70 w31 olds
 

looking for info on one of these,
a customer of mine came in today, (he knows i am in to cars)
he has a supposed to be 70 W31 old f-85 club coupe ???
he like to sell but isn't sure what to ask. things are a little tight so he's decided to let it go.
he has the POP and the block matches, he's the thrid owner.
it's an auto, 3.91 posi. I haven't seen the car it self but pic's look like a nice 20 foot. heads are 71's and has after market intake and headers. he has a folder full of info including previous owners, 2nd owner raced the car. has 80k plus showing on the odometer.

any info would be great, like what and where numbers are, what it could bring if it checks out.

I'am going to get some pic's tonight, get this it's sitting in a barn !

Will
what do I need to sell this car for him

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

color?options?condition?

answer these questions.

thats a rare w31.
if the car has the original block with the w31 balancer,and
he has proof(broadcast sheet,build sheet) that its a true w31,then thats a good start.not keeping the original intake and original heads is an expensive mistake.
if he has no documentation showing the w31 option,he's hit real hard,price wise.

you need to give more info on the car to get an accurate idea of a price..

also,dont go by the ones you see on ebay.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

haven't been to ebay , thats more of a car show then an auction house.
the 2nd owner ditched that stuff when he had it.
the car is bascally how he (my buddy) got it.
I think he said he has the orginal wheels.

heres what I do have on the car:

1970 olds f-85 club coupe,w/ turbo hydro-matic 350 trans.
vin 332770m413323. w25 F/G Ram-air hood, w35 rear wing,w27 alum rear pot, black plastic inner fenders. 14x7 super-stock 2 wheels,POP from 1st and 2nd OWNER, ORGINAL warrenty and protection plan, owners manual,service manaul,coror chart, and car cover.


Will

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Whttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gifW...a '70 W31 Post!!!
I love these and still have dreams of that silver one that was in Car Review about 20 years ago!.

~ Pete
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

POSSIBLE RED FLAG!

this car has drums, wouldn't it of had disc brakes ???
or is it possible that they were switched for drag racing, or is that an old wives tail ???

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

[ QUOTE ]
POSSIBLE RED FLAG!

this car has drums, wouldn't it of had disc brakes ???
or is it possible that they were switched for drag racing, or is that an old wives tail ???

[/ QUOTE ]

NO ! A no charge option in '70 was drum brakes in the front. Discs were std., but drums were available. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

For more info, try this site:

http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofwmc.htm#WM%20W-31

Mike

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Here's a picture I forgot I had saved. Someone (probably Casey) posted a pic of a W31 balancer a coupla years ago. It's the attachment up above....

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

-------Wouldnt a real W31 have come with a Turbo 400 from the factory???.........Bill S

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

No, my W31 had a Turbo 350.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1.../GreenW312.jpg

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Nope - TH350.

Coincidentally enough, you could also order an M-13 HD 3-spd manual on a '31 as well. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/eek.gif

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

pic's
http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r37/syc12b/

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Time to go digging in the interior for the broadcast card - as said before, without paper it's just a Cutlass with options. On the upside, that looks to be a (the?) factory OAI hood which is a $2k+ option. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

I knew I forgot something, also it does have OJ282 trans and TO 0016 rear.
I also notice none of the papers work shot appeared I will have to reload them tonight.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Just a couple of things body-wize. Notta big deal. Engine looks to be a '73+. Balancer is incorrect. It looks like it's got a '68'69 radiator top plate. It's a neat color combo with blue guts. If you can get it reasonable, I'd buy it.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

I wondered about that engine, but it's so long since I've had mine, that the details are fuzzy, and I only have a couple of engine photos.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

I meant to get the engine #'s, he has them I just forgot the sheet they were on, he says the eng# match the vin#.

I think he has about 18 in it, would it be worth that if the build sheet is found. he wasn't to thrilled that I want to pull the tank.
he bought the car in knappolis NC. he realizes he'll never do the car justise and got use the money.
glad to see he's not going to just let it sit and rot away.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

The original engine color would be gold on a W31. It could have been repainted. The missing intake and balancer really would hurt the value. It's also missing the outside air induction system.
However, being an F85 makes it rarer than a Cutlass W31. Paperwork is the key here.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

do you think he could break even with out paper work.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

If castings are correct, isn't the Vin stamping only accessible by pulling the power steering pump bracket...Im pretty sure I had to pull my pump and bracket to find it on my old '70 442 F85?.
And aren't seat backs, door panels and underdash areas a more common place for paper on these, not gastanks?.

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

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

he already had the eng # wrote down, I tried to get a pic but it didn't turn out.
the guy does have a drive over pit for inspection.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

I've never seen an Olds build sheet from the top of the tank. People talk about it, but I've never acutally seen one.

Couple things I see:

1. Left fender has been replaced (71 or 72 with crumple beads).
2. I would look really close at the rear window channel. hard to tell, but if it's bad that'll be a lot of work.
3. Looks like quarters are in need of replacement or serious patching.
4.Not sure it's a big deal, but it looks like the intake has an A/C water valve on it?

$18k is a stretch in my opinion. May even be a stretch with paperwork.

The ram air stuff is reproduced, even the "W350" intake. So don't be scared off by those missing items. I'd worry about what it would cost even IF you could find a balancer.

I'll bet it's a real W31 post car, just not complete and in need of some really expensive bodywork.

For reference, a few months ago I passed on a 70 W31 in similar over-all condition, Aegean Aqua with black interior, non-numbers block, but with "correct" rebuilt 350 including intake and balancer for $13K. The quarters were already done.

Joe

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

added more pic's.

the window channels have alreadey been bone including paint cut in.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

I'll second the too much on $18 - if he's got that much in it, he's upside-down.

Unless you're set on a F85 W31, you should look around on EBay, 442.com and the like to get an idea of what $18 will buy. There's a 71 Cutlass SX with all the paper on EBay right now with a BIN of $18 that's a good point of comparison. Your money generally goes further in Olds-land than Chevy-land (sort of like the exchange rate in Canada...)

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

We bought a real nice driver out at the "Pavillions" Car show in AZ 2 years ago. Documented, Original Engine. Auto 3.42 rear, Special order paint. Dry rust free California Car with one 1/4 panel replaced. White Buckets ect. for under $30k.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

block# 30M413323

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

A few things stand out as questionable.
Absense of sport mirrors.
Absence of posi decal inside trunk. Other decals are there and in very good(original looking) condition.
is the paint original? The stripes look original. Most resto shops/painters dont get the spacing right on re applied stripes.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

there is one pic that proves postitively this is not a w-31.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

AND THAT IS ???

WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT BOXED CONTROL ARMS OR SOMETHING ?

(OPPS CAPS)

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Hi Will-
Did you say the car is from Kannapolis??? If so....I've never heard of it or seen it. It wasn't here in the 1970s for sure.

My niece has a red 70 442....owned since the 70s.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

was told he bought it in 2002 on the way to DEI 1st b-day celibration. was sitting up on a hill , the owner did not live there it was rented husband had died and car had sat for 10-12 years. he made an offer and she turned it down. a while late a friend told him to call again and it was still there and they met in the middle.
he hasn't really done anything to it with the exception of having the window channel redone by the hotrod garage in denton MD.
the paint on the hood is checked up pretty good, and the 1/4s had so work done. so at least some of the car has repaint if not all.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Couple additional items (niether prove one way or another whether it's real, but...)
1. Missing hood screen.
2. Aftermarket deck lid spoiler.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Good reference right now on 442.com

It's a more correct, more solid example with basically the same options. Nicer color combo too (opinion).

Has documentation, and numbers drivetrain.

$15,500.00

Only downside is it looks like the seller is holding the balancer hostage!?

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

[ QUOTE ]
Good reference right now on 442.com

It's a more correct, more solid example with basically the same options. Nicer color combo too (opinion).

Has documentation, and numbers drivetrain.

$15,500.00

Only downside is it looks like the seller is holding the balancer hostage!?

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like a not bad deal but it's a hardtop and the thread car is the much rarer (and more desirablehttps://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...s/headbang.gif) F-85 body 2-Door Sedan/Post car..

http://www.442.com/class/oldsads.html

On the balancers, are they the same from '68 W31's?. I remember a 'well used' '68 Post car I bought years ago for the 12 bolt and stick parts...it even had those old coil spring airbags in it!. I paid little attention to the 350 Oldsie when I pulled it other than noting that it had a roller type pilot bearing...not brass bushing.. I sold the engine to a guy I knew for his El'Camino also a BOP-Powerslide and now wonder if it was a W31 motor?. I know he sold it to someone else and think the car still exists unfinished and wonder if it's worth tracking down for the balancer alone?. Strangely enough I saw the guy I sold it to just last night at the Nazareth concert...ya' the old Razamanaz-Love hurts group!.

~ Pete
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

Pete, I agree that a "documented" post car is much more desirable, but I'd have to argue value based on the evidence displayed between the two cars. The 442.com car will be worth more retored than that post car would with equal monies invested unless they produce some docs on the thread car.

The guys was asking for some help establishing value. My opinion is it's something less than the 442.com car.

Just my humble opinion. We all have them.

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

ok,here is why i feel very strongly its not a w31.

if the numbers are right on the block,and it the original motor,the pulleys would be different.
the pulleys on the motor are non W pulleys.

pull the heads,and if the valves are almost touching in the pocket,they are w31 heads.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...scarW31002.jpg

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

here's a nice one for 22k
in canada

http://442.com/class/adart/59046.jpg[/

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

the heads are 71 and not orginal, I haven't got back over to the car to pull the seat yet, going away this weekend so it won't be til next week.

thanks for all the help guy, guess we really need that build sheet

Will

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

JJ...
- I'm with you all the way on the docs...surely the hardtop is worth more if it's a documented W31 and the post turns out not to be..

Found that old Car Review article last night w/ the silver W31 post car ...it was a 1986 issue!.
Man, time just keeps speeding up as the years go by!!!.

Good luck Will!.

Anyone know if the '68's had the same balancers or not?.

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

Re: 70 w31 olds
 

the 442.com w-31 needs a LOT of metal work,at least 5 figures to repair,in my opinion.
he has no docs to support the w-27 came with the car originally.

as for the w31 balancer,from 68-70 they are all the same,but there are w-31 parts out there with 1973 date codes.