That's better, that is a 1974 Big Block carburetor. That's a good carburetor. The page above is from the 1974 Buick Chassis Manual. Notice there is a 7044241 carburetor with the altitude option. When you send the carburetor out, you may want to have it calibrated like that.
Ok Larry. Since now on this forum this morning, I have changed my plan greatly for the performance of this car. Tell me your thoughts Q-Jet 7044240 getting rebuilt to 5280 altitude and is at shop now, HEI distributor, original intake manifold getting cleaned out, all new gaskets and seals through out all motor, heads surfaced and cleaned and ready for install, TA Performance shorty headers, 2.5 inch dual flow master 10 series, and regearing to 3.42 gears. Tell me your thoughts
The Performer intake is a good idea. Much easier to handle. Make sure whoever works on the carburetor uses the ethanol resistant accelerator pump, needle seat, and gaskets. I am not a fan of the big cap GM HEI. I like just converting the small cap distributor to electronic. https://www.lectriclimited.com/conversions-modifications/ scroll down to, Breakerless-SE™ Electronic Ignition Conversion Kit Check your distributor number, 1112110? You will not easily swap your gearing. They don't make gear sets for that rear. You will need to find a used set. I do not like Flowmaster mufflers, too loud and raspy, not in character for a Riviera IMHO. Yes on the shorty headers and dual exhaust. Good idea.
Do they make a performer intake that will fit the original Q-jet that is a single plane? The one I bought is single plane square bore to fit holley carb.
I don't know what you bought. The only one who manufactures single plane intakes for the Buick 455 is TA Performance. The Performer is an Edelbrock intake, Edelbrock does NOT make a single plane intake for the Buick 455. This is the Performer intake for the Buick 455, http://www.taperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=TA_1210 It will accept a Quadrajet or Holley carburetor. It is has both bolt patterns. It is a dual plane intake. You do not want a single plane intake.
IF you go HEI have the distributor advance rate re-calibrated. Makes a pretty good diff. as far as performance & IF you can keep your foot out of it will probably get better fuel mileage.
Sterling Dyer, I have a 69 Riv with a 72 Riv GS 455 block in it. I have everything (plus some) that has been mentioned in the above ^^posts. Listen to what these guys are telling you, they know these cars/engines better than any local shop you'll ever take that car too. It may seem costly but these are the parts you NEED to fulfill your WANTS list no way around it. If you want cheap buy a Chevy, one thing I've learned is Buick and cheap NEVER go together. Famous saying is "buy once cry once" I have a 9 3/8 69 Riv GS rear end with 3.42 gear set with only 88,000 miles on it that I may decide to sell. Like guys have mentioned there's no aftermarket support for these rears and that 3.42 gear ratio is scarce to find.
I greatly appreciate the added confidence in the guys in this forum. I completely changed my game plan base off this one day of information received in the back and forth messages. I am going back to a complete OEM refurbished parts and then will slowly build the car with small changes that can be well researched and asked through this group alone. When I bought this car I did extensive research on my 73', but information kept coming up short and only filled in the gaps for Pontiac 455, 442's and skylark's. Which are completely different from the my 73' Rivi. So Thank you all for the help and will keep all posted as the build and drive of the vehicle starts to develop. One last question how does everyone feel about JAMCO drops springs?
