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"Very Commonly Done/Added, but Not That Way Originally" Thread.
I had an idea for a fun thread to promote factory correctness and good-natured grumbling about commonly seen, non-factory mods to our beloved Oldsmobiles.
List a year and model, and why it didn't come that way, or if it looks silly, or if it's overdone.
I shall begin.
67 Cutlasses, when badged into fake 442s, often get the 442 grille bar, but still keep the Cutlass headlight trim, leaving big holes for the much bigger Cutlass bar next to the small 442 bar, and it looks silly.
67 Cutlasses, when badged into fake 442s, often get the 442 grille bar, but still keep the Cutlass headlight trim, leaving big holes for the much bigger Cutlass bar next to the small 442 bar, and it looks silly.
The Cutlass headlight trim can be swapped side to side making it upside down and re-drill the holes and for the center screw above the turn signal. The big hole is then under the fender extension and is not easily seen. Not correct but looks a lot better.
You guys are brutal, lol! Most of what is described here on the 70 to 72 cars I have done to mine. That's fine as everyone on here always says, it's your car to do what you want with it. I built my car between 91-99 and I still love it. Couldn't afford a 442 convertible back then so I did the next best thing. Gets lots of attention from the younger crowd that don't even know what an Olds is! Safe Travels!
How about cutting the steel fuel line near the carb and putting an in-line fuel filter there....yeah I know it works but looks kinda molested to me... Its the 1st thing to catch your eye when the hood is open.
The Cutlass headlight trim can be swapped side to side making it upside down and re-drill the holes and for the center screw above the turn signal. The big hole is then under the fender extension and is not easily seen. Not correct but looks a lot better.
I did not think of that. That's clever. Thank you.
Something for the fifties group, period correct but never put on a convertible for several reasons. Gets lots of looks, comments, and what's that from the youngers. Fun at a show, something else to talk about..... Lost in the fifties Tedd Sorry for the quality of the photo it's the only one I could find quickly
Matt, are you not supposed to call a 442 a four forty two? Being a local Lansing kid in the sixties I never heard of that not being OK either way. Just asking, what do you call that famous old highway, Route 66 or Route sixty six?. You say that is like fingernails on a chaulkboard ouch I hate that sound! , I never even considered it and I think I have said it either way at different times. That's a new one to me, but I have missed things before.....
I have bitch about the “four forty two” phrase on here many times over the years, I’m not the only one that hates the term.
I don’t know why it gets to me, just never cared for it.
I suppose to some people it’s a term of endearment. I’m not about to blast someone here or in person if that’s the phrase they like. It’s just something I don’t care for.
As far as the wing on 70-72 convertibles. It was an GM Olds dealer option back then and some did install it after they bought the cars new. It was a genuine GM part for Olds. The GM dealer would install it on a 70-72 442 convertible if you asked them to.
As far as the W-25 hoods. They did look 100x better than the standard hood. IMHO, the stock non W-25 hood looked like crap on a 442.
These "Chevelle stripes" are something. I have stripes in the same pattern and color,as on hood of my 1970 W-30. They were applied by the Olds dealer my wife worked at. This happened three months after the car was delivered brand new. I like to think I finished the job Oldsmobile should have done. They will stay on the trunk lid til the 2nd owner decides to change it. Oh, and I am still the original owner.
Lol i think at some point everyone has touched on a point i agree w or disagree with.
but i dont really have a strong opinion on any of these, i do recognise when there is a misplaced stripe or badge, but meh it doesnt bother me.
My car generally looks pretty original. the only possible peevable parts on my car is a mid 70s style w-30 sticker on the trunk lid and a w-30 tuneup decal under the hood
no one wants to opine on those guys who swapped their SBOs for BBOs? ....i did that too.
As far as the wing on 70-72 convertibles. It was an GM Olds dealer option back then and some did install it after they bought the cars new. It was a genuine GM part for Olds. The GM dealer would install it on a 70-72 442 convertible if you asked them to.
Back then the dealer would have installed a porta-potty in the back seat if you asked them to. The wing wasn't offered on the convertible and my opinion is it doesn't look good and doesn't belong there.
Indeed, it's a cutesy diminution / overly familiar term. You can call your car what you want, address mine by what it's named.
68-72, people calling any 455 an "H/O motor" or "442 motor." Olds put the 455 in a lot of things, 80% of them were not set up for
performance, and, it's an engine, which is a more accurate term than motor. (For those that care, a motor makes mechanical power
from some other form of energy, and an engine does it through a thermodynamic cycle, i.e, burns gasoline. Engines are types of motors,
but you wouldn't say "Hey, nice ground transportation," you'd say "Nice Car," because cars are a type of ground transportation and you don't
need to include bicycles and skateboards in the conversation.)
....i did that too.
