'64 rivi info needed

[87gn@tahoe]

I'm looking at purchasing a '64 riviera in the next week or so and I was wondering if there is and particular thing I might want to look for... the car is RUST FREE and only on it's 2nd owner

any info would be appreciated... cowl tag info would be nice as well

wes

[71stage1conv]

Sounds to me you have a great deal in the works as long as there is no rust! Second owner, it is probably bone stock from the factory... Lucky dog!:SMART:

[Yardley]

Look for rust! At the base of each windshield pillar, over rear wheelwells and lower quarters. use a small magnet to detect bondo!

The steering columns on these cars get REAL hot under the dash, but there is a fix. Any member of the ROA with a 1st gen Riv can explain it... I might be able to look it up in any of my old ROA mags, if it is in there.

Not sure of any real trouble spots. These cars were sooooooo well put together from the get-go. Very few service bulletins on them (which I also have).

[87gn@tahoe]

thanks a ton for the help guys... picked it up and it is BEAUTIFUL... White with a black interior, power antenna, AM/FM radio, power driver's seat (didn't bother to see if passenger's was power or not), speed alert, Factory AC, 20-year old reapaint looks brand new (except for a couple chips here and there), and good old 465 wildcat power.. and ZERO i mean ZZEEERRROOO rust... thank god for little old lady's from Las Vegas

a couple little things ned to be fixed, for instance, the plastic on the driver's seatbelt buckle is broken, the old lady's arse tore up the driver's seat a little, the switch handle for the power antenna is broken, the left blinkers won't work (i think it might be the switch itself), lower trim on rearmost of the rear driver's quarter is missing, paint chipped from some dumbass with a shopping cart, carpet could be replaced, passenger's rear quarter glass weatherstrip needs replacement (one that seals up door glass to rear glass), driver's door armrest pad is torn (black interior), and window regulator in passenger's door needs adjustment or replacement... truely just little things... if any of you know where i might find some of these items, please let me know...

pictures to come soon

wes

[71stage1conv]

Lucky dog...:TU: :TU:

[87gn@tahoe]

I found a kind of knob under the dash near where your left knee might go.... is that for adjusting the SP converter?

thanks again

Wes:BEERS: :T:

[Brad Conley]

That's for resetting the trip odometer, at least it was on my '64 Electra. Push in and turn and see what happens.

[87gn@tahoe]

thats what it was... THANKS!

here are some pictures... (blurry because it was cold and i was shaking... need a tripod)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars112.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars113.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars114.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars115.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars116.jpg

[87gn@tahoe]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars117.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars118.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars119.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars107.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars108.jpg

[87gn@tahoe]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars106.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars109.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars111.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars110.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars120.jpg

[87gn@tahoe]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars121.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/buickcars/morecars122.jpg

[Yardley]

Schweet!

I've always loved those door handles on the back of the armrests.

The only change I recommend is replacing the single resevoir brake cylinder with a dual one. It requires a little line fabrication, but the extra safety peace of mind is well worth it.

Before you make ANY repairs or changes, visit my webpage and join the ROA! You'll be amazed at how easy it is to totally screw up one of these cars! They are NOT Chevelles and can not be serviced in that manner.

Also, get a shop manual NOW.

New seat skins are available from Clarkes Corvair. They are really nice. New rear package shelves are also available.

Join the ROA!

Very nice ride! Did you attend the ROA meet in Tahoe last year?

[87gn@tahoe]

what is the R.O.A.'s website?

SHOOT if i knew there was a meeting here last year i would have gone, even though I didn't own a rivi back then... tough I would have given you guys the number to a guy with a '67 rust free roller that might just give it away.. he still has it:BROW:

thanks on the tips.. now to search google for the ROA

wes

[87gn@tahoe]

yardley.. what in particular should I look out for so I don't eng up ruining the car??

[Yardley]

yardley.. what in particular should I look out for so I don't eng up ruining the car??

Read my website before I take it down for maintenance... link is http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jholthenrichs. Just remember... you have a NAILHEAD, which is unrelated to ANY other engine ever made. So theory and common backyard mechanic's ideas go out the window.

A member responded to your original post on v8buick. His username is telriv. He is Tom Telesco, out of Connecticut, and he is without arguement the NUMBER ONE nailhead racer/tuner in the world. He knows his $h!t like nobody else. He bought a 64 Riv NEW in '64 and has street raced it every day since. It is bone stock and has run 13.98 I think. He designed roller rockers that, just by switching to them, makes 26 HP at the REAR WHEELS! He hopes to have them produced to sell shortly.

Tom is also a really good guy. He lives and breathes Rivs and Buicks. He owns an antique auto garage in CT. Contact him and ask for his phone number. Tell him Yardley sent you. He'll be able to tell you ANYTHING you need to know about your Riv.

Keep me posted.

ROA = http://www.rivowners.org

Yardley

[87gn@tahoe]

thanks yardley.. now I have a question... was there some type of "trunk kit" available back in '64 because my Riv has what looks like either a factory installed or dealer installed "trunk kit" which is made out of what looks like cardboard and lines the outer parts of the trunk area... it's in pretty good shape as well.. I'll see if i can get a couple pictures to post....

ALSO, where could I get parts and filters for my transmission? the same goes for parts for the rear end?

thanks again,

Wes

[Yardley]

thanks yardley.. now I have a question... was there some type of "trunk kit" available back in '64 because my Riv has what looks like either a factory installed or dealer installed "trunk kit" which is made out of what looks like cardboard and lines the outer parts of the trunk area... it's in pretty good shape as well.. I'll see if i can get a couple pictures to post....

to the best of my knowledge, they all came that way. Mine is like that. That is what you paid extra $$$ for when you bought a Buick.


ALSO, where could I get parts and filters for my transmission? the same goes for parts for the rear end?

thanks again,

Wes

Tom Telesco just serviced the trans in Ken Lisk's 66 Wildcat, he'll know. 203-324-6045!

[87gn@tahoe]

here's what my cowl tag reads... can anyone help me decode it?

12E
STYLE 64-4747 FB11898 BODY
TRIM 628 CC *(FIVE POINTED STAR) PAINT
ACC. ET-2K-4F-5ZK


also I was wondering if I could get help in identifying what my rear end ratio is..


thanks for the number yardley... i'll give him a call later this week

thanks,

Wes

[71stage1conv]

You don't want to remove the cover, jack up the car. Leave it in neutral, mark a line on the tire and the drive shaft, then make one revolution of the wheel, note how many times the line on the shaft turns AND the final position of the line. Example, shaft turns 3 times and stops in about the 1 o'clock position, you have 3.08. If it stops in about the 5 o'clock pos, 3.42.....:SMART:

[Yardley]

You don't want to remove the cover, jack up the car. Leave it in neutral, mark a line on the tire and the drive shaft, then make one revolution of the wheel, note how many times the line on the shaft turns AND the final position of the line. Example, shaft turns 3 times and stops in about the 1 o'clock position, you have 3.08. If it stops in about the 5 o'clock pos, 3.42.....:SMART:

All differentials are marked with the ratio (unless the gears were changed, it will be correct), but you need a shop manual to tell you what the code means and where on the rear the code is stamped.

[71stage1conv]

And I've spent 10 times as much time searching for the code on mine (with no luck yet), than the time it takes spin the wheel. Or you can take off the cover, note the 2 #'s stamped on the gear, and do a simple division.:ROLL: