[Jay S]

If I am remembering it right the W-30 code was actually the code for fresh air induction cars. If the 73 car had fresh air induction and was a 455 my guess is it was probably a W-30. The K heads flowed about the same as the lower performance Olds E head with the small valves. Installing the 2.07/1.72 valves makes them flow close to an E with big valves. IRC the F head had slightly shallower combustion’s chambers, a gentler short turn on the intake and flowed more than the others. The K heads were pretty good. Some may have had the bigger valves. But I think the only reason they were listed as a replacement for a W-30 was that the K was the only head Olds was making at the time. The later heads like the GA were more restrictive. I think what may have hurt the 455 Olds was the tall deck on the 455s with the 39 degree cylinder angles made the exhaust port short side really sharp. I raised the ports on the exhaust on the 455 in my Chevelle, they are all brazed on the roof, I hit daylight on every exhaust port trying to find flow working with the sharp short turns. I know what you mean, learned my lessons on Olds 455 the hard way also.

Funny thing is know one ever noticed the chevelle has a Olds in it. They would walk by the pits with the hood open and say SBC??? Lol