I have a white one, and your pictures certainly look right. If the first part of your VIN is 3K47RAM, then it's a real 442. R is the key tell here, means it has a 350 Olds motor, and as such, is one of 2 G bodies that were allowed to do so. The other is the 79 Hurst/Olds, which is exactly the same car, with a different header panel, a Hurst dual Gate shifter, and H/O Badging, instead of 442.
Well, original engine makes it worth more, but you could always hang on to it for possible sale later. the original windowed main block is not worth building, for a few reasons. The engine you want for it, is a 68-72 Olds 350, known to be the best basis for a performance build. If you find a suitable donor, Get a set of hypereutectic pistons, or forged flattops, a dual roller timing set, and a standard overhaul kit, Get the block prepped and bored just enough to clean up any ring ridge. Get the set of heads rebuilt with hardened seats, and fresh valves, and you will have a solid runner, that's ready for some real power, if you want to add it... An Edelbrock Performer, or performer RPM cam, and an aluminum intake to match, are good choices. And a set of headers, add those 3 things, as well as an earlier engine, will certainly wake it up, to the tune of over twice the stock Horsepower output, if the RPM editions are chosen. The performer cam and intake won't bring as drastic a change but numbers should still increase by at least 100 HP. The dyno chart for the Performer RPM setup is inserted. I'd also recommend a set of Harland Sharpe roller Rockers to allow for the geometry change of the RPM cam. The stock rockers will work with the performer cam, rollers would add another 40 HP, in either case.
hit me up next time you are "looking for one"🙂 dime a dozen in my neck of the hood.
Agreed, Donovan's car looks sick! Gonna be sweet when you paint it...
