1972 W29 cutlass

[jpc647]

I'm looking for some information on these cars. Obviously they exist, I've read a few threads about them on here.

Does anyone know the HP ratings they had? What was different about the motors? Did they make a hardtop version? Were they a th-400 or a th-350? 10 or 12 bolt rear? Posi, non posi? I know a lot of this stuff was optional but I figured where it was a special, limited production model, there might not have been as many options.

[rocketraider]

W29 is the 442 appearance and handling option for 1972 A-body. It reverted to option status in 1972 after several years of being a separate series. It could have a 2 or 4 barrel 350 or a 455 and could be optioned on either the Cutlass S coupes or on the Supreme convertible.

Special limited production? Not hardly. You could order anything on the option sheet consistent with production parameters.

[jpc647]

So was the 350 in the w29 anything high performance, or was the hp rating the same as a standard rocket 350 in say a 72 cutlass "s"

[rocketraider]

Read again. 1972 W29 is simply an appearance and handling package and includes nothing special engine-wise unless ordered with W30 455 as indicated by X in the VIN, and even then I always suspect a non-original engine unless seller can produce documentation or I can look at the engine numbers.

The 350s ranged from 160 to 200 net horsepower.

350-2BC 160 net HP, 175 with dual exhaust

350-4BC 180 net HP, 200 with dual exhaust

There are different codes depending on stick, automatic or A/C, but the differences are in the crankshaft (drilled for pilot bushings for stick cars), emissions controls and vacuum ports. If the paper identification code tape is missing from the oil fill tube it is virtually impossible to identify which engine car has. The VIN only identifies 2-barrel, four-barrel, or dual exhaust. H= 350 2BC single exhaust; J= 350-2 dual exhaust; K= 350-4 single; M= 350-4 dual.

[jpc647]

Alright, thanks. The car is a legit 442 W29. The guy has owned it since almost new and kept it all original. I was just curious. He's mentioned on occasion that its 325 horsepower, but he never gets into it, so I don't know if it is any different than my stock 72 cutlass "s" with a 350.

Were turbo 400 transmissions an option on the 350 in 72?

[Lady72nRob71]

Originally Posted by jpc647

He's mentioned on occasion that its 325 horsepower, but he never gets into it, so I don't know if it is any different than my stock 72 cutlass "s" with a 350.

If he has a stock 350 in it, he is overpadding the number by about 1.625X or more...
If he has a 455, then he will be a bit more accurate.

Originally Posted by jpc647

Were turbo 400 transmissions an option on the 350 in 72?

I do not think so, but not positive.

The W29 pkg did not come with posi, but it could have been ordered as an option.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by jpc647

Alright, thanks. The car is a legit 442 W29. The guy has owned it since almost new and kept it all original. I was just curious. He's mentioned on occasion that its 325 horsepower,

It's not.

The only 350 Olds to carry that rating was the 1968-1970 W-31 motors.

Were turbo 400 transmissions an option on the 350 in 72?

The TH400 was never installed behind the 350 in any A-body Olds. The Vista Cruisers DID get the TH375, which is a low-perf version of the TH400, but the regular Cutlii only got the TH400 behind the big blocks. Again, even the W-31s only got the TH350 when the AT was offered.

[jpc647]

So the only 350 that was higher horsepower than what was in a stock cutlass was the w-31? Was the w-29 definately a 442, or were they two seperape things that were ordered? Sorry If I sound dumb, just looking for correct information.

[jpc647]

So the only "high performance" 350 was in the w31? Was the w29 only offered in conjunction with a 442?

[Lady72nRob71]

No, the 72 W29 option was the "442 appearance and suspension package" offered only that year. It could have been had on any Cutlass S and Supreme convertible with any engine / tranny / axle option. It only included different badges, grilles, stripes, hood, louvers, firm springs and shocks, and rear swaybar with boxed lower rear control arms.

In 1972 the W30 package came with W29 items, the OAI hood and the 'X' code 455.
The 1968-1970 W31 package had the 350 with OAI. No special 350's in 1972

[wmachine]

Let me try this again for the original poster's sake.

Yes, in 1972 the W29 was the 442. One and the same.

Just like in 1964, 65, 66, 67, 73, 74 and any other year, other than '68-'71 when the 442 was a model itself and not an option.

What made up the 442 when it was an option varied through the years.

[wmachine]

Originally Posted by Lady72nRob71

No, the 72 W29 option was the "442 appearance and suspension package" offered only that year. It could have been had on any Cutlass S and Supreme convertible with any engine / tranny / axle option. It only included different badges, grilles, stripes, hood, louvers, firm springs and shocks, and rear swaybar with boxed lower rear control arms.

The W30 package came with W29 items, the OAI hood and the 'X' code 455.

Rob, don't confuse the poor guy. No W31 in '72...........

[joe_padavano]

What we have he-yah is a fail-yah to communicate.

Let's try one more time from the top. For the 1972 model year, W-29 was the option code for the 442 package. Unlike previous years, in 1972 the 442 was not a separate model but simply an option package available on four different versions of the Cutlass. For 1972, the W-29 package ONLY included the suspension parts (different springs/shocks/sway bars) and the appearance parts (442 grilles, emblems, and pinstripes).

The W-29 package had NOTHING to do with the engine or drivetrain in 1972. You could have ordered the W-29 (442) package with any engine and trans available in the Cutlass line that year, from the 350 2bbl single exhaust motor through the W-30 455. The VIN contains an engine code letter in the fifth position that will tell you which engine was originally installed in that car. For the 1972 Cutlass line, those engine options were as follows:

VIN H 350 2bbl single exh 160HP
VIN K 350 4bbl single exh 180HP
VIN M 350 4bbl dual exh 200HP

VIN U 455 4bbl dual exh (AT) 250HP
VIN V 455 4bbl dual exh (MT) 270HP
VIN X 455 W-30 300HP

[Lady72nRob71]

Originally Posted by wmachine

Rob, don't confuse the poor guy. No W31 in '72...........

Right - I corrected and clarified my last post. I am easily confused these days (and seem to pass it on free of charge)...

[jpc647]

Originally Posted by wmachine

Let me try this again for the original poster's sake.

Yes, in 1972 the W29 was the 442. One and the same.

Okay. I knew about the w-31's and thought maybe the 442 w-29 had the same motor, or close to it. He always talks about how the motor has a different cam in it than mine(a 72 cutlass "s") and whatever else. I just found it hard to believe, but you guys clarified it for me, thanks.