New owner of a 69 442 W30 powered 64 Cutlass
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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New owner of a 69 442 W30 powered 64 Cutlass
Just picked the car up a few weeks ago. We ran the numbers on the block and heads and found out its a 442 W30 motor in the car. I have no idea why someone would use that motor in this car. I came on this page hoping to find someone that could tell me the value of that motor.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 369
From: United States
What numbers did you "run" to find out it's a 69 W30?
There is no way to document an engine block as being from a W30 without actually having the car if came from and documentation such as a build sheet with the W30 code on it. Otherwise the car can be faked and so long as it's a Lansing built car it can be claimed to be a W30 all day long with no paperwork to back it up.
What heads are on the car? If they are C heads then they are just run of the mill heads and could even be small valve heads. There is no way to know for sure unless you actually remove the heads and measure the valves.
W30 heads in 1969 were D castings with a casting number surrounding the center exhaust ports of 400 370 and are exceedingly rare and hyper expensive.
The block from a 1969 442 would be a "G" block with a casting number of 396026 on the shelf behind the water pump.
There is no way to document an engine block as being from a W30 without actually having the car if came from and documentation such as a build sheet with the W30 code on it. Otherwise the car can be faked and so long as it's a Lansing built car it can be claimed to be a W30 all day long with no paperwork to back it up.
What heads are on the car? If they are C heads then they are just run of the mill heads and could even be small valve heads. There is no way to know for sure unless you actually remove the heads and measure the valves.
W30 heads in 1969 were D castings with a casting number surrounding the center exhaust ports of 400 370 and are exceedingly rare and hyper expensive.
The block from a 1969 442 would be a "G" block with a casting number of 396026 on the shelf behind the water pump.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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I guess we got some of our information crossed. It definitely has the 396026 G on the block and the heads are a C casting and what we looked up said it would be a W30. I guess we were wrong. I'm assuming that its not going to be a W30 just because of it's obscurity. What would a run of the mill 69 442 motor be worth? Would we be better off pulling it out to sell and sticking a 455 in its place? The car is not even remotely original and it's just going to be a fun cruiser to beat on.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 369
From: United States
Well even if it were in when it came out of the factory the heads are long gone.
The G 400s are kinda the red headed step child of big blocks because they are way under-square (long stroke with small bore) and are kinda known for going boom if you over rev them.
I think you'd be happier with a 455 just because of the torque they produce. The 400 is perfect for someone looking to put either a 68 or 69 442 back to stock for a resto. But that will be the only place you'll get any money for it.
Don't get me wrong it's not a terrible engine, just don't over rev it and you'll be in good shape.
The G 400s are kinda the red headed step child of big blocks because they are way under-square (long stroke with small bore) and are kinda known for going boom if you over rev them.
I think you'd be happier with a 455 just because of the torque they produce. The 400 is perfect for someone looking to put either a 68 or 69 442 back to stock for a resto. But that will be the only place you'll get any money for it.
Don't get me wrong it's not a terrible engine, just don't over rev it and you'll be in good shape.
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