W31 or not?
#1
W31 or not?
Engine question; how can I tell for sure if my engine is a W31 or a plain 350? It has the 4 bbl Q-jet and cast iron intake, but that could have been an easy swap. The heads have the "5" casting. I've read that there were only two Olds 350s in '69; a 2 bbl with 9.0:1 compression and a 4 bbl with 10.25:1 compression. I suspect my Cutlass's engine originally had a 2 bbl. I can't remember the seriel # above the timing cover, but I recall it having three consecutive 5s in it.
Any comments/advice?
- GoldOlds
Any comments/advice?
- GoldOlds
#2
Engine question; how can I tell for sure if my engine is a W31 or a plain 350? It has the 4 bbl Q-jet and cast iron intake, but that could have been an easy swap. The heads have the "5" casting. I've read that there were only two Olds 350s in '69; a 2 bbl with 9.0:1 compression and a 4 bbl with 10.25:1 compression. I suspect my Cutlass's engine originally had a 2 bbl. I can't remember the seriel # above the timing cover, but I recall it having three consecutive 5s in it.
Any comments/advice?
- GoldOlds
Any comments/advice?
- GoldOlds
There is an easy way to prove it's NOT a W-31, however. Check the VIN derivative located on the front driver's side of the block. It should be a nine character stamped number. The first character is always a 3 for Oldsmobile division. The second character is the year and will be a 9 for a 1969 motor. The third character is a letter designating the build plant. All W-31 motors were built in Lansing, which would be designated by the letter M. If this third character is anything other than an M, the motor CAN'T be a W-31. Of course, Olds made lots of non-W motors in Lansing, so the fact that it IS an M doesn't prove anything, but a non-M can disprove it.
#3
thanks!
Thanks, Joe, much appreciated. Where can I find a list of the available hp/tq ratings and codes for all the different Olds 350s in '69? I'd like to know what sort of performance this engine started off with. It doesn't look or sound very heavily modified - cast iron intake, plain ol' Q-jet, no headers etc. With the exception of the Taylor wires and Edelbrock breather and valve covers, it looks bone stock.
- GoldOlds
- GoldOlds
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