72 455 block info

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by 1969RIVI, Mar 4, 2018.

  1. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure if this is the right thread to be posting this? I've been wanting more info on my engine so I recently located the numbers. I know it is a 72 455 block but not sure of some of the number codes and what they mean and what the motor originally came from? I will try and post some pics. Any help would be appreciated thank you!
     

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  2. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    The numbers stamped on the block between the 5&7 spark plugs are F 340 and there is no numbers between the 1&3 plugs. The heads have 72 cast on them on the 1&8 exhaust ports
     
  3. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Yes--those numbers show that it came from a 72 model year Buick.
     
  4. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Heads
     

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  5. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    What does F 340 mean?
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    There should be another letter next to the F. WF would be a 455 out of a GS 455. The Stage 1 455 would be WS.
     
  7. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    It looks like you may have an exhaust leak at the manifold.
     
  8. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I really cleaned and looked for another letter but couldn't find one is it possible it could be under the edge of the head Larry? Just wondering flynbuick what did you notice in the pic that would make you think there was a leak? I've never noticed any exhaust coming from the joints of the headers and head while I've had in running and working on it? Maybe an old leak prior to me owning the car? I am removing the headers and having them ceramic-coated soon and will be putting new gaskets on anyway
     
  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I guess it is possible. What else do you hope to learn about the engine?
     
  10. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Well without taking the heads off to see what casting numbers they are I guess that's all I can know. I was curious as to what all the numbers meant and you were able to tell me that. As for knowing what it came from I'll probably never know other than it was a GS car. As for my rear another member on another post told me it was a 93/8" rear since my car is a 69 Riviera. It's a 10 bolt that was 3.07 but previous owner put a 3.08 posi gears and carrier in it. The axle tube has P1 or Pj stamped in it with 156 just beside it and what looks like an I or a 1 in brackets. Anyway you can confirm what I really have?
     

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  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The casting numbers for the head is right under the valve covers. No need to remove the heads. The casting numbers won't tell you anything except if they match the year of the block. The small and big valve heads have the same casting numbers.

    The 9 3/8 rear has no aftermarket support. If you have a Posi, that's great. The first thing I would do is get a copy of the 1969 Buick Chassis Manual.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-1...ash=item4b373bf448:g:WHMAAOSwjXNadN8z&vxp=mtr

    You'll find the axle codes in there along with a lot of other invaluable information about your car. The 69 Riviera came with a 430. Same engine as your 455 except for the bore, compression, and a few other things.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2018
  12. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Yes sorry I meant valve covers. I actually tried to pop one off the other day but she's on there good so I stopped because I didn't want to tear the gasket unless I had another one to put on. I did buy a chassis service manual (which is very useful) just after I got the car. I looked up the rear but it doesn't tell me the codes just where to find it. And it doesn't say if its a 93/8" or 8.5" 10 bolt? I was just hoping one of you more knowledgeable members would know since I haven't got a clue how to detrime between the two.
     
  13. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I was talking to a guy last week who told me that certain heads can be made into stage 1 heads just to get him the casting# and he could tell me if I had the right heads or not to do it. Is it true or can any 455 heads be made into stage 1?? From what I've read on here it would be best to put my $$ into a set of TA stage 1 aluminum heads and keep the old irons for book ends in the garage ha ha. On a side note Larry if I could pick your brain on a trans temp sender location would you use the pressure port, pan or in the trans line? I was leaning towards the pan but don't want to buy a new pan since mine is fine so I wad thinking pressure port?
     
  14. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    The use of 8.5 rear gears started for A and some B bodies in the 71 model year. They were not used for Rivs, which is an E body anyway, unless it was after 76.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 4, 2018
  15. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Ok great thank you for confirming that for me flynbuick! This is my first buick and I'm learning all about them and this site is such an amazing wealth of knowledge!
     
  16. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    As Larry mentioned the castings for stage 1 and non-stage 1 heads is the same. The difference is in the machine work. If you can afford aluminum heads, I would not spend money converting non stage 1 iron heads.
     
  17. StagedCat

    StagedCat Platinum Level Contributor

    Thats a 9 3/8" rear......
     
  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Yup, that's a 9 3/8 rear, and if it truly is a Posi 3.08, that is an ideal ratio for a big Buick. Not sure why you would need a transmission temperature gauge at all, but I would not use the pressure port. The pan or the return line.
     
  19. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    The transmission pan is the easiest place to put the sender for temp......if you put in the pressure port that is temp the inside of the transaction is seeing, the return line would be temp after cooler. But never heard anyone checking all 3 location to determine how much difference between them.
     
  20. Grandpas67

    Grandpas67 Well-Known Member

    Just out of curiousity, what do you guestimate converting iron heads to stage 1 specs would run?
     

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