1969 Oldmobile W30

[442w30]

I just tried looking up the difference in engines, including camshafts, in the AMA guide and it's from 7/68 and the W-32 had yet to be introduced.

[earntaz]

The 30's and 31's were kind of a factory balanced and blueprinted engine, as much as could be done in that setting.

John - believe you're right ... called "select fit" engines? TAZ

[bigsixman]

I have an nos 1969 Olds 4 speed W-30 short block in the crate in my garage and it is factory balanced and it has the 308 degree cam installed. I have read the info that they were select fitted components, but I cannot tell by looking at it. It appears that all the internal components have different colored paint markings on them and they may indicate different clearances.

[Canuck]

Machining produced engines with bores that were identified as A, B, C, and D as were Pistons. select fit engines got D bores and A Pistons for best even tolerances. Additionally the nickel content of the block played a part. Olds identified this content with a code on the back of the block near the crank. Codes ranged from F1 to F7. W30 and 31 blocks should have a high nickel content like an F2 to F4 at the low end. I have an NOS 71 W30 short block and it has F3 and I can see the letter A stamped on the bottom of the piston.