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As the title says, I may be going to look at an 87 442. I am uneducated with this era/ G-body, and will be the first to admit it. My expertise lies in the 73-77 era having owned my 77 for 25 years and my 73 for 17.
It's Dark Garnet Red/Dark Red/whatever they called it in 87...lol. Was told 74K miles. Looks like factory moonroof.
Is the 307 stamped in the same location as my 350s are, to check the VIN? Is there a data tag with options sticker somewhere? What else should I be looking for?
The car looks solid, at what I think is a decent price. If we agree on it, it comes home with me.
The eighth digit of the VIN should be a "9" if it is a real 442... If it's a "Y" or "A" it's a clone... Has it ever been repainted? Are the 442 decals on the front fascia and trunk lid?
Yes, its VIN 9 car, and all decals are where they should be. I should also be looking for W42 on the RPO sticker on the trunk lid, correct?
I have no reason to suspect its authenticity. No red flags yet! It really looks clean and proper from pics, i just have not seen it in person yet. I will verify whether or not it has been repainted at that point.
Based on my research, I believe the price is $7500 and if I am correct that vehicle may sell quick if there are no major issues found... Based on the photos I saw, I would definitely check the rear frame rails, especially in the bumper area and arch over the axles... The seller shows photos of the front suspension but not the rear which raises a flag for me...
Last edited by CRUZN 66; April 25th, 2017 at 08:39 AM.
Is this the one you're looking at? Seems to be pretty straight. Hagerty values an Excellent condition 87 442 at $16.9k. $15k would be a decent buy. Maybe you could get him down to $13.5k... everybody likes to win.
Is this the one you're looking at? Seems to be pretty straight. Hagerty values an Excellent condition 87 442 at $16.9k. $15k would be a decent buy. Maybe you could get him down to $13.5k... everybody likes to win.
Is this the one you're looking at? Seems to be pretty straight.
That's not the one he is looking at... I didn't feel it would be right to post where it is so that the OP has the opportunity to pursue the purchase... I was tempted to check it out myself, but I refrained, at least for a little longer...
Oh. I noticed that he mentioned the color was red while the picture in post # 2 was of a black 442. Anyways, hopefully the Hagerty price guide gives a good baseline for value.
CRUZN...you are correct. That is the car. Good job on your research! I will definitely be inspecting, that 's for sure. I have had two Buick Regals that I used as winter rats back in the day, an 84 and an 85, so I am well aware of what salt can do to these bodies. I have been told that this car came out of PA, so it may be in better shape than it if it was a NY car.
I know the pic made the car look black, but it is not. Code 79 Dark Red? I am still trying to figure out what they called that color...
I know what to expect as far as performance. I am not concerned with quick. My 77 has a 2.41 rear. Little old ladies in wheelchairs can take me off the line! LOL. At least this should have 3.73s, right?
I have read conflicting information regarding heads on these. They should be 7a for 87?
I will be contacting the seller later today. We shall see. He was supposed to show it to someone Monday afternoon. Whatever happens, happens!
Well, good news! It was officially meant to be! I went out to look at the car Friday morning. After scrutinizingly (if that is such a word) looking it over, taking it for a lovely test drive and discussing extensively with the owner, we agreed on a price we both thought was reasonable, and with the understanding the car was going to a good home! He even delivered it to my house! I made sure I paid for lunch on the way back to his house!
It has 94K on it, not the 74K I initially thought, but the car is in amazing condition. The frame and body panels on this car are rock solid, so no issues there. There are your typical things here and there with a 30 year old car, as you would always expect, but I am very happy with the result.
As it is, I am slowly laying my hands on ever square inch of the car. Spent about 6 hours cleaning it up to my level. Got the interior vacuumed out and wiped down. Also did some exterior work with some paint correction/ polishing with some HD Speed and the old PC7424XP. Topped it off with a few coats of Collinite and now she glows.
Next up will be fluid changes and such, just so I know when everything was last changed.
The car is loaded up very well, and I am trying to decipher the RPO codes, and there are quite a few, unlike my 73, where it didn't come with much of anything!
It has the power Astroroof that works, and doesn't leak! Power antenna works. Even has the little indicator lights on the fenders, whatever they are called...lol. Like I said, still learning.
So, I am still looking to be edumacated. I am still trying to gather knowledge of these era G bodies.
those lights on top of the fenders are what used to be called fiberoptics back in the 60's and 70's.now i'm not familiar with these g body cars ,but back in the day if the car had fiber optics there were 3 lights they would be for hi beam low beam and turn signal.also when stepping on the brakes there should be 2 lights you see above the back window if you look in the rear view mirror.these tell you if you have a light out as they run a small fiberoptic cable from the back of the light to these indicators.look behind the headlights and you will see what looks like a small vacuum line coming off the light.
something really weird is i just restored an 85 el camino for my nieces son and when i went to put the taillights back in one of them had the housing to accept the fiberoptic cable,doubt they had the option on the el camino but a wagon might so that might have been a wagon light.i had a 68 impala years ago with fiberoptics.cool option.
[QUOTE=cherokeepeople;1012043]those lights on top of the fenders are what used to be called fiberoptics QUOTE]
I had these markers on my 1990 Buick Estate Wagon. As you said they indicate hi/lo beams and turn signals. There should be three colors in each indicator. If they don't work you can sometimes disassemble the head light or turn signal housing and clean the fiber optic cable connections. I had to buy parts off of a salvage car to repair the indicators on my Buick. It was a cool option.
Thank you all for the input and encouragement! I am pretty excited with how everything transpired! I do have some questions, however, and hope maybe someone with more knowledge than I can help out!
What AC Delco spark plugs are recommended for this engine? Are they the same as any other 307, or is there a difference based on the higher performance of this engine vs the regular 307? Also, same cap/rotor?
Also, there is a PF58 oil filter on there now. It seems the PF61E is the newest interchangeable equivalent. Is anyone running these or seeing any issues fitting?
The stock radio AM/FM/Cassette/Eq is in there. How in the $%&^ do I set the clock on this thing? LOL
Thanks again!
Last edited by damaged442; May 2nd, 2017 at 03:33 AM.
Congrats. Glad it all worked out. Looks like a nice car.
Once you get some wheel time I'd be interesting to hear your comparison & contrast between the two cars.
Setting clock involves the radio off, and I think you hold the tuning buttons or something.
Be careful with oil filters. These cars were designed for quarts, and, recently, the filter companies have communized with some newer cars and now reference a little bitch pint filter. It will WORK, but it puts your pan level at 4.5 quarts, not 5.0, and it's not manly. Be sure it's a big filter.
It's been fifteen years since mine went away. But mine was a very close twin, except mine had T-tops
Looks nicer than mine, even though I did put time and money into it for 3 years. Nice comfy car, nothing against yours or mine, but my 70 is still around after 20 years
The 7A heads use a long reach plug different than any other Olds V8. This https://m.summitracing.com/parts/ado-41-630
Buy a quality brass contact cap and rotor. Very nice 442, good score.
Thank you all for the help!! I greatly appreciate it!
I got the car insured and registered yesterday, then the weather took a turn for the worse. We had some major downpours and a tornado watch for a while, so no playing with cars...
It will WORK, but it puts your pan level at 4.5 quarts, not 5.0, and it's not manly. Be sure it's a big filter.
LoL
Originally Posted by damaged442
I got the car insured and registered yesterday, then the weather took a turn for the worse. We had some major downpours and a tornado watch for a while, so no playing with cars...
That's a bummer.
Let us know how it drives once you get it on the road.
April 24th, 2017, 12:07 PM
I will definitely be inspecting, that 's for sure. I have had two Buick Regals that I used as winter rats back in the day, an 84 and an 85, so I am well aware of what salt can do to these bodies. I have been told that this car came out of PA, so it may be in better shape than it if it was a NY car. 
