Well I was told my '71 GS Riviera would run if the starter was fixed. No way! The car sat outside for about a year with a tarp over the engine. Approx. 3-4 quarts of water in the oil pan. No. 8 cylinder full as well. She won't turn at all. Even with a breaker bar, extension pipe, plugs all out, cylinders lubed (full of ATF). I'm not sure of the differences between the 3 '71 455's. I know the TS is a Stage 1. The TA High Po for the Riv. The TR for all else. Is it just cam specs, and heads? The power ratings are not too far from each other. I have a good running 455 from a '73 that I'm thinking of using. I have not yet torn the TA open. It's probably screwed, or going to be very expensive to repair. Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated.
Mid-grade performance cam...not quite Stage1, but not stock boat cam. Big Valve heads SHOULD come on this motor. There may be a couple other things like carb jetting, but it is still the same model number 7041540 as the stock carb.
Thanks Adam. That's kinda what I thought. I have a '71 Buick manual, but it doesn't give those differences. I'm not really in the position to rebuild another motor right now. I'm not really concerned about a complete #'s matching orig car. The nasty green interior is coming out anyway to make way for a black and white one with buckets and a full console. I'll keep the TH400 and posi that's in it though. Still wish I'd have known BEFORE the car was purchased and towed home 135 miles!
