1970 Buick Stage 1 Transmission

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/pts/d/1970-buick-stage-1/6467819574.html

not mine

 

Basically he wants $1200 for a BB tag and its been sitting since '79......

 

I wonder what the VIN stamped on it is . Could be someones car on here ????

 

I called him and he says he has to get the VIN off it when he has a chance. Perhaps he'll get back to me .

 

I guess $1200 is the going rate, for authenticity. Would be an interesting back story. Maybe the car got totaled and he pulled the drivetrain or no one knew that correct coded transmissions would be so important 30 + years later.

Which begs another question: are those tags reproduced? Would seem to be a money maker.

 

Yes they are Re-produced . I think the last time I saw them they were around $80 . The VIN # would tell more

 

The valve bodies are very desirable to many performance oriented guys

 

If real it should have an extra clutch in each pack too......
But there is a cheaper way to get that

The bb code was used behind the stage motors through 74, but you could get a bb code in the late 70s but they didn't have all the good stuff

 

Well, I am not sure I would pay that personally but I know there are a few different arguments. A true BB code TH400 would be key to a proper restoration, I'll give you that, but as with modern muscle cars like the Mustang GT, Corvettes, Camaros, Challengers, there are new better ways to get the performance characteristics of a BB code TH400. I am not telling you guys anything you don't know, but pointing it out - that the only reason I might buy this one for $1200 was if I had a documented Stage 1 car from that year (whatever year it is from) and it was missing a correct BB TH400, and I wanted it to be as perfect as possible.

For the vast majority of Buick muscle owners, this transmission is not necessary - at least $1200 necessary. It would certainly need rebuilt from a reputable shop.

 

It is a 70 BB trans from reading the tag. The VIN on the other side of the Trans would tell the full story. If the VIN matched my car , And I was doing a Restoration , I would go for it after a little " Horse trading " with the seller.

 

She now resides in Oregon with original torque converter. It will be bolted up to a 70 Stage 1 specd. motor with TA 212 Cam and 3.08 posi rear. To be installed in my 69 silver convertible.
I couldn't have got this done without the great help of Carl Rychlik., Mark DeConti, Larry "The Wizard,Chris Pollack and Dave Knutsen and "Bones" Mark Baldwin. View attachment 391769

 

The story on this transmission is as follows...The car that this came out of (1970 Stage 1) had blown its engine in 1978 and the fellow who owned it (Mark Nardella) sold the body but kept the blown engine and BB transmission. He has since discarded the engine but kept the Stage 1 transmission and torque
converter for all these 40 years in his auto repair shop along with a few other parts (valve covers+Ac FC65 oil cap). So...he put it on Craigslist and I read about it here on V8Buick and jumped on it. Out of the millions(?) of Turbo 400 transmissions made (Chevy,Pontiac,Olds,Buick,Cads,GMC etc.) this is 1 of 1785 1970 BB Stage 1's. No horses were traded...just bucks!
Freight cost was $189.63 from Connecticut to Oregon. Happy instantaneous shifting from third to first at 35 to 40mph!

Eric / Oregon

 

Well bought. They aren't making any more of these.

 

I wonder if that body is still around.

 

Beautiful car Eric.....

 

Great story! Glad I posted this ....

 

Vin# 40H 264579

Riveted Tag Reads...
B 70B 416 B
Serial No
70-BB-2836

Eric/ Oregon

 

Thanks for the compliments...
But Buick gets all the credit for
those great lines!

Eric / Oregon

 

Is first "9" maybe a "0" (should be but could be a mistake - It happened). Stage 1 registry would be a good place to start to see if car exists, but might need to pry that trans from Eric's....

 

Oooops! Thanks Dano. Checked it and yes it is a "0" plain...as day! I was tired last night...I will change it on here and I'll try and have Chris P. add pictures ,Thanks
Eric / Oregon