Hello from California!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
D'oh! Thanks oldcutlass. You're right...too excited. Here are some pics. What do you guys think?
Last edited by benjamin247; Oct 2, 2014 at 01:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
Thanks 70cutty! I'm from the Bay Area (Santa Clara).
I am LOVING it! Unfortunately, my neighbors aren't
Complaints about the noise and the exhaust fumes since our carports are on the first floor of our building.
I am LOVING it! Unfortunately, my neighbors aren't
Complaints about the noise and the exhaust fumes since our carports are on the first floor of our building.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 639
From: N. Central Texas
Randy C.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,347
From: Albany, OR
Nice car and welcome to this site! It's the best Olds site going, in my opinion! There are lots of '68 people here and we will enjoy seeing more pics if/when you can put them up!
I spent a few years in the Bay Area but was in the east bay - Contra Costa County - Concord and Antioch. Left in '92 for greener pastures but really miss the nice, mild CA winters!
Enjoy!
Randy C.
I spent a few years in the Bay Area but was in the east bay - Contra Costa County - Concord and Antioch. Left in '92 for greener pastures but really miss the nice, mild CA winters!
Enjoy!
Randy C.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,384
From: Union City Calif.94587
wow what a nice looking 442.
I use to live off Monroe, near Lawrence exp. Across from the school.
Now live in Union City.
We all need to have an Olds gathering.
We need more pic's of the whole car and all the info.
Gene
I use to live off Monroe, near Lawrence exp. Across from the school.
Now live in Union City.
We all need to have an Olds gathering.
We need more pic's of the whole car and all the info.
Gene
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
Gene, An olds gathering does sound like a good idea! From the looks of it, a good amount of us are practically neighbors.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 511
Hi, welcome...I'm a bit north in Santa Rosa. Don't see much of Olds muscle up here, let alone a 68 or 69. There is a local older gentleman who has a 68 post body 442 that he brings to one local show. He is the original owner, bought new in San Francisco. I usually focus 0n 70-72, but yours is a headturner! Have fun with it Chumley
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
70cutty, I went the opposite direction...grew up hanging out mostly in DC, now I'm here in Mountain View. There was just a Cars and Coffee meet up in Santana Row. Planning on going to the next one. We should try to have all of us represent in the next one!
Beer Connoisseur
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,092
From: Daly City, California
I work in SF so when it was time to buy a house, DC made perfect sense. I'm couple of blocks from Westlake shopping center, close to Skyline. Love it here, the weather is nice and beach is like 3 minutes away. Keep me posted, I don't mind driving back to South Bay. My engine swap should be done in couple of weeks, engine is in, gotta put the tranny back in and wire all the new electrical.
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Welcome aboard.
Car looks good, but I have to ask how you verified it's a 442. I looked at the W36 stripe which most folks screw up when doing these cars and it appears to be in the wrong spot. Here's why: W36 Pet Peeve - Joe P Does the VIN start out as 344878()XXXXXX. 68/69 cowl tags won't provide the info as almost all of them I've seen for 442's show the body to be model 33687, 33677, or 33667.
The engine should be a 400 CID with C heads, but can't see that in your profile album. Casting number on the 400 is 396026 G
Proper W36 stripe and number location
Typical mistake with W36 striping in relation to 'non W36' order and 442 number locations. Note - the red car pictured likely is a clone because it's also missing some key features of a W30, and the W30 automatically got the W36 and setback numerals to match the stripe.
Compare to your car and you'll see why I was asking. BTW, your color/wheel combo is outstanding, and the car has a great stance. Not often I see a 68 with both left and right outside mirrors either.
Car looks good, but I have to ask how you verified it's a 442. I looked at the W36 stripe which most folks screw up when doing these cars and it appears to be in the wrong spot. Here's why: W36 Pet Peeve - Joe P Does the VIN start out as 344878()XXXXXX. 68/69 cowl tags won't provide the info as almost all of them I've seen for 442's show the body to be model 33687, 33677, or 33667.
The engine should be a 400 CID with C heads, but can't see that in your profile album. Casting number on the 400 is 396026 G
Proper W36 stripe and number location
Typical mistake with W36 striping in relation to 'non W36' order and 442 number locations. Note - the red car pictured likely is a clone because it's also missing some key features of a W30, and the W30 automatically got the W36 and setback numerals to match the stripe.
Compare to your car and you'll see why I was asking. BTW, your color/wheel combo is outstanding, and the car has a great stance. Not often I see a 68 with both left and right outside mirrors either.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 7,286
I didn't want to pop his bubble but I too thought the stripe was too far fwd, and the engine looks like a small block.
Of course, it still might be a real 442.
And I might be mistaken on the engine, it's a small photo.
More details, please
Oh and welcome and congrats and enjoy the ride.
Maybe offer to take the grouchy neighbor for a spin and point out how it makes you happy when you have muscle car time.... that whole Pursuit of Happiness thing.
Of course, it still might be a real 442.
And I might be mistaken on the engine, it's a small photo.
More details, please
Oh and welcome and congrats and enjoy the ride.
Maybe offer to take the grouchy neighbor for a spin and point out how it makes you happy when you have muscle car time.... that whole Pursuit of Happiness thing.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
Welcome aboard.
Car looks good, but I have to ask how you verified it's a 442. I looked at the W36 stripe which most folks screw up when doing these cars and it appears to be in the wrong spot. Here's why: W36 Pet Peeve - Joe P Does the VIN start out as 344878()XXXXXX. 68/69 cowl tags won't provide the info as almost all of them I've seen for 442's show the body to be model 33687, 33677, or 33667.
The engine should be a 400 CID with C heads, but can't see that in your profile album. Casting number on the 400 is 396026 G
Proper W36 stripe and number location
Typical mistake with W36 striping in relation to 'non W36' order and 442 number locations. Note - the red car pictured likely is a clone because it's also missing some key features of a W30, and the W30 automatically got the W36 and setback numerals to match the stripe.
Compare to your car and you'll see why I was asking. BTW, your color/wheel combo is outstanding, and the car has a great stance. Not often I see a 68 with both left and right outside mirrors either.
Car looks good, but I have to ask how you verified it's a 442. I looked at the W36 stripe which most folks screw up when doing these cars and it appears to be in the wrong spot. Here's why: W36 Pet Peeve - Joe P Does the VIN start out as 344878()XXXXXX. 68/69 cowl tags won't provide the info as almost all of them I've seen for 442's show the body to be model 33687, 33677, or 33667.
The engine should be a 400 CID with C heads, but can't see that in your profile album. Casting number on the 400 is 396026 G
Proper W36 stripe and number location
Typical mistake with W36 striping in relation to 'non W36' order and 442 number locations. Note - the red car pictured likely is a clone because it's also missing some key features of a W30, and the W30 automatically got the W36 and setback numerals to match the stripe.
Compare to your car and you'll see why I was asking. BTW, your color/wheel combo is outstanding, and the car has a great stance. Not often I see a 68 with both left and right outside mirrors either.
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
The body style is based on the model. In 1968 the 442 was available in 3 basic styles:
1. 2 door hardtop coupe (yours) which is also referred to has a "Holiday" coupe. Model 34487
2. 2 door Sport coupe which has framing around all the side glass, which is also referred to as a Post Coupe. Model 34477
3. Convertible. Model 34467
If you want to know a bit more about how your car was 'born' post a pic of the cowl tag, or use Chris's decoder in permalink 9. The car is likely modified from how it came from the factory because the color on it now is not from the 1968 Olds color pallette.
The 455 will have a block casting of 396021 F, and if the heads are original to the block the letter on them will help determine what year it is. You can also find the engines production year on the stamping pad. It will tell you the year, production factory and last 6 digits of the donor car it came from. Here's where to look. You might have to use a mirror to see the stampings. Examples: G heads are 1971, GA heads are 1972, J heads are 1973 and up. Stamping pad prefix 30M = 1970 Lansing, 31Z = 1971 Freemont, 32R = 1972 Arlington...as you can see there are numerous combinations even within a model year depending on what factory the engines came from. The 3 is symbolic of "Oldsmobile division"
1968 was the last year that the A body hardtop coupes had a vent window. The post coupes still had them until the end of 72 production run.
There is a wealth of information about these cars on this site, and also other sites such as Wild About Cars. They are free too, but until you figure out how to navigate there, it can be a bit confusing.
1. 2 door hardtop coupe (yours) which is also referred to has a "Holiday" coupe. Model 34487
2. 2 door Sport coupe which has framing around all the side glass, which is also referred to as a Post Coupe. Model 34477
3. Convertible. Model 34467
If you want to know a bit more about how your car was 'born' post a pic of the cowl tag, or use Chris's decoder in permalink 9. The car is likely modified from how it came from the factory because the color on it now is not from the 1968 Olds color pallette.
The 455 will have a block casting of 396021 F, and if the heads are original to the block the letter on them will help determine what year it is. You can also find the engines production year on the stamping pad. It will tell you the year, production factory and last 6 digits of the donor car it came from. Here's where to look. You might have to use a mirror to see the stampings. Examples: G heads are 1971, GA heads are 1972, J heads are 1973 and up. Stamping pad prefix 30M = 1970 Lansing, 31Z = 1971 Freemont, 32R = 1972 Arlington...as you can see there are numerous combinations even within a model year depending on what factory the engines came from. The 3 is symbolic of "Oldsmobile division"
1968 was the last year that the A body hardtop coupes had a vent window. The post coupes still had them until the end of 72 production run.
There is a wealth of information about these cars on this site, and also other sites such as Wild About Cars. They are free too, but until you figure out how to navigate there, it can be a bit confusing.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 31
The body style is based on the model. In 1968 the 442 was available in 3 basic styles:
1. 2 door hardtop coupe (yours) which is also referred to has a "Holiday" coupe. Model 34487
2. 2 door Sport coupe which has framing around all the side glass, which is also referred to as a Post Coupe. Model 34477
3. Convertible. Model 34467
If you want to know a bit more about how your car was 'born' post a pic of the cowl tag, or use Chris's decoder in permalink 9. The car is likely modified from how it came from the factory because the color on it now is not from the 1968 Olds color pallette.
The 455 will have a block casting of 396021 F, and if the heads are original to the block the letter on them will help determine what year it is. You can also find the engines production year on the stamping pad. It will tell you the year, production factory and last 6 digits of the donor car it came from. Here's where to look. You might have to use a mirror to see the stampings. Examples: G heads are 1971, GA heads are 1972, J heads are 1973 and up. Stamping pad prefix 30M = 1970 Lansing, 31Z = 1971 Freemont, 32R = 1972 Arlington...as you can see there are numerous combinations even within a model year depending on what factory the engines came from. The 3 is symbolic of "Oldsmobile division"
1968 was the last year that the A body hardtop coupes had a vent window. The post coupes still had them until the end of 72 production run.
There is a wealth of information about these cars on this site, and also other sites such as Wild About Cars. They are free too, but until you figure out how to navigate there, it can be a bit confusing.
1. 2 door hardtop coupe (yours) which is also referred to has a "Holiday" coupe. Model 34487
2. 2 door Sport coupe which has framing around all the side glass, which is also referred to as a Post Coupe. Model 34477
3. Convertible. Model 34467
If you want to know a bit more about how your car was 'born' post a pic of the cowl tag, or use Chris's decoder in permalink 9. The car is likely modified from how it came from the factory because the color on it now is not from the 1968 Olds color pallette.
The 455 will have a block casting of 396021 F, and if the heads are original to the block the letter on them will help determine what year it is. You can also find the engines production year on the stamping pad. It will tell you the year, production factory and last 6 digits of the donor car it came from. Here's where to look. You might have to use a mirror to see the stampings. Examples: G heads are 1971, GA heads are 1972, J heads are 1973 and up. Stamping pad prefix 30M = 1970 Lansing, 31Z = 1971 Freemont, 32R = 1972 Arlington...as you can see there are numerous combinations even within a model year depending on what factory the engines came from. The 3 is symbolic of "Oldsmobile division"
1968 was the last year that the A body hardtop coupes had a vent window. The post coupes still had them until the end of 72 production run.
There is a wealth of information about these cars on this site, and also other sites such as Wild About Cars. They are free too, but until you figure out how to navigate there, it can be a bit confusing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
shaykai
The Newbie Forum
19
Jan 2, 2010 08:17 PM
