New member in South Africa - 66 Wildcat, with 455

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by Rui, Oct 18, 2017.

  1. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Hi everybody, I'm based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    American muscle cars are very popular in my country, even though the Rand/Dollar exchange rate hits us pretty hard when ordering parts :).

    I've had Corvettes, Cougars and Apache's.... until I saw a Buick Riviera one day and I almost fainted.
    I realised there and then I was a Buick man!

    I now have a 65 Riviera which I have restored, and will literally be buried in it.

    My latest project is a 1966 Wildcat - I have 2 of them (probably the only two in the country). One I've sold to a friend, and the other I am restoring.

    However the engines that came with both cars are not the correct nailheads, but rather the 455ci.
    Not complaining at all ! As I've done a 401 nailhead before so this will be very exciting for me.

    Perhaps you guys can help me decide on which engine to put into the car:
    Engine #1 is a 455 block cast no 1231738, 4 bbl intake, which is a 1970 block
    Engine #2 is a 455 casting no 1241735, 2 bbl intake, which is a 1972-76 block

    Engine #1 is supposedly running but on engine stand at the moment.
    Engine #2 is still in the vehicle, runs, needs some parts like a water pump etc since it's been standing so long, and I've done a feel wheel spins with it already :).

    Which of these engines should I use, and any specific reasons why the one is better than the other?

    Would appreciate your thoughts on this.
     
    Dano and Donuts & Peelouts like this.
  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    The 70 455 engine by far is the better performance engine. I recall that 1231738 casting may also have been used early in the 71 model year. Regardless, it is still the better engine stock for performance. The 2 barrel engine was only made one model year. (I remember 73 or 74 but someone else can pop in to help my recollection out.) It is a low compression engine making a lot less power. The 70 engine is maybe 9.8 to 1 C/R in fact while the 2 barrel is maybe 8 to 1 or less.
     
  3. gsfred

    gsfred Founders Club Member

    Compression on the 70 was higher than later models. That said when I worked for Buick in 66 we processed alot of export cars. They were usually a low compression version. So that 70 engine may be low compression. In any case I would go with that rather that engine #2
     
  4. OHC JOE

    OHC JOE Mullet Mafia since 2020

    Awesome welcome aboard from sunny southern California please post pictures of your ride
     
  5. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Thanks guys, I am going to put both motors side by side and then decide next step.

    ... here are some pics of both cars and the 2 engines. IMG_4467.jpg IMG_4573.jpg IMG_4583.jpg IMG_4915.jpg IMG_5839.jpg
     
  6. white72gs455

    white72gs455 Going Fast With Class!!!

    Wow! Nice to have options... You really wont know what you have until you open them up, They both have some respray (Hideous Chebby Orange) on them so they may have been messed with in the past. I agree the earlier block is preferred, time and money can get you whatever you're looking for! :)
     
  7. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    I've got a '66 Cat 2dr. hdtp I'm stripping for parts IF you need anyhting.


    Tom T.
     
  8. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Welcome from Michigan!

    If you own both engines then have both blocks sonic tested and choose the one that has thicker cylinders with the least amount of core shift. That is if you're going to do a performance build because it doesn't matter what the internal parts are or what year the engine is if in you're going to change the pistons anyway.

    Of coarse have both blocks magnafluxed to check for cracks before having them sonic tested to make sure they're not already junk before you have expensive machine work done to them.

    What are your intentions with either engine?
     
  9. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Thanks Tom, I might take you up on your offer as I am missing lots of parts.
     
  10. Rui

    Rui Active Member


    Thanks Derek.
    For now I will try get the 1970 block running (the black painted one). Previous owner says its had low mileage. I believe it came out of an Elektra.
    The other engine I'll keep for future just in case it's needed.

    The next thing I need sorted is the correct carb for this engine.
    Have been reading up on the forums and there seems to be 2 trains of thought:
    - One is to go for the 750cfm.
    - The other (using cfm calculators and assuming max revs of 5500 - cfm x 5500/3456*0.85) is that it should be 615 cfm.

    Can anyone advise me further on this?
    What does a standard 455 rev to?

    PS: I have a spacer for the intake from spread bore to square bore so that it can fit a holley/edelbrock carb.
     
  11. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Forget the carb calculator. Use the correct 70 Q jet for a Buick 455 which is a 750 cfm or the correct Buick 455 carb for a 71 or 72 which are 800 cfm.

    Stock these are low max rpm engines. Stock they rev to around 500o rpms.
     
  12. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Thanks Jim.
    Do you perhaps know the quadrajet part no that I should look for?. I have been looking on ebay but want to make sure I buy the correct carb.
     
  13. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    My intake part no is B-1231718-E (spread bore).
     
  14. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    7040240 off the top of my head. There are a couple of carb guys on this Board that rebuild these correctly. They can fix you up. Buying one off Ebay is risky due to cheap rebuilds.
     
  15. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Hey guys, I would like to replace my gas tank on the Wildcat, but most suppliers don't list them exactly for this car.
    Would the generic one be for a 65 Impala, as that seems to be the case on front windscreen.
    Has anybody replaced their gas tank from somewhere that fits perfectly?
     
  16. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Just a quick update...
    Motor fired up first time and she ran beautifully.
    She gave us a big welcome flame and then all smiles round!

    -Rochester carb and new pump installed with fuel line.
    -New dizzi.
    -Ceramic coated exhaust manifolds.
    -Powder coated valve covers (prismatic powder - USA product), I'm very happy with the outcome.

    And now started playing around with the aircon and alternator setup.

    Very excited.

    1.jpg 2.JPG 3.JPG 4.JPG View attachment 390091 View attachment 390092 View attachment 390093 View attachment 390094 View attachment 390092
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2018
    300sbb_overkill likes this.
  17. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Rui,

    If you will be looking for parts it MUST be done within the next week as I have GOT to get rid of some cars at my lot due to city regulations. Let me know or it ALL goes to scrap.


    Tom T.
     
  18. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Hi everybody.
    Thought I'd give a quick update on the progress of the project.

    Engine is in the vehicle. Due to the non standard 455 motor/TH400 gearbox combo the gearbox mount had to be moved back about 80mm.

    IMG_9900.JPG IMG_9909.JPG
     
    docgsx likes this.
  19. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    Water pump housing - did some repair work on the water outlets ans the puter was very thin there - hope it won't leak - if it does will have to do repairs or order new housing from TA perfomance. We tapped the holes and used brass fittings with a bit of loctite. They seem solid.

    Water pump was replaced for a new one. The new one was not a perfect match with one of the pins not lining up perfectly.
     
  20. Rui

    Rui Active Member

    I decided on aluminum radiator with fans - in case anyone is interested on specs its the American Eagle AE161 (same as the Champion CC161 except has the larger 1" tubes).
    This took some time - making the mounts at the bottom, and bracket at the top - bit good fun. IMG_1880.jpg IMG_1880.jpg

    IMG_1880.jpg
    IMG_1880.jpg IMG_1967.jpg IMG_1919.jpg IMG_1969.jpg IMG_1967.jpg
     
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