Yesterday at a show in Lincoln Ca . a guy had a slick 57 Old"s with what he said were W heads. I couldn't see because of the light but I wasn't familiar with W or M heads. What did they come on originally?...Tedd

 

W-1 option? Dimpled valve covers?

Prior to the '64-330/ '65 400+425, I don't believe there was a "big block" and/or I guess... the complementary "small block". There was just engines of various displacement.

Speaking of complementary... I saw our trade show guy at work last week preparing the show displays, and I jokingly said something about a typo in the banner. After I had fun with that, I noticed an actual typo- something about the controls "complimenting" the rest of the ventilation system.

I can see it now

Controls: "Hey, big fan, have you lost weight? You look GREAT! I love that new prop! "

One complIment after another.

I told him not to worry, probably no one but me would even notice.

 

His car had a first generation Olds engine, which I am not familiar with other than knowing there were various displacements (303, 324, 371, 394) and they are different than the second generation engines (1964-up).

 

This is a 455 425 engine that has been swapped into a 57. The gentleman said it had W heads on it when I asked. Not ever hearing of a W head I inquired further thinking maybe I would learn something here . His reply was he thought it may have been an industrial engine or out of a boat. It was to dark to see the head letter with out leaning all over his immaculate paint job so I just let the question die. Curiosity is a bothersome thing sometimes..... Tedd

 

Maybe the guy meant something like 'heads from a W car' ?

 

probably K head casting then which are often found on marine/ industrial engines and are considered to be authentic W30 *replacement* heads.

 

Ah, I thought it was an era correct engine. Well, I have never heard of a BBO "W" head.