1970-W30

Was at the Barret-Jackson today(it was cold out!) and saw a 1970 If I remember correctly, 442 with an factory experimental all aluminum big block Olds engine in it!
Never knew such an animal existed, have a feeling it's going to bring big bucks. Going back Tuesday and will take some pics of the claimed factory aluminum engine restored 442. Anybody know anything about this car???

The_Jeremiah

I have read multiple articles on experimental oldsmobile engines, its my understanding that at some point in time, oldsmobile decided to cast a handful of aluminum 455 engines, the original purpose for these was the can am race cars using oldsmobile engines, however right about that time, the big cheese of GM at the time ( cant remember who that was ) went to the head of oldsmobile division and said "your taking too much attention away from chevrolet in the can am circuit" and thus oldsmobile pulled out of the can am circuit racing. As far as I have been able to research, only a few aluminum engines were built in stock form, both big and small blocks, so anything aluminum with Oldsmobile numbers on it is extremely rare.

1970-W30

Here's what the engine looks like......
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...psfec17e0e.jpg

The_Jeremiah

I see head studs and nuts which isnt normal, but if the engine has been rebuilt, someone probably put that in, from the pictures it looks like a normal cast iron engine painted silver, can you walk up and try to stick a magnet to it?

70Post

If it's a red '70 vert then it's likely the car owned by a guy out of Georgia (Craig C.) that's been into Olds's since the time when most people here were in diapers. He used to, or maybe still does, drag race some Olds cars competitively.

If it's the car I'm referring to then it was discussed, linked to (it was for sale on ebay at the time), etc on RealOldsPower awhile back. The owner from Georgia stated the alum engine was installed in the car by him (or maybe a prior owner...can't remember which)....he wasn't trying to pass it off as something done by the factory.

As already mentioned in another reply, Olds made and sent out, sold, whatever, a number of alum engines and components to support CanAm and possibly offshore boat racers. Between those motors and components and the other ones that maybe made it out the back door of the Lansing plant there are a lucky few that managed to find and hang onto these things.

Cool stuff for sure.

There was also an alum blocked/headed 455 W30 hardtop at the OCA Nationals in Dearborn, MI a few years ago (Dan Jensen had that car) as well as the alum headed small block car that the guys from Inline Tube brought (may have had an alum block as well....don't recall).

1969w3155

That one was also at Homecoming, the car was a real W31 that they bought and then installed the aluminum engine in, and presented it as being a factory produced experimental W31, which it is not.

ent72olds

That was the white one with blue stripes, correct? That is a beautiful piece of machinery......

stevengerard

the guy from Georgia was asking 200k and from what I remebr it was a great restoration.

66-3X2 442

The car does belong to a friend of mine Craig Couris,a long time Olds guy with a ton of nice cars. I found the engine for him,another friend had it and I hooked them up. He's not trying to pass the car off as something it's not,he's totally honest about the history and pedigree. I was over to his shop in Atlanta a couple of Saturdays ago and he was getting the car ready to go. He trucked it out there by himself and a new ghetto blaster sound system in the truck. It's no reserve,so we'll see what it does and I wish him good luck.

1969w3155

That was the one. It is very nice.

The_Jeremiah

So my question is, where in the heck can I get an all aluminum 455? I would love to have an aluminum version of the pushrod engine, I dont think the extra weight of the OHC hemi would benifit me.

Anyone have one for sale? I will give you my savings account

66-3X2 442

I do not know of another aluminum 455 engine. The one in the car I had knew about for years and it had never been for sale. When the current owner was looking for one,I told him that I knew where one was but didn't know if it was for sale or not but would check. The rest they say is history but I do know of an aluminum 350.

olds 307 and 403

Those aluminum blocks look beefy from the pictures. You seriously don't want an Olds Hemi? If I had the bucks, it would be at the track, after molds were taken and show what could have been.

Nufo

Does Kieth Black still make the Olds 455 aluminum block? I believe it used BBC internals....

Nufo (Fred)

1970-W30

Here's a bit more info on the factory aluminum block and heads 442 at the auction,gut feeling is it's going to bring big bucks.......

stevengerard

I forgot that it is a 4-speed too

1969w3155

Can Am? Typical auction hype, per the printed info in pic #2 and of course wrong.

Boldsmobile

Sorry, which part specifically is wrong?

66-3X2 442

Oh really? how so?

TK-65

Ive seen photos that would make one question this.

TK-65

Only one installed in a street legal car known to exist.

pogo69

this is the car at the Barrett auction? ...did someone make off with the turbo's? I thought this engine had dual turbo's

66-3X2 442

He does have the fuel injection intake for it also.

joe_padavano

The aluminum 455 was developed as part of the Oldsmobile engine program to support the CroSal CanAm team. The CroSal cars originally used SBOs (some made from aluminum) but Olds developed the twin turbo 455 version for the 1969 season. The July 1969 issue of Hot Rod has a nice article about the CanAm engine (a copy of the article is available at WildAboutCars.com).

Obviously this car has the block and heads developed for the CanAm program but not the twin turbo induction system. These parts show up on ebay about once every couple of years or so.

And I also have one of the fuel injection intakes cast for these motors.

1969w3155

The information pressented in the pics and text would lead you to believe that is has a Can Am engine,, as shown on the Hot Rod cover, it is misleading to say the least. I beleive that their intent is to have any bidders think that is what the car came with.

1969w3155

"Ive seen photos that would make one question this". That the car was a W31 to begin with, or that it was a factory produced experimental? The April 2009 Musclecar Enthusiast has the article of how the car and engine came together, though, you would have to take Kryta's word that the Cutlass purchased in Traverse City, Mi. was a W31 as stated.

Boldsmobile

I read it all and don't see any false claims.

It is the can am block and he says he - aka not the factory - installed it.

TK-65

The photos of the car as found show it came with a column shift auto, single exhaust and no W27 rear. Photos are online and were posted by their restoration shop.

joe_padavano

First of all, this thread seems to be confusing Kryta's car with the car at auction. I assume you are talking about the auction car with the 455. I'm one of the biggest critics of inflated auction sale claims, but frankly I have a hard time seeing where this is misleading. ALL the aluminum 455 blocks and heads were cast for the CanAm program. That is fact and the statement in the auction ad is correct. The engine in this car came from the CanAm program. At some point, common sense has to enter into the picture. Obviously the engine in the car is NOT a twin turbo injected motor, and sorry, but someone stupid enough to buy the car thinking that it is deserves to be separated from his/her money.

1969w3155

"The photos of the car as found show it came with a column shift auto, single exhaust and no W27 rear. Photos are online and were posted by their restoration shop." Thanks for the info, learned more about the car.

66-3X2 442

How you get that the seller ever intended or said the engine came in the car is beyond belief. The car is as advertised,nothing more nothing less.

1969w3155

"How you get that the seller ever intended or said the engine came in the car is beyond belief" You are entitled to your opinion.

66-3X2 442

You have it your way,sounds like you have an agenda.

1969w3155

Joe, most of this post does pertain to the BJ auction, but the Kryta car was brought up by me in a response to Patton Glades' mention of a small block in his post on 1/15, in this thread.

1969w3155

No agenda, a strong mis trust of auctions...but I re-read the info from the 3rd pic, and agree that it is an alloy engine w/factory parts and internals.

pogo69

the twin turbo's make the engine...he is associating his engine with the twin turbo engine shown in the ''hot rod'' magazine....someone could think the turbos are included because i dont see any info that they are NOT part of the deal

stevengerard

I'd say its pretty clear its about the aluminum block and not the turbos. It would be easier to purchase turbos and machine the plumbing than create an aluminum block 455. Any buyer would or at least should know just by peaking in the engine compartment that the turbos aren't on there.

Just my opinion.

66-3X2 442

That's all he ever said it was and I do not trust auctions either. I will say this,I talked to my buddy last night who owns the car and he said that B-J has hired a Z-28 guru to advise them if any particular Z-28 is authentic. That to me is a step in the right direction.

StickW31

I bet i know who that is!

pogo69

I think the twin turbo made the can am 'powers to be' mouths water....more than the alum block.... just a hunch