Hey, just joined today. I should have done this a long time ago.

About my Olds: it's a 1985 Oldsmobile 442, black and silver with the T-tops. If I'm correct on production figures, only 500 were made with the T-tops and I'm not sure how many in each color. It has become a project over the years due to being left outside and not being driven much. My parents acquired it in around 2000 or 2001 from the original owners. I am pretty sure it may have over 100,000 miles but the original engine was replaced in the 90's by GM around 73,000 miles. I'm not sure if the odometer had been rolled back at that time or left alone. I started driving it in high school for about 5 or 6 years until it had a very lumpy idle, which is when I started messing with the carburetor and it hasn't been touched in about 6 years. I'd like to get it back on the road but there's going to be a lot to do before then.

 

Welcome to CO

love the g bodies i had an 86 442 i wish i hadnt sold....

 

Well, there’s no time like the present to start. Welcome!

 

Joe Padavano is your electronic QuadraJet maven here.

Did GM replace the engine with another 307?

 

Welcome to the site, lets see it.

 

Yeah, factory 307 replaced, according to the original owner.

 

I have some old pics somewhere. When time comes, I will take some new ones.

 

If memory serves right, I've some across an article before (maybe on here) about the 80's 442 and that 86 had the swirl port 7A heads with roller lifters making 10 less HP and 10 more TQ. Ah, here it is https://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobi...faq/ofe307.htm

At least 86 didnt look like the 87's. I really didn't like the front end of those ones.

 

Welcome!!!

 

Welcome. I didn't realize that your engine was replaced. I posted up in your carburetor thread so I'm not sure if you have an original carb or not with a new engine. Either way, if you hadn't run it for 6 years, I'd advise draining the gas tank (maybe consider dropping it and cleaning it out- check the sock) and flush the fuel lines, changing the oil along with all other fluids and might as well replace the hoses too, then pulling the distributor before starting and using a long extension with 5/16" socket on a reversible drill and prime the oil system first.

For 85, the 442 came in only 3 upper exterior colors. Black (19), Med Gray Metallic (15), and White (11). All had silver lower paint (12) and medium gray body side molding (if that option was selected). They went to upper color coordinated body side molding for 86. You could get Dark Blue, Med Gray, or Claret interior colors in cloth, and only claret came with a vinyl option.

Oldsmobile/GM did not break down the numbers as to which cars had sunroofs or T-tops or solid hardtops for 1985. So wherever you're getting those numbers, they are PURE speculation. I don't think anyone has gone through the GM Heritage records and peeled out which cars got T-tops and which ones didn't. So I'd be highly suspicious of any "number" given for that kind of thing.

A la 1979 to 1980, the 1985 442s came with pretty much the same equipment as the previous year's 84 H/O with the exception of colors, no trunk wing, front air dam, hood bulge, or, of course, the Lightning Rods shifters. It's exactly the same driveline specs, engine and everything, otherwise. Just like the 1980 442. I'd go so far as to say the same calibrator in the ECM, except federal mandated they use the FCH designator code for 85 (federal). I think it was DFC for 84 H/O (federal). In 1985, they still carried over the flat tappet cam 307 with the same specs as the 84 H/O, and the 5A heads, which had larger ports than the "new" roller cam 307s used in all other Oldses in 1985 with a 307, same carb and everything. Also the same transmission calibrations in the OZ coded 200-4R. No drivetrain options available on the 442 except limited-slip G80 on the 8.5" 3.73 rear end with 15 x7 gold accented chrome SSIII wheels. And you're correct in 1986, they finally went to the roller cam for 442 as well.

There were a few changes under the hood from 84 H/O to 85 442 (used the same p/n air cleaner, too) but not enough to amount to anything drastic. The HVAC accumulator and hose assemblies between the compressor, condenser and evaporator were changed slightly.

 

Welcome aboard, better late than never !

Your 85 was born making more HP than 86 and 87. But the key is what 307 did GM put back ? 307s ranged from 140 HP to 180 HP.

If maximum performance is on your mind these cars can be quicker than many think. My 87 442 is quicker than my 69 even though its far less powerful. Whatever works on my swirl port should work better on a non swirl port. After several minor mods all easily reversible, 15.1 @ 89 MPH in the 1/4 mile. That's factory stock warm air Grand National territory, of course its mostly due to the factory's go package. Its a great setup, if I swapped in my 69s 350 she would run in factory stock cold air Grand national territory.

The biggest hinderance I see is that we are talking California...


That goes both ways many of us are partial to the euro nose.

 

Welcome to the group from another G-Body owner... Good luck with your project... If you should need any parts, I am well stocked from both a used and NOS part standpoint...

 

Welcome Bro!!! Steve here in San Antonio TX...