I have a 71 442 from the fremont plant. the 455 motor is original to the car, the last 6 numbers of the vin correspond to the block, but it does not appear to be a w30, (from what i have read in the year one catalog ) but just a regular 455. but the body plate is a mystery to me. can anybody tell me what these numbers translate to.
ST 71-34487 z 00361 BDY
TR 943 B80 26 26 PNT
01A 033806 460506

thanks in advance,
neal

 

ST71 = 1971 model year
34487 = Oldsmobile Division, 442 model line, Holiday Coupe body style
z = Fremont, CA assembly plant (which means the car CANNOT be a W-30, since W-30s were only built in the Lansing, MI assembly plant)
00361 = Fisher Body sequential assembly number
TR 943 = Trim code (don't have that with me at the moment)
26 26 PNT = Viking Blue Poly lower (first number) and upper (second number) body color
01A = built the first week (A) in January (01), 1971
033806 460506 = codes unique to the Fremont plant

 

aha! lansing only for the w30's. I didn't know that. It was not sold to me as a w30 so i already knew, it was just a 455. I checked the heads and the letter on them (E) and my year one catalog says those are 1970 heads. I wonder if the original heads got lost along the way or maybe at the factory they had some leftovers from the previous year. Anyway the block is original at least. Did Olds hide build sheets somewhere in the car that could tell me more about the options. I read somewhere that 442s didn't come with power brakes, but mine did, as well as power steering.
neal

 

B80 = roof drip molding

 

They did not carry over the heads from 1970 to use on the '71 model year, so your heads are not original to your car. On Fremont built cars there is frequently a build sheet on top of the gas tank, which will have to be drained and dropped to check.

 

Welcome to the site Neal. Please post some pictures of your car when you have time. I'm down in Medford, we've got a couple members in the Eugene area. Then Larry is over in Bend/Redmond. Let us know if we can help with anything related to your car. John

 

bummer. original heads must have walked away sometime in the last 45 years. I suppose i could go find some 71 heads if it bugs me too much. Does anybody know if u can tell if the tranny is original to the car?
neal

 

The trans will have a vin derivative on the drivers side, and you should have an "OG" tag attached, wipe this tag with a rag if it is greasy or gunked up, do not use a screwdriver or steel wool to clean it as you will damage it, removing info.

 

TR 943 = interior color and front seat type = blue interior with a bench seat.


Randy C.

 

If your car has an automatic transmission here's an old thread with locations for the vin derivative. Your car should have had a TH400 if auto.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-original.html

If its a four speed it will still have the number stamped into the drivers side of the gearbox. Let us know if it is and we'll try to describe or locate pictures of its location.

The 1971 455 G heads are common so if you decide to change out the E heads there's several of us here who can provide the correct castings for you.

John

 

Neal, I just recognized your car. I saw that on Craigslist back in 2010 as a project car for sale. Have you been able to re-assemble the car? Did you buy it from the sellers in 2010 or someone else more recently?

John