442 Information:

This 87 442 belongs to Ed Gresk

Starting in 1985 Oldsmobile reintroduced the Cutlass Salon. This was the sporty Cutlass to get. The Salon no longer had a hatchback like those of the late 70's but looked like a regular Cutlass Supreme. Also available to Salon owners was an option for the 442. This was available from 85-86. In 1987 the 442 option was available on the Supreme model and cost about $500 less than the previous year. The one thing that differed the 442 from the H/O was the color options. The car still came in a two tone paint but the main body color could be chosen from several available. Other than this and the 442 badging the cars were pretty similar.

Below are the standard options:

• High Output Olds 307 170hp (7A Heads) or 180hp (5A Heads)
• TH200-4R Overdrive transmission w/ std. foor shifter
• Semi-dual exhaust - single cat, dual muffers
• 3.73 rear end w/ optional posi
• Performance suspension
• 15" SuperStock III wheels w/ 442 centers
• Bucket seats (std. on Salon)
• Center console w/ floor shifter (std. on Salon)
• Rallye gauge package (std. on Salon)
• Color options include: Black, Metallic Gray, Metallic Blue, Metallic Burgandy, White('85 only)

Identifying a 442:

• VIN Engine Code 9
• Look at the sticker in the trunk. Option W42 should be there.
• Dual snorkle air cleaner with chrome lid.

Variations:

• Some '85 cars have the 5A cylinder heads as GM switched to 7A in mid-production. The 5A heads have"normal" sized ports and the 7A has smaller ports and roller lifters. Aftermarket intake manifolds won't fit on 7A heads! UPDATE It seems all 85 Code 9 cars had 5A heads. Even some 86 Code 9 cars had them too. It was at some point in 86 that GM changed to 7A for Code 9 cars.

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

Oldsmobile also had a 442 W-30 in 1980 but was not available in California. Oldsmobile made 886 442 W-30's.  540 were black and 346 were white.  The engine was the 350 cid (5.7L) Olds, 170hp.  ( 1980 442 info from Jason Labay's page)