72 cutlass

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Old Mar 27, 2019 | 05:45 PM
  #1  
Tj Pal's Avatar
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From: WNY
72 cutlass

Was 455 available in 1972 cutlass supreme? Thanks for the help.
Old Mar 27, 2019 | 06:22 PM
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2blu442's Avatar
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Yes. If it was factory there would be a letter U in the vin tag. There's another member here named 72455 who has one of these cars. You might check with him if you think yours might be one too. He can share what to look for on your car. John
Old Mar 27, 2019 | 07:08 PM
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RetroRanger's Avatar
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John pretty much summed it up a U or X in the V signifies a 455 car in 72...not much else to look for.

to add a 72 442 could have come w a 350 in it as well where as 70 and 71 442s only came w a 455
Old Mar 27, 2019 | 07:22 PM
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72455's Avatar
1972 U code Supreme
 
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Originally Posted by 2blu442
Yes. If it was factory there would be a letter U in the vin tag. There's another member here named 72455 who has one of these cars. You might check with him if you think yours might be one too. He can share what to look for on your car. John
Thanks for the plug John 👍

Yep..I'm the guy he's talking about. Thanks to the contributions from various members here and doing a lot in my own, I've learned a lot about my 72 Supreme, so if you need any help or info, I'll see what I can do.😀

Here's a couple pics of mine...

Old Mar 27, 2019 | 07:52 PM
  #5  
Tj Pal's Avatar
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Thanks for all your help guys. A friend of mine has 72 supreme with a 455 in it and we were trying to find out if indeed that eng was available in a cutlass for 72. I’m relatively new here. I recently purchased a 64 F85 with a 455 in it. I’m sure I will need some help in the future! Thanks again for all your help.
Old Mar 27, 2019 | 10:32 PM
  #6  
Fun71's Avatar
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Be aware that back in the 70s and 80s it was common to swap a 455 in place of a 350. No one cared about originality back then, and for gearheads looking for more power a 455 swap was a no brainer.
Old Mar 28, 2019 | 07:12 AM
  #7  
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The power teams page in the SPECS booklet for each year will tell you exactly what was factory available that year. This is the page for 1972.



Old Mar 28, 2019 | 12:02 PM
  #8  
11971four4two's Avatar
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Originally Posted by RetroRanger
John pretty much summed it up a U or X in the V signifies a 455 car in 72...not much else to look for.

to add a 72 442 could have come w a 350 in it as well where as 70 and 71 442s only came w a 455

For factory 455 in 1972 Cutlass Supreme Codes are ...... Letter in VIN
U = 455 with TH400 auto transmission
V = 455 with M20 4 speed manual transmission VERY FEW OF THESE WERE MADE

X = 455 "442 W-30" NOT a Cutlass Supreme
Old Mar 28, 2019 | 12:07 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by 11971four4two
X = 455 "442 W-30" NOT a Cutlass Supreme
Actually, the "X" code in the VIN does not mean "W-30", it means the L77 engine. Keep in mind that there were a very, very tiny number of 72 H/O hardtops that were built with the L77 and are not 442s.
Old Mar 28, 2019 | 12:13 PM
  #10  
11971four4two's Avatar
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
Actually, the "X" code in the VIN does not mean "W-30", it means the L77 engine. Keep in mind that there were a very, very tiny number of 72 H/O hardtops that were built with the L77 and are not 442s.

Interesting JOE
All the HO 72 hardtops I have seen are U code in the VIN
Were the X code ones TH400 auto trans or were there 4 speed ones as well???
Old Mar 28, 2019 | 12:17 PM
  #11  
joe_padavano's Avatar
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Originally Posted by 11971four4two
Were the X code ones TH400 auto trans or were there 4 speed ones as well???
All 1972 H/Os were automatics.
Old Apr 28, 2019 | 01:34 PM
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72 Cutlass

My Supreme is a u Code with the 455. and TH400 trans. Runs like a clock!
Zacc
Old Apr 29, 2019 | 11:07 AM
  #13  
Allan R's Avatar
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From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Originally Posted by Tj Pal
Thanks for all your help guys. A friend of mine has 72 supreme with a 455 in it and we were trying to find out if indeed that eng was available in a cutlass for 72. I’m relatively new here. I recently purchased a 64 F85 with a 455 in it. I’m sure I will need some help in the future! Thanks again for all your help.
Your block casting will be 396021 F and the heads should be GA for a 1972 455.
Old May 27, 2019 | 01:45 PM
  #14  
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I love the hood scoop and that you painted the grille center black. Custom without being gaudy. Very sharp!
Here's mine:
Old May 27, 2019 | 03:10 PM
  #15  
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1972 U code Supreme
 
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Originally Posted by Rickglick
I love the hood scoop and that you painted the grille center black. Custom without being gaudy. Very sharp!
Here's mine:
Thank you for the compliment, but I can't take all the credit. What you see is how it was when I bought it. I only added the wheels (came with the car) and tires. Besides, my hot rod pales in comparison to your beauty! Your photo captures it perfectly!
I hope you take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy it, cuz I know I would 😀
Old May 27, 2019 | 03:46 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by 72455
Thank you for the compliment, but I can't take all the credit. What you see is how it was when I bought it. I only added the wheels (came with the car) and tires. Besides, my hot rod pales in comparison to your beauty! Your photo captures it perfectly!
I hope you take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy it, cuz I know I would 😀
Thanks! I do enjoy it-230k miles! I did a lot of mods. you can see in my gallery.
That photo technique is called 'light painting'. It's taken in complete darkness. you open the apeture on the camera for about 8 seconds while waving an LED light over a certain area. you repeat the process about 50 times and then layer the shots. takes a long time, but the result is sort of '3D'.
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