Was over on 442.com yesterday and saw a thread on "how many made?/in existence?" so I am going to start a campaign to track down as many of these things as possible. Not a "registry" at this point---mainly I would like to come up with a running tally of these as I find them along with a gear ratio/rear end code stamping tally. No names, addresses, other personal info will be divulged (unless you tell me to). I have posted over on the "General Discussion" section of ROP and hopefully the "Parts Wanted" ad I submitted over on 442.com will appear (not really a parts wanted as I'm not in the market for one--but figured that was a good place to give it a try). I will periodically post the count and may give some brief info on what kind of car it's under(without getting too specific). If you guys can help I would definitely appreciate it. Thanks, Patton
Buicklawyer has one with the 5.13 ratio. He had another NOS on display not in a car. You would have to ask him the ratio of that one.
Thanks very much Jim---I will ask him and will post results here periodically. I think he takes the record for the steepest gears ever put in a W27! Patton
Patton, I have friends with His and Hers, Agean Aqua '70 W-30 and W-31. You might know them. They are not active in the internet Olds world, so I'll post for them. The W-31 has a W-27 rear. I believe it has 3.91 gears. I can get more specifics if you need them.
BlackGold, I know those cars! Absolutely beautiful pair. I remember them from the Olds Centennial in '97 and I saw them again in '02. Almost as good as Buicklawyers UPS 442! :TU:
Brian: I also remember those two cars. First saw them at an NMCA race in 1992 at Martin (back when it was a snake farm). They are gorgeous, and glad they're still together. Partial to that color, too. Patton: Dale Smith sent lots of those aluminum W27's out to the drag teams (testing and development, right? :laugh: ) and I wouldn't be surprised with any wacko ratio like JEA has in his. They unfortunately didn't hold up too well under severe abuse. My friend, John Pirochta, designed that W27 cover, and did a lot of the work detailing on the W27 itself. I worked with him a few years earlier in the transmission design group. He and his brother, Fred, ran a D altered Model A coupe with a flathead at that time. (It was named "Lil Whine-O, ran 14's). Fred was the service Manager at University Olds (thanks goodness for all the warranty work I got covered on the Ramrod), and also is/(was?) a senior judge in OCA. John also had a 32 5 window coupe with a 327/365 Corvette drive train in it as his cruiser. He kept the old Hallibrand quick change rear from the old days in his mind when he designed the cover. Dave
Brian-- Yes, please follow up for me as I want to get as accurate as possible in this count(ie the axle stamped code as well as the gears that are currently in the rear--for example, I have a SZ stamped{3.91} W27 that a prior owner had 3.42s put into). Names, etc obviously help (Have them call me or give me a number and I will call them). Once again, I am aiming for accuracy(sounds kind of redundant---maybe G Bush could use that line in the debates tonight).....not just an estimate as anyone can make an estimate. Why am I doing this?....for informational purposes.....as more people get into this "hobby" we need to develop better information. The Corvette guys seem to know pretty much every arcane fact about their cars so why not us? Heck, maybe a website or at least an informational piece can be put together with some history, facts, features, etc focusing specifically on this unique differential. The people and resources are out and easily accessible thanks to people like you, Dave, Jim, etc and websites like this one so I may as well utilize this to get some more useful info assembled. Once again, thanks guys for the help and keep the info coming. Patton
Small world. I was at that NMCA race in '92 at Martin. That was right about when I first got into this hobby. The His and Hers W-31/30 can be bought, but only as as pair. My friends don't do the show circuit any more. Got sick of know-it-alls telling them that something wasn't correct on their cars. The Centennial was a special exception, and somehow I dragged them back to Lansing Saturday-only in '02. Now all their time, energy, and money goes into a 7-second Camero :shock: they race. Too bad that speed is so addicting; the Oldses would make excellent PSMCDR candidates. Patton, I'll see if they're willing to share more info.
Hobby? You've been in this for 12 years and it's still a hobby? I call it a Passion. I'm 2 years from my 50th anniversary of building hot rods. It became a passion long ago. Hauling corpses is a hobby!
W-27 cars The yellow post coupe that Gerry referred to on his post on ROP is a 3.91 car with 4 speed. I have spoken with both the original and current owners. I haven't registered on ROP so I am posting my 2 cents here. I havent come accross nay others that I can vouch for.
Paul--Thanks very much for the info on that W27---I am still tracking these things down. I think the "easy" ones have been found (ie-people that will readily respond to this thread and the one on ROP), now comes the phone calling and real digging. Thanks and I will post preliminary results. Patton
