70 Olds 442 W-30

[Bahnz70]

Do we have any experts on these - I really am fond of these cars and am looking at a 1970 442 W-30 project right now. What are these cars worth that are in need of total resto? and how do you verify it is real? Also what would be a correct motor 455? transmission T10? Muncie? How do I find out if they are numbers matching to the car?
Thanks for any additional input!!

[tryconcom]

Dear BAHNZ,I believe I can help you as I restored a 70 W-30 in the late80's. A correct 70 w-30 will have a 455cu inch engine with the casting letter F cast into the block in the front on top where the oil filler goes. Correct 70 w30 heads will have the letter F cast on front of left head and on rear of right head. The transmission will either be a hd 400 turbo or muncie 4spd. car Must have RED plastic fenderwells. All 1970 w-30s were built in Lansing, Michigan so letter M must appear in VIN.BTW, if original engine is still installed, VIN will be stamped on a small pad just below the left drivers side head. This pad is part of the block and not part of the head.FYI, if car was ordered with power brakes, the real hot 328degree cam was not installed.My car was a 4spd/manual disc car, it idled like a coffee grinder full of rocks-bodacious!!Also, the partsplaceinc is now reproing the original alum intake and exhaust manifolds so that should not be a problem.Good luck on your resto-they were and still are phonominmal cars-cars to be reckoned with at a stop light-Rick Kenney.

[Lynn]

I remember doing a tune up on one of these in the mid 70's. What a car. Took it on the usual road test coarse. At 120 my head was still being pushed back against the headrest.

Name withheld to protect the guilty. (yeah, I know, my signature is still posted)

[Bahnz70]

Thanks for the input - I did not check the numbers when I was there but I do know the guy has a fresh 455 hooked to T-10 transmission. There was a muncie there too and he did have the correct aluminum intake. The 70 442 is a basket case and he has a 70 cutlass there too that seems like a solid parts car. What do you suppose the mess is worth? Looks to me like a Blue car with Black interior?

[RAIVJudge]

I have a couple myself. What was mention above is correct. Red fender well...F-heads...ect. The big thing on these cars is documentation. The Lansing plant didnt seem to leave many buildsheets in the cars. Usually if you got lucky you found a broadcast card in the interior. See attached. This card noted W-30 and had the fisher body number on it. Just like all musclecars these days the correct parts are expensive so factor that into the price. If this car has no W-30 parts and no buildsheet then your price should reflect that. A complete documented 70 W-30 hardtop, 4 speed needing restoration will run you between 12k-20K depending on condition. No documentation, no W-30 parts deduct at least 50%. My opinion.

[Canuck]

In addition to the previously submitted info the correct trans for 70 will be a Muncie M20 or m21. Standard trans cars are hard to verify as there is no stamped code specific to a w-30. A build card or sheet is a must but are also inconsistant as to location and availalility. Rear ends were unique to W-30, look for a TM (3.42)Standard or TO (3.91) optional or one of the two same gears in a aluninum W27 case. These cars are easy to clone. Get as much info as you car and e-mail me PM if you need further info. A restoration candidate will fetch $12-$20,000 based on completenees and authenticity. Restored ones have reached $70,000 recently.

[Fhakya]

Found the web site w/ the repo Manifold:
Thepartsplaceinc

The price doesn't seem too out of whack considering tooling costs etc.. Anyone compared one to an original?