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I am looking to restore my 70 cutlass convertible and have it as a Sunday driver.
I have all the original number components as well as the power plant out of a cutlas with the 442 package.
Am I devaluating the car by using not original numbers?
4-way drum with no booster sucks. (can you say two-foot stomp).
I am leaning towards 442 components which include the high compression 350, th400 and posi rear (to be verified).
Front Discs
I also am considering air ride.
Its a Cutlass, a blank slate to do whatever you want with it. There is nothing to devaluate.
What he said.
Are you sure the other motor is a 350 and out of a 442? The only 442 that came with a 350 was 72 and then the 442 was an appearance package not performance.I think a non numbers matching 350 with performance upgrades would break even, but a 455 would increase the value. My advice would be to store the numbers matching drive train in case you ever sell the car, sell the other 350 and find a 455.
The 350 was available with the 442 option package in model years 1972-1977 and again in 1980 (also 1979 if you count the H/O that year).
I always forget the Oldsmobile kept making cars after 1972 . What I should of said was the first year the 350 was available in a 442 was 72. My point was, if the 350 is out of a 442 it’s not really a performance motor and a 455 would be more desirable.
I am pretty sure my buddy was first or second owner and he did not do any mods, but that was nearly 40 years ago and I am far from an expert.
I would think clones were less in numbers 10 years after production, but hey I am just getting back into this.
I am pretty sure my buddy was first or second owner and he did not do any mods, but that was nearly 40 years ago and I am far from an expert.
I would think clones were less in numbers 10 years after production, but hey I am just getting back into this.
I would bet that somewhere in the past someone smoked the original 455 and replaced it with the 350. Factory never mounted the Olds 350 to a T400. You can check the VIN derivatives one the engine and trans to see if they came from the same car originally
Use what you want,modify as you see fit, just save all the original parts incase you decide to restore it.
Last edited by 70W-32; January 30th, 2020 at 08:48 PM.
A few things to keep in mind tkcutlass, your 1970 Cutlass Supreme convertible could be had with either a 455 or a 350 when new.
You could already have the hi compression 350 and likely have the 12 Bolt cover type O rear in your convertible.
How familiar are you with Olds engines, the difference in Olds big block to small block is not as striking as Chevy. Our valve covers are all the same size.
No high compression 350 ever came in a factory 442. You could already have a better engine than the friends car had if it is in fact a 350.
1970 442 was not an option but actual model. 455 was the only engine.
The car is not worth much less without original powertrain, so you can do what you want. I would urge you not to badge it as a 442 because there are already enough clones out there, and it's dishonest.
That being said, these cars are 50 years old. Unless you are looking for numbers matching, performance car, preservation, there is no reason to be limited to original parts when building an engine. You can
build a very good 350 or a 455 that is reliable, mannered, and has more power than original without reinventing the wheel. A lot of people are happy with built 350s; they are lighter than the 455.
I would think clones were less in numbers 10 years after production, but hey I am just getting back into this.
I started driving a '70 Supreme back in 1977 and even back in the 70s-80s folks were putting 442 emblems on their Cutlass. Not that they were attempting to "clone" a car back then; just adding some bling from the performance version of their plain car.
Last edited by Fun71; February 1st, 2020 at 01:38 PM.
If the car is not an original 442 than I would not worry about it. As well when I did my 68 Convert I used some 442 pieces in the build as they were either better or better looking than what my car had originally. When the car is not an original 442 I think that it is tacky to badge it as so.
January 30th, 2020 | 02:37 PM
. What I should of said was the first year the 350 was available in a 442 was 72. My point was, if the 350 is out of a 442 it’s not really a performance motor and a 455 would be more desirable.
