vin442

Good Afternoon, I was looking to see if anyone could provide some way to verify (VIN Code, frame stamping etc) whether or not my car is/was/not a W-31/Ram Rod. Quick history, about 23 years ago when I bought the car, I contacted the person 2 people before I owned it (saw his number on receipts) and he stated that he believed this to be a W-31 car (he owned this car in the late 90’s and would gain nothing by saying this to me). His friend owned it from early 70’s until early 90’s and stated the W-31 350 with the big balancer was stolen during that time. The car does still have ram-air, rally-pack gauges, 3.91 open rear (TN stamping), frame has 3908655 S 131 stamped in it (along with other #’s) rear anti-sway bar with boxed arm, bench seat, floor shift 4 speed (3925660 case P8H24 date code). I was not sure if there would be any listing or even if they made W-31 or Ram-Rod convertibles. It will not change anything for me but was curious as the car is being treated to a frame-off and it would just be cool to know. It does have power steering and power brakes. Any information is appreciated. Vin

Fun71

indications that it is NOT a W-31:
Convertible
Power brakes

vin442

OK, so you are saying there were 0 convertibles made in 1968 with the W-31 or Ram Rod option? I had always heard none were made but thank you for confirming.

no1oldsfan

How about posting pictures?

JohnnyBs68S

I'm going to guess that its triple-green? If so, I've stumbled across pics of that car years ago and was also curious about it. TBH, the story of the engine being stolen sinks this ship.

JohnnyBs68S

Forgot to include its not a '69.

vin442

Car is actually triple blue and as I said, the person who told me this had nothing to gain by telling me this as it was no longer his car and had not been for quite some time. I just wanted to know if there was a way to verify using VIN tags or something like that. Thanks for all the input.

no1oldsfan

Only way to verify W cars is with a build sheet. Factory paperwork. Original window sticker etc. The VIN will not verify a W car in any year. Where was your car built? Sounds like you already got your answer. No convertibles. No power brakes.

joe_padavano

Everyone "believes" their small block car to be a W31, and never has any proof. The engine being "stolen" is a convenient ruse. A real 1968 Ram Rod would only have come with manual drum brakes.

allyolds68

Maybe not, or, quite probably there were.....

Is it Scarlet, Provincial White or Ocean Turquoise?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphscollectorcarworld.blo gspot.com%2F2018%2F04%2Fghost-cars-1968-ram-rod-convertibles.html&psig=AOvVaw1J8Ig7QYSXQnJ4PntuXRq 9&ust=1683914086371000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0C BIQ3YkBahcKEwiwy-X56u3-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA

http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot...vertibles.html

FWIW I have a lot of respect for Daveh.... If he said there were 68 Ram Rod convertibles, there were...

AND if VVS says there was a 68 Ram Rod Convertible, it's documented....

no1oldsfan

Well there you go. Thanks for the information. Interesting about non boxed arms.

vin442

WOW! Lots of info! The build sheet has not surfaced yet (body is off the frame and interior is dismantled so I guess the point is moot until it magically surfaces someplace else if it ever does). Thanks again and if by any chance I do come across the build sheet I will absolutely post it!

Koda

It really doesn't matter if you find the broadcast card as the engine is gone. Some people think that a performance Olds that is documented but missing the engine is somehow more valuable than a non-performance Olds with a normal engine. Others don't.

There are no, or next to none, build sheets found on Lansing cars. You may find a broadcast card. These are not the same thing. It has options that did not come on a W-31.

Normally, an undocumented car with a line of bullshit is 99% not the real deal. This car has the line of BS about the stolen engine, no docs, and options from other models, so it is 100% not a W-31.

allyolds68

A 68 Fisher Broadcast card will tell you nothing about the engine or W31 option code.

As you state, there’s about zero chance that the build sheet will be in it.

the easiest way to document a 68 (if there's no VVS) is the Protect-O-Plate. It has the two letter engine code and the VIN number on it.

no1oldsfan

Sounds like posting the body tag could help with this particular car. Sounds like if it were real they were offered during a very short window of time.

But like Koda said with everything that isn't there it's no Ram Rod / W-31. Putting a W-31 intake on a regular Oldsmobile 350 does not make a W motor. Far from it. I have always been curious about how many W cars out there these days are actually built and balanced to specs.

no1oldsfan

🐕

joe_padavano

Nothing on the body tag will tell you the car is a W31. Also, the 68-69 motors got the same cast iron intake as did every other 4bbl 350 Olds motor in those years. The differences are the valve sizes, the cam profile, the carb and distributor numbers, and the balancer. All of those can be installed on any Olds 350.

no1oldsfan

I know all of that Joe. My point was maybe by seeing the production date that could help tell that it isn't in the short time window time frame that if any that were made were made.

66-3X2 442

Wrong again. 72 W-30 have a X in the vin to denote W30.

no1oldsfan

Boy you got me there. 👍

Fun71

Is this a Lansing built car? If not, well there’s the answer.

vin442

FWIW - VIN Code - 336678M4XXXXX

Factoryhotrod

Had to do it didn’t you Mike? That was too easy. 😁

66-3X2 442

Well,he lobbed it up and I knocked it outa da park.

no1oldsfan

You should be so proud. 8th grade rules!! You the man.

66-3X2 442

When you learn not to comment on things you don't know about then you might be the man.

no1oldsfan

I will set my goals to be just like you.

66-3X2 442

I am no better than the next man but I don't comment on things I don't have a clue about.