Help with what I bought? VIN, Codes and etc.

I recently purchased a 1971 Buick GS 455, Fire Red with white vinyl top. Interior is pearl white with bucket seats. Here is my VIN and Cowl Tag.

71 - 43437 - 1 - Z - 31793
TR - 165 - B80 - 75 - A
06C - 440056 - 640137

So I know it is 1971, Buick GS, 2 DR Hard Top, Built in Fremont, Cali.

TR=455
165= Pearl White Vinyl Buckets
75= ????
A= ???
B80= Drip Rail Moldings
06= June
C= Third Week

Can someone confirm my external colour? Is it correct being Fire Red w/ White Vinyl Top? Or is it suppose to be Regal Black?

Now my engine. After a ton of research on the site I learned that it is a factory service replacement block.
BIEI 3589
1238861 (late 1971 - mid 1972).
B=Buick
I= 1971
E= Engine Plant - Is it Massena Castings Plant? OR Linden Assembly?
3589 = Sequence #

Can someone tell me what a exactly a factory replacement engine is? And does this effect the value?

I was told that this was a owned by a guy in Montana and was brought brought up to Canada.

 

TR = Trim

75 = Fire Red

A = White Vinyl Top

Your VIN number is located in front of the drivers side I/P

what you posted was the Fisher plate ID and build sequence number which are different from the VIN.

 

probably the original owner blew up the motor while pusihg it to the limit in a drunken stupor and it was still under warranty so they replaced it free of charge with an identical engine. But I have no idea if it affects the value. Might make it more valuable.

 

No doubt, any time you have a replacement engine, you limit the pool of potential buyers. Having a replacement engine is not a plus for value.

 

Congrats on your new GS. That's a gorgeous color combo so please share some pics on this site when you can.

 

Buick Engine Plant:

 

Attached are photos.

 

Very nice!

 

Looks very nice. Good score ! Where did you find it ?

 

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

 

You might want to look at this too!http://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/options.html
All Buick engines were built at Factory 36 in Flint, MI, btw.

 

Congrats on your purchase. My youngest brother lives in Lethbridge and he might know of this car. I seem to recall him mentioning someone there who had a small car collection.

 

I agree with Jim on value, however you have the next best thing to the original motor. It is hard to tell in the picture, but it appears to have a skylark grill. Nice car though.:TU:

 

Ya. I think it adds to the value in a way because it tells the story. The original owner blew it up one night while blowing away some corvette. Wounded in battle. After all it is a factory dealer replaced engine made in the same place. Its not like some guys bought a case of beer and put some jasper engine in there one weekend. Do you have documentation of the engine replacement? When was it done and at what mileage?

 

Yes. The guy that I bought it from has a small car collection with a few Buick GS's. This is the second Buick GS that I have bought from him. My first was a 1970 Buick GS with a 455, TH400 and 12 bolt rear - it was originally a GS 350 car converted to a 455.

 

It's been a while since I have posted anything. I have done a bunch of research on here to help identify my 1971 Buick GS 455. Confirmed a replacement block as noted above. Recently found the casting on the heads, #1231786. Can anyone tell me anything about the heads? I think they are from 1970-71.

I also have a question on my transmission. I do not believe that it is original. The code tag on the passenger side has been removed and I located the partial VIN on the drivers side just above the pan. The VIN # is H2T05566, can anyone tell me what the VIN means, or if I can confirm what it came from?
Is this what the numbers are
H = Type - What type? Buick
2 = Year so 1972
T = Month, December
05 = Day of Month
Can anyone confirm?

 

Hi Trent,

How did you research and confirm it as a factory replacement? I have a similar issue with my car. the original owner was a body/paint worker at a Buick dealer and supposedly he got a warranty motor installed.

thanks,
hvramesq

 

BIE stamp on the left hand front of the block under the head.

 

What Jim said. BIE should be stamped with the sequence number. I learned that the BIE# is a factory replacement block.