1972-442

Finally got started on the project yesterday. Got the interior all out to see the previous owners repairs. I wasnt surprised, i thought i would need to replace the floorpan, also got the vinyl roof off, front end apart and stared disassemby of the engine.

1972-442

More Pictures

ent72olds

Definitely have your work cut out for you! Is it a real 442?

oldzzy

Good luck with the resto, and keep us posted!

1972-442

Since its a '72 its hard to be sure. The cars has everything the tag says it should. It has all the parts a 442 should (boxed control arms, rear bumper notches for the trumpets, original badging) But Im not positive. Its only had 2 owner before me and the first owned it for 18 years.

ent72olds

Cool! Need to take the emblem off the glove box though. '72 442 was an option not a separate model, no 442 badge there. Keep us posted with many pics!

ziff396

Good luck with your project. Not bad for a Michigan? car. Keep us posted.

DENT

Looks good so far. What is your plan for this build?

1972-442

I'm just want to clean up the car, and build it into a nice street car that we can enjoy, maybe a little bigger cam and an aluminum intake. I'm finished building cars that are impossible to drive on the street. My last few toys were a pain on the street . I had an 87 mustang that I stripped and turned into a 429BB, it had power everything, when I was done it had manual brakes, manual steering, no bumper reinforcements, no heat or AC and a locker in the back. Built up an `80 volare road runner after that, same idea. Then 91 mustang with a small block stroker that would buck and jerk under 3000rpm. This car will be different. I want to be able to drive it around with vintage air conditioning and a heater for the cold mornings.

ziff396

Same here. But I just got my Vintage Air and heat after 4 years a month ago. Still sitting in the boxes next to the car waiting to be installed. I am still looking for the time. I know, spring is coming. But it's 4 degrees right now. When I am ready I have heat in the garage though. Canada must be really cold this week.

Allan R

If it's the original engine it would not have come with dual cutout bumper. That came standard for the X code engines. It was likely either a dealer add on or a previous owner add on. Also the 72 442 would not have been produced with a rear deck spoiler. That was discontinued in early 71. Just based on looks, your VIN should start 3G87H2(M/R/Z/G)XXXXXX

You are correct that the 72 is the easiest Cutlass to clone into a 442.
Which 'tag' are you referring to here? Can you post a picture of the cowl tag or VIN? Do you have any of the broadcast cards that were often left in the car? If you do, that would be one way of proving 442 because it should say W29 on the second line of the card.

EDIT: Never mind. I just revisited the pics. 442's didn't come with rocker chrome either. So the car has been rebadged from what it was originally. Look for welded shut holes and re-drilled piercings on the fenders and deck lid.

1972-442

I would guess that the add ons were done by the first owner. Im not too worried weither or not it is a 442 from the factory. Im not trying to build a numbers matching car. Just a nice car to cruise in. I always loved the 442's ever since i was young.

DENT

That will be a nice driver.Keep up with the pics and progress.

Allan R

You're approaching this with the best attitude!! Sounds like you know what you want and are in it for the enjoyment. The rust on the front roofline and window pillar is a little concerning; wait till you take off the window stainless to see if the metal/clips there have been rusted out too. I'm guessing you can do the fabrication or know someone who can help with the patching?

Was this car always in Ontario? That might explain the rust issues you're finding. How's the frame? Reason I ask is I bought a car from Barrie back in 03 and the thing was loaded with cancer that had been patched over to look cosmetically nice.

815Cutlass1972

Nice project! When you get to it are you going to change the color?

1972-442

We havent decided on a color yet. I like the flame orange. But id like it a little darker. Or a darker blue. Have to wait until im done the body work so we can stand back and think color. I am keeping a vinyl top though. I like the look.

1972-442

Yes, the car has been in ontario since new. Im also in south west ontario. Frame isnt too bad, no splits or rot. Only major rust is the floor pans and roof / a pillars.

oldzzy

If there's pretty good rust in the floor, some of the body mount holes in the frame might need repair, i know mine did.

Allan R

That's GREAT news!! Did you know that you can still get documentation from the GM Heritage Center for your car? All you need to submit is the VIN and $$ and they will send you docs that tell you all the specifics of production and what options it had when it was born. Interested? Here's the link

Dbechtel71

wow that is a sweet car!! my first olds was a 72 442 with a factory 455 4 speed the care was yellow. I'm not sure but i think it may have been a w30 car. it was in bad shape very rusty. i sold it the next summer. good luck

Wolf

Any updates? this car reminds me of my orange 71 I sold back in 81. Going with a painted roof? Or returning back to vinyl roof?

1972-442

No major updates yet, I took the engine apart and started cleaning it up. Im waiting until the weather breaks to get into it further. Just parts searching now. As for the roof, i am going back to a vinyl roof. I really like the look if it and how it breaks up lines of the car. We are still trying to pic the right color for it, I still want the orange but with a bit more red into it. I took some pictures of a few cars at autorama last week that are painted a similar color to what id like. Should have some updated pictures in a few weeks. Its supposed to warm up to the low 60's by the end of March.

Allan R

Have you looked at Rallye Red as a color? It was a special order color for 1970. In the sun it appears to be more orange but in diminished light it looks red. Not sure how the paint pigmentation does that radical change but it's a thought. Note: these are not the same cars, but are claimed to be painted in Rallye Red (1970 Olds code 73)

Sun


Shade

1972-442

Yes, the first picture is very similar to what i would like. It does look like an HDR photo, but thats the one. I would have to look at more examples of it. I have lots of time to decide, im at least a year away.

Thanks

oldzzy

Here's a couple of pics that i took of a rallye red W-31

1972-442

Thats perfect, thank you. I really like it. Id like to stick to a factory color just to keep the cost of paint down. When i built my last car, i never priced out the paint before i bought it. I was shocked at the price difference between the custom blue i picked and one that was very close from the factory.

OLD SKL 69

Looks like a great project car. The original paint looks pretty good in the photos. Did you decide to strip the roof because of bubbling issues?

Allan R

Were they both metallic colors from the same paint supplier? I also would be really surprised if they were comparable for results. The one thing about the Rallye Red color that might help keep the cost lower is it doesn't have metal flake. Might be a good idea to check out the various paint suppliers to see who has the best price? Sole source suppliers tend to cost more.

I used to have a 72 Cutlass S that was Matador Red. I had a paint shop mix up a pint of color for minor spray repair (long time ago obviously) and was really surprised at the combinations of other colors that go into making the color what it actually turns out to be. Nice color but way darker than rallye red.

The nice thing about being a year from paint is you do have plenty of time to finalize that color choice. Looking forward to the updates.

Shane - nice W31. Local car show?
Here are some pics of a 1970 442 W30 taken at our Olds Roundup in 2011. It's also code 73. Various angles - you can see how the color 'changes' with the viewing angle.

oldzzy

Yeah it was the Canadian Olds Nat's in London. I think it was 2008 or 2009 i can't remember

1972-442

Yes, the paint i went with was the corvette electron blue with a bit more metallic and used a new type of pearl clear. Both cost a fortune.

Allan R

Nice! BTW, what was your last car? Just curious

1972-442

Sadly it was a mustang. It was a 1987 loaded lx that i dismantled and sand blasted (25, 50lb bags!) and started building. I installed a 429 big block with a c6 trans. Took out the power windows, power doors, power brakes and power steering out and replaced them with manual for weight. took out the metal bumper reinforcements and made up some 1" chromoly to make my own set and basically turned a nice car (for a mustang) into a really shitty to drive car. Along the way it also got all tubular suspension, coil overs, bmr rear suspension and every other part upgraded. I had a load of fun building it, but i should have spent the 25k on a classic. Oh well, you live and learn. I will post pictures later.

Allan R

Stangs are nice cars even to those of us who aren't Blue Oval peeps. So basically sounds like you turned it into a track car. Still as long as you had fun doing it....Oh, you can spend the 25K pretty easy on your current project but you already know that.

1972-442

I wont be going as far with the aftermarket parts. Most likely just an intake and cam, my #7 heads are already ported and of course a 650-700 carb. Suspension wise, id like a 1" drop setup with disc brakes. Set of adjustable shocks and bigger sway bars. Thats about it.....for now. Maybe. Yes, im addicted like every other motor head.

1972-442

Here are some pics of the past project

1972-442

Few more.

1972-442

Couple more.

72olds442

Removing what GM should have left on? This is an oldsmobile we are talking about not high dollar Mopar muscle. Who cares about originality like that on a Olds?

I know this car actually. It is a real 442, the only things added were rear bumper, Rocker covers and spoiler.