This started out as just an interesting Oldsmobile on Craigslist that caught my attention. I created a thread describing it and a couple members here suggested I check to see if it might have the W34 option. I found it has the OM transmission and upon further inspection the engine and transmission both have the correct vin derivative that match the car. I'm still looking at numbers to see what's original to the car and what isn't, but decided to create this thread sharing what I find. I'm far from an expert with these cars and would appreciate any feedback from members as to what looks right and what looks to have been changed over the years. I'm not sure what my plans are for the car, but unless I find catastrophic rust somewhere I believe it should be saved and restored. John

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More pictures

Carb code looks as I expected
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The distributor code doesn't match my reference. It keys out as from a 1968 Hurst Olds with heavy duty cooling. Anybody able to shed some light on this?
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The interior needs help! Although I was pleased the dash pad has no cracks in it. I was also surprised to not see a tilt/tele wheel. It does have power windows and power strato bench seat.
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Due to the stains on the back seat I think its likely the rear windshield leaks
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It has dash magnates from several events in 1994-96
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That's a keeper!

If you are patient, you will find a cheap interior in better shape. Love the car.

 

Nice find John, does your parts car have the parts you think it might need ?

 

Curious what that sensor on the exhaust manifold is for?

 

there is a simialr '69 not-W34 parts? car near Lansing MI on CL at this time. White buckets = non-original interior but seats look better.

https://lansing.craigslist.org/bar/4967904275.html

"Seeing what's out there for trade. Car does need work to it and is not running currently (needs starter or alternator) won't turn over. Don't know a lot about cars. engine is a 455 big block less then 2000miles on motor. "

ph 517..402.1812

evidently folks is too lazy to even put dots or hyphens in phone #'s anymore so I added the dots.

Pretty sure I have seen this around for years, not much chance of two of this interior. And red exterior. And crusty.

Thanks for the great hi-res photos

DISC BRAKES!

What is the code inked on that air cleaner?

PN database says the '1936 dist'r is for
1969 Oldsmobile Toronado w/400HP 455;
1968 F-85 HURST w/AC;
1968 Toronado w/o UHV [transistor ignition]

 

Thank you for the lead Chris, but I do have a couple parts car stashed at a friends shop. I purchased these a few months back, one 1968 and one 1969. This '69 also has disc brakes plus the tilt tele that the W34 doesn't. I don't remember how nice the interiors are in the parts cars, but I probably can combine the best parts between them. I'll have to check the air cleaner and if it has a readable ink code I'll post it. John

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Neat find! The references I have show a 1111468 distributor for '68 H/O without A/C, and a 1111289 with A/C. The '1936 distributor is not listed in '442 by the numbers' for 65-72 442s or H/O's.

 

I googled the number and got that off the Canadian master parts catalog on Oldsmobility.com I'm open to other references that members might come up with. John

 

I missed your reference last time. Yes this is what I was hoping for when I was checking references. Thanks Chris!

 

That is my PN database in Excel format
its sources... are varied
I try to stick to factory paper or CD PN Manuals but ad descriptions and whatnot also end up in there.

The above info is noted as coming from an epay ad:

ebay seller "s.m.d._ent"
with a BuyItNow price of $450 in 2012

So, what say we ck the PNM's for Gr. 2.361?

CD version goes back as far as 1970 listings... nope, fairly useless PN manual, as usual, being printed 1975.

'1936 is not listed in the paper copy of 66-67-68 Parts.
But, I did find this nugget... the '470 UHV dist'r I long sought and paid dearly for, is NOT FOR MY CAR- it is for

1968 Auto Trans w/o OAI.

For 1968 AT w/OAI, the '290 is listed... which I have the NOS one of. Hot damn.

ok, on to the 1972 paper manual for the '1936 dist'r listing...

but wait, the 11/72 paper PNM asserts that the '290/'470 use is as follows:
'470 is for two listings:
68 400-4bbl-AT-exc. OAI;
68 400 w/OAI and w/UHV [duh]; <== my car DOES require the '470 dist'r

1111290 is listed as proper for one app: 68 400-4bbl-ST w/UHV [duh] exc/ OAI. <== wrong trans and wrong OAI-ness for my car.

So the two best paper manuals cannot agree on the applications for these parts. So, I am keeping my '470 UHV spark thrower.

OK, on to '1936 as set forth in the 1972 PPNM:

"68 F85 Hurst C.A.C.;
68 455 Eng. Police, Tor. Perf. Eng. exc. U.H.V.;
69 455 Eng. 455 Perf. Eng. exc. F85 Hurst"

btw in entering this data I strive to copy *exactly* what the paper manual has, with all the capitalization and punctuation exactly as found, even typos. I do add the semicolon between apps to serve as a separator. "C.A.C." of course is what we regular folks call "A/C" or Air Conditioning. I believe manual-speak is abbreviation for "Car Air Conditioning" which seems a little redundant, of course it's AC for THE CAR, why else would the CAR MAKER be concerned with it? Why stop there? it's also for a Running Car, right, so, "RCAC"... but only when hot outside, so, "RCACWHO" should have been used. Oh wait, we had to type a period after every letter with our mechanical typewriter back then, so... "R.C.A.C.W.H.O." But, I digress...

So, what I consider to be the best available source of PN application info - the 11/72 paper version- shows that your 1969 Perf. Eng. 455 should have the 1111936 dist'r unless installed in the F85 Hurst. Plus, there it is, in your pretty much undisturbed car. Case closed.

Note please that "F85" has no hyphen according to this piece of factory literature.

 

From the 1972 Parts Manual:

1111936:

68 F85 Hurst C.A.C.
68 455 Eng. Police, Tor. Perf. Eng. exc. UHV

69 455 Eng. 4BC Perf. Eng. exc. F85 Hurst


The '69 CSM gives the following specs:

..............Engine.............................. .. Distributor.............................. Vacuum and Mechanical Advance
.............................................Part Number...Vacuum Unit...........Vacuum Advance...........Mechanical Advance
.................................................. .........................................@ Inches of Vacuum......... @ Distributor RPM

455 H.C. (With Option W-34)...... .1111936........1973408.........Start....8 to 10 In. Hg...............0°-2...........550
.................................................. ........................................12°....18½ to 20½ In. Hg........5°-7°........1000
.................................................. .................................................. .................................9°-11°......1800

Interestingly, the '68 CSM gives the same specs, but for Part # 1111469.



- Eric

edit: beat me to it, Chris!

 

What is the code inked on that air cleaner?


Chris, it looks like the code may have been a label rather than ink stamp. Here's pictures of the air cleaner. Previous owner painted pie pan gold, it doesn't look like the air cleaner itself has been repainted. John

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John, I'd say you have a winner!! Congrats. I cannot believe that I was right, but I had a feeling about that car... I see so few without vinyl tops, that it's always a good idea to check them. So many of the '69 W-34s have disappeared, because they don't have any of the common "tells" like the bumper cut outs on the '68s.
If you peddle it, make sure it gets into the hands of a Toronado collector. (Me for instance..
Jerry

 

"Thank you for the lead Chris, but I do have a couple parts car stashed at a friends shop. I purchased these a few months back, one 1968 and one 1969. This '69 also has disc brakes plus the tilt tele that the W34 doesn't. I don't remember how nice the interiors are in the parts cars, but I probably can combine the best parts between them. I'll have to check the air cleaner and if it has a readable ink code I'll post it. John"
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So, you have a 68 Toro parts car?

why not provide this guy the dash part he needs?

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...s-68-toro.html

 

I posted on the thread you provided a link to. John

 

Jerry, I haven't decided what to do with the W34 yet. I've got several project cars waiting in the wings so at this time its in line behind them. I've just been collecting parts for the projects and keep telling my buds that when I retire I'll never be bored. But the possibility of retirement is still five years or so away. If I decide to not restore this car I will certainly find a Toronado fan to pass it onto and keep you in mind as the first in line. John

 

Thanks John. I'm glad it will get restored. Too many of these are getting parted out for Cutlass projects. Not that there is anything wrong with Cutlass projects, but these Ws are an equally important, and overlooked special Oldsmobile in it's own right.
Please keep me in mind.
Cheers, Jerry