idriv442

So I joined this forum a while back when I was looking to start working on my car, a 1972 Cutlass 442. I had somethings happen that put those plans back on the shelves. Now, I have a shot at getting my car back to its former glory. I got the car when I was 15. My dad traded a guy my 88 Mazda pickup for it straight across. It needed a fender back then and interior. I had interior refurbished to look original and bought a new fender. A few months later and the motor blew up when the plastic line to the oil pressure gauge melted through. It spent 6 years covered in Oklahoma while I was out there and suffered severe rust under the vinyl top. I am back home in California now since 2010 and I have moved the car to my new garage to start prep work to replace or repair the rusted body panels. And there are a lot of them. Anyway, I will be picking your brains for knowledge and opinions from time to time. To start off, I have some pictures and information about the car itself.20151215_182224_zpskywjkh60.jpg

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don71

Welcome back and good luck with your car plans. Look forward to your progress.

idriv442

Thanks. I know in 72 the 442 was downgraded from model to appearance package, but is there any way to know for sure from my vin/cowl tag? been searching the forums for related posts, but I havent found all the codes on my tag yet.

oldcutlass

Glad that your getting back on your project.

don71

I can't tell you what you want to know, sorry. I can't decode them either.

Hang on for a bit, someone might be able to help you.

When you had the interior refurbished, was there any papers or pieces of broadcast cards found under the seats or behind them? They would most helpful with a 72 build year.

BangScreech4-4-2

The VIN won't tell you whether it's a 4-4-2 or not but it WILL tell you which engine it was born with which may help to clarify things. The fifth position will show a letter:


H= 350 2bbl 160 hp
J= 350 2bbl 175 hp (dual exhaust)
K= 350 4bbl 180 hp
M= 350 4bbl 200 hp (dual exhaust)
U= 455 4bbl 250 hp (dual exhaust)
V= 455 4bbl 270 hp (dual exhaust)
X= 455 4bbl 300 hp (W-30)

I can't quite make out your VIN, so I can't see which you've got, but it will definitely be one of them. IIRC, there's nothing on the cowl tag that will definitively verify 4-4-2 for 1972 so if you don't have paperwork you're kind of screwed, but if you're lucky enough to come up with an X code (W-30) it will definitely be a 4-4-2 because if you ordered that engine they threw in the 4-4-2 option for free.

Best of luck!

idriv442

Thanks for the help. My VIN is 3F87H2Z11249.
Found more info and I think I have it all decoded.
VIN says:
3-Oldsmobile, F- F85 2 DR hardtop coupe, 87- 2 dr coupe, H-350 2BBL 160HP, 2-1972,
Z-fremont car

COWL says: 72 (3)oldsmobile (32)cutlass (87)2dr hardtop fastback from (Z)fremont
(910 A52) black vinyl bench seat (14) silver pewter with (B) black vinyl top built (01D) 4th week of January 72.

So, is it an f85 or cutlass? And if an f85 was the 442 package available? I'm going to keep it as 442 since it is on title, but would be nice to know for myself.

tru-blue 442

Welcome back. Being a Fremont CA car, the possibility of it having a build sheet
on top of the gas tank is very good. It will be under the tar mat and tank if you
decide to pull it. Good luck with it, looks like a solid project.

joe_padavano

Welcome. The first thing you need to do is to find a better VIN decoder. The info you quoted is incorrect. There was no 2dr version of the F-85 in the 1972 model year. The "F87" in the VIN is a Cutlass Hardtop Coupe. See the page from the 1972 Salesman's SPECS book below. The 442 option was available on four different models in the 1972 model year, your Cutlass Hardtop Coupe, the Cutlass S Holiday and Sport Coupes, and the Supreme convertible. The only differences between the Cutlass and Cutlass S that year were trim and base equipment. The cars were essentially identical otherwise.