Need a little help, I bought a 1971 442 hardtop coup, I know its not a W30 model, but what is the difference between the two, and does the W30 models change according to the year.

 

Transmission
heads
intake manifold
carburetor
distributor
cam on 4 speed engines

That is the main things I can think of right now.

 

Nothing

In 1971, in all reality if its an automatic no difference except price of obtaining one.

As Eric pointed out there are some physical difference and part number differences but as far as automatic W30s go the 70 and 71s basically had the same engine as the corresponding same year automatic 442.

They also had different stripes, the red inner fender wells, sport mirrors, W30 badges and they came with the Outside Air Induction fiberglass hood.

 

For 1971, this is true only if the automatic W-30 also had A/C. Automatic W-30s without A/C got the same cam as the non-W-30 manual transmission 442s. See cam specs below. I wish they would've done this in 1970 as well.

Also, as jensenracing77 pointed out, there were other differences adding to the higher performance W-30.

*************************************************
1970 W-30 cams:
-------------------------------------------------
P/N: 400165
Application: W-30 AT, also non-W30 442 AT.
IVO: 24 BTDC
IVC: 81 ABDC
EVO: 74 BBDC
EVC: 33 ATDC
Intake CL: 118 ATDC
Exhaust CL: 112 BTDC
Lobe Separation: 115
Duration: 285/287
Overlap: 57
Valve Lift: .472/.472

P/N: 402569
Application: W-30 SM.
IVO: 56 BTDC
IVC: 92 ABDC
EVO: 96 BBDC
EVC: 52 ATDC
Intake CL: 110 ATDC
Exhaust CL: 110 BTDC
Lobe Separation: 110
Duration: 328/328
Overlap: 108
Valve Lift: .475/.475


*************************************************
1971 W-30 cams:
-------------------------------------------------
P/N: 400165
Application: W-30 AT w/AC, also non-W30 442 AT.
Specs: see 1970, above.

P/N: 409691
Application: W-30 AT exc. AC, also non-W30 442 SM.
IVO: 28 BTDC
IVC: 78 ABDC
EVO: 74 BBDC
EVC: 33 ATDC
Intake CL: 114 ATDC
Exhaust CL: 112 BTDC
Lobe Separation: 113
Duration: 286/287
Overlap: 61
Valve Lift: .474/.472

P/N: 409759
Application: W-30 SM.
IVO: 32 BTDC
IVC: 82 ABDC
EVO: 80 BBDC
EVC: 36 ATDC
Intake CL: 114 ATDC
Exhaust CL: 114 BTDC
Lobe Separation: 114
Duration: 294/296
Overlap: 68
Valve Lift: .472/.472

 

One major difference for a 1971 model would be the "H" heads, which are kind of [exceedingly] rare. I can make a set of replicas, but that's only part of a W30 package.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150838866574...84.m1555.l2649

 

Was 442 or for that matter W30 an RPO? The camaro z28 was a different animal than a regular camaro but the package of options defining it was RPO Z28 (regular production option). I know there is a distinct difference between Cutlass and 442, much like there is camaro and Z28. Did Oldsmobile also use the RPO to define the difference?

 

In 71, 442 was a model and W-30 was an option on said model.

 

Seems I read somewhere that the W30 engines were blueprinted from the factory. I am not even an amateur on W30's so I may be having a senior moment.

 

good catch Brian, thought I had AC in there as both my cars have AC. interesting how the supposed "pinnacle" year of muscle cars (1970) had the same came with or without AC on an automatic yet in 71 there was a difference

 

Thanks everyone for the info.

 

Nowadays I think the REAL things that make a true W-30 are: HONESTY, INTEGRITY, BULLETPROOF DOCUMENTATION.

 

Yep. These days a W-30 is more about collectibility instead of performance.