Hell O Everyone Iam New To The Buick V8 I Just Purchased A 71 Gs/455 Skylark/VIN#434371H113500/COWL#43437FL1028816RDY/ST 71/ TR/ 150/ 12B/ 43GPAINT I Need Some Info As How Can I Define A Gs From A Gsx By Vin? And The Gs Did It Have A Tach On Hood ? Or Was That Only Gsx? Any Info Is Appreciated. Bill Daytona Fla
GS VINB on 71 is 43437 first 5 digits same on 350 and 455. The 71 GSX could be a 350, 455 or 455 stage 1. No way to tell an X by the Vin. You will need to find factory paperwork in the car like a build sheet. In the seats sometimes there is a small piece of paper that will have codes. Problem is 71 records have never surfaced. I think the hood tach was optional on the 71 and not required on the GSX
If it's still there, the best place to look is over the gas tank for the build sheet. If it list "WA5", then it's a GSX. Unfortunately, a lot of these sheets never made it onto the top of the tanks or were discarded when the tank was down sometime in the life of the car. In still other cases, the build sheet is there but the VIN is from a car a few down the line on the day it was built. Other places to look for factory docs are under the back seat, under the rug (driver's side typically), and in the driver's side A pillar (rolled up like a cigar and stuffed into the pillar- very hard to see). The GSX option gave you the hood stripes, body stripes, rear wing, GSX dash emblem, grill emblem and rear quarter decals. The hood tach, front spoiler, even bucket seats and floor console were optional and could be had on any GS. The rear wing could also be ordered on any GS. There is even one documented '71 GSX that has a standard chrome non-sport mirror on the driver's side and no mirror on the passenger side. A GSX will not have any pot metal external emblems on the front fenders, trunk lid, etc. Also, six colors were produced as GSX's (even though there are a few one-offs in other colors). GSX's were produced in Flint only. If the VIN doesn't start with "434371H", then it's a GS produced at another plant. H=Flint. While it's true the '71 documentation never surfaced, if, by any chance, the car was originally sold in Canada then documentation is available as it was a Canadian requirement ('71 with non-sport mirror is a Canadian car). Post the cowl tag info that's located under the hood on the driver's side. That'll be a good start in providing information so people here can help you determine just what you have. It won't tell you if you have a GSX, but it might tell you that it for sure isn't. At the very least, when it was built, what plant, the original colors(s) and interior can be determined. Happy Hunting!
Oh, and by the way, unless the 455 is number's matching to the VIN, it's nearly impossible to tell a 350 car that was converted to a 455 along the way. There's a pad just below the head on the front of the block (can't remember which side, passenger?) that has the last six of the VIN as part of what's stamped there. That's the sequence number that should match the last six of what you see through the windshield. Also, stamped on the block deck surface between plugs 5 and 7 is a two letter code and a couple of numbers. A GS with a 455 would be a TR or a TS. TR is a standard 455, TS is a stage 1. It's pretty hard to see- some carb cleaner and a little work scrubbing the area will help. If it's something other than TR or TS, then it is probably a 455 out of a big car. Post what that code is here so we can help.
MANY THANKS TO ALL THAT PROVIDED INFORMATION IT A GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE FELLOW CAR GUYS HELP. IAM GLAD I JOINED THIS SITE................... THANKS AGAIN; BILL A. DAYTONA FLA
New Be Needs Help I COULD SURE USE ANY INFO FOR MY RECENT BUY 71 GS GSX?? THE VIN# 434371H113500 COWLTAG 43437FL1028816RDY ST 71 TR 150 12B 43G PAINT ANY ONE WHO CAN DECODE THIS FOR ME I WOULD APPRECIATE THANKS AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY BILL DAYTONA FLA
Bill, I've combined your multiple threads into one in an appropriate forum. Please refrain from posting for help with this in more than one topic section. You'll get plenty of help here, with a little patience. :TU:
THANKS DUANE I APPRECIATE INFO. I HAVE POSTED VIN AND COWL TAG INFO. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GET ME MORE INFO. THANKS AGAIN AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY BILL DAYTONA FLA
150 is the interior code which is green bench seat 12B is the build date which is 2nd week December of 1970 43 G is lime mist paint with green vinyl top.....................Since I think Ken's GSX was probably the only Lime mist GSX with vinyl top there you have it.
Also like Duane mentioned. Crawl under the car behind the drivers side rear wheel. About a foot from the back on the outside of the frame try and find the frame part number. Use a flashlight and some cleaner. You may need some sandpaper as well. Let us know wht number you find.....All your trim tag really tells you is you have a 71 GS that was green. What code is on your transmission tag? It is on the passenger side attached with a rivet.
Maybe thses pics will help. First is wher to look for engine code. This block is from a 71 Electra. You can just see the TR code and the number build code. The second is the vin stamp area on the drivers side of the engine in fron juts under the head, it is small and you cannot see number in picture.
This is a part number and date code for a 71 GS frame that had a 455. Date code and mnaufacturer also here.
DAVE I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH I WILL TRY AND LOCATE ADTL. #S THANKS AGAIN AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY; BILLA. A 71 YEAR YOUNG CAR GUY