Dave Siltman

What is the CORRECT location of the voltage regulator on a 350 4-speed '72 442? Some say the firewall---others say NOT on the firewall. If it is NOT on the firewall, where is it? This is a non-A/C car. I've seen SUPPOSED real cars with the regulator on the firewall. Does the build location ( what plant---not a "W" car) determine this? Does the assembly manual show any differences? All the replacement wiring harnesses only differentiate automatic or standard trans. Thanks in advance, Dave.

bccan

On the non-w 72's I've seen regulator is on firewall to right of distributor, horn relay is behind distributor w/ rat nest of wires - I don't know why they did that.

Edit-Didn't pay attention, the 3 I work on are all automatics. Sorry, don't know if MT is different.

joe_padavano

Which is exactly where the factory put them in 1972. Note that for the 72 model year, Olds dropped the internal regulator and went back to the external on the 442s for one year. Go figure.

royalcaptain

on a 1970 442 in the voltage regulator external also?

svnt442

In 1970 All Cutlass/F85's were externally regulated, but the 442 got the internally regulated alternator.

rcorrigan5

The exact location of the voltage regulator on the firewall should be identified with dimples that are in the firewall. If you find three dimples on the firewall that aline with the screw holes in your voltage regulator, that's where the voltage regulator should go. On my '68, it's just to the passenger side of the distributor, with the wire plug (2 screw side) pointed towards the driver side.

Randy C.

joe_padavano

Correct. For completeness, all 1969-71 442s (including 69 H/Os) got the internally regulated alternator. In 1972, when the 442 was demoted to an option package, it got the standard external regulator.

my442conv

my 1970 442 has external voltage regulator..............and didn't the 1970 442 alternator have an open face behind the pulley?

MDchanic

Are you sure it's an original 442?

- Eric

joe_padavano

But it didn't come that way from the factory. My 69 H/O had an external regulator when I bought it - also not factory installed. The Torker and headers weren't factory installed either.

my442conv

Eric,
the Vin# 344670E129354...............it's an original 443..I listen to these threads and everything about 442's by year is not all in concrete..........depends what time of the rear........Monday or Friday..........etc. I can't picture one of the previous 4 owners changing this to an external Voltage regulator, the wiring harness is original, and I will be changing it to an internal in my rebuild

svnt442

That was one of the things with the 442, it was internally regulated. Someone, somewhere changed it out. There may have been an issue with the original harness and they grabbed one from a parts car and could only find one from a Cutlass. It's not really that hard to fathom. The harness on my 442 was TOASTED at the firewall and needed to be replaced very badly. Fortunately aftermarket harnesses are available now so I didn't have to scrounge for one from a parts car.

my442conv

ok..............point made..........., and I agree you, There is an adapter, I think in Year One catalog to convert it to internal regulator.
Am I correct.................that the 1970 442 had an open face alternator behind the pulley?

kevin442

Yes. The 1970 442 originally had a open face alternator.