I was just wondering . I just purchased a project 1970 Cutlass S , and I would like to know if I in fact have a w31 ? My vin has the "M" letter to designate that it was built in Lansing , do all "M" code 1970 cutlass's mean they are w31 , or could a 1970 "M" code also just mean a basic cutlass "s" that was built in Lansing but is not a w31 ?? My vin starts with 336870M

 

M means it was built at the Lansing plant. All W31's were built there but so were Cutlass's without the W31 option. You will need to have documentation to verify if your car left the factory with the W31 option.

 

How could I get proper documentation ? I know there is a website for Pontiac's , i think it was PHS I sent in $60 and you send in your vin number and they give you a whole run down on your car according to your vin . But is there such a website for me to do that with Oldsmobile ?

 

not likely it is a W-31. does it have power brakes? no W-31s came with power brakes. can you add pictures?

 

Well, as soon as I got it I took it to the shop . That's why its raising questions . The body guy told me he thinks its a w31 , he said it has a 12 bolt posi rear end , not only that but the car has bucket seats, center console , cruise control, there is no pwer brakes either. It also has a 4 barrel quad jet carb. I might run to the shop tomorrow , and see if I can get pics , or just get the numbers of the block and carb. There's no emblems on the exterior , but that could have been removed years ago by the previous owner. The car has been in a barn since 1991 up until I grabbed it a month ago . I found it on craigslist , the son in law was selling it . It was his father in laws car . He knew very little about the car .

 

Also no A/C. Does it have #6 heads,big balancer, W31 aluminum intake,carb 7040255,distributor 1111975

 

damn ,,,,, It does have Ac / guess that rules me out .... Unless , but highly unlikely maybe the previous owner the "father in law " added ac to it ? lol ... Im still gonna check the carb and distributor , although that could have been changed too . Oh well if it's not then no biggie, but man I would have loved a w31 ....

 

I thought with the 12 bolt posi I had a w31 . Are the 12 bolt posi's kinda rare for a 70 cutlass ?

 

If my memory servers me correct 68 69 70 where 12 bolts and 71 started 10 bolts.

 

Odds are it's a 12-bolt housing with 10-bolt guts. That was pretty common on A-body Olds of that vintage.

Plus probably half the 1970 Cutlass 2-doors built had buckets/console. I think yer body guy's talking out of his ***.

 

The '70 Cutlass/442s/W cars all came with the "12 bolt" rear ends. The positrac was an option and probably one of the extras the car was ordered with.

Still, you might as well go over the car and check for the parts that RallyeKid mentioned.

 

I had a 70 post that came with a 350 2bbl, th350 and 2.56 posi O-axle (that's the 12 bolt cover with the 10 bolt ring gear). The posi (option G80) could be ordered on any car except maybe a toro (unsure about that).

 

Ok , well I guess maybe it was too good to be true . LOL. That would have been nice to have actually found a w31 .. I'll post pics of my project cutlass when I get it back from the shop . But here's a couple of pics of my 72 Olds that I've owned since 2005 .

dricut.jpg
72cutlass.jpg

 

From what I have read here. You have a standard Cutlass S. cruise control was not available on a w31, and A/C was not available. The camshafts were just to radical to operate any power accessories except for power steering. Sounds like you have a nice car!