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November 14th, 2008
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 629
| 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
I've had the Burgundy Mist Wildcat Custom Coupe in a local shop for a total frame off restoration. They have made excellent progress in the last year! This car was "found" be Pete Phillips and listed as a lead in the Buick Bugle circa 2001. I had it shipped sight unseen from Katy Tx and drove it a little- bad oil pressure and a then a bad fuel pump, I removed the dual quads, took it to BG once for the GS nats,
broke the 3.42 rear end and basically parked it.
Before: Detrimmed and with a KW replacement engine...some Camaro 4-speed...
I have had the original trans rebuilt with NOS gears(the high nickel content ones)
Rebuilt the 3.42:1 differential- they appear to be HD compared to the 65 Riv ones I've seen... 
The frame all resto'd 
The real deal ##s carbs for a 65 4-speed- Thanks Jim Wall!!! 
A little burgundy paint! 
__________________
Ted Nagel- WILDCAT FANATIC
65 Wildcats 3-sp, 4-sp, 5-sp, 65 Special Wagon! 65 Skylark, 65 Skylark GS 4 sp, 67 GS Cali, 67 Wildcat, 68 GS400, 69 GS350 3sp, 70 GS455 Stage 1 4-sp ☮BABY☮
Wildcat Nationals 2010 !
W☮T
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November 14th, 2008
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Schenectady, NY
Posts: 2,944
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Sweet Biscuits! That is gonna be awesome when finished. Hope to see it someday.
__________________ John C. De Fiore BCA # 3757
56 Super 56R: Purchased September 1974
69 GS 400: Convertible Added in 2003
69 Electra Limited 2 dr.( well, no longer limited although still unique): Purchased in 1995 or thereabouts. Sold March 2009! [img]< >/cry.gif[/img]
78 Estate Wagon: added 10-2008
95 Riviera Supercharged: Purchased May 1998. Sold September 2006
06 Lacrosse CXL Purchased July 4th 2006, Still payin for it.
"Tomorrow, your reward for working safe today"
Member of the UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
check it out at
http://unybca.skyphix.com/ | |
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November 14th, 2008
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland suburbs of DC
Posts: 229
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
WOW! I'm a fan of the big GM cars when they have unusual drivetrains or options - how few of these were built? When was the last year for 3-speeds / 4-speeds in the full-size Buick? Were the manual transmissions available in all body styles?
Cool!
This will be a great car when completed... I envy you!
__________________
Doug
"Oldsmobile - Always a Step Ahead" | |
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November 15th, 2008
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 2,806
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Attaboy Ted...now I'm going to have to go put on a WOT shirt.
That reminds me that I have a bit to do on my 'Cat yet before the long winter sleep...never enough hours.
__________________ Derek Thille
BCA #39416, CBC, MBCC #1984
76 Century Free Spirit Pace Car - "Spirit" / 66 Wildcat Custom Coupe - "Ellie" / 62 Special Convertible / 61 Invicta Convertible - "Vicky" / 56 Special 4-door Sedan / 54 Century Estate Wagon / 52 Roadmaster 4-door / 41 Special 41SE Sedan / 29 McLaughlin Buick Model 51
2006 Buick Rainier - "Ruby" / 2005 GMC Sierra K2500 - "Max" (the hauler) Thriller's Buick Page | |
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November 15th, 2008
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 629
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Yep, I have my WOT shirt on today!
Doug- 65 was the last year for the 4-speed in the big car...second to last for the nailhead/dual quad feature, so that is one of the attractions of this WIldcat.
194 Wildcat custom coupes were built w/4-speeds-
65 Custom coupes with dual quad 4-speed
18 Custom coupes with dual quad 4-speed and A/C
Mine was originally an LW (single 4bbl 425) -
that is one of 65 LW + 4-speed; 11 of those were with A/C
From the Daily Car Report/ Buick Motor Division/8-24-65, pp 212, 214, 216
Ted
__________________
Ted Nagel- WILDCAT FANATIC
65 Wildcats 3-sp, 4-sp, 5-sp, 65 Special Wagon! 65 Skylark, 65 Skylark GS 4 sp, 67 GS Cali, 67 Wildcat, 68 GS400, 69 GS350 3sp, 70 GS455 Stage 1 4-sp ☮BABY☮
Wildcat Nationals 2010 !
W☮T
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November 15th, 2008
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 629
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Ok Doug, as I understand the Buick Wildcat cars...
62 no manual trans option (subject to further research!)
63 column shift 3-speed std, 4-speed optional, auto=last year for the Dynaflo.
64 column shift 3-speed std, 4-speed optional, auto=ST 400 first year- not super clear on SP feature
65 column shift 3-speed std, 4-speed optional, auto=ST 400 first year for switch pitch
66 column shift 3-speed std, ST400 Optional
In 65 and 66 the Electra and Wildcat shared the same wheelbase but the Electra only offered the ST400.
LeSabre were 3" shorter, offered the column shift, ST300 or ST400.
All other year configs would be a guess to me.
I've concentrated my research on the 64, 65, 66 Wildcats, 65 LeSabre, and 65 Electra. And I liked it!
Cheers!
Ted
__________________
Ted Nagel- WILDCAT FANATIC
65 Wildcats 3-sp, 4-sp, 5-sp, 65 Special Wagon! 65 Skylark, 65 Skylark GS 4 sp, 67 GS Cali, 67 Wildcat, 68 GS400, 69 GS350 3sp, 70 GS455 Stage 1 4-sp ☮BABY☮
Wildcat Nationals 2010 !
W☮T
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November 20th, 2008
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wichita, Kansas
Posts: 192
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Sweet, Ted, so damn sweet! Since you broke the poor thing so many times when you first got it, I'll go ahead and take that one off your hands. Cool? Was this a console/bucket seat car, or a bench? I can't remember. Either way, it is flipping cool!
They made Wildcats in 3-speeds? Who in their right mind would want a 3-on-the-tree Wildcat Custom coupe anyway???
Matt | |
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February 14th, 2009
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 259
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Hey Ted,
Just wondering, what local shop you had do the work?
Can't wait until spring so I can come check out the garage again!
__________________ Treasurer, 1959 Buick Division of the BCA http://www.buick-59.com/mxbba/  "A New Generation of Great Buicks!"  1959 Invicta 4 dr ht (LUCILLE)
1965 Wildcat Custom Convertible (ROXANNE)
1969 Electra 225 4 dr ht (THE DEUCE)
1958 Chevy Apache 3100 (BABY)
BCA #41596,DWD #0003,RDIV #918,AACA #350068 | |
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February 14th, 2009
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 629
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
Hey Brian!
I've got the 4-speed over at Antique Auto Shop in Hebron.
I have to pick up a new toy Monday... Stay tuned same Wildcat time same Wildcat channel!
__________________
Ted Nagel- WILDCAT FANATIC
65 Wildcats 3-sp, 4-sp, 5-sp, 65 Special Wagon! 65 Skylark, 65 Skylark GS 4 sp, 67 GS Cali, 67 Wildcat, 68 GS400, 69 GS350 3sp, 70 GS455 Stage 1 4-sp ☮BABY☮
Wildcat Nationals 2010 !
W☮T
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February 14th, 2009
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 629
| Re: 65 Wildcat 4-speed project progress
They made Wildcats in 3-speeds? Who in their right mind would want a 3-on-the-tree Wildcat Custom coupe anyway???
Matt
Ummmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Maybe not a custom.....
__________________
Ted Nagel- WILDCAT FANATIC
65 Wildcats 3-sp, 4-sp, 5-sp, 65 Special Wagon! 65 Skylark, 65 Skylark GS 4 sp, 67 GS Cali, 67 Wildcat, 68 GS400, 69 GS350 3sp, 70 GS455 Stage 1 4-sp ☮BABY☮
Wildcat Nationals 2010 !
W☮T
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