take a shot, being I don't know for sure like most everything.

I don't think auto or stick was a factor that determined if it was AO Smith or Pontiac. My 66 F-85 parts manual shows both with no mention of auto or stick, only whether it was convert or Vista. I realize that the parts manual does not affect how or why a car came down the line with a particular frame or part, but it does not appear that it matters if it was a stick or not when replacement was required. My guess is that what ever supplier had frames on the line at the time were what was used.

 

I own several 66 442's and f85's with 3 and 4 spd transmissions and they are all equipped with the smith frame. Also all 66 converts automatic or manual trans had smith frames.

Henry

 

Pontiac was a supplier of frames to Oldsmobile, it's not a frame for a Pontiac just a frame built by Pontiac for Oldsmobile.

Henry

 

Olds A bodies could have Smith or Pontiac supplied frames. Big cars in 66 could have A. O. Smith or Parrish Pressed Steel. AFAIK, all the boxed A body frames (Vista, convertibles, and F35 options) were from Smith; the fsm says only Smith frames were used on convertibles and extended station wagons. I have only seen (and have it) one Pontiac vendor frame from a 66 Olds and it happened to be a 3817, 330 automatic, Fremont (Z) car. I have seen the Pontiac type frame boxed but it was in a 68 or 69 El Camino--looked like a Pontiac but I didn't verify the source of it.

As noted above, the parts book doesn't help; it shows only one part number for a regular frame, so it might have been supplied with the stick car tab for the Z bar, and could have been from either supplier. Of course, the F35 and convertible frame is also listed as another single part number, so it also might have been supplied with the Z bar tab (bracket). The parts book showed different frame horns for the two suppliers, and different estension units (meaning the front frame section from the horns where the bumper mounted back to the torque boxes behind the front wheels). I have one of the Smith extension units (NOS) and it did not come with a Z bar tab.