4+4+2=10

How would one validate a W-30 option on a 1970 model?

Is there anything on the OW trans tag that ties to the car? Perhaps the 4 digits following 70 - OW - XXXX ??

Also, what on a broadcast card (other than a few options) ties directly back to the car? Would the body number match the trim tag?

matt69olds

The OW trans is the W-30 trans calibration. If the trans serial number matches the cars VIN, that’s an important clue.

I’m not a W-30 expert, but I do know all W-30 cars were built in Lansing. The F heads, red inner fenders, a specific carb and distributor number (no clue what the numbers are) rear sway bar, lots of special parts to look for.

4+4+2=10

Thanks Matt, Carb and Distributor are not original W-30 items on the car in question. Pretty sure the broadcast card is not original for the car either as it states C60 as an option and it does not have air. The card does have a "W30" however. Car does have faded red inner fenders, but I can't tell between repop and gennies. It maybe legit, but without solid proof, I am assuming not.

Have not seen a trans stamp but even it it matches, the OW trans tag could have been swapped onto the trans. That why I asked about a tie in the 4 digit number back to the car.

69HO43

C60 cars came with 3.23, and A/C only available with TH400 automatic. All were limited slip. Dual Sport mirrors were included in the package, as well as the red fender liners, stripes, emblems, etc. F-heads, you know the manifold and distributor situation already. Lansing built. Manual drum/drum brakes (JL7) were available if you didn't want the manual disc/drum brakes. There's nothing on the VIN to tie it to a W-30 option.

The partial VIN should be stamped on the edge of the pan flange on the casing on the driver side. Also the partial VIN stamped on the block on driver side. As mentioned, OW would be the automatic transmission code. The 4 digit number on the tag is the transmission sequence number. It doesn't have much to do with anything tying it to the car itself.

Oh, and the rear axle code is SF for 3.23, TM for 3.42, TO for 3.91.

There's one thing you CAN do if it is all original is to open the trunk lid and close it firmly. Listen for the sound. Regular production trunklids come with insulation inside to make them sound solid when they close. W-cars had reduced insulation in the cars. They sound very tinny when you close them. That's not definitive proof, but something I had noticed.

joe_padavano

Yeah, just keep in mind that you can get these now...

69HO43

Very true. Many many moons ago I got a repro OH tag for my 69 H/O, because it was available and relatively cheap. To my knowledge, the tags were never available from GM over the parts counter like I've seen some unscrupulous sellers around try to claim it was, but the drive screw still is under p/n 8622361. Which is in Group 4.003. There is a partsplace ad on ebay which shows a hydramatic transmission 71 OW tag which doesn't show the complete part number in the ad, but you can see in the second pic it's the drive screw part number. Kinda convenient to have the tags not in the package covering the part number like that. Take it with a grain of salt.






If so, they would have a part number, which I've never been able to find. Transmissions were available for a time, and they were likely fitted with the trans tags, but those were the whole enchilada.

Don't take my word for it. Look up the part number yourself. You'll find it's just the drive screw.

4+4+2=10

Thanks fellas, for future reference should the body number on a broadcast card match the trim tag?

69HO43

Yes, it should. If the car you're looking at never had air conditioning, and the broadcast card has C60 on it, look for other clues/options that don't match up as well. Got a sneaky suspicion the card is a poor reproduction, or from another car, or maybe some fake paperwork. You'll have to decide. If you could get pics of that stuff, it could help.

FWIW, I've had cars from the 70s-90s that on rare occasion, I've found assembly sheets and stuff with VIN information on it that belonged to a car a few VIN numbers away from the car it was in, so sometimes they were just trash receptacles for the assembly line. I remember finding a broadcast sheet in an 85 442 one time behind the driver plastic seat back panel. It was just rolled up, flattened and slid down in the back. Excited at first, the car was the same color, but something like 5 VIN numbers ahead of mine. But the actual build sheet was under the carpet, passenger side rear footwell. So that was even better. Speaking of actual build sheets, it seems that Lansing build sheets are mythical creatures. If the owner provides an actual build sheet, be wary. I know, it sounds crazy.

4+4+2=10

Thanks, The card must be from another car as the body number does not match up.

70W-32

If the trans is out of the car, look for for an OW stencil mark on the top of the case. Should look old, faded, not brand new.

4+4+2=10

Thanks for that tip..trans is installed however. I passed on the car.