According to the FAQs on the European Redline Oil site a 20w50 oil is SAE 30 oil with VIIs added (third listed FAQ):
http://www.redlineoil.co.uk/first.htm
Fascinating. Makes me wonder what the other multigrades start with.
Note: I changed the title and content since '59 Vetteman told me the thread I originally posted about being locked was moved (figured I will repost there and make this thread useful for a different topic).
[ April 30, 2004, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]