New Member from upstate NY
May 18th, 2010, 10:10 AM
#1
Steve
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 109
New Member from upstate NY
Hello to all...I'm excited to have found and joined this list.
I have owned a 72 442 W30 4 spd. Viking Blue since 1978. I'm the second owner of the car. It had 69,000 miles when I purchased it and now has just over 98,000. It has been garaged all its life (with me). All matching numbers and original body/engine/tranny/rear (3.42 gears, by the way).
Somehow or another over the years and through several moves I've kept the car though I've come close to selling it a couple of times simply becuase I had other priorities and I basically neglected the car for years at a stretch.
Now retired and with other of life's challenges behind me, I'm getting that old 'spark' back that I originally had for the car. I haven't kept up with the classic muscle car market AT ALL, and figured the car was MAYBE worth $10,000. or $15,000. TOPS on a good day. I was stunned to find its now worth substantially more (with restoration). As an indication of how far away I was from the car scene, I totally missed the announcement that Oldsmobiles aren't even made any more (hard to believe, I know).
So now, with much renewed enthusiasm, I'm beginning a complete frame up restoration. Found a wonderful local restoration shop to help with all the heavy lifting and to keep me from getting in trouble.
I am lacking some important parts which were not with the car when I got it in 78 (the original owner did some drag racing with it):
1) original intake (its got a torker); 2) original quadrajet (I got it with a 750 Holley double pumper); 3) original distributor; 4) original exhaust manifolds (it has headers). It also has a steel bell housing, which I presume was a requirement of the drag racing rules.
Otherwise the car is stock, as far as I can tell. My goal is to put it back to original condition, or as close as reasonably possible, and update/refurbish the whole car without becoming ridiculous about, it and be able to once again drive a "head turner!"
I will be surely be searching the archives here to find answers to question posed by those who have walked this path before, but I'm also sure I will have some questions for the 'experts' here. I will do my best to minimize any "dumb-***" questions, but bear with me if I do.
Thanks in advance. I'll see if I can get a pic up of the car at some point.
Steve (benji94)
I have owned a 72 442 W30 4 spd. Viking Blue since 1978. I'm the second owner of the car. It had 69,000 miles when I purchased it and now has just over 98,000. It has been garaged all its life (with me). All matching numbers and original body/engine/tranny/rear (3.42 gears, by the way).
Somehow or another over the years and through several moves I've kept the car though I've come close to selling it a couple of times simply becuase I had other priorities and I basically neglected the car for years at a stretch.
Now retired and with other of life's challenges behind me, I'm getting that old 'spark' back that I originally had for the car. I haven't kept up with the classic muscle car market AT ALL, and figured the car was MAYBE worth $10,000. or $15,000. TOPS on a good day. I was stunned to find its now worth substantially more (with restoration). As an indication of how far away I was from the car scene, I totally missed the announcement that Oldsmobiles aren't even made any more (hard to believe, I know).
So now, with much renewed enthusiasm, I'm beginning a complete frame up restoration. Found a wonderful local restoration shop to help with all the heavy lifting and to keep me from getting in trouble.
I am lacking some important parts which were not with the car when I got it in 78 (the original owner did some drag racing with it):
1) original intake (its got a torker); 2) original quadrajet (I got it with a 750 Holley double pumper); 3) original distributor; 4) original exhaust manifolds (it has headers). It also has a steel bell housing, which I presume was a requirement of the drag racing rules.
Otherwise the car is stock, as far as I can tell. My goal is to put it back to original condition, or as close as reasonably possible, and update/refurbish the whole car without becoming ridiculous about, it and be able to once again drive a "head turner!"
I will be surely be searching the archives here to find answers to question posed by those who have walked this path before, but I'm also sure I will have some questions for the 'experts' here. I will do my best to minimize any "dumb-***" questions, but bear with me if I do.
Thanks in advance. I'll see if I can get a pic up of the car at some point.
Steve (benji94)
May 18th, 2010, 01:43 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Muskegon, Mi.
Posts: 8,873
Welcome, you have found a good site for help, some very knowledgeable and good humored people here. Try www.442.com for your correct part search.
Welcome to CO
May 18th, 2010, 04:33 PM
#7
Welcome to the forum Steve! I used to live in Corning so I know the area very well. Do you go to the cruise in at Walmart in Horseheads on Saturday night? Good amount of cars show up there. Definitely post more pics when you get a chance.
May 18th, 2010, 06:44 PM
#9
Steve
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 109
Glad you found us. What cha do? Google up "cool Olds Forums" 
Yup, inadvertantly came up with a link to the site through Google, but while looking for information on carbs, I think it was.
Steve
Yup, inadvertantly came up with a link to the site through Google, but while looking for information on carbs, I think it was.
Steve
May 18th, 2010, 06:49 PM
#11
Steve
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 109
Darrell...I was born in Corning! Small world. I've NEVER done the 'cruise' thing with this car, or any car for that matter. Dirt track racing starting with street stocks through late modes kept me busy enough for 16 years. That's why my poor Olds was so neglected...I had another toy to play with!
Steve
Steve
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