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Hi from California. Just got my first olds...72 442...and I love it. Its a year older than me so it has issues, as do I, but runs great. This place helped me already so decided to join.
Welcome and congrats on your first Olds. In addition to my 54 I have a 72 Cutlass convertible. I have had it a long time and it is ready for a redo. Tell us about your car and post some pictures when you have time.
I call the engine my "gold nugget".
The engine is new. The turbo 350 is not. Lol. Shifts good. 2-3 shift is a little to quick. I plan on doing a 700r4 swap next feb. Right now though I need to put on new door hinges.
I call the engine my "gold nugget".
The engine is new. The turbo 350 is not. Lol. Shifts good. 2-3 shift is a little to quick. I plan on doing a 700r4 swap next feb. Right now though I need to put on new door hinges.
Welcome. I'd strongly recommend a built 200-4R instead of the 700R4. Both transmissions need internal mods to live in this application, and the 200-4R is a much easier swap, as it bolts directly to the Olds block with no adapter plate. You can use your current driveshaft as well. Crossmember simply slides back to the pre-drilled TH400 location. Only the E-brake cables need to change because of this.
All the makes? Except for the Chebby wagon, they're all Oldsmobiles. And that Chebby has a factory-installed 307 Olds motor (plus the car was given to me for free...).
All the makes? Except for the Chebby wagon, they're all Oldsmobiles. And that Chebby has a factory-installed 307 Olds motor (plus the car was given to me for free...).
Do. All currently owned, plus a few more that haven't made it on the list yet.
Do NOT ask how many run...
Wow. I thought I've owned a lot. I was a pontiac guy...68 firebird, 63 grand prix, 72 catalina, 72 grand am, and to top it off a 2005 GTO...that car was so fast.
Question, my trunk lid, after its opened, seems a bit low...like i can hit my chin on it. That sound normal?
Hmm, Maybe. Depends on how tall you are, the deck lid only goes up so far. You might want to check your torsion bars to see they are giving the lid maximum lift..
Im normal height...5' 11". Torsion bars seem ok. Not sure what to look for. Its not like this is my grocery getter but as I study my new car i find things Im not sure of.
That's totally normal. It's better than having a hood tooth on a 69 or 70 hood by a long margin. As you likely know, there's no way to validate a 1972 442 without some form of documentation (since yours is not a W30). Has the interior of the car ever been taken out? If not you might be lucky enough to find a Fisher Broadcast Card (this is not a build sheet) that shows the car as a W29 option in box 12. That would be a wonderful piece of provenance to add to the cars presentation. The 442 W29 package in 72 was only an appearance and handling package, so that means it could also be ordered with a number of engines - everything from 350 2bbl to the U code 455. (If it was a W30, it automatically got the 455, but was identified with an X in the engine code of the VIN).
Does your cowl tag show PNT code 56 56 (upper/lower)? That would be Sunfire Yellow, which is what your car appears to be. Got more pics of the car from front/side/ interior?
Yep allen, it shows the sunfire codes on the cowl tag. I cant tell if its really a true 442. The engine is a M.350 4bbl. The sway bars are both there. The rear sway bar been there for ever it looks like but the front has new bushings so cant tell how long that one has been there. But no matter what i like the old rattle bucket. The black bezzels are there too bur never can really tell i guess. Ill keep calling it a 442. I dont like how on one side on the fender the 4 in 442 is crooked and put on with glue....
Last edited by 138milkmen; Jun 15, 2016 at 01:50 PM.
Yep allen, it shows the sunfire codes on the cowl tag. I cant tell if its really a true 442. The engine is a M.350 4bbl. The sway bars are both there. The rear sway bar been there for ever it looks like but the front has new bushings so cant tell how long that one has been there. But no matter what i like the old rattle bucket. The black bezzels are there too bur never can really tell i guess. Ill keep calling it a 442. I dont like how on one side on the fender the 4 in 442 is crooked and put on with glue....
In 1972 the 442 package only included the suspension and appearance items (sway bars, unique springs and shocks, grilles, emblems, and striping). This was available with any motor offered in the base car, including the 350 2bbl single exhaust. People complain about the 307 in the 1980s cars, but that 1972 350 2bbl only had 160 HP.
That's the L34 optional engine (350 4V) rated at 180 BHP. It had to be dealer ordered or customer ordered for that to be in the VIN. Speaking of which, and depending on the factory, your VIN should start out 3G87M2M(123456). The VIN derivative on the block should be 32(Letter)123456 where the last 6 digits match the VIN last 6. Do you know what factory built your car? If it's Lansing (VIN code M) you won't find a build sheet. If it was any of the others (Freemont, Arlington, Framingham) you might find one on top of the gas tank.
Originally Posted by 138milkmen
The rear sway bar been there for ever it looks like but the front has new bushings so cant tell how long that one has been there..
The rear sway bar and boxed control arms are part of the FE2 suspension upgrade that 442's got. Front sway bar bushings wear out and I'd be surprised if they were still original - no biggee there. There are 2 types of 442 in 1972 - the W29 and W30. Yours appears to be the W29, but you can only verify it with documentation. If you can find the broadcast card from the car *usually under a seat tucked into the springs* it will identify the W29 option in box 12. If you have the original BOS or factory sticker, that will also be great. You won't find heritage on this car by its VIN or cowl tag though.
Originally Posted by 138milkmen
I dont like how on one side on the fender the 4 in 442 is crooked and put on with glue..
Someone got lazy. The factory installed numerals were positioned before the fender was installed on the car. Likely one of them came off and the PO elected not to take off the inner fender liner to make the proper repair.
Sidenotes: I like your wheel choice. The 72 442's with metal hoods should have the faux louvers painted black. Can't see that on yours with the hood being up. Black mirrors? meh. The car would look much cooler with the 3 thin W29 side body stripes. Eg below
