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TerryH TerryH is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 3,470
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by speeder View Post
4-4-2 stood for 400 c.i., 4-barrel carb and dual exhaust. I have the old magazine collection with the ads to prove it. There was always a lot of confusion about that nomenclature, even back in the day, but they were always available w/ automatics so *4-speed* was not part of the name.

Always had a soft spot for Oldsmobiles and had friends with beautiful '67 and '68 442s. The '67 was a built street racer in black and the '68 was a bone-stock metallic blue w/ black vinyl top, automatic on floor, (beautiful factory console/shifter), and highway gears in rear end. What a beauty w/ those oval rear 1/4 windows and dual exhaust. sigh.....
According to some respected sources, the meaning of 4-4-2 changed over the years as different options became available. The 400ci - 4bbl - 2 exh was the combination most of us relate to when talking performance driven 442's.

Definition of 4-4-2 from the Oldsmobile Factory Literature:
1964 (Original meaning)
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
4: Four On the Floor
2: Dual Exhausts

1965 (First year of automatic transmission option on 442)
4: 400 Cubic Inch Displacement
4: Four Barrel Carburetion
2: Dual Exhausts


1985 to 1987 (Last of RWD 442s)
4: Four speed automatic
4: Four barrel carburetor
2: Dual exhaust


1990 and 1991 (FWD 442)
4: Four cylinders
4: Four valves
2: Two camshafts
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Old 04-22-2009, 06:38 AM
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