Thanks Pete, Yeah - that's certainly an option. Another option I was thinking about was installing a Gear Vender unit to give me an extra gear yet keep the tranny and rear end yet on the highway I have the extra gear. I would just have to get a different drive shaft. Just an option...

 

welcome! That is one sweet ride.

 

Why? What is 3800 rpm hurting? Answer....nothing.

People are so spoiled by modern OD transmissions. Just drive the car.

 

What a beast!

 

Dont touch it! Leave it alone!! But....With a GVOD I'm pretty sure you do not need to mod anything including trans tunnel and cross member. Like you said just install the GV and get a new shaft made (Dennys Driveshaft), bag and tag the OEM parts and go. I'm not sure about Ebrake cables but if the cross member doesn't move that should be ok. Just have to get creative on where to hide the splitter switch. Or like what was suggested buy another whole rear assembly that will bolt in either aftermarket or Olds with 308s. I too have a car I don't want to alter yet I do want to retain the TH400 for strength and the numbers matching thing. I'm not a fan of the 2004Rs no matter what's done to beef it. SO a GV is in my future...maybe. Just had Dennys whittle me a new aluminum shaft, nice! My recommendation, for now, is drive it for a while then decide what you want to do. Funny how we are all taking your car apart already...lol...Steve

 

haha - not a big deal in talking about what all one can do. I am pretty much a purist with my cars - present and past. Here's the Buick for example - all there! These are only options to consider on the Olds - not that I am going to do anything to it at all. The reason I like GV is that I keep using existing equipment without changing things out.

 

Dam nice Stage car!!! Muncie or TH400? In high school, my bud got a hold of its sister. Stage car, Silver, white top, white bucket gut, console automatic. Granny car with 20 or 30K if memory serves me. Power everything, loaded car. He used to say OK get out and watch....he'd feather the gas and that damn car would pull the front wheels with that 360hp (ya right)...510 lb/ft of underrated torque, stock! I was a Buick fan from that point on. Haven't seen him in years, ran into him recently at a reunion or a funeral can't remember...he says the car still exists and is in mint low mile condition. I've been bugging him for a year now to sell.
There's 2, 73 stick, Stage 1s running around these parts. Interesting but not as much as the 70-72s for me.

Do you have production numbers on the Stage cars? Auto and Stick, Coupe & verts?
What's a good source for production number resources on GS GSX and Stage cars?

Get out the bib Im drooling over this and the W. What the hell else do have hiding in your stable.... GSX, Stage 2, Ram Air 4s, COPOs, L88/89s, LS6, SD Fire Birds???

 

Haha - It's a 4-speed with A/C - Buick only made 51 of these with that combination. It's also optioned heavy - Buick didn't make many Stage 1 4-speeds back in the day - I have the numbers at home just can't remember off the top of my head.

 

Beautiful '69 W30. This is kinda freaking me out, because ~20 years ago I built a MPC model of a '69 442 W30 which I brought to work and had out on display for many years until I moved offices about 3 years ago. At that time, I put it back in the box, but had to get it out today to look at it. The red I used to paint my model is VERY CLOSE to the red your car is painted. In fact, with the exception of your SSI rims (mine model came only w/ the SSIIs) and the improperly placed W30 decal on my model (I should've referenced actual cars rather than the pictures on the box my model came in), my model and your car could be twins (both 4-spd Holiday coupes, no vinyl, same black hood stripes). Uncanny.

 

Oh wow - do you have a picture of it? Would you sell it? I have a model of the Buick and have been looking for a W30 like mine for display in my garage...

 

I'll try to post some pics from home this weekend, can't post anything from work.


The quality of my work would not do your car any justice: I hand-brushed on the paint (rather than spray can), so it looks rather amateurish. These kits are still available, AMT also sells a '69 442 W30 kit, although its hard to see the scoops under the bumper in some photos of finished cars. If I were you, I'd buy a kit and give it a proper paint job to match your car.

 

 

No documents with the car - just information from the prior owner(s) that give you the story of the car being a W30 and the little things about the car related to stampings/numbers on the rear diff - carb - dist - heads - block - manual brakes - built in Lansing - just learned about the bolt/screw on firewall related to the windshield washer etc. I have no doubt it's the real deal. I understand from Olds that documentation is tough on these cars, not like the Buick.

 

I have at least one of the unbuilt AMT models on my shelf. Only problem is that when I build it I will be more likely to paint it the blue I want!

 

I love my GV unit...but a few words of warning.
I ha to modify my cross member and had to ding up my trans tunnel to fit the unit in.

I'm running a TH400 with my original 350 crossmember though...no idea if that makes a difference. I don't need to mind what I hack.

-Pete

 

Thanks for posting the pictures - they do look very similar!

 

Can anyone on here tell me about experiences with the Holley Sniper/Terminator EFI unit? Are they what they say they are and do they make the car perform smoother/better? Any insight would be helpful.

 

Nice Stage car. I had a 71 Stage 1 4spd bench seat car. Was I believe one of 114 or something like that. It had PS, PB, AC and 8 track! haha.... Sold it around 5 or so years ago. Beautiful cars!

 

NICE!
Sounds healthy too!

 

Have not been on here is a while, but has anyone purchased and are running the new Firestone Wide Oval radial they recently brought out - thinking of dressing up my w30.

 

Got my window sticker for my 69 W30 car today from TK-65. Thank you for a job well done!!

 

Beautiful car

 

Beautiful color on your Olds, made it my screen saver.

 

Really appreciate that Chris -

 

Nice cool morning in NC - got the W30 out! Running great.

 

That is an absolutely gorgeous car. Well done!

 

Sweet.

 

Been thinking of trading up to a 70 model 442. I love this 69 though. Not sure if any board members can give me advice on much or any differences in ride/power/etc in going to a 70 model. I love the look of both models. Will it be that much different from the 70 Buick GS? This 69 is so nice though would want it to go Olds board member if I decide to pull the trigger and sell it.

 

Your 69 is nice and the 69 model year is my favorite from the under bumper scoops to the tailights. Yours being a 4 speed non post makes it even sweeter.

The 70 model year cars seem to be more common and they share parts w the 71-72 model years making them less unique IMO.

As far as ride they should be exactly the same as the frame and suspension components are common 68-72. As for power I would assume cubic inches rule but any well built BBO will make excellent power and torque.

If your not satisfied w the ride or power I vote keep the 69 and make changes as needed a taller rear end gear, a five speed trans, bigger sway bars, better shocks etc

 

Thanks for the note...you are absolutely right in that the 69's are far and few between as compared to the 70. I am just toying with my next steps for this car. There's part of me that wants to make changes as you suggested but then there's the part of leaving it alone. The car runs and drives great as is. I took it out yesterday for a spin as it was crazy nice here!!