Hey folks.I am having an issue with a friend over my car. It is a 65 Cutlass/442 Convertible. It has the automatic (Jetaway) but I converted it to the 2004R for better Freeway gearing. He states that my car cannot be a 442 because it has 3.08 gears instead of 3.23's I keep trying to explain that there were at least three seperate gear ratios provided by the factory and 2 or more additional available from the dealer. Can anyone help me out with this issue? All Help is appreciated.
The Vin is 338675Z128685

 

Tell him he's a moron, if he's a close friend. If not, disagree.

While a 442 can be real or fake, it does not depend on the rear end, usually.

 

Looking at the 65 specs booklet, the jetaway 442 package Cutlass or F-85 had a 3.08 standard. If I'm reading this right, a 2.78 might have been an option. Sticks got 3.23.

 

Interesting Koda...

According to Automobile Catalog the lowest (numerical) gear ratio available for a 2 speed 1965 Convertible 442 is 3.23

I had a 1966 442 2 speed hardtop and it was 3.23 and Auto Cat also says no lower ratio (numerically) available as well .

As you stated Croixdad there were 5 gear ratio options available. 3.23 3.55 3.90 4.11 4.33 (Again according to Auto Cat.)

As Koda mentions I don't know that that's the best way to identify 442s... I guess what you are really getting at is if we can verify a Fremont 442 ?

 

CroixDad this may help.

Comes from a dealer that sold a roller 1965 Fremont 442 that of course has no 4V code. This is how they determined it to be the real deal.

"The 4 mounting holes are present. The frames "ARE" different... A true 442 has 4 holes where the rear-end upper control arm bolts to the frame (note: 10 bolt rears are in the 3rd hole from the top, 12 bolts are in the 2nd), the non 442 has only 1 hole. This can't be counter fitted without cutting and welding connecting points to the frame or trying to accurately drill the other holes."

https://www.classicautomall.com/vehi...bile-442-coupe

Hopefully members here can verify this ...

 

Fremont build throws a wrench in proving 442, but the 65 CSM indicates 3867 V8 Jetaway could have come factory equipped with either of two 3.08 gearsets depending on tire size (442 had 7.75-14 tires), 3.23, or 3.55. All ratios were available either regular or anti-spin.

Cars with 15" wheel option had the same available gearsets.

Tell your friend find a 1965 dealer car order form and look it over. GM was only too happy to offer customers a choice back then and some judicious checking of the car order form could produce some interesting cars.

 

Here is the info directly from Oldsmobile, and as usual it's conflicting. The SPECS booklet says that 3.08 was the base axle ratio with AT in the Cutlass models (it does not break out the 442 option separately).





The special 442 brochure on the other hand shows 3.23 as the lowest numerical ratio with the 442 option and AT.




Of course this is a Fremont car, so the 4V code won't be on the cowl tag. For 1965 cars the frame is probably a more reliable indicator. It's too bad the original trans is missing as the HD Jetaway used in the 442 carried an "MK" code.

 

Thanks, everyone. I hope he looks at this and sees the darn ambiguity with the Fremont convertible.

 

Nice car. Don't suppose you hung onto the original Jetway?

 

Print out a couple copies of the literature and leave one laying around for your friend to sneak a peek at.

 

Hey Joe, this is [only] for the 65 442 as you said correct ? My frame on the 66 442 is not like this where the trailing arm is attached...

 

No, reason why I swapped is because a trans shop threw away the Torque convertor so the tranny was essentially useless to me to keep.

 

Yes, 1965.

 

Thank you Joe, now I can sleep tonight.

 

in '68, I had a '65 442 Conv, (Midnight blue met w/powder blue int. ) it was a 400, 2 speed trans and 355 gears. car was Loaded, AC, PW,Pb, PS. the trans even had a factory shift kit in it ! Judgeing it by the rear end "gears" is totally Lame.

 

Could you please POST the "COLOR CODE" ? Beautiful color, especially under a street light (Purple Tint)

 

My 67 has 2 holes. The FSM says they are chosen by transmission type, auto or manual.
The upper control arm angle affects the instant center and how it reacts from a dig.

 

Hey that thing has a school bus mirror.

 

Have you pulled the diff. cover and determined that it does have 3:08's, and not the 3:23's?

 

No code. It is my Mix of Super Midnight Blue Metalflake.

 

Yeah, except for that pesky MK code that would have helped to authenticate your car. Another reason why I've always tried to keep every OE part I've taken off my cars.

 

Okay, Joe, another question. I have a 3.08 in my 65 Olds Cutlass/442 and was told it CANNOT be a 442. Can you clarify one way or the other?

 

That was the whole point of Post #7. Again, check the frame. That will tell you one way or another.

 

Unless it was re framed. Saying the rear gear or frame proves or disproves it’s a legit 442 is just not true.

 

And the rear axle could have been swapped also. Things can be restamped. At some point there is no reality.

 

What do the 3867 numbers signify in the below Vin?? I see it as a Cutlass Convertible WITH the 442 Option.


VIN3 3867 5m147020

Division: Oldsmobile
Year: 1965
Model: Cutlass 442 option
Body: 2dr Convertible
Engine: V8
Plant: Lansing, Michigan
Serial #: 147020
Production #: 12,628

 

Nothing in the vin in 1965 can identify your car or any '65 as a 442. That did not start until 1968.

 

3800- Cutlass V8 (330 or 400)
67- Fisher Body code for convertible
From Sept 64 printing of 1965 Chassis Service Manual.

 

true…guys have to remember some of these cars could have gone through multiple restoration’s