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Need Help Identifing


motorbreath460
04-27-2004, 02:42 PM
Okay guys here's the scoop, I was browsing the internet and heard that by the end of the week, Oldsmobile will be finished with all production. Back in the day my father had a Oldsmobile. I have heard so many stories about it, and we are trying to find it now, to see if it is even still around. So we can't even find a car that matches my father's description. He bought it used in 1970, a farmer bought it for his son and his son was drafted and killed in Nom. So the farmer hauled hay and chickens in this car. He sold the car to the dealership and my dad had a Volkswagen fastback (don't ask me why) and he wanted a replacement for his '69 Dart that a lady destroyed. He saw this bright orange car covered in mud and fell in love. He took it for a test drive and long story short he bought it. He describes it as a 1969 Oldmobile W-30, no 4-4-2 badges, 350BB, 350 hp & 350tq. 3 Speed TH-400, very high gears, guess was a 4.56 +/-. Hood scoops, black stripes only on hood, and no spoiler. I can't find any information on this model or anything about it. So if you guys could please help me, I would be much appreciative. Thanks.

MagicRat
04-27-2004, 09:12 PM
I am not sure about 1969, but in 1970 Olds offered this set up from the factory called the Rallye 350, although those gears must have been a special order or were converted after purchase.

Musclecarclub
04-28-2004, 04:10 AM
I don't think there was a 350 with the W-30 option in 1969. Also, didn't the TH-400 come with the 400? That would be closer to the 350 horsepower figure.

Drop Top
06-29-2004, 06:58 PM
My favorite small block Oldsmobile is the W-31. Produced from 1968-70 it is a 350 motor rated at 325HP. Could not be ordered with power brakes or A/C due to the low vacuum at idle. In a street start (rolling at 20-30 mph) a talented driver could win against a W-30. Documentation is very difficult to prove a true W-31. Look for 3.42 posi non a/c, manual brakes and all the W-30 goodies, ram air, extra frame braces, BIG engine balancer, much larger than the standard 350. These are the clues. Muscle Car Review had a small block shoot out some years ago. A W-31 took on all comers and put them away.

Brutus_5150
07-25-2004, 09:39 PM
The 69 W-31 also didn't have hood scoops (maybe air intake under the bumper) but the 70 did. My guess is it was probably a 69 F-85 or Cutlass S with the W-31.

Chickens and hay???? :grinno:

mike88
08-13-2004, 01:14 AM
W-31 was also known as a "ram rod 350"in 68 & maybe 69. Could be gotten on cutlass models,no 442 badges. Not sure about auto. trans., but it did have dual snorkel air cleaner w/under bumper scoops. Bright orange was probably a repaint.

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