MarkE Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Could use help figuring out which engine my 1965 Riviera has (just purchased) Am sure it's a 401or 425 as the numbers on drivers side of block match VIN plate The heads casting numbers are 119614 also indicating 401 or 425 Not sure what to make of the numbers on the passenger side of block, per pics it's L followed by a gap then X117 Thanks! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivgs Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Mark, Hopefully you have two carbs sitting on top. The LX indicates a 1965 425 cubic inch engine with 2 4 barrel carbs. You probably have a Gran Sport or one of the rare non GS cars with this engine. Pictures of the car please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivdrivn Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 24 minutes ago, MarkE said: Could use help figuring out which engine my 1965 Riviera has (just purchased) Am sure it's a 401or 425 as the numbers on drivers side of block match VIN plate The heads casting numbers are 119614 also indicating 401 or 425 Not sure what to make of the numbers on the passenger side of block, per pics it's L followed by a gap then X117 Thanks! Mark Congratulations, you have the most desirable combo for a 1965 Buick; a numbers-matching dual quad 425! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Curran Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 They only made 454 non-GS Rivs with the dual quad set up in 1965 unless you have an actual GS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted January 5, 2019 Share Posted January 5, 2019 Early car, Baby Gran Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 Thanks for the feedback as am definitely not an expert on this, some more pics enclosed Took picture of transmission tag which has a BT code If engine had dual fours etc they are long gone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 5, 2019 Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 (edited) . More pics Edited January 5, 2019 by MarkE (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivman Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 2 hours ago, MarkE said: Thanks for the feedback as am definitely not an expert on this, some more pics enclosed Took picture of transmission tag which has a BT code If engine had dual fours etc they are long gone Nice looking Riviera! For what it's worth, my '65 LX, non GS, has the BT trans too. The BT trans was what was used in the '65s ordered with the 425, whether a LW or LX, unless it was a GS of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivdrivn Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 So, it’s one of 454 non-Gran Sport dual-quad equipped cars. An early production, I would guess around 12A, first week of December Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Thanks for all your help everyone! : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 If it is one of the 454 non-GS cars equipped with the LX engine, what happened to the dual four barrel carbs and finned aluminum covers. Is the stamped number on the tag around the distributor shaft legible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 6, 2019 Author Share Posted January 6, 2019 Next time am over at the storage place will look for this tag ( have a feeling several good bits sold long ago, the only thing the last owners knew is "thought it was maybe a buick engine, didn't think it was a chev engine" ) Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Judging by the posters on the wall, the egg crate grille sniffed its way back to familiar surroundings! Tom Mooney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demon452 Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 I have a 65/66 factory dual quad intake for sale if your interested. $575 plus shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsgun Posted January 6, 2019 Share Posted January 6, 2019 Knockout car, one of my favorite color combos. Congrats on the LX discovery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65VerdeGS Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 On 1/5/2019 at 12:15 PM, MarkE said: Could use help figuring out which engine my 1965 Riviera has (just purchased) Am sure it's a 401or 425 as the numbers on drivers side of block match VIN plate Hi Mark, Congratulations on your new '65 Riviera! Your car came from the factory with the Super Wildcat 425 cu.in. dual-four barrel engine. This was a $182 factory option, code A-8. Although your car is not a Gran Sport, it is even rarer, because while 3,354 Gran Sports were built, only 454 came with option A-8 installed. Any chance you could post a photo of the Body Plate on the firewall? What more do you know about the history of your Riviera? Welcome to the group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Thanks for your note, will take data plate pic when can get back over to storage place in couple weeks No history except bought it from a local couple who were very nice but had no clue about Rivieras except they saw one in the movie Roadhouse and liked it. They bought it at local collector car auction without really understanding much about collector cars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 You are a very lucky man..........you should be playing the Powerball lotto. Odds of buying a numbers matching LX 425 65 Riviera when the seller doesn't know what he has is about one in 300 million! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Hi new to club. Have question? What do the numbers after the X on block indicate. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Production date code when engine was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivdrivn Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 5 minutes ago, telriv said: Production date code when engine was made. So Tom, in this case was it made on the 177th day of the ‘65 production cycle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) Thanks for info Edited January 9, 2019 by Tony Bal (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Took picture of body plate, looked all around distributor couldn't find a tag on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65VerdeGS Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 52 minutes ago, MarkE said: Took picture of body plate, looked all around distributor couldn't find a tag on it Hi Mark, In case you're interested, here's a decode of your Riviera's body plate: Date built: First week of December 1964 BODY - assembly sequence number = 48,752nd Buick built for the 1965 model year ST - Style 1965 Riviera 2dr coupe FB - Flint manufacturing plant TR - Trim code 601 - Blue vinyl standard interior PAINT - DD - Astro Blue (note the meaning of the STAR after the paint code remains a mystery!) Options: E - Tinted glass, all windows X - Power windows T - 4 way power driver's seat S - Remote trunk release 2R - Rear seat speaker 3T - Rear center arm rest 4F - Remote control mirror (driver's side) 5K - Door guard mouldings 5G - Rear seat belts Note that not all options installed on your Riviera are coded on the firewall body plate. Fischer Body only coded those options that were installed in the body back of the firewall (inside the car) prior to the body being mated to the engine/chassis on the assembly line. This means options like Cruise control, Guide-Matic, 4-note horns, etc. could have been factory installed on your car, but these won't appear coded on the body plate. Probably the rarest option in your Riviera are the rear seat belts. Very few were so equipped. I don't have the percentage here, but it's well under 5%. Any chance you could take a photo of the rear seat belts? I don't think I've ever seen a factory installed set on a '63-'65 Riviera! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Wow thanks for all the info, very interesting! Can send seatbelt pics tomorrow, noticed previously they look a slightly different color than the front belts(?), can't remember seeing a rear center arm rest, will take pic of area also Seems like the outside color still very similar to the original which is nice and am happy the engine matches the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 58 minutes ago, 65VerdeGS said: Hi Mark, In case you're interested, here's a decode of your Riviera's body plate: Date built: First week of December 1964 BODY - assembly sequence number = 48,752nd Buick built for the 1965 model year ST - Style 1965 Riviera 2dr coupe FB - Flint manufacturing plant TR - Trim code 601 - Blue vinyl standard interior PAINT - DD - Astro Blue (note the meaning of the STAR after the paint code remains a mystery!) Options: E - Tinted glass, all windows X - Power windows T - 4 way power driver's seat S - Remote trunk release 2R - Rear seat speaker 3T - Rear center arm rest 4F - Remote control mirror (driver's side) 5K - Door guard mouldings 5G - Rear seat belts Note that not all options installed on your Riviera are coded on the firewall body plate. Fischer Body only coded those options that were installed in the body back of the firewall (inside the car) prior to the body being mated to the engine/chassis on the assembly line. This means options like Cruise control, Guide-Matic, 4-note horns, etc. could have been factory installed on your car, but these won't appear coded on the body plate. Probably the rarest option in your Riviera are the rear seat belts. Very few were so equipped. I don't have the percentage here, but it's well under 5%. Any chance you could take a photo of the rear seat belts? I don't think I've ever seen a factory installed set on a '63-'65 Riviera! Hi Alex, Factory installed rear seat belts in `65 have the standard colored buckle, even if the front belts are the chromed buckle variety, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65VerdeGS Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 On 1/22/2019 at 3:16 PM, 1965rivgs said: Factory installed rear seat belts in `65 have the standard colored buckle, even if the front belts are the chromed buckle variety, Hi Tom, You often come up with interesting details about our cars... It seems strange the factory would put non-matching rear seat belt buckles on a Custom interior car. Oh well. Do you have a photo of a standard '65 seat belt buckle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jframe Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 12 minutes ago, 65VerdeGS said: Hi Tom, You often come up with interesting details about our cars... It seems strange the factory would put non-matching rear seat belt buckles on a Custom interior car. Oh well. Do you have a photo of a standard '65 seat belt buckle? I have heard this before; may have been from Tom. My car has rear seatbelts with chrome buckles and no markings. Thought for a long time they were factory; even had them put on my repro window sticker. However, I am getting the feeling that they were added later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkE Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 thanks for all the data plate info, very interesting! some pics attached of popup center armrest (thanks for pointing out didn't realize it did this) and front (plastic) and rear )metal) seatbelts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 1 hour ago, jframe said: I have heard this before; may have been from Tom. My car has rear seatbelts with chrome buckles and no markings. Thought for a long time they were factory; even had them put on my repro window sticker. However, I am getting the feeling that they were added later on. Post a pic of your Fisher Body plate, that will dictate how the car was originally built. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 59 minutes ago, MarkE said: thanks for all the data plate info, very interesting! some pics attached of popup center armrest (thanks for pointing out didn't realize it did this) and front (plastic) and rear )metal) seatbelts Those rear belt buckles are later model. Your fronts are original but you are missing the Fisher Coach emblem in the recessed area. Tom Mooney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispcards Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 Barn find trying to find out what motor is in this car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loren@65GS.com Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 The engine codes are on the block at the front of the valley pan right behind the crossover pipe that has the thermostat. On horizontal surface on the passenger side is the engine code. Should be three numbers and two letters. The letters are the engine code. Could be "LT", "LW" or "LX". The "LT" is a 401. The "LW" is a 425 with single four carb. The "X" is a 425 with dual quad. On the driver side of the same surface is the VIN number which would match the cars VIN, if engine is original. Loren@65GS.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loren@65GS.com Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 Here you go. This may help you in finding the location of the code. This was posted by RivNut previously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 10 hours ago, Chrispcards said: Barn find trying to find out what motor is in this car IF it’s a true Gran Sport, as indicated by the emblem below the Riviera script on the fender, it has a 425 cubic inch engine with the LX code for the Super Wildcat engine - two four barrel carburetors rated at 360 hp (that’s 1965 brake hp, not like today’s net hp.) Dig into it deeper and let us know. These are easy to clone so look closely for other details. Gran Sport was an option, not a separate model so there’s nothing in the VIN or anything else for you to check. There is an article on the ROA’s website that explains “How to ID a Gran Sport.” Good reading - read carefully and take notes. 😁 Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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