OK - It's been my understanding that stage1 heads and standard heads carry the same casting number. www.buicks.net shows a specific casting number for 1972 stage1 heads (1238530) contained on This Webpage. This is a first for me. So I did a little internet research starting with the NHRA Buick engine blueprint webpage for 1972 motors found Here, which lists castings 1238148, 1242445, and 1242455 as acceptable for 1972 455 Buick motors. Also, on David Walker's website www.atlantabuick.com, (thepartsman on this board), This Webpage lists 1238148 and 1242445 (same as NHRA) as the original casting numbers, with 1242449 and 1242455 being service head replacements. My real question is this - does a 1238530 casting number signify a 1972 stage1 head? Thanks!
I don't know what an 8530 head is, but I'm 99.999999 (etc, etc, etc) percent certain that there is NO Stage 1 specific casting for any year. Also, I'd trust the NHRA and Partsman over Buicks.net
Wellllll Lets see, stage 1's peaked in 70, then about 1/2 as many in 71, we are then to believe in 72 GM decided to invest thousands on a new mold they would hardly ever use??? I think the Bengals have a better chance to win the Superbowl, this year! ou: ou: ou:
Marco, I have a pair of original 72 Stage 1 heads which are #1238148 castings. Also I have a couple of nos 72 455 heads I bought from the Buick Farm several years ago, one of which is a Stage 1 (has hard seats, maybe factory installed ?). Both of these heads are also #1238148 castings with dates sometime during 72 model year production. I have no idea if there was possibly a service replacement head with a different casting #. Tim
Well, that about sums it up! p :beer Thanks for the replies - just as I originally thought. It appears an email is in order for www.buicks.net...
1972 Stage 1 heads Hello Marco, I have a book by PETER C. SESSLER The ULTIMATE AMERICAN DATA V8 ENGINE BOOK ,WHICH HAS EVERY CASTING 1949-74 1972 - 455 - 1238530, Riviera GS, Stage 1 1972 - 455 - 1242448,casting,1242445,1238148 Regards, Bill Arseneau
Thanks Bill - good to see you on the board. It seems, so far, that book is the only one which contains that part # (let alone a specific part for stage1 heads). I'd bet if you took off your valve covers you'd see 1238148. Let's let this post 'stew' for a couple days...
Looks like we lost a portion of this thread? The part nos. I posted here last week are just that......part numbers from a Canadian parts book. I think a common casting could be prepped in a number of different ways & eventually identified with a different part number. From what I've seen , the casting number is usually off a digit or two from the final part number. Same goes for any other part number with a common beginning. Two plastic trim pieces cast from the same mould. Piece A gets white paint & P/N 1234. Piece B gets black paint & P/N 1235. They both share the same casting number. I have a NOS '71 350 head still in the factory grease/packing/coating. Part number & casting number are different. As far as the Cdn. GS engines, I beleive they were made in Flint. I had GM Canada check out a local '71 Stage 1 ragtop that "MAY" be for sale in the near future. Wanted to be sure it was as the owner was stating. Sure enough it is an original Stage 1. I need another car like another hole in the head. Build plant was Flint. GM could advise there were 337 GS ragtops imported into Canada in '71. They could not be specific about how many of those were Stage cars as it was a mere option by then. I'm guessing less than 5 %.
