I'm not entirely new to this, but I'd like to get some input and opinions from others based on their experience as well. I recently came cross a guy with an Oldsmobile Aluminum Intake that he might be selling. Looking at the picture he provided while it was still bolted to an engine, the intake looked very nice and clean. I assumed it was a reproduction W-30 intake, which is fine for me for what I wanted it for, but it looked like a very nice reproduction and clearly of better quality than most other repro's I have seen examples of. I asked him what he wanted for it and he said that he wanted to take it off the engine first to determine exactly what it was. I said, Fair enough, and told him to get back to me with his findings and he agreed. We had discussed that an original OEM intake would have a date code cast into the bottom, and I sent him a picture of the bottom of my original W-30 intake to show him what it would look like. A couple of days later he gets back to me and tells me that it is indeed a reproduction, as it does not have any date code on the bottom. No problem for me, I wasn't concerned with it being OEM or not. To me, it was just a very clean, nice reproduction, so I bought it at a reasonable price. Once I received the intake, I inspect it very carefully and discover that this has to be the best reproduction intake ever made. Except for one minor flaw (not in the design), the intake is perfect in every aspect, and I find it hard to believe that any reproduction can be as exact in detail as this is. I started to compare it with my original OEM W-30 intake and I cannot find any differences at all. I measured several areas with a machinist caliper and everything is exact. Here are some pictures of the intake and comparison photos to my OEM intake. Wait for the final nail in the coffin at the end.


This is the intake I bought.

Notice the indent on the first bolt hole

Same indent as on the OEM

Notice the tiny fine casting line on the heat crossover

This is what I found on the OEM

Exact measurements on every marking











And here is the final piece you've all been waiting for.


Someone took a belt sander to the bottom and ground off whatever was there.

Who does this??????????

 

There has postings and pics about real and repro manifolds. Try to do a search using W-455 to see what you come up with.

 

I have already extensively researched and reviewed all the previous threads on this issue. That is the reason I am making this posting here.

 

I tried to search threads using W455. I found one posting,but there might be others to read. Don Roberto.........Cutlass/442 W30 Aluminum Intake Sept 30, 2014 I don't know howto drop a link, or Iwould have done that.

 

They're both real. but just an opine. You do know the newer repros don't even have the W-455 centered under "Oldsmobile" it's justified left, which is a comical error considering where they're made. :- )

 

LOL, Yes. That is one of the worst examples I've seen over the years and I've seen several different versions of repro's in the past. But I have never seen anything as good as this one pictured.
And I never seen anyone take a belt sander to a repro either. There's no reason for it. LMAO

 

Why does the reproduction have Oldsmobile on it and the real one have Olds? I really know nothing about these manifolds but just noticed this.

 

The first run of the original OEM intakes originally had the whole word "OLDSMOBILE" spelled out. The mold used to cast the intakes was damaged and in the repair process, the word was shortened to read just "OLDS". The newer "OLDS" version started around the beginning of December 1969 as this original example shows a date of 12-4-69, and is the earliest date I have ever seen on the new version.

 

Thanks. Glad I said I knew nothing about these manifolds and then proved it.

 

I'll buy that fake intake.. pm me if your selling LOL

 

That intake probably had a crack that needed to be welded. Then it was sanded to hid the repair. Just my .02

 

You've been reading too many Patton Glade posts..... lol

There's really no credible evidence to support that story

 

LOL!

I agree - the "broken mold" story is an urban myth IMO.

I had posted my "story" (either here or on ROP...don't remember) about how the "Oldsmobile" alum intake moniker changed to "Olds" and the story revolved around the GM union strike, GM bringing in non-union workers, and how those workers came from a certain town in Alabama. That's enough clues to figure out how and why the mold was changed.....just doing my part to keep these urban myths alive and well.

 

I also know nothing A body related but if those numbers were stamped they probably could be raised from the dead. As a gunsmith I have been able to acid etch steel firearms receivers and bring out the numbers to where they can be read even on severely ground actions . I never was into enough to need to do this on aluminum surfaces but the police had that ability for criminal forensic reason. If it is very important you might give it a try at your local sheriff or cop shop..... Tedd

 

Unfortunately, the date code on the underside of the intake is CAST into the intake. I think the acid method only works on recovering STAMPINGS (like the numbers stamped into gun parts). It has to do with the metal immediately under/around the stamped areas being somewhat denser due to the concentrated stamping pressure when the pieces were stamped.

 

I am betting the same thing. You can almost see some pitting in the smooth area that looks like weld porosity. I just cant imagine somebody going through the trouble to reproduce that manifold that carefully. I would get a bore scope and a good light and look inside to see if there is any evidence of welding.

 

Getting back to the intent of the original post, judged by the responses received so far, I guess that most members here would agree that this is an original OEM intake and not a reproduction. I myself have seen many versions of reproductions over the years, but it doesn't seem plausible that anyone would go through the process to painstakingly replicate every minute detail to a tee. Thanks everyone for the input provided so far.

 

For what my opinion is worth, I would validate the theory that it was repaired and blended by a professional welder. I do believe that it is an original. Unfortunately whomever performed the repair probably thought that they were going above and beyond to smooth the repair when in actuality, they erased some of the pedigree. Like Vader, I'd be proud to install that intake on any points car, no apologies.

 

Clean it up, put it on, get it judged to the nth degree. I'll bet dime to donuts nobody will say a word about the intake. They'll get you for dust buildup in the side window belt seals before they tag you with an incorrect intake. Just my $0.02