W-27

Can anybody tell me what is the function of the baffles behind the bottom of the front inner fenders of a 68 442? I just don't get it.

Yellowstatue

I would like to see an image of these baffles, please.

W-27

First picture (Baffle 1) is how I think it should be installed but picture 2 (Baffle 2) is how the factory installed it.

Fun71

Is that material used to seal between the fender liner and the frame? Kinda what the factory location (Pic #2) looks like to me.

W-27

But what is the exact function of it? I can enlarge the function of the inner fender by moving it down. This is my debate at the moment.

Koda

I think it's to lay between the frame and the fender well to keep water from getting to the engine wiring from underneath.

mrolds69

X2...they are a type of water shield. I think for 69 certain 442's + Cutlass had them. W/O looking, I think automatics had them and standards didn't. Something like that. Clearly yours were not installed right originally. Hey...it was 1968. maybe the guy was tripping! Maybe they were going on strike, who knows?

W-27

MrOlds69 I like your analogy as well as your ride but it still doesn't ad up. Behind the inner fender does not serve any purpose (unless it was to minimize vibrations of the inner fender????). It remains a mystery but I just hope that if I install them as in the first picture nothing will get in the way of fitting. According to the books 4 speeds like mine only had one on the passenger side (mine as both) and automatics had them on both sides.

costpenn

Maybe to prevent water from getting inside the "torque box" area where the front frame to body bolts are?

W-27

That's a big maybe but I still don't see it. The puzzle goes on. I wish I could ask the engineer that designed it.

442mark

That was just Oldsmobile, going the extra mile with attention to details, building a better car than Ford, Chrysler OR Chevrolet

Yellowstatue

I have many inner liners for '68 (more than a dozen, each side) and I haven't seen any with a baffle...most of my cars are Canadian but even the Vistas and converts do not have that baffle.

allyolds68

Never seen them with a baffle either but the Assembly Manual definitely shows them

68442

All 3 68's i have here have them. Here is a thought. 68 does not bolt the plastic wheel house to the frame down low. They have a rubber bumper and that asphalt thing stapled to it. Now 69, i don't have a 69 at the shop. However i have 3 70-72 cutlass's and all of them actually bolt the plastic wheelhouse to the frame with two bolts down low. No bumper or asphalt thingy.

Having said that could it be there on the 68's for friction/rubbing/squeeking reasons since it is not directly bolted to the frame?

Bfg

This is totally baffling!

rob1960

Hi, Here's a pic of the liners out of my '68. Sorry the right side isn't very good. I replaced the main splash shields with the kit from Fusick but the rear ones are the untouched originals. like I said in the other post, mine was a 4 spd car & it did have them on both sides, like most people have said, even though the manual says it's only suppose to have one on the pass side. The one on the left side just hung down.When I got the car back in '12 both of the shields were hanging down but the right liner had been out of the car to replace the blower motor before I got it. It does appear that at one time it was installed correctly as per the manual because its cracked right where it would need to fold up to go over the frame(it's very brittle, being so old) They are supposed to be pushed up over the frame as you install the liner. Hope the pics help you with the placement.

W-27

Thanks Rob, nice car. For $10.00 each you can get brand new baffles from Fusicks they also sell stainless steel staples for them. I guess they are made to stop vibrations from the inner fenders flapping around. Thanks for the pictures.