1970 w30 4spd questions

**black69** · #1 01-19-2009, 11:50 PM

helping my friend with a bunch of old barn cars selling them, and the red w30 he has does have the paper on the radiator that show w30. does that account for any proof that is worth anything as far as documentation? I am thinking it does, I don't see why not. Probably nobody considers it paperwork, but it clear states w30 on it.

car is a red car, with white interior.

I asked him if there was a high redline tach for a w30 and neither him nor I know.

its got its original 4spd with vin. motor is not original. has the correct cool intake and aircleaner. not sure about heads or exhaust manifolds.

has rust bubbling here and there. old polyglass from the 70s still on it. has the red inner fenders.

would he be better parting the parts out and selling it as a plain cutlass if he can't prove its a w30 car? That intake looks pretty neat as I am not an oldsmobile guy. The inner fenders are mint. would they be held on a certain way with certain bolts if they were installed originally?

does the one piece of paper under the hood saying w30 account for anything? all previous owners say it was a w30 but engine block was blown up racing it.

I think he paid $15-18k years ago and I am just trying to help him get out of it minimizing a loss. any advice welcome, especially on determining wheterh it was a real w30.

442w30 · #2 01-20-2009, 01:38 AM

Even though I own one, I'm not an expert, so take it FWIW.

I don't know about the radiator thingie, but let's assume it's true - so what? If the engine is not original, who's to say the radiator is original? You need more to go by. Start off with the VIN - all W-30s were built in Lansing (M).

**black69** · #3 01-20-2009, 04:11 AM

got, will check the vin and decode off the internet if it was built in lansing mi. thanks.

w-31olds · #4 01-20-2009, 06:22 AM

Your best bet would be to find a broadcast card. It's a 4x8" card usually found under one of the front seats in the springs under the seat bottom.

**SmallHurst** · #5 01-20-2009, 07:00 AM

If it is not an 'M' built car, if it does not have 'F' Heads, W and Z exhaust manifolds, then you don't even have to start. Vintage red fenders, old polys, the correct intake, heads, carb and air breather, are good markers. Enough to investigate!

**black69** · #6 01-20-2009, 08:15 AM

thanks for the tips, we looked under the rear seats and found nothing. will check the fronts and look for a small 'target'.

**PeteLeathersac** · #7 01-20-2009, 04:15 PM

If it's a bucket car, make sure to pull the seat backsides off and check there also under dash incl. top of glovebox too..

Good luck!.

~ Pete

**black69** · #8 01-20-2009, 10:23 PM

it is a m code car, step 1. that was good. did not look in buckets or dash. maybe the card is there.
he got some extra engines with it as it was drag raced in indiana, near indy. car has headers and wrong heads.

**Stefano** · #9 01-21-2009, 02:49 AM

Other Clues:

No A/C for 1970 W30 4 speeds. W30's had specific rear gears so the wrong axle tube stamp will be a big clue.

On original Sheet metal Cars the inside of the Front Fenders towards the front of the car will usually have W30 written in Crayon so that the W30 emblem holes were properly punched on the line.

w-31olds · #10 01-21-2009, 03:23 AM

unless you have the extremly rare w-27 aluminum axle carrier the rear end code stamping should be TM or TO for a 1970 w-30. The car should also have manual disk brakes.