I brought home this car with a 455 in it. It is titled as a GS 350. Vin says it is a GS. Just started looking around for #s. The cowl tag was removed so I have no info off that. No other documentation. From what I have read I should maybe get in touch with Wayne Rogers for some more research? I really would like to know what it is. It does have a 5 blade clutch fan in it, so that would maybe indicate a small block car(maybe)..? Any ideas there guys?? Thanks Mark
No external paperwork is available for this model year. There may be paperwork in the car. Is the trans a Th 350 or a TH 400? Post a picture of the steering shaft just above the steering box.
There are several other indicators of a 350 vs. 455 car. After the pictures of the steering shaft we can move onto those.
Great! Thanks guys. I guess I won't be able to get pix till tomorrow or saturday. Been spending too much time with them so called medical professionals!! Talk to ya later then. I will get the pix soon tho. Mark
All 71 455 cars with AC or heavy cooling had 5 blade fans. You cannot go by that. It was 20". Small blocks had 7 blade fans. 7 blade fans on 455's were a 70 thing.
...best place on planet for '71 info.:TU: Depending on "molestation level" you might get lucky and find build info in door, cowl, dash, seats, under tank... Didin't know about lack of available info when bought mine. Luckily had Manual/POP, even so I'm 3 years into trying to find shipping to HI...:Comp:
i too have this dilemma, what is the difference in the steering shafts??? does the cowl tag offer up any info??? i just picked up a 71 buick with vin 43437....... was told its a GS, driveline gone, haven't found any paperwork in any of the usual spots, but trying to find out if its an original big or small block car...
On a 71 model I do not thnk the cowl tag can help you get past establishing this is a GS. It does not tell you whether it is a GS 350 or a GS 455. There may be some pictures of the steering shafts in the archieves. Otherwise, you may want to take a close picture of the rag joint area and post it.
True. In '71, GS was a Series..."434..". Skylarks were "433.." and "444..". To determine 350/455, you need documentation...or "reverse-engineer" what's left on car. This, and other threads tell what to look for..."Search" is your friend... "Technically," you need first 5 digits for GS (43437/43467)...since Sportwagons were also 434s...
Another indicia is to look at your gas pedal if it is a auto trans car. Is the pedal set up for a TH400 or a TH350 trans?
71 the first year front disc brakes were required to get a big block block . ihad the same issues when i bought my 71 it had a 455 in it ,no bolt in the bottom of steering shaft and drum brakes were the giveaway that it started it's life as a GS350.
Guys, if you are trying to determine a BB vs SB by the steering shaft,you are in trouble. I have parted several 71's that were BB and had the SB shaft and vice versa. They could and were changed easily. The only sure way to tell(if original motor is missing or non matched VIN) is if the tranny is in the car. If it has a 400 and the numbers match the VIN,you have a BB. If it has a 350 tranny, you've got a SB. If you locate the buildsheet,that surely tells the story.There are other tell tale signs,but I wouldn't bank on a steering shaft. Lots of people swapped to a tilt and didn't think to swap the shaft.
If it has a small block steering shaft in it and a 350 gas pedal set up those are pretty good indicators. It is true that it is not conclusive.
Big block cars have extra fender supports, which runs from the battery tray to the fender on the right side, that small blocks do not. At least that is what I have read on this site. (and of course I can't find that now when I need it)
Thanks for the chatter folks. Mine has a turbo 350 in it so I can be pretty sure it is a 350 car. I had my leg amputated just above the knee last week, so I can't crawl around cars for a while. It does have the cross braces on the rad support tho. It also has the wierd looking power steering pump. Some day I will figure it out for sure!!!! Thanks again Mark
