Texas69

Is there anything special about the '72 W-30 455 once the original cam, carb, and intake manifold are removed?

Eightupman

Big valve heads? Exhaust manifolds?

joe_padavano

All BBO A-body cars used the W/Z manifolds. All 4 speed BBO cars got the big valve GA heads. I think cam, intake, carb, and distributor were the only unique items.

Paladin31

Did any other application receive the big valve Ga heads?

joe_padavano

Well, from the post directly above:

Paladin31

But nothing else? No auto cars. I guess I wasn't specific enough.

joe_padavano

OK, one more time.

In the 1972 model year GA heads with big valves were used on EVERY W-30 AND ALSO on EVERY OTHER BBO that came from the factory with a 4 spd. Period.

Texas442

So how can I tell if this is a real W30 motor?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/pts/3548410193.html

jensenracing77

A little off from the OP but I was told all the Vista Cruisers with a BBO had the big valves. I would have no idea because i never had one but had always wondered if he was right. Joe, Would the 70 or 71 Vista's have Big valve heads?

jensenracing77

For $3000 it don't matter if it is real or not. It is WAY over priced.

joe_padavano

Wow. Talk about pegging the ol' BS meter!

Well, "numbers matching" means that the VIN derivative on the engine (and trans) MATCHES the VIN of the car it came in. Since the car is long gone, what exactly "matches"?

Yeah, the VIN derivatives on the engine and trans can match. Is this an OW trans? If yes, then maybe it's a real W-30 motor. If not, it clearly isn't.

More importantly, the W-30 intake and carb are long gone. The trans has been off, and possibly apart, since it has a "2800 stahl" converter. I guess that's better than a 2800 RPM STALL speed converter.

Original notched valve covers are gone. Original distributor is gone. Original W/Z manifolds are gone. What's left that makes it a "W-30" motor?

OH! I see, it's the fact that it was made in Lansing...

Run, don't walk, away.

stevengerard

Agree not worth it.

TripDeuces

From a pure performance aspect that thing is a pig. I had a similar set up that ran low 12's in a heavier car. Mine even had a wiped thrust bearing and ran better. That makes me think something is wrong with it. Walk away from this.

oldsmobiledave

I am 99% sure that this is not a W-30 sourced engine.

Every 1972 W-30 VIN that I have seen are in the 1XX XXX or 2XX XXX series. Example there was a Silver 1972 W-30 4 speed on eBay a week ago. The VIN for that car is 3G87X2M133471. I have VINs for over 50 1972 W machines & they all end X2M1XXXXX or X2M2XXXXXX. On this engine there is a number 4 right after the X not a number 1 or 2.

My car was built June 29th 1972 & is one of the last cars built (not the last X code car but possibly the last 4 speed car). The VIN ends X2M254XXX. No way that a W machine built after mine would have a VIN that jumps all the way to the 4XXXXX series.

So...the seller is full of shyte!

joe_padavano

And THAT is outstanding technical info. Thanks.

Texas69

Thanks all -

My original post did have in mind the Craiglist ad that Texas442 posted. For reference, I am copying the ad below. From what research I have done and you all have confirmed, even if this was a W-30 engine, it has been reduced to a "standard" 455 since all the W-30 goodies have been removed, except possibly the big valve Ga heads, which we cannot tell are even still on the block.

I'm giving the seller the benefit of the doubt here...he may have gotten the info used in the ad from a prior owner.

Original Craigslist ad...

Complete numbers matching 1972 Olds Cutlass W-30 455 engine & transmission with 39k original miles. The car was hit from behind and destroyed beyond repair. The engine has some performance parts added like Comp Cam, Comp lifters, light porting on the heads, Cloye's double roller timing gear, Melling oil pump, Edelbrock intake & Moroso Chrome Valve covers along with Headers. The transmission is a 400 Olds turbo with a 2800 stahl convertor. The car ran 12.60's with all original body and interior. 3400-lbs.

The block has #'s 396021F that tells you it's a 455 and the #'s on driver side block is 32M470470 that is coded like this, 3=Olds, 2=1972, M=Lansing Mi. W-30 motor.

I was originally going to find a 1972 W-30 Cutlass to build, but just don't have the time right now. I hate to see it go to waste sitting in my garage. This is a rare find. I found W-30 short block that sold for $3500. This motor is complete intake to pan along with the transmission. Just drop it in, install your carb and go!

Octania

Misinformation at its finest- the CL ad that is.

Agreed that the 4xxxxxx VIN sounds more like a Toronado series motor.

M means Michigan, which all W30's were.... but so were millions of not-W30 engines.

One route- OW trans with VIN stamp that matches engine's
That's reasonable evidence.

Less convincing would be measuring the intake valves to the nearest 0.001", and checking the block bore size stamps- exceedingly unlikely that any factory not-W30 engine would have more than 1 bore stamped "D" - A, B, and maybe C were the norm.