1965rivgs

Hi Craig, I could type all day about the chrome wheels; best to call me with your questions. You have my number. Thanks, Tom

10 4...thanks for taking the time to supply a pic Tom

Bob, my last comment was offered as an opinion and I intended that it would be regarded as one. As you know, opinions are like axxholes, everyone has one. I think your wires wheels look good, but again, what`s one man`s opinion worth? Tom Mooney

Trust me, it's the wrong wheel and most importantly the wrong offset. If I understand your statement correctly, the lug nuts may have, in reality, been "tightened" but when offset is incorrect the inside edge of the rim contacts the fins of the brake drum before the center of the wheel contacts the axle. That gives the illusion the lugs are tightening when in fact the lug nuts are bending the rim. It's easy to stop tightening because as the rim distorts tightening the lug nuts requires increased effort but the rim is not properly seated against the axle. End result is the wheel may loosen up. Beware of using 895 rims on a pre '70 application and beware of anyone who us recommending same; besides, it's the most unattractive version of the Buick chrome wheel because in overall appearance it lacks depth. Tom Mooney

Craig, your chrome wheel is a '71 and up wheel. Tom Mooney

It was...see my post above. Since yours is NOS can you get a pic looking straight into the tube? My experience with troubleshooting the hot air choke system is that there should be an insert that looks like a twisted dipstick. Tom Mooney

Barney, there was an industry size designation change between `64 and `65. You are correct that the standard size tire in `63-`64 was the 7.10 but the oversize tire option was a 7.60. The `64 7.60 is the equivalent of the `65 8.45. The charts seem to often contradict each other but my guesstimate would be a 7.10 is comparable to a 215 and the 8.45 is somewhere between a 215 and 225; probably closer to a 225 Tom Mooney

Gene, As has been mentioned in our previous communications I have excellent cores for rechroming which suit your needs, ie, '64 Wildcat cores. The wheels are already boxed and ready to ship. However, I do not have "like new" original examples. As you may recall, in our initial conversation, I suggesting rechroming excellent cores to achieve your stated goal. Thanks, Tom

I have not noticed shims at the firewall mounts but I've only actually replaced them several times...so it could have been done and I simply wasn't looking for it and didn't notice; they are in an area that's not typically visible. Tom Mooney

The twisted insert in the tube swirls the air flowing through it, slowing it down and maximizing the heat transfer. The complete tube inserts were available from Buick and I occasionally see them sold as an NOS part on Ebay. I wouldn't want to tackle changing one though. Tom Mooney

They all weren't...very typical to find original paint cars with mismatched paint on the front clips. Most who have not been around will claim "can't be original, paint on the front clip doesn't match" but that typically doesn't concern me when inspecting an original car... unless I find evidence of a front end collision. Tom Mooney

It's not a spiral tube but is a tube with what can best be described as a twisted dip stick which is inserted in the tube Tom Mooney

You need more heat...ideally oxy/acet...try MAP gas, a low cost alternative, which you should be able to use with your current propane head. If the top of the studs are protruding above the manifold flange, and are rusty and corroded, try to clean those up as much as possible before you back out the studs. Or, if you can get access to one or both of the studs from above, drill a hole into the stud from the top so it can collapse. Otherwise, if you loosen the stud and try to turn out the corroded upper part of the stud through the threaded hole in the manifold, it will snap the manifold flange because the stud wants to force the hole larger. Ask me how I know! Tom Mooney

The defrost vent is also in the center on '64-'65 cars Tom Mooney

In `64 Buick described the chrome wheel option as "Formula Five" wheels with the "Five" depicted as a roman numeral. After `64 Buick simply described the optional wheels as "chrome wheels". Tom mooney