Build a different motor to beat on! For gods sake its a 1971 lime mist 455 4 speed! (just kidding, do what you want, its YOURS) I have the same dilemma with my 71 stage 1. I am going to have Jim W. build me a motor as soon as I can finish paying for the bodywork. The original block has 1 sleeved cylinder and was freshened up a few years ago. I am going to drive it next spring as is and save coin to build a second engine for thrashing on. Don't Tell my wife and I won't tell yours.
Yardley said: "If you ever sold that car I'd personally drive to CT (I know the way!) and kick your butt from Fairfield to Milford." Alan said: "BTW....have you been in a low 12 second BB Buick singing at full song ?? If not, remind me to take you for a spin next time we're together. That should seal the Deal" Dave said: "NO question for me on this one.....Yank the original and store it. I have blown up enough motors because of "little" things to make me sick. If your ride was mine, and I had to decide, I wouldn't have to decide." John said: "Hi: are you really going to feel comfortable wailing on that matching motor when your done" Reynold said: "To me it's simple arithmatic. Hundreds and hundreds of cores out there, but only one with your VIN# on it!" Scott sad: "If you're "worried" about it, go buy another SKYLARK, and rebuild ANOTHER ENGINE for THAT one, and let the car, that you "worry" about, SIT in the garage, and it will be "worth more" if you never drive it, and it will never be in an accident, either!" Dan said: "Numbers schmumbers, Its your car and you only live once" Chris said: "Build a different motor to beat on! For gods sake its a 1971 lime mist 455 4 speed!" Wow! Anybody ever accuse you guys of being passionate?!? I really appreciate ALL the replies. Although several of the opinions are diverse, your comments will go a long way to helping me decide what to do. I did receive a PM from Jim W. also with some of his opinions and an invitation to call him. I will definitely be doing that. Based on you input, I'm leaning toward building a core (possibly have Jim W. build it) and store the numbers block at this point. I hear the thoughts on tripping over it, as I come from a family that finds it genetically impossible to keep a clean garage. Unfortunately, my wife doesn't share the same genetics. That may change, however, before I finally get this off the ground, but this is clearly what I am thinking at the moment. I was thinking last night after all of your input that the numbers motor should ultimately be put back to bone stock. That is, simply a rebuild as the factory originally did it. I'm not sure that would ever happen, unless the noney fairy came along, but someday if I want the car to be as correct as can be, why not do it down to the original powerplant? Maybe that doesn't make sense, I don't know. Again, I appreciate all the input. Most of you guys have "been there, done that" and I thinks it's great that this forum is available to share the wealth. I'll be calling Jim W. and seeking his advice, but I think I'm nearly at a final decision. I'll keep you posted. Thanks! :TU:
To build or not to build ? Hey , Thats a really hard thing to decide , but if I had a # matching 71 GSX 455 4-speed and I was wanted something to beet on . I think I would find me a good 71 Skylark body and build me a clone . If you are just needing a rebuild because the # matching is smoking or something . Rebuild it.
Lets see, I gave advice from a guy who has built as well as blown up a few 455"s. Even thought of a creative way to pay for your rebuild, but my reply did not make the list!!!!:af: :moonu: Thats it, I am going to have to paint over my GSX stripes!!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Chris! I pasted quotes from guys who seemed to have some searing words on the subject. Obviously, from your post above, you can now be added to the list! :laugh: My line below the quotes was "I really appreciate ALL the replies". The all was in caps to make sure everyone knew I was considering all info provided. And I like the "donate $2 to make someone's dream come true" idea, but I didn't want to reply to the board "donate $2 to make MY dream come true". Thought that might be a tad presumptuous. I did think maybe your idea could be turned into a sort of raffle/lotto for raising money for the board, and for helping people get a kick start on there project. Everbody kicks in $2 bucks or whatever, X% goes to the board, the rest goes to build the winner's dream machine. Not sure on tax implications, if any apply. That's where my thoughts stopped on that one. Anyway, if I offended you, I apologize. I saw you had :laugh: guys at the end of your post, but wasn't sure if the :moonu: was how you really felt. And please don't paint your stripes over on my account.
Ken....You and YardMan are welcome to a ride ANYTIME :TU: It'll be worth it just to see the cat-fight over who gets to ride ShotGun :moonu: BTW.....Like Phil, My complete #'s matching drivetrain (motor, tranny, rear, and even the driveshaft) are taking a nap in my garage. It wasn't done all at once though, First the motor, then the tranny, then the rear and "Propellor" shaft ....and just to type alittle more - It all started because my original motor was getting tired @ 94,000 miles - Oil pressure at idle was down to 5 psi, maxed out at 35 psi and I had a noisey lifter or 3 at startup. I'd had the car 3 years and only raced it once (first time ever on a 1/4 mile track). It was spring now when the engine issues started.....small ones but signs on the wall. I spoke to Bruno Sr. - local Long Island Buick Legend - about rebuilding my engine. He said "No Problem.....but do you want the car to be down this whole Season ?? I've got a 'Built 462 Ready to go, and since I built it for someone else who now cant pay me, I'll give you a GREAT deal on it.....and Install it for you...." I dropped it off Thurs. Evening and he said he and his son would work on it when they get the chance. Sat Morning Bruno called and said he needed to show me something - I figured it was something he saw when inspecting the car for the swap. When I got there, he threw me the keys and said "Take it for a spin...." Whoa !!! I opened the hood first and there the new motor sat !! These guys must change engines more frequently than I change my skivvies !!! So...in short, the decision was made simple for me because 1) I didn't want to have the car "down" a whole season 2) A Freshly built 462 fell into my lap for a really good price 3) I didnt even get my hands dirty - yet. Now, 7 years later (and another rebuild on that 455 for even More grunt) I can honestly say - I dont regret it ONE BIT. I drive the hell out of the car - and I mean that more so as in, I'll drive it any where, any distance, anytime - but I've also given it its fair share of WOT fun too. I drove it to the Nats and raced it 4 years (BG is ~1600 miles round trip).....I used it every summer for weekend trips away...and basically anytime Im leaving home (other than work) I'll look at the garage, think about where Im going, and usually go back inside and get the keys to the GS. I've averaged over 5,000 miles a year on the car since buying it 10 years ago, with a High of 8,700 miles one year. Sure....I would have had fun with my GS over the past 7 years If I had rebuilt the original motor......but I honestly dont think I would have had nearly AS MUCH fun as I've had with my "Play" motor and drive train. Would I be Bummed if I Puked the motor this weekend ?? Hell yeah !! It cost a good couple of Nickels to build and I dont have it right now to do again.....BUT if I puked THIS motor, I haven't decreased the value of the car. I'll shut up now.......
:TU: No problem Ken, I was just joking with you, and I love my GSX stripes!!!!:grin: Now to re-cap your dilema, if you grenade a spare motor = But if you blow up your #"s matching 1971 GSX 4-SPEED ENGINE=:af: :af: :af: :jd: :jd: :jd: :ball: :ball: :ball: :stmad: :stmad: :shock: :shock: ou: ou: ou: :ball: Are you starting to get the idea?:beer :laugh:
Ken; If I owned your car; I would stay with a mild rebuild using the numbers matching engine and 4 sp trans. If you are never selling the Buick, Who are you saving the motor for? Drive the car for what it is. Everyday, the smile would be the same. Ear to Ear!:TU: The Song remains the same in front of you.
If you have developed the need for go fast, then build another motor, buy a cheap skylark body and frail it...What if you put a hot motor in your ORIGINAL GSX and have problems at the track (see the world's fastest 350 Buick pictures after it hit the wall). then what would you need a numbers block for? Just my thoughts, that and $1 will buy a cup of coffee. Mark
I missed this thread when it was new so I thought I would give my opinion. The car doesn't know if it has the correct engine in it, and I would jack slap any fool that comes up to your car at a show and wants to poke around your engine compartment looking for a VIN. And as far a garage space for the orig motor, why would you want to do that? Paint it up and put in the living room with a glass top and you can have the most powerful coffee table around!:laugh:
If the car isn't gonna be driven that much and as long as the engine was built correctly, I would use the #'s matching one. With driving the car all over the past year with it being worn out, it's not any different. Plus, there's always the fact that the tranny or the rear can go out with the non-matching engine and there goes the numbers matching car for good. It's a chance we all take and I highly doubt that your original engine will ever blow up with it being a mild build-up.
Take it from someone who has been there....I put my numbers matching engine back in the car, now it has 2 holes in the side from a thrown rod. Check out this thread from last year for the whole story. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17812&perpage=25&highlight=bummer&pagenumber=4 In hindsite, I should have stored the original.
Hey, I see this thread floated back to the top. I'm committed at this point to non-numbers motor. Jim Weise is building it and it will hopefully be ready the end of April. I hear you on the tranny and rear-end. I'm tempted by the Muncie for sale thread that Jim Lore posted, but I'm considering whether or not the funds will be there. The motor will be similiar to Trishields Level 1, except for having big valve heads instead of small, and having the stock intake instead of aluminum. It should run smooth, have good power, but in no way am I looking for a race motor. I want a motor that will look bone stock, but with just a little more umph than a 70 stage 1. Hopefully with that plan I won't be breaking the rest of the drivetrain. Thanks for the opinions!
