I am trying to figure the codes on my cowl tag! Here is what it has: ST 71 43467FL1 1443998DY TR 155 67 APNT 03E VIN 434671H167772 From the vin # it indicates a 71 GS 2 dr. conv I specifically don't know whether it is suppose to be a 350 or 455 engine and what the trans is suppose to be?
Jim, What denotes this vehicle to be a 455? I guess I thought the color was suppose to be bittersweet mist?
Bittersweet Mist is 62 not 67. Since you could get a GS 350 convt in 71 as opposed to 70 in looking at it further I do not know from the tag. If you had the engine the code would say. Also the rag joint suggests whether it was a 350 or 455 even if the original engine is missing. I think a bolt head missing from the top side means small block.
That Pearl White interior is sharp! Should have an arm rest, bench seat. If you have the protect-o-plate in the glove box, it has the engine code on it.:bglasses: Almost forgot, the body was completed last week of March, 71, then sent to the assembly plant.
Jim said: If you had the engine the code would say. Also the rag joint suggests whether it was a 350 or 455 even if the original engine is missing. I think a bolt head missing from the top side means small block. Jim, I am trying to understand your statements above. What do you mean the engine code would say! The 350 engine has been rebuilt. If I can still read the code on it, how does that tell me if this is the original engine for this body? What on the rag joint tells me whether a 350 or 455 was in there originally - whats the difference between the two? What does a head bolt missing from the top side mean? Sorry for all the questions. I am trying to make this car as original as I can. Thanks!
Hard to describe without a picture. I'm not so sure how accurate it is anyway (because it is easily removed and replaced). If the car appears somewhat original, look at the fenders. Just below the GS emblems. 350's had a "Buick Motor Division" emblem. 455's had "455" or "Stage 1" And of course these are also easily swapped out too.
Dan, Unfortunately the protect-o-plate is not there. The fenders that were on there had the "Buick Motor Division" emblem on there! Is there any other way to tell what engine was suppose to be there? I haven't found any build sheets yet.
While we're at it... again... Other indicators are that the big block very likely will have disc brakes, the GS350 probably won't. The big block has 3.42 gearing, the GS350 has 3.08 (I think). If it's got the 3.08 gears you can be 95% sure it was built as a small block. Seems highly unlikely anyone would spend the money to go that direction on a rear end swap. My .02 anyways.
If it is an auto car then 350 cid would have have 350 tranny with a rod for the kick down as opposed to an electrical switch for the 400. Unless I am misreading either the 350 or the 455 could have come with a 3.08 rear in 71. If the the rag joint does not have a bolt trough it from top to bottom AND another going from bottom to top ( the opposite way) you may assume it is either a 350 or someone changed the rag joint and mistakenly put one for a small block on a big block car.
Thank you everyone for the help/suggestions. It has a th350 trans, small block rag joint, had a 3.08 gear in it and there is no indications that the motor mounts were ever different. I would have to assume that it was a 350 car!
Carl, If you have an original automatic transmission, it will have a partial vin # stamped into it. The last 6 digits should match the car's vin #. That would tell you what size motor was original. Duane
The final candle on the cake would be the compare the frame number to the engine number. If they match it is whatever that engine is in cid.
Everybody knows that, but I think his VIN is on the frame on top at the drivers door position. If his frame has the same VIN as his 350 cid engine then the issue seems resolved
That would be too easy... But in 71, the vin does NOT hold any info about the engine or size.:Brow: So the only thing one could learn if the frame is orginal to the car or not.o No:
Maybe I should re-read the thread to see if this was already mentioned - the engine would also have the VIN stamped on it wouldn't it? If these numbers were all a match (VIN, frame, trans, engine), the answer has been arrived at hasn't it??! Or did I miss that the engine is missing?
My assumption is that the six digit sequential number in the VIN appears on his engine and the top of his frame rail. If that is the case your senario would have required someone to take the body off of a frame so they could get to the top of the side rail and stamp on the numbers that matches those of the existing 350 cid in the car in order to fake a 350 GS convt. Or are you saying that someone put a donor, engine, and VIN plate and frame with matching numbers on another body? Of course anything is possible but some scenarios are just ridiculous. If the for some reason, unlike a 70, 71 did not do this then this correlation will not assist Carl in resolving the issue.
They did for earlier years but not 70-72. Only the 70-72 convts had the three piece frame rails whereas the hardtops had only two. I think say 65-67 were all the same . I am usure about 68-9.
