View Full Version : 71 442 W30 - Two Plate Clutch? Interesting...
csx289
06-12-2005, 09:29 PM
I just bought a 71 442 W30, incredibly original 20k mile car, from the second owner. It is an M-22 4 speed car, and on the original window sticker an option listed is "Clutch, Heavy Duty Two Plate" .
The car has the original clutch and has never been apart, so I am wondering what to expect? They made 247 W30 4 speeds in 71, has anybody seen this option on one before, or any other Oldsmobiles for that matter? I can't recall Pontiac offering a dual disc clutch, but I could have missed that as well.
I know Chevy had a similar option (code KE?) ,and had seen the option listed in Olds books but never on a car.
Anybody have any history or coments on it? Curious to hear from the Olds guys!
Thanks,
Colin
Keith Tedford
06-13-2005, 04:30 AM
When we were first pricing our COPO Chevelles, the dual disc clutch was about a $95 option. Never saw a car with one though. It should be just the ticket for launching one of those big torque engines with slicks.
I agree: Two of those units recently sold on ebay, one used and one NOS, both by the same seller.
Lynn
I'm not familiar with the option for Oldsmobile. Will pictures of the car be on your website? I'm an Olds fan.
csx289
06-13-2005, 06:45 AM
Hey Tim,
I will eventually get some pictures up on my site - need to post some cars that are for sale before I post the ones that aren't!
One of my first cars was a 71 W30 convert, my buddy still owns it and it is stored in my building. The car I just bought is not a convert, but really cool - I love it! Black with white stripes, unrestored, grease pencil marks still on the valve covers... I'll let you know when I get some pictures. Feels good to have a W Machine again!
Colin
442w30
06-13-2005, 06:52 AM
I think the only cars to have this option was the Olds and the Vette. It's a very desireable option.
csx289
06-13-2005, 06:57 AM
Have you ever seen another? Any factory literature on it out there? The Olds guys I know have never even heard of it.
442w30
06-13-2005, 08:00 AM
The Olds guys should know better. Check out some old road tests or 1971 intro features and you'll find it there.
olredalert
06-13-2005, 08:21 AM
------Having had a couple of dual-disc clutch Corvettes and driven others as well, I can tell you that they are pretty much bullet-proof. Oh yes,,,, I have abused them. Easy pedal too. I have always thought they were just about the perfect clutch, at least for me, anyway!...........Bill S
retengw31
06-13-2005, 04:16 PM
I'm thinking that dual disc option was only available on Olds in 1970 and 1971. Lots of clutch warranty back then. The 1968 W31's used a 11 inch Scheiffer unit (with a GM part number assigned)that took a leg like a Sumo wrestler to drive in traffic. I think the only other GM production application for that clutch was the big 427 Vette (L88?) around then (1968). Needed it for the high RPM uses. It was not used on the W30's or any other Olds back then. Not sure if 1969 and 1970 W31's also used that Scheiffer unit. Don't think the dual disc option was ever used on the W31.
The dual disc was a sweet one to drive as the pedal pressure was low like a standard clutch, but would hold up. Remember seeing cars built with it, but have no facts or figures.
MosportGreen66
06-13-2005, 05:47 PM
You guys talking about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4552461936&category=34 208
442w30
06-13-2005, 07:25 PM
Dave, I think the first year for the Olds is '71.
[ QUOTE ]
You guys talking about this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4552461936&category=34 208
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes.
And this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...ssPageName=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=34208&item=4554467 334&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)
I think the used one was a bargain. Any good clutch shop could rebuild the discs.
Lynn
Looking forward to seeing some pictures of your car, Colin.
Do you happpen to know anything about the '66 Shelby that had to be cut up as a result of the serious accident at Road America last month? I heard the driver is doing better.
retengw31
06-14-2005, 03:53 AM
You're probably right, Diego. Did it carryover to 1972? Everybody had given up on the performance side about that time and was concentrating on emissions. We all kinda lost interest at that point.
442w30
06-14-2005, 05:18 AM
Not sure about '72, but I'd bet yes.
warpath
06-16-2005, 06:00 PM
Colin:
Your car would not be red by chance?
I had a ‘71 red, black int. W30 4sp with the duel disk clutch option.
Sold it in ’94 and at the time had 21K miles on it.
The clutch option was code W37. Available in ‘71 and ’72.
They were duel 10” disks. (Very impressive pedal feel)
Had mine apart a few times for motor issues.
If you have to take them apart, get a splined shaft to line the disks up.
The std old broom handle or round aligning tools do not work that well.
I attached the page from the 71 service manual.
Brian
LS6 RAT
06-17-2005, 03:52 AM
I was the second highest bidder on that NOS clutch set-up. The dual plate clutch set-up was invented/designed by Chevrolet engineer Gib Hufstader, the option was known as MA-6 option for Chevrolet. It was an option for Corvette and Camaro in 1969, however I only know that 102 units were fitted to 1969 Corvettes with option L-71/L89 engines. This option became standard equipment on all manual transmissioned 1971 LS-6 Corvettes. There were 188 LS-6 Corvettes built, with an additional 12 ordered with ZR-2 option, of those 188 cars, some were M40 equipped, so we do not know exactly how many clutches were used, we know there were 110 M22 LS-6's, the other 78 cars are split between M21 and M40 transmissions.
Does anyone have documented proof of any MA-6 equipped Camaros?
I never knew that Oldsmobile offered this clutch set-up. This is quite fascinating to me!
442w30
06-17-2005, 08:18 AM
Good-god! Now the Chevy people are gonna jack the prices up on 1971 W-30s!
LS6 RAT
06-20-2005, 07:24 AM
Mossportgreen66 and Lynn:
I guess the top bidder flaked on the NOS unit. I received an e-mail from I guess the owner, it wasn't from the seller on e-bay, that if I wanted it, I could have it at my bid. Although the bid amount of mine was higher than he quoted. Item said to be in SF, which I took to be in CA. The e-mail came from NY and the seller said he was in the UK on business and that he could have his wife ship it from there. The whole story didn't sound quite right. I passed.
Jeff Murphy
06-20-2005, 03:44 PM
Good call. Frank diHartce is the seller. Definitely San Francisco.
njsteve
06-20-2005, 06:04 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Mossportgreen66 and Lynn:
I guess the top bidder flaked on the NOS unit. I received an e-mail from I guess the owner, it wasn't from the seller on e-bay, that if I wanted it, I could have it at my bid. Although the bid amount of mine was higher than he quoted. Item said to be in SF, which I took to be in CA. The e-mail came from NY and the seller said he was in the UK on business and that he could have his wife ship it from there. The whole story didn't sound quite right. I passed.
[/ QUOTE ]
That had scam written all over it! Nice catch.
Absolutely a scam. Looks like the "new Nigeria" is the UK. Although I have checked out a couple of emails supposedly from the UK, and they turned out to be from the Netherlands. I have my email account set up to always reveal the IP address of incoming. You can go to this site and track the IP address.
http://arul.telenet-systems.com/track.html
If they are lying about location, then it's probably a scam.
Contact Frank and see if the high bidder came through. He is a good guy to work with and very knowledgeable.
Lynn
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.