Trying to get better educated here. I have done several searches on the difference between these two motors..Here is what I think I know, please fill on the blanks or correct any wrong info.
-both 400 cubes, same blocks
-same cylinder heads
-same tripower unit
- W30 was balanced and blueprinted factory, L69
was not.
So did they have the same pistons, rods, crankshaft, camshaft etc?
And of course W30 was fresh outside air.
thank you

 

You should consider 3 engines. The E block 400 with quadrajet that was in the 442 was one thing.

The L69, I believe, was the standard 442 engine with the three two barrels and a special intake manifold.

The W-30 was the L-69 tri carb, plus a hotter cam, factory blueprintting, a specific rear end 4.11 limited slip, I think, heavy radiator, better valve springs,
and they may have picked specific B heads, along with the OAI system.

I think they had the same crank, rods, and pistons. I am sure someone will be along to correct my inevitable errors.

 

The 66 W-30 used different pistons but had the same compression ratio. 67 probably were blueprinted the same way. I may have this wrong but the concept was,they used a different shaped piston. I think it was a D piston in an A bore. I think this was done to minimize piston to wall contact for less drag. Run To Rund can explain this no doubt. The L-69 engines were not blueprinted.

 

Yes.

And the cams used in the non W30 engines varied only according to the transmission used.

Non W30 automatic transmission 400s used the mildest cam (52° overlap, 278/282 duration, 0.430/0.432 lift).

Non W30 manual transmission 400s used a more aggressive cam (58° overlap, 286/286 duration, 0.472/0.472 lift).

W30s used the hottest cam that, ground with a different advance, went on to power the 1970 W31 and some 1976 marine 455s. It had 82° overlap, 308/308 duration, and 0.474/0.474 lift.

 

Well, for starters the L-79 was a Chevy.

 

Thank you

 

I see you corrected OP. Well done. It might not seem like a big deal but it certainly makes a difference when ordering parts.

 

Another question, I am more pontiac educated and trying to learn olds as I am looking to buy a 442 to replace a car I once had..in the pontiac world we call 3x2 carbs a tripower unit, whats the correct term for the Oldsmobile 3x2? Tripower or just 3x2? Appreciate the help

 

Tri-Carb (although IMO, the term Tri-Power does conjure up a stronger message)

 

Just don't call it a Six-Pak!

 

Actually, the 308/308 cam was used in the 66-67 W-30 cars and in the 68-70 W-31s.

 

Joe, whats the story on the pistons?

 

True. I apologize for any confusion. I looked through the cam part number lists too quickly. The altered-advance 308 cam was also used in 1968 H/O models without air conditioning.