1970 w30 4spd questions
 

helping my friend with a bunch of old barn cars selling them, and the red w30 he has does have the paper on the radiator that show w30. does that account for any proof that is worth anything as far as documentation? I am thinking it does, I don't see why not. Probably nobody considers it paperwork, but it clear states w30 on it.

car is a red car, with white interior.

I asked him if there was a high redline tach for a w30 and neither him nor I know.

its got its original 4spd with vin. motor is not original. has the correct cool intake and aircleaner. not sure about heads or exhaust manifolds.

has rust bubbling here and there. old polyglass from the 70s still on it. has the red inner fenders.

would he be better parting the parts out and selling it as a plain cutlass if he can't prove its a w30 car? That intake looks pretty neat as I am not an oldsmobile guy. The inner fenders are mint. would they be held on a certain way with certain bolts if they were installed originally?

does the one piece of paper under the hood saying w30 account for anything? all previous owners say it was a w30 but engine block was blown up racing it.

I think he paid $15-18k years ago and I am just trying to help him get out of it minimizing a loss. any advice welcome, especially on determining wheterh it was a real w30.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Even though I own one, I'm not an expert, so take it FWIW.

I don't know about the radiator thingie, but let's assume it's true - so what? If the engine is not original, who's to say the radiator is original? You need more to go by. Start off with the VIN - all W-30s were built in Lansing (M).

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

got, will check the vin and decode off the internet if it was built in lansing mi. thanks.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Your best bet would be to find a broadcast card. It's a 4x8" card usually found under one of the front seats in the springs under the seat bottom.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

If it is not an 'M' built car, if it does not have 'F' Heads, W and Z exhaust manifolds, then you don't even have to start. Vintage red fenders, old polys, the correct intake, heads, carb and air breather, are good markers. Enough to investigate!

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

thanks for the tips, we looked under the rear seats and found nothing. will check the fronts and look for a small 'target'.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

If it's a bucket car, make sure to pull the seat backsides off and check there also under dash incl. top of glovebox too..

Good luck!.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
~ Pete

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

it is a m code car, step 1. that was good. did not look in buckets or dash. maybe the card is there.
he got some extra engines with it as it was drag raced in indiana, near indy. car has headers and wrong heads.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Other Clues:

No A/C for 1970 W30 4 speeds. W30's had specific rear gears so the wrong axle tube stamp will be a big clue.

On original Sheet metal Cars the inside of the Front Fenders towards the front of the car will usually have W30 written in Crayon so that the W30 emblem holes were properly punched on the line.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

unless you have the extremly rare w-27 aluminum axle carrier the rear end code stamping should be TM or TO for a 1970 w-30. The car should also have manual disk brakes.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

thanks for all the great help, its going to a good cause. the guy that has it needs help. he has a guy coming over to take pictures today.

he will check the inner fenders and the axle tube number (wow, awesome clues,thanks!). the car has manual disk brakes by the way, another good sign.
If I can back him out of this car for 15k (he paid 18k yrs ago) he is on a path of recovery. I know he looked for the build card in all the wrong places, so that will be checked today.

last time i saw the car, the interior looked cool and nice, with the 4spd and the red body and those red inner fenders. it will be a restoration project for someone. just hope to confirm its likely a w30 vs a regular cutlass, so he can get it out of the barn and pay off some of his loans.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Remember - those things are indications that it *can* be a W-30 4-speed. Anyone can add red fenderliners to a Lansing car with manual brakes. Because if you think it is what it is, your next step, after restoration, is convincing someone else to pay the kind of money for a car that has no documentation.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

here are some pictures of the car. has the right rear end.
it told him let it go for the first 15k that comes his way. thanks for the help. he is searching on the fender tip for the w30 marking and the build card.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding...=bbwnwd&x=0

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Stripes are incorrectly painted and if my memory serves me correct the intake is a '71-72 intake. Don't take my word as gospel.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

I would detail that thing as clean as it can possibly get and just drive the sh!t out of it. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif
Car is a very nice driver, without docs, I just don't see where a resto is justifiable when there is a lot of enjoyment to be had with that car like it is.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Couple things to add or ask;

What is the VIN up to the "M"? This will tell you if it's even a 442.
If it has the original tranny in the car, what's up with that shifter?
Has half a rally pac?
Rusty's correct on the intake years.
Those chrome valve covers would only be correct for Rusty's H/O.

The red fender liners look too nice to have been with that car from birth (opinion).

Still worth restoring if it's a 442, but probably not for his asking price without strong proof.

My $0.02

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

vin is 344870m377218 for what its worth.
its colder in wisconsin than in chicago, when his barn warms up more he can look more. atleast he needs to find that sticker i found under the hood that said w30 on it.
maybe its not a real w30.
i plan to call original owner in indy to see if he has anything he forgot, even pictures of it drag racing , if that was true even in the first place. car came with 2 engines and all kinds of parts, guy was a drag racer.

with the original engine mia who knows where or what is what on the intake. i totally understand, not enough to go on.
probably will get sold for the some of the parts.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

The hood was code W-25, which was standard on the W-30 and optional on base 4-4-2s.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

what i meant to say was 'sum of the parts'
type too fast or too late, 7yrs of college go out the door.
now off to pay my membership dues...
bob

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

Where the hood hinge bolts to the fender, there will be a hole punched in it, (just before the hinge) is there a body nut there or just a hole.

Re: 1970 w30 4spd questions
 

thanks for the tips, I will have him check, I did learn a lot from this website to help him with the car, it still sits in his barn. I had him look for the frame reinforcements and it has those.

It did have the sticker on the radiator (attachment), but maybe those are easy to get and it means nothing.