Joe Janos' (JOZW30) 1972 W30... Wow!

[Xplantdad]

Thought I'd send in a few pics of my recently finished Olds.

No real thrilling story about the car necessarily. I am an Olds fan, have been my whole life (although there was that semester in college I drove a Chrysler Cordoba, but I don't like to talk about that dark period in my life too much). Anyway, I sold a 68 Hurst/Olds about two years ago after completing a frame off resto on it. The car was too nice to drive really, so I made out pretty good selling it, and the car went to a good home.

I decide this time to build a driver, and I wanted a ram air 4-speed car (Olds obviously). The car I continue to lust after is a 1970 W30 or W31 in Aegean Aqua. It is a special order color, but there were a few made. Someday I'll find one.....

No luck finding anything to match that, I started opening up the year and color restrictions. 1970 W30 cars are just getting out of my price range, so after a couple of months I stumbled on this 1972 W30 4 speed on the internet and made the deal. It's one of 128 W30's exported to Canada in 72.

I made the mistake of paying an appraiser to inspect the car instead of flying out out see it myself. Other than the paint not being as nice as the seller or appraiser said it was, the only negative was that the block turned out not to be original, so I paid a bit more for the car than I should have. Some people in this hobby................

Had the car shipped straight to the paint shop where we tore it down right away. I took the motor home with me and over the winter rebuilt it, and re-finished all the other parts. I had the heads cleaned up, and installed an NOS 1970 W31 cam in the motor along with higher compression pistons. Think I'm around 9.5:1. Put a 2 1/2" Pypes exhaust system with the quietest mufflers they sell. Still quite a bit louder than stock, but I'm glad I did it.

This car is a blast to drive. The wife and I are finding local events every weekend now to go to. Got about 600 miles on it, so I'm just about ready to open her up a little and have some fun. I loved that 68 H/O, but this car is way more fun.

Thanks for letting me share!

Joe

[Dave Rifkin]

Beautiful car; one question though..........you put a W31 cam in a W30 car? I thought the W31 was a 350 and the W30 was a 455? I don't know a whole lot about Oldsmobiles so you'll have to forgive me if that's a stupid question.

[g503jeep]

All engines 1968 and up, 455 400 403 350 307 260, use the same lifter bank angle of 39°. the earlier engines
had 45 degree bank angle,same bank angle you can use the cam from any engine
you can put the same cam from any engine displament,after all their is no size diference externally ,like in a chevy big block or small block, i think the 455 is only noticed by a casting hump diferent than a small dispaclement

[kwhizz]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Nice Detail work..........Beautiful car.......

Ken

[JOZW30]

Thanks for the compliments, and it's definitely not a stupid question. The cams can be swapped between the 350, 400, and 455 (not sure about others).

I was really struggling trying to figure how to build this motor (my first one by myself). I wanted to wake up the de-tuned 72 a bit, but still be "drivable".

The W31 cam was pretty radical in the small block, But it seems to work really well in the 455. The car has a little bit of a rough idle, but is pretty smooth through the first half of the pedal. Seems to just come alive when you get past half way. I was a little woried about how that cam would behave, but it's really fun (old school all the way!)

[olredalert]

Joe,,,, Beautiful W30. I love the color. I brought my brothers 71 W30 home from the dealership brand new and they were just great cars. Rode and drove so nice. Unfortunatly he kind of ruined his with some bad choices as far as day-two stuff was concerned. Did 72 W30s not have the red inner fenders??? The 72s are just rare enough that I cant remember ever looking at one close up.........Bill S

[JOZW30]

Thanks Bill! The color is called Flame Orange. No red inner fenders for 72 (rumors are 10 early 72 W30s got the 71 left overs, but it would be tough to prove).

Still have a few little pieces-parts to replace or redo, and I'd really love to find a set of steel wheels. Although it sounds like everyone else is looking for them too.

[TimG]

Well, Joe, you've got my heart pumping now. Same color (Flame Orange) as the '72 442 I talked my mom into buying new when I was 16. Ours was a black interior, too. Man, that brings back memories. I'd love another one.

[71-LS6]

Joe, I love your car, what a ride. I had no idea that Oldsmobile ever offered an orange paint option like that. Did the 72's have a dual disc clutch assembly?

[JOZW30]

Steve,

No dual clutch (W-37 option code I think). Pretty rare option I think.

I do have the GM Canada paper work with all of the info on how the car let the factory.

Not too many options checked off at all on this one.