Hello All, as 69Cuttynoob, this is my first post and introduction. I'm looking for research help with a recent purchase. It’s a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Convertible in much need of repair; it has a 4 speed manual transmission with Hurst badges on the shifter stick and console. Appears to have dual exhaust but has a 2 barrel carburetor. I’m trying to determine what is the numbers matching engine code is installed. Thank you all in advance for your assistance. Once I figure out to upload pictures I will. I've spent the first 4 days cleaning out the numerous rodent nests and getting to know my new project. I've had many other projects in the past but this is not only my first Convertible but my first Oldsmobile. Looking forward to tapping the vast knowledge base provided here.

 

The VIN-derivative will be here:



It will be 3 (for Oldsmobile), 9 (for 1969), M (or a different letter, indicating the assembly plant), and then xxxxxx, which will match the last six digits of the VIN.

39Mxxxxxx

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

 

Welcome. The factory shifter should have the "HURST" name stamped on the stick, but there were no other Hurst badges on the car. Any that are there now were added by a previous owner. Regular production option (RPO) N10 Dual Exhaust was a $30.28 option available on any V8 Cutlass S that year, including 2bbl motors.

 

Ah yes! I found it! Thanks. Yes it matches the VIN so that's a good start. I've seen talk about "W" engine codes W30, W31 & W32. Is that indicated anywhere on the engine or block? Again thanks for the tip!!

 

Thanks Joe! There is only one other "H" Hurst indicator inside the car, it's embossed on the rubber boot attached to the center console between the seats. Cracked and looking brittle but you can still see the “H”.

 

That's an aftermarket Hurst boot. The factory one did not have the logo. That makes me think that the shifter might be aftermarket too. The easy way to tell is to remove the boot and look at how the shift lever attaches to the shifter body. Factory Hurst shifters used a snap-in stick. Aftermarket ones used two bolts to hold the stick to the shifter mechanism.

And no, there are no indications on the block of W-ness. If you have to ask, it almost certainly is not a W-31.

 

Hey Joe, I wanted to upload a picture of the shifter but not having any luck. I hope this works Shifter.jpg. If not I'll try again.

 

That's one way to do it. Here's another:



That's a factory shifter mechanism with the snap-in stick.

 

Eric, if you look at the right hand side of the Transmission casing, it will have letter codes stamped there. You might have to wipe some gunk off to find them.

XG = M20 Wide Ratio
XF = M21 Close Ratio

I don't think they put the VIN derivative on the manual transmission but have a look. It might look similar to this MT (pic taken from Chevy Forum)


Now that you've got that figured out, you can also look at the oil fill tube. There will be numbers on it that will tell you the engine number. (not to be confused with the intake or head castings)

Go to this link How To Post Pictures

 

If you post a picture of your cowl data tag (under the hood on the driver side of the cowl), it will tell you some more info on your car as well.


Randy C.

 

Hello all, here is a picture of the cowl plate.

 

Ok, here's what it means

ST69 - 1969 model year production
3 - Oldsmobile Division of GM
36 - Model: Cutlass S
67 - Body type: Convertible
LAN - Body Shell produced by Lansing Fisher Body Works (different from final assembly)
BDY 273217 - Body number assigned by FBW. Not related to VIN.
TR 937 - Interior trim style and color - Antique Parchment
PNT 59 A Lower body color: Meadow Green. White (A) vert top
01E - Time build at FBW: 5th week (E) of January (01) 1969

 

TR 937 also means that the car originally came with strato-bucket seats!


Randy C.

 

Randy, the 69 vert automatically came with A51 Strato Buckets. You had to opt out of that option for a credit to get the A52.

 

Thanks you guys! I tell you this site and it's members are better than Google! You would not believe the stuff that comes up when I search things like "Cam duration" or "Crank Shaft". Disturbing.

 

Your computer must have a virus or malware. I googled that and got exactly what I expected - mechanical information about crankshafts and cam duration...

You didn't hit "I feel lucky" when you did the search by chance, did you??? That would likely take you somewhere you don't want to go.

 

Can anyone help tell me what this number on the oil filler tube?

 

Google is "adaptive," Allan, and tailors its searches based on things that the user has searched for in the past, so... You may search for different types of things than he does...

- Eric

 

9379570

All that means is that the engine was made in 1969 (First digit).

The rest is a sequential manufacturing number, with no significance that anyone is aware of.

- Eric

 

Eric, according to the 1969 CSM that number represents the engine unit number. Check out page 0-4 (fig 07 - Engine Number and Code Location)

 

Yes, exactly. With no known significance, other than the first digit indicating the last digit of the production year.

- Eric

 

Ok. I guess that number would be as significant as when they cast engine numbers on heads that could be interchanged at will.

 

Presumably (and I have seen no evidence for this), the tubes were numbered sequentially as the blocks came down the line at a specific point, and those numbers were used internally to monitor quality, linked back to the plant, machines, and workers who produced the actual engine, so that if a pattern of problems emerged (specific casting flaw, specific loose bolt, etc) they could track it back and find the source.

If they kept any records beyond the first year or two, it does not appear that anyone is aware of their existence.

- Eric

 

It's as good a theory as any I've ever heard. Agreed that record keeping is a great hindsight. Unfortunate situation. Wonder why Olds never kept the records that Chev, Pontiac and Buick did. A ponder for another thread I think.

 

Hmm, all interesting. Thanks everyone!!

 

As most of you know I've been working on inventorying everything that came with my new project and ran across this thing. I don’t even know if this is part of my 1969 Cutlass so I’m putting it to the group for review. The question for today is “Whaaaat is it”

 

That's some kind of a wheelchair ramp for a van.

- Eric

 

Not part of any Oldsmobile I've ever seen.

 

[QUOTE=69Cuttynoob;859353 I don’t even know if this is part of my 1969 Cutlass so I’m putting it to the group for review. The question for today is “Whaaaat is it”[/QUOTE]May I suggest you provide a 'scale' for measuring the size of that piece? Can't tell anything about it's dimensions from that pic.

 

Sure you can.

Look at the standard-sized latch bolts and the standard-sized desk hinge / stop.



- Eric

 

Although I think it would be cool to have a wheel chair access in a 1969 Cutlass but I was told “Don’t throw anything away until you know what it is and don’t need it. I was thinking that it might be a cover for the hydraulic motor for the top but I can’t find any references. Here is another picture with dimensional references.

 

Here's the other side.

 

It's still a wheelchair ramp.

- Eric

 

Or a small generator tray for an RV. But kinda light gauge metal for either options mentioned. Maybe a 1-2K gen set at best. Or a midget wheelchair ramp...oops sorry I meant to say a smaller persons chair. The mystery continues....An thats a nice shot of an original floor pan for a stick.

 

Good point. Or a slide-out battery tray for two batteries.

- Eric