I have a 1972 442 W30 with air conditioning. I've had the car for many years and never thought much about it, but I've read in a few places that no W30's ever came with air conditioning. Is this true? Is it possible that because the 442 was an option in 1972 and not a model, that someone could have ordered it? It sure looks all original to me, please. What are your thoughts?

 

A/C wasn't available in '72 with W30

 

?? are you sure that is right? I did not think any 72 W-30 could have A/C?

 

You are right I read wrong.... again sorry no A/C available with W30 in '72. If it is a '72 W30 it would have an X in the VIN

 

No.....it was not. No a/c on W-30 in 1972. The standard axle ratio was 3.42 with 3.73 optional and neither ratio could be had with a/c.

 

Is this an X code car? If it is then someone added the a/c.

 

On the other side of the coin, if it's the W29 package the Cutlass, Cutlass S or Cutlass Supreme vert could all be ordered with AC and 'look' like a 442. Anyone could have re-badged the car to make it look like the W30. As others have pointed out, the X engine code will verify if it was a W30 or not. Also verify that it was built at Lansing - that's the only factory that produced W30's.

 

Yes it's an X in the VIN and it's a true W30. It's just that everything on this car seems all original. I c an't find any evidence of anything looking new or replaced. The car was filthy when I bought it and had been sitting for many years. I always thought in 72, Olds dealerships could have ordered non-standard options since they knew the 442 had become an option package. It has a 3:42 posy and all of the numbers are matching. Hmm, I'm scratching my head...

 

Probably a dealer add on

 

ok so for the ultimate question then. If it was possible it was a dealer addon, is keeping it installed going to depreciate the value or should I remove it so as not to provoke any questions? I've never seen another real 73 w30 with AC. In fact I don't think I've ever seen any 70 or 71 W30s with it either. What do you suggest?

 

Plenty of '70 W-30s had AC.

 

If it was dealer installed you will see where they had to modify the firewall to make it work.

 

Specifically, the pass-through slot for A/C was vertical (the place where the evaporator box seals to the firewall), while the slot for the heat-only was horizontal.
You would just barely see a bit of the open part of the horizontal slot that would have to be patched, just past the inside edge of the evaporator box.

Every other part of the heat-only system, if I recall, can be completely and seamlessly replaced by an A?C system, so, if done well, there should be no other evidence.

- Eric

 

The 3.42 gears were standard for the 72 W30 cars; the option was 3.73 gears. Posi (limited slip in Olds terminology) was also standard - G80 included in the W30 performance package.

 

I know of a few 70 W30s with automatics and AC that have 3.42s in them, including mine but I can't prove mine is original, but a few others have.

I'd leave the AC in before I'd take it out.

 

What is your location?.....if this car sold new in Canada you can get GM of Canada documentation on the car that will tell us if it has W-30 & C60 options.

Fill out your profile & include location.