Lou's1966442

I just purchased a 1966 442. Previous owner has cut into the hood, and installed a cowl...not a good job at all. Anyway, I like a cowl hood, but due to the shotty install, I want to replace the hood. My questions are: Is there an aftermarket, cowl hood for the '66? Also, are there other 1966 GM "A" body hoods that will interchange?

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site, post some pics of your car. Can you repair the one you have? I understand these folks build a nice fiberglass hood:
http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/6667cutlass.htm

2blu442

Welcome to the site! Sorry, the 1966 Cutlass hood is a one year only design and not used on any other GM makes. If you don't go with aftermarket, can you fix the one you have?

John

Lou's1966442

I haven't any close up pics of the hood in question...but I will make every effort to post a few tomorrow. It's currently snowing here (S.W. Virginia) when the cowl was installed, the fiberglass/bondo job was atrocious!

oldcutlass

Pictures of the whole car are appreciated also.

Lou's1966442

CRUZN 66

Welcome to the group... Why not just have a good body man remove and reinstall the cowl correctly???

oldcutlass

X2. Your car looks to be pretty solid.

cherokeepeople

missing the 442 front fenders.check the vin make sure its a real 442.and those mirrors gotta go!

35tac

Picture of the Data cowl plate will tells us more than the VIN on a 66.
Wayne

BangScreech4-4-2

Or get rid of the mess altogether. It would look dumb even if it had been installed properly.

BangScreech4-4-2

The VIN won't help you with that unless it's a '68-'71. Agree about the mirrors, though.

Lou's1966442

Title has "3617" for the 2nd through 5th VIN #'s.....Does that help?

Lou's1966442

I agree...Mirrors are bad

Lou's1966442

Lcation? Firewall?

Lou's1966442

What's your opinion of a 4 inch cowl?

35tac

all 3617 tells you that it is a F-85 Holiday Coupe. Only help is the Data Plate.
Wayne

Lou's1966442

Hi Wayne,
Please overlook my ignorance...is "Data Plate" the same info on the "Cowl" tag? That tag info is:

04A
ST 66-33617FRA 1015 TBODY
TR 946-A W-W Paint
5P

droptopron

If you are going Day2 I don't think it looks bad.

scrappie

A lot of people on this site are purists hence the name classicoldsmobile. If you are not concerned about originality and numbers matching etc... I think if done right, that could look pretty good. Im more partial to 68-70 but I do like most cars. If its yours do what you want.

Lou's1966442

Day2? Not sure what you mean

Lou's1966442

I appreciate your opinion. I'd love to have a numbers matching '67 (my birth year)...but can't afford it. I went with the '66 I purchased, to have something to tinker with...and was told the engine is a 455. My knowledge is extremely limited, but I'm thankful for the group, and hope to learn things along the way.

35tac

First of all when you get a chance check out datatagdecoder.com and insert your data tag information. That is what I did. Good site but here is what I found.

04A - week #1 of April build.
ST66-33617- F85 Delux Holida Coupe
FRA- is Fremont Plant 1015- Plant and body sequence number
W-W- Paint is Silver Mist top and bottom
TR 946A- Turquoise cloth/Vinyl standard bench seat

Fremont plant did not put a "V" on position 5 of the data plate. Only lansing did that. Chances are it isn't a 442. Had that been a Lansing build it would be a 442.


There are other people on this forum that can inform you on other items on the car that would verify if it may be a 442. I am sure some will chime in. More details and pictures would help. This is a good group of people.Have fun.
Wayne

cherokeepeople

w paint code.nice my 66 ss chevelle is a w slate gray/silver.in the right light it's a light blue.

Lou's1966442

That's A LOT more than I knew...thank you! Only thing I've found is 3617...F-85 (442 option) Not sure what "option" means. Someone pointed out, the lack of 442 identification on the fenders...and I'm sure it's very simple to add the emblems on the quarters, deck lid, grill, etc. It does have a 442 emblem on the dash...but again, I guess that can be added as well.

Dave Pastrick

OOPS - 35tac
The Fisher Body tag reads "BF" for Fremont CA. "FRA" indicates Framingham Mass. "LAN" indicates Lansing Mich. These were the only 3 plants that assembled Olds A-Body cars. The fisher body tag for FRA is the same as for Lansing, so column 5 should have a "V" if it was a 442. But you were correct that Fremont did not call out many options on the FB tag.

Koda

That 33617 does not mean F-85 Deluxe Holiday Coupe 442 option, it means ALL F-85 Deluxe Holiday Coupes. 442 was an option package, L78, that got you all sorts of things, and it could be applied to most any 2 door F85 body in 1966. Framingham would have delineated the L78 package with a V in the fifth group in the cowl tag, hence the "5V" above.


When you get to that point, could you see if it has a trunk light? 5P, we think, based on old threads, meant trunk light. That is the only option on the cowl tag that car seems to have.

Local Hero

"Day 2" refers to easy mods that someone might make to a new car purchase on the second day they've owned it. Examples might be changing out the wheels and tires or adding a tachometer, easy stuff like that to personalize their new toy.

Lou's1966442

A big thank you to everyone's comments, input, and help! Well, I guess the guy got over on me. I let my ignorance and excitement get in front of due diligence. I only paid $1,700 for the car...so I guess I'll just plan on working on it as I have time and money, and turn it into something nice.

oldcutlass

$1700 is not a bad start for a solid project car. Its a blank slate to do with as you wish.

cherokeepeople

hey it looks pretty solid so even if its not a 442 thats still a pretty good price and if it has a decent 455 in it that much better.does it have a rear sway bar.thats another 442 only part. got any interior pics?

35tac

Well have some fun with it. Start cleaning it up, you have some information and there is help here. I don't know where you are at but there have to be some Olds people around. Good luck and keep in touch. One thing for sure there are probably few of any of your Holiday Coupes around. Start taking pictures of the whole car. BTW check to see what the rear suspension looks like. 442's had a rear sway bar and boxed trailing arms.
Marry Christmas
Wayne

BangScreech4-4-2

Not good.

BangScreech4-4-2

$1700 is a great deal for a basically sound F85. Don't feel bad.

cherokeepeople

looks like it has the 442 hood and tail lights also.we need more pics!!as for engine i.d.look on the front of the drivers side head next to the head bolt there will be a letter,also up where the oil fill tube is there will be a number and a letter.what are they that will give us a better idea.