Would anyone happen to now how to check what year an engine might be... The man i bought my 69 riv from had a 455 engine put in, but i dont know what year the engine is...Id really appreciate any help if anybody knows...
Find the engine code or the ser #. The engine code will be on the block deck between the # 5 & 7 spark plugs and the ser # could be on the block deck between the #1 & 3 spark plugs, on the left bank just below the head, or by the water pump inlet.
Once you find the engine code (it will start with 2 letters) you can go to http://www.buicks.net/shop/engine_ident.html and find which year engine it belongs to.
All 455's had the two letter id code around 1:00 o'clock near the dipstick hole. That will tell you the application and year.
The late '69 thru '70 455 had the VIN stamped on the left deck between the first two cylinders. You can see it with the head on but you'll need to clean it with carb cleaner and a brush. The second digit should be "0" for '70.
In '71 the VIN# moved to the right front face of the block behind the water pump intake. The second digit will be the year.(1='71,2='72,etc.)
This must be something unique to '71. Every publication that I can find shows the left deck for '70 and right side face for '71 and later. I have 2-'70s, a '72, '73 and '75 . The '70s are marked the same. The later blocks are all marked in the right face of the block. Strange, huh? Does anybody have a '71 Chassis Guide? It'll show you in the General Spec's pages. That's a new one on me.
