I went and looked at a 455 today and it had a good coat of rust and grime on the outside. It looks like it came from a loaded car and the seller says he's sure it is a Stage-1 455.o No: I see that it has the chrome valve covers, the carb was recently stolen, it has the ac compressor, brackets all in tact, pwr steering pump etc. The distributor is an HEI, but I didn't get any #'s off of it cause it was unbelieveably hot and humid today. The only #'s that stood out were a 73 (about 1-1 1/2" #'s) cast in the drivers side of the block or drivs side cylinder head at the front over the exhaust manifold. Another # I noticed was the 455 back on top where the tranny mates to the block and a 3 cast same size as the 73 to the pass side of the 455 casting. Everything was there from flex plate to fan and intake manifold to oil pan. I hope this is a good motor since I need the parts to finisg bulding another 455 I have or I will build this one if it's a good Stage-1 worth rebuilding.ray: I was going to offer him $455. I always figure one $ per cube is fair. Especially when the internal condition is unknown, but he was fair enough to tell me I could pick it up, check it out inside. (tear it down) and then determine if I want to keep it. Input is always welcome from all of you! Aloha, Scott see some pics of 455 @: www.photobucket.com/smbolter
Well they are 73 heads, with 71cc chambers. Look near the dipstick for a two letter code and a 3 digit number. XF is the code for the base 455 XS is the stage 1 for 1973. the number is the HP rating. Remember, 73 is net HP. :TU:
I was told that another Stage-1 identifying trick is to pull the heads and the valves should be so close that you can barely if not at all be able to slide the edge of a dime between the valves. This motor has definitely never been torn down. Scott
Don't know if this will help but here ya go. http://buicks.net/shop/reference/bigblock_casting_numbers.html
How funny is it that all 455's for sale magically become Stage-1's? Not saying it is not but with probably less than 5% of total 455 production being stage motors you do the math. As mentioned the two letter code is the key. Not sure if they used the 1112016 distributor in 73 but it is worth checking.
I have a 70 Stage 1 and we had the heads off this winter. Review the pictures on the below link to verify if the heads are in fact stage 1's. Nick http://www.stage1registry.com/stage1info.html
I have a 70 Stage 1 and we had the heads off this winter. Review the pictures on the below link to verify if the heads are in fact stage 1's. Nick http://www.stage1registry.com/stage1info.html
As mentioned the two letter code is the key. actually, the two letter code is stamped on the block. it will tell you whether or not the block was originally supposed to be a Stage car, but it doesn't tell you anything about what might have been done to the heads ( including swapping out Stage heads to sell separate from the motor-bad or upgrading vanilla heads to the big valves-good ) in the last 40 years. if the stamping was on the heads it would at least tell you the minimum valve size. as it is, it doesn't really have much bearing on what is actually in the car today. if it's stamped for a factory service replacement, you don't really know anything at all. How funny is it that all 455's for sale magically become Stage-1's? i say, use funny money to pay for funny heads. :Brow:
The codes I can't seem to find. By the dipstick...I did get the chrome valve covers off and saw some sort of # sequence inside the pass side head between the rockers. The #'s, letters are: MP 1241860 Also in the same head at the other end is casted: GM and below that what looks like a F 78 or 18. I will look for other i.d. #'s and post later.
The F 18 is date code for February 18. Will have to check for part number, That will determine year of heads but not stage-1.
Forget the Feb I mean to say June 18. The F is the 6th letter for 6thh month. Sorry for the confusion.ou:
The "X" code by the dip stick tube. Do I have to remove anything to expose it? How about the code or # on the distributor. Where is that located?
They should be on either side of the dipstick tube hole engraved in the deck. So no, nothing but grease and paint need be removed to see these so llong as the block has not been decked which may remove these with the rest of the metal on the surface. The distib number and date code is engraved on the outer rim.
Thanks Jim! Any idea if the 73 came with a Delco HEI? I'll get more part numbers from it tonight when I continue to tear down the motor. FYI- The motor if it is a Stage-1 came from a fully optioned car by the looks of the equip on the motor. A/C compressor, power steering. Haven't gotten the heads off yet, but the valve springs are duals springs and the rocker shaft assemblies appear to be in very good condition. All the square plastic rocker retainers are all still in place and appear to be solid. Strange thing too is the cam has a cream colored paint on it towards the middle. Another feature I thought was interesting was and I'll try and describe it best I can, but the intake man where the carb mounts is notched so the left and right poerts on the intake are connected. I'll shoot some pics tonight and post on my photobucket for all to see, but for now, a big thanks for the good info so far. Scott
Perhaps someone in the past has been into this engine. I recall 74 is the switch over year to HEI. But I could be mistaken.
Who knows, this 455 could be a 74 for all I know. Hopefully tonight I'll be able to get some #'s to better identify the year etc this motor is from...
This is the most difficult motor tear down I've ever had to do. Maybe also cuz I'm trying to be careful not to destroy anything of value. So far the only three (3) things I can say point towards a stage-1 are the dual valve springs, chrome valve covers and the 7 bladed fan. I am having a time getting some of the exhaust manifold bolts to break lose and so far, one is rounded. Is there anything out there I can spray on these bolts to help eat away the 36 year old rust/corrosion/etc that's holding these bolts in??? I am at a disadvantage also since I have been trying to tear this 455 down in the bed of my El Camino Sorry no pics yet. My dig camera out of commission till I get a new battery just ordered on ebay. Have to wait till tues or so unless I get a friend to shoot a few pics. As far as other #'s go, theres a # back on the ledge top side that the tranny mates to where the 455 is cast. Looked like about 7 or 8 numbers. No letters. Would that tell anything about the motor? Trying, but having a time with the aged frozen bolts. Patience!!! Aloha, Scott
