Run to Rund

What is the origin of the term "Track Pack" for the 66-7 W30 conversion package? Was this the identifier term that Olds Parts Dept. used on the label for 230195 and 230309?

If anyone can get it right, the prize is a genuine used W30 head gasket, lol.

w-30dreamin

I will not lie...I dont know the answer but would like to.I have about 20 minutes research time looking around the internet and come up empty handed.

Run to Rund

I posted on ROP and OPC also. If no one has the answer, I will let the "cat out of the bag" after Christmas. EVERYONE uses the Track Pack term as identifier and as a discriminator of dealer/owner installed W30 options vs. Lansing built cars. Then they bring up the hated "clone" word. Lets see who knows what they are talking about, lol.

snowballs442

It is the left or right side gasket?

Chesrown 67 OAI

Joe -
oooh! oooh! oooh! I know! I know! i know!!!
can i get the kewpie doll? i got enough blown head gaskets!

Who else knows --- without "research" and chasing the clues??

442garage

The factory intended the W-30 Track Pack kit (or in the case of existing racers, the individual parts before the kit was assembled and offered through GMPD) to be added as a dealer- or owner-installed option in those years. The kit part number was 230195 for 1966, 230309 for 67.

Diego

W-30 cars were intended for the track, and the package to be installed at the dealership was created for L69 buyers to retrofit their cars. That's been my understanding.

If you look at Mopars, the steeper gears were part of the "Track Pack."

aliensatemybuick

OK, here's my attempt at an internet search:

http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...29650&start=12

(Establishing that the term "track pack" was not on the label).

http://www.realoldspower.com/phpBB2/...=48489&start=6

(Establishing that "track pack" is a term we use "today" (and presumably not back in the day)).

So I'll throw a guess out there, that the term was borrowed from another manufacturer. Like Mopar, maybe.

Bluevista

This is what it says at Wild About Cars in the 1966 ads section.

"In 1966, Olds recognized that it just wasn't what you touted, it was how you stacked up versus the competition. In December, Tri-Carb option L-69 debuted and the 4-barrel car now had the Quadrajet, both of which helped, as the old 4GC was only about 600 CFM, versus about 850 for the three-2s and 750 for the Q-jet.

The new 400 block featured the Toronado's 0.921" lifters and the soon to be standard 39 degree lifter angle. Cams had more duration and lift. In the late Spring, the legend-maker was born - Option W-30 was announced along with an "OAI" dealer installed kit which added all the W-30 pieces to a L-69 Tri-Carb equipped car. (They were never officially called "track pack" cars).

After the amazing victories over arch rival GTO at major NHRA events, the reputation of the 442 was set."

Chesrown 67 OAI

Gettin hard to hold my tongue! Joe -- Can I tell em? Cani tell em?

Run to Rund

No, Tweed, they aren't old enough yet.

Run to Rund

The Oldsmobile Division Parts and Accessories Catalog referred to the components and the package as O.A.I. or Outside Air Induction. The package 230195 (1966) was called INDUCTION PKG., outside air (comp) [complete] and was available October 1966. Ducts were listed a month or so earlier. In 1966-7 parts catalogs, the package and ducts were in Group 3.714. In later catalogs, they were in 3.417. Shroud halves were available early 1967 (Feb.-March) in Group 3.410, called 397203 BASE, air shroud and 397202, COVER, air shroud. Complete shrouds were in air cleaner Group 3.402.

The 1966 “bezels” in the front bumper were in Group 7.832, entitled “Bezel-molding, rear bumper bar.” They were labeled “ 1966 F85 V8 442 O.A.I. BEZEL, front air intake . . . . . . . RH 397310 LH 397311” The installation instruction sheet called it Outside Air Induction system. The window sticker on the factory 54 cars in 1996 called it “W30 Force-Air Induction System $279.00.” In the Rund scrapbook it was informally called cold air package.

Curt Anderson told me that he and Don Henrichs coined the term “Track Pack” some years ago, as an informal reference to the "Induction Pkg." as the Olds parts dept called it, and to cars that were converted to W30s by dealers or owners. Don’s 1966 W30 conversion was in Musclecar Review July 1992. No mention was made in the article about W30 or Track Pack. Curt owns/owned both the 230195 and 230309 (1967) Induction Packages, and their labels stated “PKG NO 1” and “INDUCTION PKG.” respectively.

w-30dreamin

Thanks for the info,interesting.

Now so I have a better understanding and to complete this lesson,who are Curt Anderson and Don Henrichs?