Big Daddy Spo

Hello,
Does anyone one know if in 1965 that on a 4 speed 442 they used a dash panel with the gear select window blanked out rather then a dash panel that had no selector window at all. My 65 has a gear select window, but a clear lens with no writing on it. All signs show it to be a true 4 speed car. I know that the floor shift autos have no selector window on the dash plastics. Can anyone confirm if a blank window is correct for the 4 speed cars?
Thanks,
Steve

lunaboy

Looks to me like the dash panel was changed at some point, From what i have seen 64 65 floor shift cars did not come from the factory with the window..

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks! I know that on the auto floor shift cars that is correct. My 64 Cutlass with auto floor shift has no window. Just not sure on the 4 speed cars. There is a lens there, just nothing on it.
Steve

stan 65 cutlass

no window,same on any floorshift, auto as well

lunaboy

the pic below shows the back side of a floor shift car Dash pnl where the factory would machine out the window for column shift cars.
if you think the dash was never changed, I would dig deeper and see if your cawl tag was tampered with.
2LG is floor shift with a console.
FYI your frame pn is 4speed manual trans specific.

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks for the replies. Cowl tag looks like OE with no changes and matches color and style. You mentioned frame PN for verification? Is this the one on the rear rails behind the tire well? Mine match to VIN. If there is another location to look for, let me know. Maybe it was just changed out later in life, but doesn't look like it has ever been out. Will find out more as I tear into this next year, when I retire. Just going through the mechanical and electrical to make it a driver.

Steve

lunaboy

without tearing into it much you can go to 442 BRO .com and check for the frame pn verification and other things like pop the hood and see if the Z bar weld on the frame looks factory.
chk the underside of the shifter for a factory looking Hump.

Big Daddy Spo

Thanks. Everything that I have found shows this to be a true 442 with 4 speed. Dash must have been changed out back in the day. I wasn't sure if the selector letters were embossed on the plastic, one reason I was checking was this is just a clear lens in its place. Thanks for the help.

Steve

oldolds88

someone probably chopped the radio hole for something else,and then changed the dash insert later.

Gerald Nickels

I have one that had a plate covering the slot. Your car is a real 65 442 don't worry about it it is OK. Just take the cover out and paint silver to match the dash. Your good friend Gerald