I just became the owner of a 1972 Buick Riviera. However, the engine just doesn't seem to have "it". I'm pretty wet behind the ears when it comes to cars, but I know how to do research and have read the reasons behind this. My question is two part - Am I better off trying to get this engine to a high performance or should I find a nice spot to set her down and find myself another engine? Part Duex - Whichever route you suggest, what are my best options to begin with? I'm not rich, but I'm not poor. So give it to me straight. I have a mechanic who will be my guide for this. He doesn't know I'm posting here. But I figure more info isn't gonna kill me, just give me more to work with.
Hello "avretam" Please put your name in your signature, we're all here on a friendly first name base :TU: The standard 455 in your 1972 Riviera should have enough power to have "it" (if you're not after 11 seconds time slips in standard form) So no need to swap it for another Buick 455 engine (what else ?) Just give the car a standard tune-up, like new plugs, filters, plug wires etc. And check the timing + vacuum advance mechanism. I'm not saying it's a race car, but you should have enough power to make long smoking burnouts with the standard engine.
They were about 16 -18 second quarter mile cars out of the show room. They are heavy and the 72 engine is a low compression version. If you get a Buick specialty shop to rebuild your 455 or build anorther engine with the TA aluminum heads ect you might end up with 500 or so hp and get the car into the 12s. Look at the various build options at www.trishieldperf.com These are tricky engines to build. I would let my mechanic install it but I would not let him try to build his first Buick 455.
Hey Av, The hardest thing about building a motor is deciding what "IT" is and understanding what this will mean in terms of upgrades to the engine as well as to the rest of the car. Let us know your idea of "IT" and you'll get plenty of feedback on what will be required to achieve your goal.
A '71-72 Riviera GS comes with a 3.42 posi axle standard. '73-'74 Stage1 optioned Riviera's came with a 3.23 posi axle. These would help your '72 get off the line quicker.
Welcome. All good suggestions. Whatever you do make sure you have a BUICK builder do what you need. Now if it was mine,:idea2: i'd pull it and freshen it up at a FAMILIAR BUICK guy. I can't stress this enough. DON'T LET NO CHEVY GUYS NEAR YOUR REBUILD IF YOU GO THAT WAY!!! ( Although a good tune up like Bad Boattail suggested might give you a better idea where you should go ). For like 2 g's you can get around 350 hp out of it. Nothing too fancy. They don't need a whole lot of work to get em going. Monster torque from these power plants.:3gears: Is this your first Buick?
Thanks for the warm welcome and a good start for my education. Ive owned two other cars in my life. Nothing to brag about. This is my first real car in my opinion and my mechanic is the one who first showed me the Riviera boat tails. I fell in love and set off to find one. It led me to the car I have now. Hopefully Ill have some pictures soon enough. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o> It needs a major tune-up and the interior is shot. But shes mine. <o> </o> What I mean by it is shes got the raw power but doesnt have the extra power to keep up. Im not looking at times, more of being able to stomp when I want to. My area is chalk full of young dumb kids who think they have fast cars. I dont want to race but I want to be able to flash it when the fancy strikes me. I prefer to know shes capable rather than showing it. <o> </o> I know she isnt capable of that right now and thats my problem. I know a lot of work is ahead and thats when I started my research. Found the low compression ratio issue and I honestly had no idea what it meant at that time. Im reading up quick and asking those with the know around me. But its always good to talk to more people, especially people with Buick experience. <o> </o> Ive learned that you cant build something to be strong without having the right parts in place when you start. My biggest initial fear was that I wouldnt be able to get the 455 up to par with my expectations. That appears to not be the case as I have plenty of options. Im just too wet behind the ears to know better. Amazing what a few hours from my initial post would show me. <o> </o> This does not mean I wouldnt go all out and try to make her a real mean machine, its cost vs reward since I havent spent a dime other than the $1500 to get her. As this is the car I expect to be keeping for a LONG time, I know I need to do it right the first time. Thatd be my biggest mistake and a real $$$ eater. And thanks again, I'll be needing all the help I can get.
I know, so do I. p Never had a problem with being a gas hog. The car I drive now is just as bad and not 1/1000th as sweet as this car in it's current state.
I wonder what would happen if one would take a set of TA Stage 1 SE aluminum heads and a 284-88h cam and put them on an otherwise stock motor... This and a carb rebuild.... I wonder where that would get you.
Alrighty... well, I'm hitting my mechanic for his opinions tonight. Asking him about the best shop to take it too, etc... etc. He's a big mopar fan and I saw the other post asking "Why go to a buick specialist?". I already know enough to know why. Does anyone know of some good ones in central Florida? And would a good mopar machine shop be able to handle some of the work? I ask that second part because my mechanic knows everyone here in the area and can get me good deals from years of building relationships. But I won't risk the final product for a "good" deal. I'm not entirely wet behind the ears when it comes to cars but I'm definitely wet with Buicks. The heads obviously need an upgrade. As for the intake manifold and carb options, where would a good sources for information on these be? I also need to get a good reference book besides the web. What would be some good recomendations for my car and motor? I plan on driving this car till I die. So hopefully it will be a long time.
You are in luck. One of the more famous Buick engine builders recently moved from NY to FLa --Scotty G. As I recall he built an Electra which is heavier than your car as a street sleeper. Somewhere we have the time but it ran in the 11s in a quarter mile.
You'll be happy with Scotty's work hes been making buicks go fast for a LONG time. he knows his stuff.
