I am doing some low buck engine swaps using Buick 455 motors in non-Buick chassis. I like the Buick 455's not only for their torque, but also cuz both rear and center drop (1970 430 Riviera) pans are available to clear steering and cuz I have a lot of early Ford transmissions (including toploaders) that bolt to the mid-60's Pontiac bellhousings which will accept either early Ford and GM transmission bolt patterns. Also cuz I have four Buick 455's now, multiple styles sets of headers, etc. new BOP Lakewood bell and billet flywheel, clutch, etc. all sitting here. But I have no Buick chassis, so... But I recently ordered some engine parts not knowing that there are 2 different length 455 water pumps. Seems on the four 455's I have that they are the long version of water pump and the pump I received is the shorter version. The current 1971 455 (original chassis it came from is unknown) I am working on is going in a mid-70's Pontiac Grand Am (colonnade mid-size body style) which chassis I think should easily accommodate the longer ( by 1" ?) typical 455 Buick water pump and its factory pulleys, alternator and AC pump mounts to match the long water pump. Another stock 455 1974 good runner already 455 went into a 56 Dodge 2 dr sedan and at the time I welded in engine mounts I just located it as far back as possible. Again, even with the long water pump, it fits fine with sufficient fan clearance. The 3rd 455 I have is stuck and I have been just stealing parts off for the other ones at this time. It also has the long pump. Was told that motor came from a t-boned 75 Century, but idk for sure. And the 4th 455 I have is a 1976 Riviera motor with 71 heads that IDK what I will use it for, is a long term project and has some expensive TA parts on it and more in transit. Cam, oil pump kit, oil pump plate kit, oil pressure regulator, Stage 1 intake, TA roller rockers, distributor, etc.. That motor also currently has a long water pump. I thought maybe I would use the new short water pump on that more expensive motor in case whatever chassis I use with it needs the extra space the shorter pump provides. But then none of my pulleys, alternator mounting brackets, etc will presumably fit with that short water pump... So, my question is: what Buick 455 equipped cars came with the short pump? If I knew that I could either hunt down some factory pulleys and brackets for that model or buy some aftermarket pieces for that model. I surmised maybe it was just the GS mid-size early 70's body that used the short water pump, but I have also read that some full size Buicks w/o AC used the short water pump too, so IDK. All these motors had AC pumps and long water pumps, so no non-AC motors to compare with.
My engine came from a 74 LeSabre and it had short water pump and pulleys. That is all I know. Go for V8Buick.com and oist tour question. Those guys know for sure.
IIRC Buick went to the long water pump in 1970. The guys at TA performance can clue you in. I've got the short pump on my 455 in my Studebaker. All my pulleys and mounts came off a 69 Riviera 430 with a/c.
I was fixing cars in a shop and we had a Buick in for a water pump job. One of the junior guys was working on it... all day. He was pranked, someone dropped extra old dirty bolts into his pan of coolant and hardware. He was early on advised to keep track of his hardware. Anyway, late in the day and its almost buttoned up... then the guy notices the water pump is short. Again, we advised him to match up the old and new pumps. The belts were off and the service manager says to finish it up. The customer is back 3 days later with a tow bill and invoice for the right water pump being installed.
the 455's had 2 w/p's, a/c and non a/c. but that doesn't mean gm did everything according to hoyle. alt brackets are the same, pulley double groove. think all p/s 's are the same. the w/p's and balancers have multiple pulleys dimensions that offset the w/p's. confused yet. the small blk buicks have 3 different w/p's. my world. did you know that there are 7 different oil pump covers rotations for the buick? my world again. lol
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