Gesell23 said:
I have an opportunity to buy an 85 cutlass with a 455. Owner claims it's a 72 from a wagon and it's a w-30.
He also says he has dumped in 4000 into the motor and it's running 425hp.
Is this possible?
What are some specs this could really have? Are there any tell tail signs it could be a w-30?
If that WAS a real W30 engine I would be very surprised. I say was because the block on a W30 isn't that special other than the select fit process at GM. It's the special factory intake, heads, carb, cam, exhaust manifolds, etc that make a W30 what it is. Anyone that knows the value of a real, unmolested W30 wouldnt have put the mickey mouse aftermarket Edelbrock intake on it. A real W30 intake manifold alone will bring $1000 or more for someone restoring a real W30 car. Based on your description, all the W30 goodies are gone....too bad.
I ran across a guy in my areas selling a ragged out 84'
Hurst Olds that suppossedly had a W30 in it. It turned out being a run of the mill smog motor with J heads. The guy had no clue what a W30 motor was.
Here is some info that helped me a couple of years ago when I scored 455 with real W30 parts on it.
Heads on a 70 or 71 W30 motor are rare and very valuable if they are not cracked. A 72' motor will have Ga heads which are common(used on almost every 1972 455.
Nothing on the block will identify it as a W30 block. The VIN derivitive should have an M in it, indicating it was installed in a car at the Lansing M plant. The block should have stampings indicating select fit building process unless its been rebuilt.
I hope this helps....