83 & 84 Hurst Olds

[88hurstolds]

I'm not pickin on you, just want to thow that out there in general. Some just have the logic that an 8.5" rear will make their 307 faster...

 

[mheath717]

Well I definately understand that one. Haha. I am a big fan of everything numbers matching. I would still have the 307 in my car, but the previous owner cracked the block running it hot. So other than the motor, I am trying to make everything as original as possible. I know it won't ever be worth as much as it would if I put a vin 9 307 in there... But Im never getting rid of the car, so I can go for a little extra power.

It just kind of made me mad when I had a guy offer me $8,000 for my car, and I told him I wasn't willing to part with it for any dollar amount. He then informed me that it was ok because everybody likes the 83's better anyway. So I was just curious as to why that was...

 

[88hurstolds]

Gray is a pretty unassuming color, it blends into the surroundings and if you notice about 80% of the car on the road are gray. It's probably one of the reasons, also, I'm not a fan of the 84 style grille or the chrome on the headlight bezels and grilles but I do like the lower black with the gray, it looks cool.
One time we were driving downstate on the highway and noticed 11 gray midsized sedans all in a row, each of a different make but they all looked the same.
Talk about individualism...

 

[Blake442]

That's fine with me that people like the '83s more than the '84s.
I like the '84s better, so hopefully when I have the funds, it'll be that much easier for me to get one...

And Mike, I agree with you 150% on the over-hyped nature of the 8.5 rear.
It sickens me to watch cars that could be saved get parted out because somebody wants the rear-end.

I lucked out buying a 442, since they already have an 8.5 from the factory.
Needless to say if I didn't, a Ford 9 inch is the way to go, hands down.

I know lots of people have had bad luck with 7.5's breaking...
...But I know even more people that have beat on them mercilessly and gotten away with it.

 

[83hurst-olds]

It's probably one of the reasons, also, I'm not a fan of the 84 style grille or the chrome on the headlight bezels and grilles but I do like the lower black with the gray, it looks cool.

Can you elaborate on the headlight bezels? I have seen 3 different variants and I don't know what is correct for the '83 and '84 (see post above). My '83 is blacked out, except that the very front 1/4" or so is still chrome. I have seen some with the entire bezel blacked out but it didn't look quite factory. I have also seen most of them the way of the non-H/O cars which is just all chrome. What is correct?

Also, are ANY of the '83/'84 H/O's supposed to lack the front lower air dam?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge (to anyone willing to share it). :wink:

 

[Blake442]

'83 H/Os should have ALL black headlight bezels. No chrome edge.
'84 H/Os will have the chrome edge with the inner portion blacked out. This style is correct for all 81-86 Calais/Salon/442s.
The cars that are all chrome are the standard Cutlass and Cutlass Supremes.

ALL '83 & '84 H/Os had the front lower air dam when new.

 

[83hurst-olds]

Thanks for the clarification...