Hello Folks,
Found this link trying to decode the cowl tag on a ''field fresh'' 442. I have failed to find a LINK to decipher all codes on one place. Help if you can?
Much thanks!

 

Some one will chime in and get it solved for you. You can also go web site wild about cars and supposedly they have all the info you need. Please post pictures of your car.

 

i am 2 for 2 beating Jamesbo and Cutlassgal on a Welcome to CO post LOL

 

70 - 1970 model year
34487 - Oldsmobile 442 Holiday Coupe
BF - Fremont, CA assembly plant
01455 - Fisher Body sequence number (not related to the VIN)
937 - Parchment bucket seat interior
B80 - stainless roof drip molding
28 A - Twilight Blue Poly (28) with white (A) vinyl top
03B - assembled the second week (B) of March (03) 1970
378103 310590 - these numbers are unique to Fisher Body Data Plates from Fremont and I'm not sure anyone had figured them out yet.

 

Welcome to our site! Tell us more about your car and your plans for it. Teepo was built in Fremont also.

 

Welcome, got any pics?

 

Thank you for this info, and welcomes too! Regarding the (28) (A), any chance that is referencing stripe colors (white on blue)? How does one know the stripe option of their car? Did only a W30 optioned car have the ''wide'' stripe down the side? If optioned with a OAI hood, would it have stripes there and deck lid? Again, how do you know the color if there were any at all? Do non-OAI hoods have stripes from the factory? The hood on the car is not original to it and has ''grates'' up in the hinge corners/similiar to a 68 camaro.......right year for 70?
Its a pretty car, just as to restore it properly.
Thanks again (Joe), this is a wonderful source for people.

 

Ken in 442.jpgNon original hood/fenders. Like I said, ''field fresh''.

 

What about the front? If the hood is changed, you probably have the front end from a 71/72 on there. Any chance you could post some pics of the front and back of the car?
Someone probably stripped the roof a while ago. The cowl tag would correctly identify how the car was born. Unlike others, I like the vinyl roof option even though it's prone to rusting if not properly sealed.

That will be a nice car with some work. What engine/trans do you have?

 

Fronts not much to look at. Cutlass fenders and unsure of this hoods year/model. Unsure of what the motor is yet........

 

Kens 442 front.jpg

 

Well the good new is:
the front end is mostly stock 70. except for the hood.
you can sell the hood. 71/72 folks like that hood with the 'faux louvers' It was originally only produced for the 71/72 Cutlass S.
repop parts are easy to get for the front end.
Parts Place has a W25 OAI hood with a steel liner that will make that car look awesome.
It has the proper ONE YEAR ONLY sport mirrors!!!
This is an easily restorable car!!

The bad news? It's gonna take some time and money if you want to restore it. I'm guessing you're handy with tools or you wouldn't have bought it as a project. Olds is an interesting world to get into.

The stripe color could be ordered separately from the interior color[QUOTE]

Yes, and it would have a 455 with a dual cut out rear bumper. The rear stripes are probably not what you're thinking though.

Yes, they did, but it was a thinner stripe. The hood you have is 71/72 - not correct for your car. The hood you need looks different and has a 'tongue' that attaches to the hood and separates the front grills. Heres some pics showing the reg 70 hood and the W25 OAI (some people call this ram air)

 

You're welcome. Check the backside of the rear quarters inside the trunk just below the lower corners of the back window. You may find evidence that the holes for the vinyl top chrome strip were filled at some point. The "A" definitely indicates upper body color, either a vinyl top or convert top on convertibles.

Only the W-30 and W-31s got the wide side stripe. All other 442s (including factory W-25 O.A.I. cars) got the narrow stripes as yours does. Steel hoods did not get stripes in 1970. W-25 cars did get the wide hood stripes on the scoops, just like the W-30/31 cars. There were no wide trunk stripes on any of these cars, however. The only Olds A-body cars to ever get wide trunk stripes from the factory were the 1970 Indy Pace Cars and the 1972 H/O. Any others that you may have seen were not original.

Yes, you have a 1971/72 front end on your car.

 

need more info

 

Welcome to the forum!!!!!

 

This is actually my car. My buddy is helping, actually teaching! LOL We dropped the gas tank tonight and found HALF of the build sheet. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to the site! What's your plans for the car? To do a full frame off, or make it a driver and slowly work on it? There's several members with 1970's here so as you go through your restoration feel free to post any questions that come up. If your planning to do the work yourself rather than pay a shop to do it I'd encourage you to either purchase a Chassis Service manual or signup at Wildaboutcars.com There you can download pages from it, as well as other documents and details on your car. John

 

Thanks for the info. Trying to upload pics of build sheet. It is coming up with a error. Gonna see if my buddy can.

 

It is going to be a frame off restoration. There are a lot of parts that I will be looking for. I want to go back to original color minus the white top. Once done it will be a driver.

 

Kens build sheet.jpg

 

Had the pleasure of finding THE build sheet on this car with its 'true owner', Ken7022, was tucked under the tar paper and gas tank. Weird thing is... it had a length of masking tape down the middle (holding it in place?), one half it totally gone while the other is posted....... It would be right over the motor RPO code!!!!!
Good job Kenny..........let's make this a nice one!

 

Neat car with a lot of neat info to go with it! Welcome to this site and enjoy your restoration. You will find lots of expertise here as you go through the process and be sure to ask questions when they pop up. You will get the right answer(s) from the experts at this site!

Randy C.
'68 4-4-2 convertible
'69 4-4-2 convertible

 

Another Freemont car! Wow, that sheet looks amazingly well preserved for being on top of the gas tank. You'll probably find the other half somewhere in the car.

 

Interior is already out. Last place may be under the head liner pad. Not hoping too much. It looked like water or something just totally wiped out the rest of it. Happy to find what we did.

 

Welcome to the forum. I wish I found the build sheet on mine, but Lansing cars usually have very little documentation. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

One place that most people don't look is under the rear package shelf. Also could be behind a kick panel

 

Hi Folks, its been a while.........back on the 442 for the winter finally. Trying to sort whats right/wrong on the car a bit more. Would all 1970 442's have a 12 bolt, or could a 10 bolt axle housing from the factory? This has a peg leg 10 bolt under it.......any insight is much appreciated.