Cpippin

I badly need help identifying what my car is exactly...
69 Olds Cutlass S?
69 W-31 Ram Rod?
70 Rallye?

Fisher body plate -
Made in Canada
69 33677 OS524754
TR 333 12A 5151 PNT
M31

VIN 3367791120029

My car was made in December 1969.... Correct?

ENGINE :
5.7 liter V8 350cid Rocket engine with "395558 2" on block

Engine numbers match for a 1969 350 Rocket but engine & heads are painted blue, NOT gold.... I read on a post here before that 1969 W31's and 1970 RallyE's 350 engines were blue, not gold.... True or false?

Has #5 heads that I believe are original... I read somewhere on here a 69 Cutlass S came with #6 or #7 heads and ONLY a W31 came with #5 heads.... True or false?

Originally, the car had a column shifter and the original tranny was a Jetaway (according to the M31 in the body plate, correct?).... tranny was replaced with a 3-speed TH350 and a B&M Quicksilver floor shifter.... The TH350 has "JO" which I know was an option for 1969 W31's.... Correct?

It does NOT have the original Q-Jet carburetor, it has an Edlebrock/Weber 1406 Performer 4-Barrel 600cfm Electric-Choke Carburetor.

It does NOT have the original air cleaner either but it does have the front bumper with the inlets specifically for the Ram Rod air cleaner setup.

The inner fenders are originally black, not red... I read on hear that ONLY W31's had black inner fenders, the rest had red.... True or false?.... Also, they're NOT cut to allow the Ram Rod air cleaner tubes to go down to the front bumper like a W31 should have.

It has an Edlebrock 2711 Non-EGR Performer Intake Manifold... Is that an original manifold that came with a 1969 Cutlass? Or W31? Or just a replacement?

Also, my car has a 12-bolt Chevy Posi Rear Differential... I've read that all 69 Cutlass built in Canada had this installed in the factory... I've also heard that a 12-bolt Posi was an option specific to a W31 only.... True or false?

I also read on other posts that the "5151" paint code on the Body Plate was blue interior & exterior BUT in 1970 RallyE's a "5151" or "- -" paint code was the Sebring Yellow found only on authentic RallyE's..... Which one is correct?!?!

Is my car something special like a W31 or a RallyE?.... Or is it just a Cutlass S that a previous owner Frankenstein'd with random W31 and RallyE parts?!?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys!

droldsmorland

Well its no Rallye 350 those were 1970 model year only. All W31s would have been built in Lansing M not Oshawa O.
395558-2 = 68-70 350 engine.
Engine paint really has nothing to do with it. As that was likely changed over the years. Anyone can paint any engine any color. It should be Oldsmobile gold intake to oil pan.
I read on a post here before that 1969 W31's and 1970 RallyE's 350 engines were blue, not gold.... True or false? False Gold for both.
#5 heads = '68 - '69 350 64cc cast #397742 is correct for your application. W31s got same #5 heads fitted with 2" intake valves and 1.625" exhausts valves.
The inner fenders are originally black, not red... I read on hear that ONLY W31's had black inner fenders, the rest had red.... True or false?.... Also, they're NOT cut to allow the Ram Rod (OAI not ram rod) air cleaner tubes to go down to the front bumper like a W31 should have. W31 & W32 had black same as any cutlass, W30s got red. If they are not cut thats further sign of it not being a W31.
Also, my car has a 12-bolt Chevy Posi Rear Differential... I've read that all 69 Cutlass built in Canada had this installed in the factory... I've also heard that a 12-bolt Posi was an option specific to a W31 only.... True or false? True, Canadian cars got the Chevy "C" type 12 bolt carrier. False, posi (limited slip) was an option on any Olds American or Canadian Chevy type carrier, (Option code G80 for the O type not sure if the Chevy 12 got the same opt code for limited slip but likely as only one code exist). edited=as Dave mentions below all A body Oshawa built Oldsmobiles got the C type rear end. All W31s would have the O type due to the fact that they were Lansing and only Lansing built.
It has an Edlebrock 2711 Non-EGR Performer Intake Manifold... Is that an original manifold that came with a 1969 Cutlass? Or W31? Or just a replacement?. Aftermarket replacement.
Does your car have power disc brakes? Do you have front and rear sway bars with the boxed rear lower control arms. All W31s came with FE2 suspension.
33677=3 Olds, 3677 = Cutlass Club Coupe (has pillars)
TR 333 12A 5151 PNT is your trim and paint codes. TR333= dark blue interior and poly paint. 5151 is Trophy blue upper & lower body. Dont have books in front of me to decipher bench from bucket seats. Not sure on the 12A either. Seem all the online catalogs have done away with their handy interior cods deciphering chart???
M-31 = Jetaway Transmission (1968, 69)
Is my car something special like a W31 or a Rallye?.... Or is it just a Cutlass S that a previous owner Frankenstein'd with random W31 and RallyE parts?!?
Obviously its not a W31 as it would have to be built in Lansing. Just a cutlass. but thats still cool.

Cman7713

Year: 1969
Division: Oldsmobile
Series: Cutlass (V8)
Body: 2dr Sports Coupe
Plant: Oshawa, Ontario
Serial Number: 120029

from a quick decode, looks like just a plain ol' Cutlass, not that theres anything wrong with that, I have the same car =D

Cpippin

Didn't they start building 1970 RallyE's in November 1969 though? My car was built in December 1969, so could it have had 70 Rallye features but is considered a 1969 because of it's December build date??

Cpippin

Yeah I agree that there's nothing wrong with it if it's just a 69 Cutlass S... Especially considering the setup it currently has on it.

oldsmobiledave

Welcome


You have an Oshawa built 1969 Cutlass. This has nothing to do with the 1970 model Rallye 350. Further W machines were only built @ Lansing so it would be impossible for your Canadian built car to be a W-31.


All 1968 & 1969 Oshawa built A body cars used the Chevy 12 bolt with posi optional. W-31 cars used the Type O 12 bolt. The W-31 cars had OAI mounted under the bumper so I have no idea what "inlets" on the bumper you are referring to or why they are relevant.


It is impossible for your car to have been built in December of 1969. Try Dec 1968.


Enjoy your car

Cpippin

So the engine and heads are original 69 Cutlass.... What about the Edlebrock Performer Olds 350 manifold? Is that original?

oldsmobiledave

Edelbrock equipment is aftermarket.

Cpippin

I read on a post on this site that not all W31's were built at Lansing in 1969... They were built at all the plants in 1969 and 1970...... True or false?

Cman7713

2711.jpg

Edelbrock Performer Manifold is a common aftermarket part. Still available for sale just about anywhere.

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/...ormer-sb.shtml

Cpippin

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info!!

For it being a 69 Cutlass S, do you think I have a good setup on it?

TH350 "JO" tranny, Edlebrock Performer Olds manifold, Edlebrock/Weber 1406 4 barrel carb, B&M Quicksilver floor shifter, and stainless steel headers with dual exhaust coming outta the sides

Cpippin

Oh and it has drum brakes on all 4.... Think I should convert to disc?

oldsmobiledave

Now how in the world did you end up with a W-31 code transmission in your Canadian built car? Are you sure it reads JO? It can't be original.


Find the VIN derivative on the trans.


All W-30 & W-31 cars were built in Lansing MI regardless of what you read elsewhere or what anyone else tells you.

halfmoontrail

I call it false. All Rallye 350s were also built at Lansing. Also, apparently original documents are available for your car through GM of Canada, no need to speculate.
Steve

halfmoontrail

Above the JO will be a year code, that will tell us a lot. I think JO was only in '70. Either way, tranny is a valuable piece that can't be original to car, unless unusual circumstances documented by GM of Canada paper.

Joffroi

Since it was built in Canada, he can always get the original build information. Don't know the link on who to contact for that off the top of my head though.

Cpippin

As I mentioned before, I was told from the guy I bought it from that it's NOT the original tranny... On the Body Plate, it has a "M31" code which (correct me if I'm wrong) means it came with Jetaway tranny, right?

Although, Olds DID offer the optional TH350 on a 350 Rocket In 1969 and 1970, according to what I know.

oldsmobiledave

Totally missed the M-31 on the cowl tag. M-38 is for T350. So your car was originally a Glide equipped car.


It would still be nice to know the VIN for that JO tranny. I wonder what happened to that 1970 W-31 car? Perhaps it is out there & someone still has the car & would love to have that trans back. You could sell it for a handsome price.

joe_padavano

The OP has apparently received a fair amount of misinformation previously.

To recap:

The model year production ran from Aug to July. 1969 model year cars were thus built from Aug 1968 to July 1969. Your VIN and your cowl tag both show that this is a 1969 model year car. The 12A shows that your car was built in the first week of December, 1968. Rallye 350s were only built in the 1970 model year.

The TH350, it isn't original to that car, as you already know. Check the VIN derivative stamp on the trans. It will NOT match your car's VIN. The car had a Jetaway trans originally, as shown by the M31 on the cowl tag, so no TH35 would have been original.

The ONLY aftermarket part installed by Olds from the factory in the 1969 model year was the Hurst shifter. The Edelbrock Performer series intakes didn't exist in 1969. The only factory intake on the 350 that year was the iron intake.

The W-cars, which were only built in Lansing, received the Type O rear axle, This axle has 12 bolts on the cover but only ten bolts holding an 8.5" ring gear. Contrary to what some people may think, it is NOT a "12 bolt" axle. Your Canadian-built car does have a Chevy 12 bolt with the 8.875" ring gear.

Only W-30 cars got red inner fenders in 69. ALL other 1969 Cutlass line cars (including the 69 H/O) got black.

ALL 1968-1974 Olds 350 motors were gold, period. All 1969-1976 Olds 350 blocks were casting number 395558.

Paint codes changed from year-to-year. For the 1969 model year, paint code 51 was Trophy Blue Poly, as shown on the chip chart below. The first "51" refers to the lower body color (below the windows). The second "51" refers to the upper body color, which happens to be the same in your case. A two-tone car would have a different second number. A vinyl top car or convertible would have a letter. There is NO interior color info in the paint code.

TR333 is the interior code, and signifies a blue cloth bench seat.

Cpippin

Thanks for clearing all that up for me!

1969 Olds Cutlass S
350 Rocket with #5 heads
Th350 trans
B&M quicksilver floor shifter
Edlebrock Performer Olds 350 manifold
Edlebrock/Weber 1406 4 barrel carb
Stainless steel headers
Dual exhaust coming out sides

Is that a good setup to have on my car?
Or should I put different/better parts on it?

BangScreech4-4-2

I thought OEM transmission would be a Jetaway, not a Powerglide.


To the OP: Since the car was built in Canada, you're in luck. You can call George Zapora, the vintage specialist at GM Canada (toll-free in Canada 1-888-467-6853 or 1-905-644-3387) and he'll send you a package detailing how your car was originally equipped. IIRC it costs $50 or so. Worth every penny.

BangScreech4-4-2

Hard to say. It's kind of up to you. How does it run?

Cpippin

It ran when I bought it last summer but sometimes wouldn't start unless I jiggled the steering column into the sweet spot... Previous owner switched it from console to floor shift... Then one day, it just didn't start up anymore. I went through the troubleshooting and replaced stuff that should've been replaced anyway.... Starter, starter wire ends, battery, battery cables, all new ends on alternator and voltage regulator wires, then figured since the rear lights had problems working too, it was the Neutral Safety switch so I jumped the wires and still didn't start... FINALLY, I wired it up as a push-button start to see if it was the electrical Ignition Switch and it started up again... I installed a new ignition switch and in the process of putting the wiring back how it was instead of the push button start, I accidentally left the battery wires plugged up, the push button wiring touched bare metal and fried the wire going from my ignition switch to meet up with the battery & starter wires like 6 inches from where it goes in the firewall.

I just got a 69 Cutlass wiring diagram the other day and this weekend plan on putting anew wire in. Hopefully she starts..... Do you think I can splice a new wire onto it before it hits the firewall OR should I replace the entire wire all the way to the ignition switch?

oldsmobiledave

You are correct. M-31 is the jetaway. I was too quick to type. Thanks for the correction.

BangScreech4-4-2

No worries. I thought it might be some weird Canadian aberration like the Chevy 12-bolt.