I'll have to correct myself here. The 1969 PIM shows the JO code TH350 for W31 use. The 1969 SPECS booklet doesn't show it, but the trans application page from the PIM shows that W31 application was added on 9-19-68, so Olds had planned on using it when the TH350 finally became available midyear.

 

Yes, even the Salesman guide had conflicting info:

M38 listed as a transmission option for the W-31 option


Yet the Power teams chart doesn't show it as available.

 

Joe P, thank you. I was doubting my memory a little. My wife (deceased) and another young lady who also loved drag racing, were allowed to "order" a car for the showroom floor that would attract young buyers. They picked a Black W-31 with Gold stripes and black interior. The only stipulation was "automatic transmission". This happened at Tate Cadillac-Olds in the spring of 1969.

 

I also did a 2nd take when Joe first mentioned no TH350 for W31 until '70. I pulled out my ancient 442: A Source Book, which I knew contained a "Doctor Olds" series of ads for the '69 W cars, and the page describing the W31 shows only manual transmissions available. A mid-year introduction of the TH350 in '69 and an apparent disconnect between engineering and marketing (a result of creating the advertisements before the TH350 introduction) makes perfect sense.

 

1969 Car life road test of automatic W31. Note the as tested weight of 3935 lbs. that’s with two people. Let’s say subtract 200 for the passenger we get 3735

 

where do you come up with that crap? you saying they weren’t competitive is absolutely not true.the 68/69 W30’s were arguably the most successful years Olds had in NHRA class racing . D/S especially the W30 broke and held national records many times. It’s well documented. A friend of mine here in Ontario was cleaning up in D Stock at Sparta/st Thomas and Cayuga.. in 68 thru 70 with his his 68 W30. he drove it back and forth to the track initially. He still has it..28,000 original miles. the engine was factory original the first couple years of racing with headers added. It never blew up.

Think Berijik, Brainbeau , Anderson and others. National record holders

 

 

And the RamRod in 68 and 69…. Because, it’s means nothing 🙄

 

Thanks for the history lesson. Already know about those cars. Olds won A Stock AHRA in 65. And B in NHRA in 66. By 68 they were not the same cars.

PER THE ENGINEERS, who already knew the coming 1968 G400 sucked, were already developing the 68 W31. They had one in a 66 F85 and tested it frequently at Onondaga. That’s the whole reason for the W31. Because the 68 400 sucked.

And as I’ve said already once, the engineers hated that marketing got involved and put Ram Rod on it. That’s fact from guys they designed and built the damn cars. Sorry that goes against your own narrative.

 

He developed his narrative from facts and then provided pictures and documentation to back it up.

Where'd you get yours?

 

Directly from people who worked at Olds during that period.

 

Would love to see any documentation or other confirmation you may have.

Also, while these peoples' positions with Olds may tend to lend credence to their opinions, they're still only opinions.

 

my narrative is historically correct facts with proof to back it up. you have old wives tales here say….bordering on fairy tales.

Woodland/Anderson held the NHRA record for a period of time which was 12.20’s Pete Kost in a 69 W30 convertible also held a class record at 12.4

in June of 68 two different W30’s held the class record in D/S and D/SA

the 400G that you proclaim was uncompetitive and sucked..was a feared combination back then..that’s my narrative…truth and facts.

I’ll also post an article of a stick D/S W30 clicking off an 11.9

 

Pete Kost set the NHRA record at Mission raceway 12.4 and change.

 

sounds like those unnamed people lied to you..or, you made those stories up…because it sure wasn’t true

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car of the year in 1968

 

Hi guys, I'm new here. I want to build a Ram Rod 350 clone. I have a 1976 350 Cutlass S engine. Are the crank and rods the same? I read the post and of course the pistons, heads, intake, and balancer are different but I want to get close. Possible with this engine??
Any inputs please.

 

The crank is weaker but should be fine, especially behind an automatic with reasonable stall. The rods are basically the same. You can use flat top pistons but your #8 heads have about 10cc bigger chambers and need a bowl cutter under the valves to flow as well. You will be around 9 to 1 compression, not the 10+ to 1 the W31 had. You also want headers, the first thing swapped would be the poor flowing log factory exhaust manifolds.

 

it’s probably one of the easiest engines to build as a clone.

we can give you specific specs , part numbers and walk you through it.

best to start off with a 68 through 69 engine with the heads you need. it’ll have the N crank and the heads you want to start with.

 

Thanks. So the crank has the same specs but is weaker. Is it cast? I can get aftermarket heads and an aluminum intake. Not stock but better. Appreciate the input. Best gas here is 91.

 

I've had this engine since high school so I want to stay with it. Will most of the parts bolt on? Are they even available or affordable?

 

Yes, the crank is just grey iron and lighter. A guy on here with a 450 HP 403 and a 6 spd manual broke one in 3. The harmonic balancer, special carb and distributor will be expensive but aren't necessary. Get a new aftermarket or reconditioned normal balancer, your factory Quadrajet carb custom tuned and something like an expensive but unique Progression ignition to get the best idle quality and performance. The W31 cam is available but power brakes will be a challenge with it. Until the new Edelbrock heads come out, no current aftermarket head will have a proper combustion chamber size to have the proper compression. Also get a Performer RPM, don't waste money on a Performer intake. I would go with the DSS 3cc forged piston over the old Speedpro, lighter and a more modern ring pack. Internal balancing is best but requires a neutral balance flexplate and balancer, Hayes were on clearance and Mallory metal is very expensive. You don't want to know how much I spent on internal balancing. Compression and an aggressive cam were what really made the W31 what it was. Yes there was other tweaks and improvements and modern parts can actually make more power over the factory motor.

 

Thanks for the great info. I will reply with my progress.

 

around 76 was the last year for the good #395558 casting 350 blocks. you could also have the good Nodular iron crank…if it’s the 395558 block

wont know until you check to be sure.

you aren’t building a clone if you’re going to use aftermarket heads and intake. Factory #5 and #6 heads are not that hard to find. you can also use the factory aluminum late intake cast #A4. it’ll looks similar to the factor W31 and flows the same.

like this..could pass as a pretty good clone

 

Thanks for the info. I am still gathering as much as I can right now. That is a good-looking engine. I always loved the gold.

 

One of the AZ Olds Club members has one with a TH350.

 

Dale have you seen a 'N" crank in the later engines? You no doubt have looked at a lot more Olds V8's than I have. Both my 76 350 definitely did not have a "N" crank along both both my 403’s or any 307 I have seen, a handful with the pan off. Even my 73 350, while the crank looked beefier and was a slightly different color still had no "N" on it. Even the members on here could not answer if t was a N crank. The A4 should be plentiful states side, rare up here. Of course he will need to make a EGR block off plate. Milling his #8 heads about .060" using a W31 intake valve, a bowl hog cutter under the valves should mimic the W31 heads close enough, just add the proper springs if he can't find early heads locally. It sounds like he just wants a loose clone, it depends how hard he plans on beating on the motor, whether the 76 crank will live.

 

Thanks. This site is great, lots of very helpful members. Now I can't wait to pull the motor and look for the numbers. I drove it off the lot new. It was a great running car, and I took care of it. The oil still looks clean. I originally had it in New Orleans then drove it to my first duty station in the California desert. A double whammy on the body. Too far gone to restore as a 76. Besides that, it would have to have all the original smog equipment to register it. Here is a picture.