Special performance Oldsmobile engine?
June 29th, 2021, 02:57 PM
#1
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Special performance Oldsmobile engine?
We all know about the LS7 from Chevy, the Ram Air 5 from Pontiac and the Stage 2 from Buick...was there a special performance package from Oldsmobile?
June 29th, 2021, 03:16 PM
#3
Oldsdruid
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W30 (442), W31 (Cutlass), W32 (Cutlass/442/SX), W33 (Delta), W34 (Toronado).
J2 (57-58, with an available NASCAR version), Jetfire (first production turbocharged American car), Starfire (hottest big car engine 1961-67).
Then there was a skunkworks project called HEMI-OLDS...it broke Engineering's dyno.
J2 (57-58, with an available NASCAR version), Jetfire (first production turbocharged American car), Starfire (hottest big car engine 1961-67).
Then there was a skunkworks project called HEMI-OLDS...it broke Engineering's dyno.
June 29th, 2021, 03:32 PM
#4
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Here you go...https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...hat-never-was/
June 29th, 2021, 04:09 PM
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The W30 was a regular production option..as was the LS6 454, the Ram Air IV 400, and the Stage 1 455, a but each division (Chevy, Pontiac, and Buick) had a "one more step" version of their "King of the Hill" big blocks. Hence, the LS7, the Ram Air V and the Stage 2. So again, I ask, was there a "one step up" of the W30?
The LS7
https://itstillruns.com/gm-1970-ls7-...s-7617778.html
The LS7
https://itstillruns.com/gm-1970-ls7-...s-7617778.html
Last edited by 72455; June 29th, 2021 at 04:12 PM.
June 29th, 2021, 04:14 PM
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June 29th, 2021, 04:17 PM
#9
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..and the Ram Air V
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...gto-ram-air-v/
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...gto-ram-air-v/
June 29th, 2021, 05:07 PM
#11
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..and the Ram Air V
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...gto-ram-air-v/
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...gto-ram-air-v/
June 29th, 2021, 05:32 PM
#12
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The W30 was a regular production option..as was the LS6 454, the Ram Air IV 400, and the Stage 1 455, a but each division (Chevy, Pontiac, and Buick) had a "one more step" version of their "King of the Hill" big blocks. Hence, the LS7, the Ram Air V and the Stage 2. So again, I ask, was there a "one step up" of the W30?
The LS7
https://itstillruns.com/gm-1970-ls7-...s-7617778.html
The LS7
https://itstillruns.com/gm-1970-ls7-...s-7617778.html
"The LS7, on the other hand, became known merely as a 'legendary engine'. GM did publish specs on the LS7 engine, and articles about the engine were published in many automobile magazines, but the engine itself was never made available for purchase.That’s not to say that the engine never came into being. Quite to the contrary, GM did produce an LS7 equipped Corvette in December, 1969 that was driven from Los Angeles to Detroit by Paul Van Valkenburgh, a writer from the magazine Sports Car Graphic. He stated that, 'with a full tank, two aboard and a full load of luggage the car would still turn the standing quarter mile in 13.8 seconds with a top speed of 108 miles per hour.' He further went on to write that 'never have we tested a car that had such a secure speed potential. This car gives the impression that it could do anything you demanded.' Depending on the source of information, the LS7 engine’s output was rated at either 460 or 465 horsepower."
Today there are many "documented" LS7 cars, which I find hilarious.
Buick Stage 2 cars were similarly not production vehicles. There were a handful of back door parts given to Buick racers. No mortal could actually buy one from a dealership. Arguably, this is exactly what Olds did with the 1966 W30 cars - only Olds made more of them (54 instead of a handful) and cleaned up in C/Stock that year. Olds also offered the Track Pack versions to normal humans.
June 29th, 2021, 06:02 PM
#13
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Oldsmobile was on it. The early Cutlasses 442's show it. How many early hot rods had Oldsmobile motors? When an Olds anything pulled up to the line you better be ready. I had so many chumps dump on me because I had my Olds. Guess who paid up? My 70 442 made me love big cube horsepower. I had a 70 SX before I got my 442 so I was familiar with 455 torque. I swear to everyone here and beyond. I Never Ever lost a street race. Ever. 100 percent stock other than headers. 3.42 rear.
June 29th, 2021, 06:27 PM
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BFG is crude, and unfortunately, lacks any understanding of others feelings.
I welcome you to read his comments in the referenced post and judge for yourself whether or not his comments are appropriate.
Last edited by twilightblue28A; June 29th, 2021 at 06:32 PM.
June 29th, 2021, 07:23 PM
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Ls6 was one bad mother.. I lost big to one not even knowing what it was..guy showed me the paper work after he stomped my 67 gto hard.. I had never heard of a factory 450 hp chevelle before that..
June 29th, 2021, 07:34 PM
#21
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When we were kids we knew two brothers that had a dad that worked for Chevrolet. He was retired. He bought two LS-6 motors and many other cool things when he left. They both had 70 SS 454 Chevelle's. One was red the other was gold. One of them wrecked the red one. Then he got a dark green one. I remember seeing those motors just sitting in the crates in their garage. 454 is no joke.
June 29th, 2021, 07:44 PM
#23
Oldsdruid
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😍🥰 Dyno breakers.
If it hadn't been for a perfect storm of emissions standards, insurance surcharges and intracorporate rivalry, the carbureted Hemi-Olds was set to go into the 1970 Toronado and then into the 442 in 1971. What could have been...
If it hadn't been for a perfect storm of emissions standards, insurance surcharges and intracorporate rivalry, the carbureted Hemi-Olds was set to go into the 1970 Toronado and then into the 442 in 1971. What could have been...
Last edited by rocketraider; June 29th, 2021 at 07:49 PM.
June 29th, 2021, 08:53 PM
#24
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My third grade teacher drove a 70 (pretty sure)454 Corvette. I had to stay late one day. She gave me a ride home. I will never forget the flapper at the bottom of the windshield coming up and down. Talk about Hot For Teacher!!
June 29th, 2021, 10:43 PM
#25
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Big wide 15” tires, that big good scoop did actually work , and using the small CC chamber D heads bumped the compression up a lot more than any other Olds in those years.
13’s with factory tires was easy right out of the hurst factory.
June 29th, 2021, 11:07 PM
#26
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I think the LS7 was dealer installed only. Which could be done before taking the car from the dealer lot
Olds did some fanangling for persistent owners too.
I a remember a 70 W30 having GM dealer installed headers before the owner took possession. At shows he would always get docked points for his headers.. so he would pull out his bill of sale and right on there it said headers to be supplied and installed before customer takes car
Olds did some fanangling for persistent owners too.
I a remember a 70 W30 having GM dealer installed headers before the owner took possession. At shows he would always get docked points for his headers.. so he would pull out his bill of sale and right on there it said headers to be supplied and installed before customer takes car
June 29th, 2021, 11:26 PM
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June 30th, 2021, 03:36 AM
#28
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Your first problem is believing that since you read something on the interwebs, it must be true. The car magazines were full of LS7 speculation in the early 1970s (I still have them), but:
"The LS7, on the other hand, became known merely as a 'legendary engine'. GM did publish specs on the LS7 engine, and articles about the engine were published in many automobile magazines, but the engine itself was never made available for purchase.That’s not to say that the engine never came into being. Quite to the contrary, GM did produce an LS7 equipped Corvette in December, 1969 that was driven from Los Angeles to Detroit by Paul Van Valkenburgh, a writer from the magazine Sports Car Graphic. He stated that, 'with a full tank, two aboard and a full load of luggage the car would still turn the standing quarter mile in 13.8 seconds with a top speed of 108 miles per hour.' He further went on to write that 'never have we tested a car that had such a secure speed potential. This car gives the impression that it could do anything you demanded.' Depending on the source of information, the LS7 engine’s output was rated at either 460 or 465 horsepower."
Today there are many "documented" LS7 cars, which I find hilarious.
Buick Stage 2 cars were similarly not production vehicles. There were a handful of back door parts given to Buick racers. No mortal could actually buy one from a dealership. Arguably, this is exactly what Olds did with the 1966 W30 cars - only Olds made more of them (54 instead of a handful) and cleaned up in C/Stock that year. Olds also offered the Track Pack versions to normal humans.
"The LS7, on the other hand, became known merely as a 'legendary engine'. GM did publish specs on the LS7 engine, and articles about the engine were published in many automobile magazines, but the engine itself was never made available for purchase.That’s not to say that the engine never came into being. Quite to the contrary, GM did produce an LS7 equipped Corvette in December, 1969 that was driven from Los Angeles to Detroit by Paul Van Valkenburgh, a writer from the magazine Sports Car Graphic. He stated that, 'with a full tank, two aboard and a full load of luggage the car would still turn the standing quarter mile in 13.8 seconds with a top speed of 108 miles per hour.' He further went on to write that 'never have we tested a car that had such a secure speed potential. This car gives the impression that it could do anything you demanded.' Depending on the source of information, the LS7 engine’s output was rated at either 460 or 465 horsepower."
Today there are many "documented" LS7 cars, which I find hilarious.
Buick Stage 2 cars were similarly not production vehicles. There were a handful of back door parts given to Buick racers. No mortal could actually buy one from a dealership. Arguably, this is exactly what Olds did with the 1966 W30 cars - only Olds made more of them (54 instead of a handful) and cleaned up in C/Stock that year. Olds also offered the Track Pack versions to normal humans.
June 30th, 2021, 07:43 AM
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June 30th, 2021, 07:56 AM
#32
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I went to a Super Chevy Show, iirc at Maple Grove (can’t really remember) where I checked out a 70(?) SS with a swapped in LS7, it sounded nasty and that was what left the impression on me. I remember that better than the jet car show!
Last edited by bccan; June 30th, 2021 at 08:05 AM.
June 30th, 2021, 08:47 AM
#35
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June 30th, 2021, 10:12 AM
#36
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The 66 W30 was available in limited numbers to ordinary mortals. #13 came out of Hoff Cad-Olds in VA, Reynolds in Metuchen NJ got #24 for them to race, and after the two employees quit, sold it to a regular customer. Holiday Olds in MN got 12 of them and sold them to regular customers, although they reportedly did ask them if they planned to race the car, which they wanted.
June 30th, 2021, 10:53 AM
#37
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With GM well known rule limiting 400 inches in their intermediate cars, how did Olds get around that? Im guessing it didn’t go unnoticed. Obviously, I think it’s great they managed to pull it off.
June 30th, 2021, 11:00 AM
#38
Jeff
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Sold as a part number. I know when I was at GM Service Parts Operations, those goodies were listed in the catalog by the p/n, but also had a 3-digit RPO associated with them for further identification purposes in the books and systems.
June 30th, 2021, 12:37 PM
#40
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According to documentation from the H/OCA, Doc Watson once explained a story was created stating the engines were installed at Demmer was just to keep the Olds brass happy when in fact they were installed on the assembly line. He would know.
