July 12, 1999
- This project was started in 1989. While I was driving a 1967 Cutlass Supreme post, I
bought two 1967 442's and a Cutlass Supreme hardtop and started to piece the best of each
into one. (Visit the Photo Gallery for "in-progress" pics) The Cutlass Supreme hardtop I'd
purchased had the best body, so it became the starting point, even though it wasn't
a true 442. There was no rust or dents, so actually the body is the one thing I really
haven't messed with too much yet. This was definitely not meant to be a 100-point
restoration, just a toy to just play with and do some cruising and a little weekend
bracket-racing, and possibly an occasional drive-in car show.
I
pulled a 455 out of a 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado and it became the heart and soul of this
machine. The C-type heads sport oversized valves and Teflon seals and have a 3-angle valve
job. They've also been ported and polished. The block has been bored .030 over (bringing
the cubes up to 468, if my math is correct) and has been completely deburred and
stress-relieved and has oil restrictors to keep more of the oil on the bottom end, where
it's needed most. Clevite 77 bearings support the polished and cross-drilled
crankshaft and a steel windage tray keeps those revs from whipping up the oil. Pistons are
forged aluminum and bring the compression ratio up to 10.25:1. Both the fuel and oil pumps
are Edelbrock hi-flow/hi-pressure units. Fuel/air requirements are taken care of by a
Holley 600 with vacuum secondarys (and a Holley Trick Kit) and an Edelbrock Torker intake
manifold, and spent gasses are routed via Hedman headers. The cam is from Engel and is a
high-lift, hi-torque unit purchased through Mondello Performance Products. (I lost the
spec sheet, but I recently provided someone with the Mondello part number 0JM0220250000
and according to him - duration: .274/280, .230/236 @ .050
Lift: .512 intake, .523 exhaust) It pushes Rhoads
variable-duration lifters and is driven by a double-roller timing chain. All this power is
transmitted to a TH-400 transmission pulled from a '72 Vista Cruiser wagon and fitted with
a B&M TransPak (street/strip mode), which in turn transmits the horses through a
shortened and balanced driveshaft to a 10-bolt 3:91 posi rearend. The front drum brakes
have been replaced with the front spindles and disc brake assemblies from a '72 Chevy
Malibu wagon.
Some of the original 442 parts (from my parts cars)
swapped onto this machine include the boxed lower control arms, front and rear swaybars,
front springs, rear differential, front grille and various emblems and trim.
The interior has been enhanced with new upholstery,
carpet and headliner. I installed a Hurst dual-gate shifter and center console out of a
'67 GTO. Autometer gauges monitor vital engine functions and a Sun tachometer checks the
revs.
This has been my pet project for many years. About
the only major thing left is the exterior paint, and this car will soon sport midnight
blue with silver metalflake colors. The correct louvered hood is currently in storage, and
will be installed after some minor repairs are completed.
