I know the 70 W30 had the most horsepower. I was just wondering about the 70 442 vs a 71 & 72 W30. Did the 70 442 have more hp than the 71-72 W30's? With the same stock factory options and gearing which would have the fastest 1/4 mile time?

 

You guys are good on Olds info. I can't believe nobody here knows this.

 

Most people here aren't into comparing one Olds against the other in a competitive way.

 

The factory HP ratings of the 1960s and early 1970s are total fabrication. Here are a few examples:

The 455 in the W34 Toro was rated at more HP and torque than the 1970 W30, which had a more radical cam, different heads, and different carb.

The W-30, with the 328 deg cam, different heads, different carb, different advance curve, etc, was only rated at 5 HP more than the stock 442 engine. This is particularly questionable since GM had a 10 lb/hp limit on the A-body cars at the time and the W-30 miraculously put out 370 HP in a 3700 lb car.

Even more suspicious is the fact that the 1970 W-30s with A/C only came with a 296 deg cam, not the 328 deg cam, but still carried the 370 HP rating.

As for the quickest factory combo, I'm going with the 1966 L-69/W-30 cars, which cleaned up in NHRA C/Stock that year.

 

Thanks Joe, Just trying to gain some Olds knowledge.