I am actively looking for parts to put my 70 Skylark together. I found a decent donor car...1970 Riviera w/455. The guy who is selling it does not seem to know much about it. Can anyone tell me what the tranny is likely to be? Rear end? What kinda power did the 455 have in this model and is it a good candidate for my build? Any thoughts?
Excellent engine, hi compression 10.25:1. You will need a new pick-up tube and oil pan since the Riv has a center sump pan. It will not clear your engines x-mbr. You will need a pick-up and pan from a LeSabre/Electra. I think the trans will be a longshaft. So basically, you can use the engine, fan shroud and sell the rest or part it out.
Car is $500....was hoping to maybe use atleast the engine and trans. Any ideas what rear end... 10-bolt open?
Yes, it is a short shaft. Found out for sure when I swapped the engine from a '72 Electra into the '70 Riv. I was going to swap the engine and trannys as complete units, but once I pulled the engine & tranny out of the Riv it became quite obvious that the Electra tranny was much longer. Rear axle is of no use to you. It won't fit an A-Body. But if it happens to be a 3.42 posi, they go for good money on the open market. May offset the cost of the donor car.
I own a 70 Riv, so heres some info. 370 horse, 510 torque- the highest hp engine buick put in a car - according to the paperwork - the gran sport had more but i dont know what it is but it wasnt documented. Im pretty sure it can have the stage 1 option, but you wouldnt know until you measured the size of the valves. The riv also uses an electric in tank fuel pump rather than a mechanical block mounted one. The rear is either 3.07 or if it is the Riviera GS like mine, its a 3.42 Posi. I believe its some sort of 12 bolt design. The tranny is a turbo 400. Its an X frame car, with dual driveshafts supported by a center carrier bearing, and uses large CV joints rather than U joints. I believe its sort of a rare car, being only about 3000 riv GS's were made. So if you take what you want out of the car, you can part the rest out online, and most likely make your money back for the purchase of the car.
Isn't the standard ratio 2.56? or something in that neighborhood? I'm going from memory here, so I may be wrong but I believe that's what the codes on the rear of my '70 translated to. I have a 3.07 posi out of a '66 though.
The only gear ratios listed under the detroit iron cd for buick shows only the 3.42 PT for GS, and 3.07 for riv. Im not sure of any other figures, but there may be.
70 Rivi If it has the short skirts on it I want them if they'er in good shape also what other options, buckets seats maybe......... post some pics.....let me know
Only 2 rears were options for the Riv in 69, and I'm going to assume the same for '70 as well. 3.07 and 3.42. Both are 12 bolt and both came as posi traction options. Mine came with a 3.07 posi. Check the ratio of that rear before comitting it to the crusher! 3.42's are rare and desirable. When will you be getting this car? I'll say you can certainly sell the center section if a posi, and just the gears if not. 3.07 is a nice gear for all around cruising. Correct again. That trans is a short tail. Correct again. That engine has a fuel pump block off plate (unless the electric pump was ditched for a mechanical one at some point in it's life). I'll buy the fuel tank sending unit from you. And that car could also have Stage1 heads on it, especially if it is a GS.
No big valve Stage 1 heads in 70 Rivieras, that was 71-72 Riviera GS only. No engine options offered on the 70 Riviera at all, just the standard hi compression 455. The GS option for 70 Rivs came with 3.42 posi, firm suspension, and chrome air cleaner lid. No engine upgrade included or offered by Buick for that year Riviera. I can scan the sales literature if anyone needs to verify.
Sorry Carl, but the ROA has proven that AT RANDOM (and for no apparant reason) some 1970 Rivieras came with Stage1 heads. Could have been a shortage at the plant of regular heads, or could have been a mislabled bin. But for whatever the reason, GS or not, some '70 Rivs came with Stage heads.
I've been a member of ROA since almost the beginning. Can you tell me what the ROA found that talks about the Stage 1 engine ina 70 and about what time they printed an article about it? I'll look it up in my back issues. Thanks.
Ive been wondering about my heads on my Riv for year or two now... I never pulled them off, just cleaned up the engine, dropped the oil pan, inspected, changed timing gears and painted. Its a 70 riv gs, so it could be a stage one... Ill never know until the heads come off
Dale-I think 2.78 is about as far as you can go, and that's in the Electra. If a guy has the parts and smarts, this gear set can be installed in a Riv-
I show you could get a 3.07, 3.23, 3.42 and a 3.91 in a 70 Riv. And a 2.78 was avaiable for 65-70 models 6,8 and 9000 series ----see infra post.
Yep, The service manual showed me I was wrong. 3.07 or 3.42 were most common on the '70 Riv. I guess I'm not as bad off as I thought, having a 3.07. I wasn't lucky in the valve size lottery either though.
