A question regarding which heads are the good ones. According to this site, http://buicks.net/shop/reference/bigblock_casting_numbers.html the only stage 1 heads mentioned are for 72, what about the other years? The ones that came with the larger valves on some centurions were they some other heads than the stage 1's or were they the 1238530 heads as mentioned in the list. There was also a meausrement you could check by putting a coin in between two valve holes to check their size, how did this work?
Stage1 heads and standard valve heads had the same casting numbers. Read this: http://www.buickperformance.com/455hdcompare.htm
So it's more of a pull and look situation, but the ones that supposedly would come with the larger valves would be sky/riv gs's, centurions with a "w" in the vin for 72, 73, and the 71's I couldn't see a letter in the vin indicating that option, and you got the supposedly 500 with the option floating around too, so then you'll just have to pull it I guess. Then there's the stamp on the head next to the oil stick which should be "ws"? Is this for all years, or just 71'? How about Electras? no such option for them, or an "x" factor such as the 500 centurions in 71'? How about just getting a book instead and learning a new language or something , na.... I also went and had a look at this today.. 1200$ he wanted for it, but another car to worry about, not right now I think. It's always in the pictures, but it sounded good. I think it went to someonewho was there at the same time as me, and he had ten cars already so one more wouldn't make any difference for him. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/car/71036425.html
Here is the bulletin for the Service department for the 500 Centurions with the TA coded engine: 1971 Buick Dealer Service Information Bulletin: Subject: 455 Engine Substitution Models Affected: 1971 Centurions Approximately 500 Centurions were assembled after July 12, 1971, starting with VIN 466xx1X194963 at the Fairfax Assembly plant with the "TA" coded 455 engine normally used in the performance option (A9) for this model. The "TA" engine is also used with the Riviera GS option. This bulletin is being issued to alert dealers to this engine variation so that if a Centurion is brought into a dealership for repairs, correct replacement parts may be ordered by referring to the engine code number.
Yes, the rust had gone through on the door, quarter, fender, and floor. Had new floors on top of old, frame looked good, chrome was rusted, pitted, car was comlete, engine rebuilt four years ago, brakes done, new carb, could have been a cool project for someone with skills to make into hot rod.
The odds for the heads don't look good. I've never even seen a riv or a 71 centurion in the "pick a parts" here. Well, who knows.. I've met this guy at a Friday night car meet who seems to spend most of his time chasing through yards. He told me about the centurion I just missed that went in the crusher just before I go to it, and also about the lesabre I got the rear bumper off. Then there was another centurion conv. that was all picked through that I never went to see, so in about 2-3 months he's been good on helping me locate useful stuff. Maybe someday he'll spot the diamond, and let me know about it. He didn't seem to know about the posi and head situation for these cars, so I think he'll let it slide in my direction if he see's a possible source.
Yep, but it sure looks like a cool car tough. It's like with mine, surface rust on almost everything, someone said that it probably had come from Florida, that's where thy get the kind of rust I see on mine. All I'm waiting for now is a set of decent doors with electric windows in em, then I can start to think about getting everything right. Maybe I should have waited for a different one, but I got a rebuilt transmission, shift kit, power steering hose, motor mounts, and front brakes just done on it, so the price seemed right. I was really looking for a delta 88 when I stumbled on it. Didn't know it existed until I saw it.
Inside, it's always the pictures that does it. The car wasn't this nice inside, the chrome didn't look this good. But it was good enough for me, if it wouldn't have had the rust problem on the body, then it would have been a nice ride with some bad chrome, but what the hell 1200$ pays one months rent here.
