Last month I was nosing around my engine trying to find any numbers I could on it. The engine I have I was told was a 73 Stage 1 out of a Riviera. The block casting number is correct with this as its the 72 -74 casting. The heads are what have me stumped. I haven't pulled the valve covers yet so I have no idea what the casting numbers are. The thing that has me scratching my head is on the #1 and #8 exhaust ports there should be a year casting number. I have seen this on almost every 455 head I have looked at. Mine doesn't have a number on either head. On the driver side there is an "X" on the exhaust port, and on the passanger side head there is a raised circle or bump on the port. Were these heads possible dealer replacements? I haven't found any info anywhere explaining the "X" or raised circle/bump on the ports. Thanks in advance for any info.
Mike I've never seen the "X" head before, but then again I only keep '70 cores. The 70 head has nothing on the exhaust flange.
Hehe, I wish!!!! :grin: No they look exactly like standard 400/430/455 heads. The X looks the same as on that block, kind of a nasty almost home made looking X on the one side. If the car wasn't 60 miles away in heated storage I'd take some pics of the markings.
Mike, I have the same x marks (although weak) on the #2 & 7 exhaust ports and the raised bumps on the #1 & 8 ports. This is on a set of heads I removed from a 1974 Electra 455. The car was a single exhaust 4bbl. Hope that helps.
Thanks Mike, That helps alot. As I said in my 1st post the engine is supposedly from a 73 Riv stage 1. According to Atlanta Buick the 73/74 head castings are the same. That would help assure me that at least they arent the 78cc 75/76 heads. :Brow: I could have accomplished this by yanking the valve covers, but I don't like pulling things apart unless I absolutly have to, being lazy and all. :grin: I still will have to pull the heads eventually to verify that they are stage 1 as I was told when I purchased the car, but at least I am resonably certain the block and heads are at least the correct year I was told. :grin:
