HELLO ALL hope you can help me out I pick up a 68GS 400 and need new heads I was told 67/68 GS and riveras 400 are the same. the vin is 446378y137644 what all do I have, IS it a keeper??:beer what should I pay for a set of heads? THANKS RICH ford@starnetdial.net
Welcome aboard Rich :TU: Riviera came only with the 430 CI engine during that model year. 4 46 37 8 Y 137644 4 = Buick 46 = GS 400 37 = 2 drs HT coupe 8 = Model year 1968 Y = Wilmington, DE assembly plant 137644 = Wilmington production number for model year 1968, started at 100001 Production total: 10,743
Your VIN breaks down this way: 4= Buick 46= GS400 37= GS400 2 Dr Sport Coupe 8= Model Year Y= Wilmington Plant 137644= Serial Number I'd say you have a keeper! Post the cowl plate information and we can further break down paint and interior trim as well as tell you when it was built. As far as heads, check out this link for some good information. Welcome to this board! You'll like it here! :TU:
BTW, what makes you think you need new heads as opposed to a valve job??? Is there some damage? Cracks? One other thing, Stage 1 and non-stage heads have the same casting numbers. The Stage 1 heads are simply fitted with bigger valves. You could potentially do this to the heads you have to get better flow if you're interested in getting more power.
I strongly suggest changing your "nickname" Rich..p :error: Just kidding.......uzzled: .......or am I.......o No: Welcome.:TU:
HI all this is great info , yes my heads are junk, what valve size is in the stage1 and do I have one or how do I tell? someone ask me if it is a calif.GS whats that? THANKS RICH
Stage 1 heads Stage 1 valves are so big that they almost touch when you look at the combustion chamber. People claim that the big valves are not worth installing in a 400 because the bore is smaller than a 455 and the flow from the intake valve is "shrouded" by the cylinder wall. The main difference between the different year cylinder heads is that the early motors (up through '69) oiled the valvetrain through the rocker shafts and the later ones ('70 and later) have hollow pushrods and the oil feeds up from the valve lifters. Aside from that, combustion chamber volume varies by year, the later heads (73 and up, I think) have EGR passages and not as good exhaust flow. Later heads have big chambers which would reduce your compression ratio. There are some differences in water passages, but you can use any head on any year big block Buick if you use the right head gasket and take care of the oiling issue. It's probably not a California, those were post (not hardtop) cars with 350 motors and special "California" script badges on the rear quarter panels.
Rivs had 430 cid from 67-69 not 400 cid. Before 67 401 cid and 425cid nailhead designs. From 70-76 455cid. I do not believe they ever had a 400 cid.
yep thats what I need a set of heads (400s) that oil through the rocker shafts <you know of some by chance? I am still looking for a good set pass the word thanks for the help and info RICH ford@starnetdial.net
Rich make sure you do the oiling upgrades listed in SEARCH on the board it will make the motor last a lot longer.
Here's a shortcut to one version of the oiling mods. http://www.buickperformance.com/oilflow.htm Check out the rest of that site as well. http://www.buickperformance.com. Lots of info you might be able to use.
