"Dr. Oldsmobile" Joe Mondello talks about the 442

This is a piece shot with "Dr. Oldsmobile" himself, Joe Modello of Mondello Racing Heads. He explains the Olds 442 and what 442 means. I shot and edited the piece.

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Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Greg Welsch editor
• Greg J. Welsch
• Nashville editors
• Greg Welsch
• Toppa-Poppa-Jons
• Productions

[smondello]

Thank you Greg. I have to say this video really gives me a lot of comfort. Just to hear his voice talk about the thing he loved the most. If you have any other videos, I'd love to see them. I don't know where you're located, but his funeral will be on Wednesday, April 13, @ 9:30AM at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.

[gregjwelsch]

@smondello Stephanie: Unfortunately I am here in Nashville and won't be able to make the service. But I will definitely look for other videos. I had some other segments and a longer interview where he talks about his life and career but over the years I have had several drives go bad so I am not exactly sure what I still have access to at this point. I will look and be in touch. Hopefully I can get them for you. I would be great to be able to keep them and show the grandkids. Be Strong.

[gregjwelsch]

@smondello @smondello Stephanie: I am sorry it took so long but I have been able to find two videos of your pop from when we shot some stuff for a TV pilot several years ago. One is at the school and the other is the 442 piece that you saw on YouTube. Now you can have a good, higher quality copy for the family. I will keep looking. I think we have a long interview we also did at the School. Can you send an email address to where I can forward them? Thanks, Greg

[smondello]

Joe Mondello was my Dad. He died on April 6, 2011. I miss him already and forever.

[gregjwelsch]

@smondello Stephanie: So sorry to hear about your pop. He was a very nice man. I worked with him several times. I directed the 442 piece we shot in Bowling Green several years ago. We also filmed some stuff with Joe down in Crossville and also at the Drag Racing Hall of Fame in Florida. He was always fun to work with and it was obvious that he was held in very high esteem by everyone who knew him in the business. He will be missed. Greg

[signupsucksass]

@smondello your father is a legend and he will me missed. my condolences on your loss.

[naderchaser]

As far as I'm concerned....Joe Mondello is a national treasure.

[ezzzstang1]

MR.OLDSMOBILE thank-you for your hard work for us gear heads!...your legend will live forever! R.I.P. DR.OLDS.........

[smondello]

@signupsucksass My Dad was a really great man... Thank you... Stephanie Mondello

[1967PmdGto]

@DONDIVA1969

I'm always saying HP ratings don't mean jack unless you are comparing say a Pontiac engine to a Pontiac engine, or know how to read between the lines of DIFFERENCE. --I know that 390 Pont/Olds HP is more than 390 Chevy HP. Pontiac used to rate theirs in a 100 degree room, Chevy in a 60. Even if two engines truly are 390hp, still doesn't mean jack unless they are both say Pontiacs. It's only peak HP, not average power across a broad rpm range.-A 350hp 455 will kill a 350hp 4banger.

[DONDIVA1969]

@1967PmdGto - Those old magazine tests are nearly useless as a means of comparison. So are factory hp ratings. Manufacturers would routinely provide ringers for magazines to test. Pontiac was notorious for that. The Hurst Olds you write about was a tuned test mule. The cam was a non-stock W-31 grind, it had headers, performance jetted carb and re-curved distributor. In addition it ran those times with open exhaust. Far from representative of what you could drive off the showroom floor.

[1967PmdGto]

@DONDIVA1969

I love Olds but love Pont slightly more, so this isn't biased.--> The highest rated Pont 455 was 370hp, strongest Buick was 360 or 370hp. The Hurst Olds saw 390hp, the Toronado 400hp. The only stock 455 to run 12s was a Hurst Olds (with an Auto & AC) 12.87 in a magazine test. Yes it had a big cam, but about the same as a 1973/74 SD455 Trans Am which averaged around 13.4. The 73/74 SD had low 8.4 compression. I estimate if it was over 10 like the Hurst 455, they'd both tie/run 12s.