Hello,

My father is the owner of a 1970 442 W30 H/O. He purchased it from a lifelong friend (now deceased) who owned it since sometime in the 70's or 80's.

It's easy for me to say that it's a 442 W30 H/O, but it seems that some folks like this information to be proven. I am attempting to research the car and document that it is what we think it truly is.


It sounds like I have to prove it is three things:
1) 442 (easy)
2) W30 (easy with broadcast card, impossible without???)
3) H/O (???)


Here's what I've got so far:

1) VIN: 344770M307304
2) Body tag: 34477LAN407305
3) Block casting: 396021
4) Block ID code: F (with serifs)
5) Block serial: 30M307304
6) Head casting: 404438
7) Head ID code: F
8) Intake material: Aluminum
9) Intake casting: 406115
10) Intake text: OLDS W-455
11) Transmission serial: 30M307304
12) Transmission OW tag: Verified intact
13) Differential part number: 406784
14) Axle tube ID: XS
15) Carburetor number: 7040258
16) Distributor number: 1111979
17) LH exhaust manifold: W 402295
18) RH exhaust manifold: Z 402294

I have read a lot over at the 442.com FAQ and the car seems to be consistent so far.

I still need to gather the following pieces of information to make a better case:

19) Broadcast card: Unable to locate; looked under all seats, under carpet, above fuel tank


What else am I missing that I should document?


Thanks for reading,

Jeremy

 

No Hurst Olds were built in 1970. Though it appears that you have many W parts, and it may in fact be a W30, without paper work, there is no way to know for sure, as all the items that make it a W30, can be added to a 442 to make appear to be one.

 

Just so you know, I don't think 442.com can be relied on for accurate info all the time - it's better to hook up with a W-30 expert here to help out.

However, as you probably realize right now, your car is not a Hurst/Olds. That's not detrimental as your car appears to have its own merits which to stand tall.

If your car is a real Sports Coupe with the W-30 package, they made only 242 of them if I am correct. However, if you can check the VIN on the build sheet, see if it matches your car because I see AC listed, and if your car is a 4-speed, then something's fishy as AC was not available with the stick.

 

I think I see "Linden" on the paper in picture 4. Therefore, not a factory W30 if that is the plant it was built at.
Also, I have never seen a "build sheet" like that for a Lansing car, which all W cars are built as we know. Anyone?

Cheers,
Sam

 

If I'm seeing it right C60 = AC and M21 = 4 spd , which together add up to 442, Non W30.

 

I saw that too, but it is a "M" VIN. No build sheet for Lansing built cars, where did that build sheet come from, as it is from Linden, N.J.? Pull the carpeting and seats, might find the broadcast card.

 

Exactly Stefano.

Lansing car with a Linden Build sheet? What the ....


Sam

 

If it is a Lansing car, as the VIN confirms, then what the Linden, N.J. build sheet has on it is irrelevant, as it does not go with this car.

 

You guys are great, thanks for critiquing this.

The build sheet came hog ringed inside the bottom of the passenger seat. So it sounds like the seats have been changed.

 

What is the trim code on the cowl tag? It's obvious that someone did a seat swap at some point. I would assume bench for buckets?

As said before lift up the carpet to see if you can locate the Fisher broadcast card. Mine was located on the drivers side close to the seat belt anchor area. (Lansing non W car)

Pat

 

See attached photo.

I looked for the broadcast card under the three seats. I will check under the carpet. I think I read that some people have found it on top of the fuel tank, is that a possibility? Are there other common hiding places?

 

So I was incorrect on the bench to bucket swap. Car is a bucket seat from the factory black buckets. The donor seats are the same trim code.

Anyways the paint 78? having little trouble seeing it but 78 is burgundy mist with a black vinyl top.

Pat

 

When I took photos last weekend I had the custom white balance setting all wrong for the outside photos so the colors aren't perfect.

It is somewhat purple-ish in color but it is very faded and dirty, so it's hard to get an idea of what it is supposed to look like. It has the black vinyl top and black accent striping.

 

Any picts of the engine bay?
-pete

 

See below.

 

looks like the pos battery cable is routed as a automatic car??? the sticks run up along the top, if I am correct, because of the "Z" bar for the clutch.

did you say this was a stick/4 spd car?

 

It is an automatic, with a Hurst floor shifter.

 

I think it's an automatic, note power brake booster which was not available on stick W30. Hopefully has original OW trans, else another "perhaps W30".
Steve

 

At least it has the red inner fenders and they look to have been there for a very long time. Post the carb # and distributor # as well as the trans tag mentioned above and also look for 2 digit letter rear axle code on the passenger side tube. These will help a bit more if they are correct.

 

The trans tag will be your golden ticket. If it's original OW and not an reproduction, and the vin derivative matched your vin that's as close as you can get without documents. I'm no expert but most of the important stuff looks like it's there.

The washer bottle is correctly mounted on the passenger side, but shouldn't it be white for 70?

 

Automatic?
Easy

RH side of trans has the Trans ID Tag
get its info
If it says OW blah blah blah it's the W30 trans.
Then go to the driver side, in the trans body casting just above the pan gasket, usually about midway fore-aft on the pan, on the vertical surface, should be the same VIN derivative seen on the engine- the VIN minus the 4477 style digits.
In your case "30M307304"

If you have the car's original trans per VIN stamp and the tag says OW then it is a factory W30.

Well, or a 442 with a repro W30 trans tag.

 

The original OW trans with VIN derivative would be a bulls-eye ; )

Is there any undercoating in the rear wheel wells?

 

Welcome. Awesome car either way.

 

AC car with a non AC radiator top plate?

 

Today I had a chance to poke around the car a little more.

I found the following pieces of information:

1) Transmission serial matches VIN: 30M307304
2) Intact OW tag on the transmission
3) XS stamped on the axle tube
4) Differential casting number: 406784
5) Distributor part number: 1111979
6) Carburetor part number: 7040258 (manual transmission carb?)
7) LH exhaust manifold: W-402295
8) RH exhaust manifold: Z-402294 (PITA to find and photo this)

But alas, I did not find the broadcast card. I pulled all the carpet, seats, and pulled the fuel tank. Only thing I found was an empty envelope.

 

More pics

 

I'd be convinced - as far as anyone could be without the broadcast card or window sticker/original invoice. Lots of very cool stuff here - can you take some more pics of that envelope?

Congratulations!!

 

"SX" is the code for the aluminum W27 third member, wipe it off and see if it is aluminum. Do not use any chemical cleaners or brushes to clean the trans tag or you will take the info right of off the tag, W&Z manifolds are std. with all of the 455 engines used in A bodies. The carb. is correct, so is the distributor, pretty convincing.

 

This is a very good read on how to spot the real deal. I'll be revisiting this thread again soon for my own verification process. Can I ask what camera you are using for your pics? They turned out great.

 

The diff housing is indeed aluminum.

I almost found out the hard way that the trans tag is erasable. I "cleaned" it enough to see the OW and then stopped. I wish I knew how delicate it was before I touched it. I'm not going to touch it again.

 

T Bonus cool points!

 

I'm happy to hear this may help others.

Some photos were taken with an iPhone 5. Others were taken with a Canon Rebel XT DSLR. I have the standard 18-55mm lens for general shots, then use a Tamron 70-300mm macro lens for the closeups.

 

I have seen build sheets under the package tray. Look inside the trunk at the package tray area from under it. If you see paper then be very careful to remove the package tray. For sure an awesome find.

 

I can and will but there doesn't seem to be any more information than the written numbers you can see in the photo I posted.


Thanks for the tip, I will check this location.

 

Why don't the last six numbers match?

 

Because the cowl tag does not contain the VIN#, what it needs to confirm is that the body/model # match: 34477.

 

Car sounds worthy of a full restoration. What are your plans it? If your interested in selling as-is give me a jingle.

 

930 is the build # and you should find it in grease pencil on the underside of the hood, the core supt and the fenders and other places throughout the car. Use mineral spirits on a rag to clean the OW tag off. Gently!

 

WOW!! Well done!

 

I looked under the package tray and found nothing.


See photos below. The envelope has the following written on it:

59
78
B
930

I don't understand the significance of 59, but the other numbers are also listed on the body tag.