1975 Hurst Olds W-30 Build

Hawk03 wrote:The more I look at these cars, the more I like them. It looks pretty solid.

FumiyoG3 wrote:I've always loved those cars, Bill.  Looks like a great project.    Good luck!!!

Iggy wrote:That looks like a solid car to me, but I am from Michigan.  As for Olds info, ask away, as much as I know about Chevy's I seem to know about Olds and Pontiacs!  The factory heads from that time frame were not good performance heads, most I have seen were "J" heads, the earlier GA, G (71/72) and E (1970) are better flowing heads.  The W30 F & H heads are hard to come by as are the "D" heads used on the early H/O cars.  The best flowing stock heads are the "C" heads used from 67-69 on the 425's and 454's.

g3chevy wrote:

Hawk03 wrote:The more I look at these cars, the more I like them. It looks pretty solid.

This is not my first choice as far as Cutlasses go, but it's definitely a cool project. My first choice would have be a 75 442 or a 74 Hurst Olds since both have the fast back roof line. Just like the Ride Of The Week!

g3chevy wrote:How's your steering column working? Get all the bugs worked out?

Iggy wrote:Engine looks good!  PM me anytime, my knowledge is no good if I do not share it!  As for heads, look locally in ads for cars.  About 10 years ago I found a 1969 Olds 98 for $100 - pulled the engine and trans, then scrapped the car ($300 for scrap), sold the TH400 for $100 and spend $30 cleaning and crack checking the heads (the exhaust manifolds were cracked).  Heads checked out as did the block which also had a nodular crank (another plus for an Olds).  By the time I sold the engine parts including the intake (same casting # as a W30) I was $1,000 ahead!

Olds varied compression via piston dish, Pontiac via head chamber size.  Olds 4bbl 455's came with larger valves, the 2bbl 455 came with smaller valves and larger dish for the piston.  in 1971 all 455's went with the larger dish piston to keep the compression around 8:1.  Hope this kind of info helps.

g3chevy wrote:How's your steering column working? Get all the bugs worked out?

Its great! No sound and turns with ease. When I had it a part this spring I must have messed up the turn signal harness, I have to manually cancel the signal after I make the turn. Not enough of an issue to make me tear it apart again. I was able to get the horn working a couple of weeks ago. First time I have been able to get it to work since putting it back together a few years ago. It sounds like an old cat meowing but at least it works.

77camino wrote:g3chevy, don’t want to hi jack your thread, but are the lights in the El Camino bumper and 73 tail pan(hanging on the wall) lit or is that just a reflection from the garage lights. If so, how do you have them wired?

73ss wrote:That is a nice project g3. Looks like it is all there. What did that come with from the factory for exhaust? Single or dual? Does it have or did it have a CAT from the factory?

Iggy wrote:Just for information - big block Olds headers usually do not fit that chassis.  If you can find some 1970 W30 exhaust manifolds you could fit a dual exhaust and look stock without the fitment issues of headers.

73ss wrote:Hard to believe all those cubes had to breath through a primitive convertor. I was wondering if Hurst/Olds found a loophole with the feds.