Does anyone have information regarding how many 1970 442’s were equipped with AC and 4 speed manual trans?

There may be a thread on the topic. I get mixed opinions that you cannot get a 1970 442 with AC and a 4 speed. I think it was more common to see with Linden NJ built cars.

I’d like to know if anyone on the forum has such a combination. I am interested in knowing if it was equipped with a 3:23 posi and either an M20 or M21.

I would think M20 but I guess the other question is whether a 1970 442 could have been equipped with an M20 or whether all the 455’s always got the M21. I sure the W cars all got the M21s but they also typically got the 3.91 rear.

thanks!

 

You could absolutely get a 70 442 with A/C and a 4 speed. You could not however get a 70 W30 with A/C and a 4 speed (possibly where some of the confusion is that you are hearing).
Here is a thread from a member currently restoring a 70 442 holiday coupe with A/C and a 4 speed:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-speed-169342/

 

Thanks. That is a nice project car Al is working on.

From the pictures posted, his 442 has an M21 with AC. I’m assuming it is 3:23 posi? I think SF was the most gear you can get with AC.

I guess it may be true that you could not get an M20 with any 1970 442 with or without AC.

Seems to always be equipped with an M21. Does anyone know that to be true?

 

The people who claim you couldn't get A/C with MT apparently can't tell the difference between a W30 and lesser 442s. Of course, today EVERY 442 and Faux Four Two is a "W30". Just try to find one on Google Images that isn't.

 

a friend has a 70 442 4 speed convertible with a/c with m20 and 3:23. an m21 with 3.23 would not be a good combination,first gear is too tall for 3.23. i dont believe they recommend m21 with 3.55 and taller gears

 

From some research, 70 442 started production with no 4 speed AC cars available in SPECS. A later print shows it to be added. They added the option of 3.23 rear end to M21 and you could have AC. AC was also available on the M14 3 speed.

This is why there is fuzz on this, to borrow Joe's term.

 

My literature states the 1970 M20 HD Wide Ratio 4-Speed was not available in 442 models.

 

This is an interesting question that has come up before. The Powerteams booklet published early in the model year shows only the 3.42 axle available with the M21 in the 442 (not W30). A/C is only shown with the 3.23 gears with TH400 (note c). This booklet does not have a printing date, but I suspect it was printed prior to the start of model year 1970 sales. And yes, note that there are no M20 options.




Now the same powertrains table in the Jan 1970 printing of the SPECS booklet shows 3.23 gears available with M21, but ONLY when A/C is ordered (note b).

 

I would rather have the M20 with 3:23 rear combination.

My project has an M21 with AC and 3:23 rear.

I don’t know why the literature on the 442’s at the time would not have given buyers an option for the M20.

i am very curious if there is any member who has a 1970 442 equipped with an M20. Sounds like there won’t be many at all.

I’d also love to see if any equipped with an M20 has documentation that supports to was delivered from the factory that way.

thanks for the comments everyone!

 

Well, considering that the factory literature doesn't show M20 as an available option, yeah, not many at all...

Here's the 442 page from the SPECS booklet. Note that the only four speed offered is M21.





Here's a 1970 442 order form. Again, M14 (toploader three speed), M21, and M40 are the only available transmissions. Note by the way that this is an early printing of the order form and shows RPO G91 (3.23 gears) as N.A. with M21. It also shows C60 as N.A. with M21.The Jan 70 version of the order form shows G91 as "N.A. with M21 unless C60 ordered."

 

First gear in the Phord three speed is 2.42:1, so it could pull the 3.23 gears. Heck, the M14 came standard with 3.08 gears in the 442.

 

Is it truth or fiction no W car in 70 could be ordered with an M20

and big gears like 3:91’s?

 

Good question. Let alone the available 4.33's. Is there any build sheet etc with those listed?

 

The factory paperwork shows that M20 was not available on any 442 in 1970. Interestingly, the SPECS booklet does show that W31s were available with 3.42 or steeper gears with any trans, M14, M20, M21, or M38. 3.91s were standard equipment on the W31.

 

My Econoline Club Wagon has a Toploader 3 speed. With 4.11 gears, you are lucky to get out of the intersection when starting at a traffic light before needing to shift to second. That vehicle is able to start moving in top gear, albeit slowly.

 

1966 3x2 member Mike currently has a 1970 factory 4 speed convertible with factory AC. We were discussing the trans because the vin derivative on the trans is on the passenger side of the trans, not drivers side like my 70 w30 trans. His is a linden built car. I believe it’s for sale..numbers matching engine trans etc. beautiful car

 

I have the original window sticker for the car Lansing built with M21 C60
Alain red W-31

 

My car has is a Linden built 70 442 convertible 4 speed with A/C. It's a matching number engine and transmission. However it has a TM code 3.42 rear axle & my buddy whom I bought it from had owned the car since the 70's said that he had never changed or done anything to the rear axle. I know what the factory docs say about the 3.42 not being available but there has been other 70's with A/C with a 3.42. When I get it back on the lift I'm going to check the production date on the rear axle to see if it coincides. Here's the car.

 

Don't know about the rear end but that sure is a cool color combo. You don't see many of those running around!

 

yep on the W’s being available with the M20. I’ve seen a few here that have Canadian docs to prove it. Ive driven this W31 with the M20. It’s a monster out of the hole with that trans choice and 3:91’s. It’s the ticket for street racing with the small block.

 

I have a 70 442 with 4spd(M20) and air. Rear axle is 3.23 ratio

 

Was the toploader used in 70? I thought they went to the aluminum case 3 speed in 70.

 

Thanks. It belonged to a good friend since the 70's and when he got ready to sell I bought it. It does have the 71 parts on the nose but it is what it is.

 

1970 was the first year for the new HD Muncie three speed in the A-body cars. The Toploader three speed was available in the Delta 88 line as the base trans through the 1971 model year.

 

Does the M20 have a matching VIN derivative?

 

Ok,I was talking about real cars. Thanks for the info Joe.

 

I would love to see if anyone has a documented 70 442 with an M20 and AC and 3:23 posi. Personally I don’t think it exists based on the literature. But I would be happy to say I’m wrong. And if such a combination exists and documented, that would be very cool!

 

Yes, you could get a 1970 442 4-speed with AC. Here is the window sticker of mine. M-21 with a 3.23 non-posi rear. As mentioned, the standard trans would have been the M-14 Muncie 3-speed.

 

Joe I believe it does. I can verify tomorrow when I'm home.
At one time I had a Muncie case for a 69 Olds

 

I'll see what I can dig up this week on my car. I know for a fact that i do not have the right build sheet(s)for my car. I found two in the interior neither match the vin.

 

Looking at the different SPECS editions, the 70 442 was originally unavailable with C60 and M20 due to too high a rear, 3.23 was not listed as an M20 option. A later version of SPECS shows that C60, M20, and 3.23 was available.

This makes sense, because the concern is the compressor can be oversped with the numerically higher rear ends. 3.23 is regarded as the steepest gear for AC. If 3.23 was not permitted due to it not having the desired performance of the 4 speed stick 442, then that would exclude AC. I do not think limited slip was a regulating factor in this.

 

Where are you showing M20 available? Did you mean M21?

 

Yes. My mistake.

 

For the 66 model year a 3.55 was available with A/C and if you got a 3.23 ort higher rear axle M-20 was mandatory.

 

Original color 78 burgundy mist . 05 D May 4th week. Not sure what trim 970 means?

I found this under the passenger front seat. Whatever is left of it. Can anyone breakdown these codes?

Pretty much original. I just got her running all stock. Ac isn’t working yet. Still working on it little at a time.

Original to the car. Muncie M21 KA close ratio

Easy driving

3:42 gears SH


Vin OE Linden New Jersey

Stock E heads

 

That broadcast sheet is great. It actually shows a 70 442 4 speed with A/C and a 3.42 rear axle. According to GM that was not possible. I also have a 70 442 Conv. 4 speed with A/C and a 3.42 rear axle. The only thing that would have been better with the broadcast sheet would be if it had the C60 A/C code. Thanks for posting it.

 

78k original miles. Unrestored interior still nice.

Interior original



Powder coated 5x7s

Original rear end 3:42 gears SH.

Got the original restored matching number/ date code carb from Vader 7040253 for the 4speed. Running great! Thx Vader!

 

Is that just a W27 cover or is the housing aluminum also aluminum? Can you post a picture of the carb number stamping please?

 

Thx Man! Well that makes two of us. I don’t know how many of these were built this way but definitely great options on these cars. Cheers!

 

Here it is . Correct numbers & date for this 4speed

Original OAI . I still got a lot to do under this hood- But she’s running

Better pic. Also the W27 isn’t the aluminum ( I wish) just the cover . It was on before I got it. Possibly ordered by original owner but it’s ok
3:42 gears will do I’m hoping to restore her back to all original paint & all ,drivable & reliable.