65VerdeGS

I bought a reproduction hood insulation kit for my '65 GS a few years back (12?) and it has the center hole cut out. In fact, the hole is die cut but the material is still in there. I never removed it. Was this circle of insulation removed in cars that left the factory? RivNut postulates the hole was there so the wing nut wouldn't shred the insulation if the engine rocked. Could be, however this circle of insulation on my car is undisturbed. In fact the stud holding down the air cleaner lid rests below the surface of the cover, so there would be nothing sticking up to mar the insulation. I always thought the hole was there so the chrome pot metal center hood spear attaching bolt could be accessed from under the hood without having to remove the entire insulation panel.

Thanks everyone, especially Tom, for your advice! Looks like ACC is the best source. Yes, the Clark's carpet I got is exactly as you describe - shimmery looking and definitely wrong in terms of color (much like the Moss Green sample below). I went on the ACC website and selected 1965 Riviera - original "Loop" carpeting. I then selected "Year Specific Colors". This is the range of colors that appear. Note that dark green is not included: Does dark green not appear because this color was not available with a Standard interior? Next, i selected "Show All Colors" with "Green" and got this selection: Code 08 - Dark Green looks to be the best match to my stock TRIM 620 carpet. But, colors on a computer monitor can deceive, so I'll request samples, to be sure. Lastly, the website asks which backing I want. The choices are: Anyone know what "Mass Backing" is? Why would I need mass backing? Or, wouid Standard backing be sufficient? Thanks for sharing your experience.

Any of you replace your carpets recently? Where did you buy your carpet set? Were you happy with it? Which vendors provide correct molded carpet sets (front/back/bottom of doors) for the '65 Riviera? My car is Verde Green, with dark green Custom interior. The carpeting is dark green. I believe the Trim Code for my car is 620. I scanned the latest issue of the "Riview" classified ads and didn't see any vendors selling molded carpet sets for Rivieras. A related question: Are the carpet sets for all '63-65 Rivieras the same? Is there a different carpet set depending if you have a car with Standard or Custom interior? Is the original carpet set molded? Or must the carpets be made up from "flat" carpet? Would SMS in Oregon be a source? A few years back I bought dark green seat covers from Clark's Corvair to recover my front bucket seats. The dark green vinyl was an almost perfect match in color and grain to the OEM vinyl. But, the rear carpeted sections (facing the back seat) were a noticeably lighter shade of "metallicky" green. I spray painted over these sections in an effort to match the original carpet - it helped, but the difference is still noticeable. Any tips/ideas?

The Gran Sport usually carries more pretty gals in the back seat, so to keep the ride level the rear tires should be inflated more than the front.... Seriously now... My first theory is that It may have something to do with the Gran Sport having been supplied with different tires from the factory as compared to the standard Riviera. I recall reading that "special tires" were supplied with GS cars, but can't recall details now. My 2nd theory is that most Gran Sports came with the H-2 Ride and Handling package. That option included different shocks and springs (and arguable thicker sway bars?) and required differing tire pressures front and back for optimum vehicle handling. I'll bet our venerable guru Tom Mooney has the answer. Tom?

Hi Guys, I saw on a recent Riview that Dick Sweeney has taken over the '65 Riv GS registry. I thought someone else was compiling info. Did that guy hand it over to Dick? What is the purpose of the registry, and what info do owners submit? Does the compiler release any statistical info on options, colors, trim, etc? Just curious before I submit any info on my car.

Hi Telriv, I've heard that before - that the repo glass is thinner. Is this the case with reproduction side glass too? Where are you located? I ask because I may be interested in buying an OEM windshield to replace mine. The one in my Riv is not the original - it was made by "SOLEX" and was installed prior to 1983 when I bought my car. It is tinted and shaded, and also has a few pits and fine scratches from years of use. Are your OEM windshieids made by LOF? Where are you located? If you're on the west coast, I could always drive to you and pick it up... Finally how much would you want for one windshield? Thanks,

Thanks everyone for your great tips and suggestions! Eastwood stuff is great, but must be mail ordered into Canada. Importing from the USA to Canada can be a PIA, and gets expensive. A spray can costing $6.00 US can wind up costing $18 Canadian! Don't laugh - any mail order shipment from the USA carries a $10 Canada Post "processing fee", plus 5% G.S.T. plus shipping cost, in addition to the exchange rate on the purchase, and the extra 2-3% foreign exchange conversion fee tacked on by the credit card company! Ok, end of rant - pity us poor Canadians, will ya? So, I'll be looking to find the "Krylon 1403 Dull Aluminum", which should be easier to find locally. I'm definitely going to repaint my grill in the car. The body man that restored my Riv years ago told me that he had quite some difficulty in getting the grille out. He was especially concerned with breaking the studs, which he said can happens if you're not careful. Also, the fitment of the grille is very tight, so there's a good chance of scratching lower valance in getting it out. As finicky as it might be to refinish the grille on the car, that's what I'm going to do. I'll post pics when I get this 'little' job done. Cheers,

Looks like a nicely restored car, at a rather handsome price! Yes, it's curious that it has custom interior door panels, yet the seat upholstery pattern is standard. I suspect the car originally had the custom interior as it wouldn't be trivial to add the rear door opening paddle handles to the doors. The car also has the ribbed rocker panel moldings. Weren't these part of the custom interior option? I think they could also be ordered separately. Can anyone confirm this? I note the trunk matting isn't factory correct. And what are those dark things in front of the wheel housings?

Hello all, Anyone have tips/recommendations for repainting the flat (horizontal) bars of the '63-'65 grille? My '65 has its original grille and the flat silver painted parts are looking grubby from age and stains of bugs and god-knows-what from over the years. The chrome plated vertical face of the grille bars still look very good. I'd like to refinish the horizontal side of the grille bars. What sort of paint is 'correct'? Any tips on how to repaint it? I want to leave the grille in place - as any of you know that have removed the grille, these don't come out easy! Thanks in advance for your advice. -Alex I'll be

Great photos! Some really impressive cars, notably Jason's '66 GS, the Bamboo Cream '65 GS, and the '53 green Woody Wagon! Thanks for sharing. Alex

Here's my '65 GS:

Engine torque and gearing have more impact on initial acceleration than horsepower. The '65 Gran Sport with a has two things going for it that help increase its acceleration rate when compared to a regular Riviera equipped with a 401. Firstly, the GS has a 3.42 rear end which allows the engine to reach its torque peak sooner. Also, its larger displacement produces more torque - the 425 is rated at 465 ft lb vs. 445 ft lb for the 401 mill. Just as important is the transmission. In 1964 Buick introduced the legendary Super Turbine 400 (precursor to the almost identical Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 used for years in all GM heavy-duty applications). In ’64 this transmission had a fixed-pitch torque converter and unique valve body which although the transmission had 3 speeds, only allowed the driver to select Low and Drive ranges. For 1965 this transmission was upgraded to incorporate a new feature called "Variable Pitch" (also known as “switch pitch”) that allowed the torque converter stator blades to assume two angles, changeable between performance (high stall) and economy (low stall) angles. When in high stall mode it gave 2.5 times torque multiplication, a 25% increase. The low stall mode gave a bit better mileage. In a heavier vehicle such as the Riviera, the variable pitch feature provides a reduction of 0-60 time of up to 10%, and also gave smoother shifts. The switch pitch feature makes a noticeable difference in that 'seat of the pants' feeling when accelerating from a standing start. Part throttle ‘tip-in’ acceleration is also improved. It’s almost as if the car had an extra low gear. If I disconnect the switch pitch solenoid on my Gran Sport (located on the throttle linkage) the car feels noticeably ‘soggier’ on take-off. The switch pitch feature was installed in many big GM cars from 65 through 67 only. In the high stall mode, it let the engine idle with less "creep" at a stop light, and the low stall mode provided less slippage at highway speeds. This feature was dropped in 1968 to save $ as the increasing displacement and higher torque of the big car line engines was deemed sufficient to make it unnecessary.

Interesting how many items were identified as not being correct in this Gran Sport and I never thought the day would come when a '65 Gran Sport would command such high dollars at auction! I have a '65 GS and my car came with the bail type master cylinder top. I can't vouch for it being original from new, but it was this way when I bought the car in 1983. I also wonder about the body color. The body plate color code is "NN" which is Burgundy Mist - but the paint on this car looks more candy-apple red than burgundy to me. Tom noticed the body plate rivets. If they are not original as he suspects then this opens the possibility that the body plate might also be a reproduction. I bring this up because I've been involved with mid-year '63-'67 Corvettes for many years and the issue of counterfeit cars comes up fairly frequently. There's an economic incentive to falsify big-block cars as these bring in bigger $. There is a cottage industry reproducing trim tags and the rivets for Corvettes (and other makes). The fake trim tags can be used to imply a given car came from the factory with desirable options, upholstery trim and body colors. In fact the National Corvette Restorer's Society (NCRS) publishes an entire book on how to validate the authenticity of trim (body) tags, rivets, etc. Now that the '65 Gran Sport has reached the collector car stratosphere (above $100,000), I wouldn't be surprised if enterprising folks decide to take a regular 401 Riviera and turn it into a Gran Sport. It wouldn't be that hard to fool an unsuspecting buyer. Folks like Tom Mooney would be able to spot a fake unless it was exceptionally well-done, but most of the rest of us don't have his level of experience and expertise and might be fooled. Alex

Is a 425 cu. in. engine more likely to overheat after its been bored 0.30 over? I had my 425 rebuilt recently. This engine never overheated in the 27 years I owned my Riviera, regardless of the weather. After I rebuilt the engine I drove the car to California. In Medford Oregon the engine overheated (HEAT light came on) as I drove through a traffic jam in 95 F weather. My car does not have A/C. I stopped and allowed the engine to cool off before carrying on. Then it happened again when stuck in traffic in Southern California. Should I replace the radiator with a higher capacity one? What is your experience with this?

Congratulations Dale on your new '64, and welcome to the list! I've never seen a Coral Mist Rivera, and I'm sure yours is very nice. Post some pics of your pride and joy for us to enjoy. You might like to know that I also live in Vancouver, BC. I've owned my '65 Gran Sport since 1983 and continue to enjoy fine times and rides in my Rivvie. If there's a nice rain free day (when?) perhaps we could meet in our Rivs and go for a cruise around Stanley Park. Gas is getting cheaper so no excuses, right!!!??? Are you familiar with the Riviera Owners Association? You might enjoy becoming a member. Of couse you've taken the right step to join this board as there are many fine fellow enthusiasts here ready to help you with their experiences and know-how. Cheers, Are you

That's what I thought - thanks for confirming it as spam. I wonder how the spammer got my email address...? g

Just wondering if anyone got the same email I got on Nov 11th. The sender is identified as "Riviera Registry". Here's what the message says: ************************************** Hi! It’s incredible! http://help2biz.com/giving/showed.phpxx Riviera Registry ************************************** I think this is spam, or some fishing expedition. I'm too chicken to click on the link, having heard how bogus emails containing links can pollute one's system with malware or worse. Anybody know anything about this?

Alnulfo, That's exactly what I would do. Run your existing motor. Rebuilds aren't cheap, and you'r Riv isn't your daily driver. Enjoy your ride.

I rebuilt the original LX motor and Super Turbine (THM-400) transmission on my '65 GS when the care had over 250,000 miles on it. No engine work had been done to it. I did replace 4 or 5 water pumps - later I learned this was probably because I was over-tightening the fan belt! I bought the car when it had just over 100,000 miles on it. Before I rebuilt the engine it ran reasonably strong (still) but had plenty of blow-by and the oil leaks were starting to get to me - the fumes from oil burning on the exhaust manifolds weren't too pleasant after a long drive (read: wife would not ride in my Riv any more!) When torn down the rebuilder found two broken rings and a bent push rod, nothing major. The engine was bored 0.30 over and everything put back together - standard stuff. Boy, did the rebuild make a difference! I could really feel the extra performance. After the rebuild the engine overheated on me once in high 90's F. weather during a traffic jam - this car had never, ever oveheated on me before in hot weather. Perhaps the thinner cylinder walls after the overbore were the cause? I doubt it was due to the cooling system as everything there was rebuilt, including the radiator. I pulled over to let the engine cool off before setting off again, so nothing seems to have been damaged. I was also impressed that the transmission lasted so long without a rebuild. These Buicks were strong, and well built! Short of running it her out of oil, or overheating it drastically, you're probably going to be just fine with your engine

Leonard is a Riviera legend indeed! I met Leonard Scott in July 1983, a few months after I had bought my '65 Gran Sport. I drove my 'new' car to Southern California on vacation that summer and one of my stops was at "Classic Buicks" in Chino, run by Mark Smiley. I was looking for some odds and ends, including the SUPER WILDCAT decal for the air cleaner lid which had recently been reproduced. I was standing in the reception area of the store when I heard whispers behind the counter. Someone was saying "Whose is that green Riviera in the parking lot?..." Soon enough a trim and fit middle-aged guy with a Marine hair cut came to the counter. This was Leonard Scott. He asked if the Riviera outside was mine. Twenty four year old me said "Why, yes, its mine." We moved to the parking lot where he looked over my Verde Green car. He then told me that he had exactly the same car, and that he had bought his brand new Verde Green GS in August 1965. We instantly had at least one thing in common! I asked him about parts for my car. In hushed tones he said "Yes, Mark here has most of what you need, but I can probably help you with whatever you need at a good-guy price." Hence began a friendship that lasted many years. Leonard was reliable and honest to a fault. He would send me parts without payment, and only expected payment when I was satisfied. On more than one occasion I called him long-distance (back then it wasn't free) to ask advice and he always gladly gave of his time. He sent me photos of his cars - in 1984 he had 7 Rivs, and garages full of parts. There was never a part I needed that he didn't have on hand. One time I was driving home, going up a long hill when I started to hear an increasingly loud rapping noise. I thought my engine was going! But I also noticed that the noise was based on road-speed, not engine RPM. Leonard quickly diagnosed it as a loose flexplate bolt. He told me how to repair it without removing the transmission from the car, saving me considerable money. I always held Leonard in the highest regard. Leonard was my intro into the Riviera Owners Association. He told me about a fledgling group that had been started by a man named Ray Knott in Colorado. I joined the ROA in 1984, as member #259, and received my black on silver window sticker that said "'63-'65 Riviera" as during those early days membership was limited to the first-generation models only. Thanks to Leonard I was able to keep my Riviera in good running order while completing a gradual restoration. Leonard would reliably reply to my inquiries via neatly typewritten letters on onionskin paper, some over a dozen pages long. I still have 14 of his letters. In one letter he sent me detailed instructions on how to restore my headlight motor. Leonard's help was part of the reason why I enjoyed driving my Riviera for nine years as my daily driver. In those earlier years there weren't many resources available for people like myself and Leonard gave me confidence in knowing I could keep my car in working order. Leonard was a font of knowledge about the first-generation Rivieras, and I will always have fond memories of his dedication to the hobby and the kindness he showed his fellow enthusiasts such as myself. I'll except passages from some of Leonard's letters in future posts for all of you to enjoy. Rest in Peace Leonard, and thank you for all those you touched and helped over the years!

Yes Tony, my '65 GS has that left fender to hood lip fault. My car was built in the second week of 1965 (build date code 01B).

Your body build date says 02C, which I thought meant the third week of February. If that is true then your car remained unsold for almost six months. Perhaps your car was assembled rather later than February, which would explain the delay. Just curious... Did you ever find the build sheet in your car? Some say it was placed under the back seat, or on top of the gas tank. I never found one in my G.S.

Hi Gordon, Yes, that's the bulb, a 3157. Thanks for posting it. On another note, I took a look at your photos and must say what a fine job you've done with your '65! Awesome! Tell me - where did you get those 3 stripe tires? Are those from Coker? What did you pay? Are they bias-ply? Or radials? How do they ride?? Cheers,

Good move, Bernie. Vinyl top on a '64 is wrong, and detracts from the clean lines of this body style. On the '65 it might be okay, but in my view is gingerbreading a design that doesn't need such frippery. Speaking of tires, here's a story: On my way to the ROA Annual Meet in Monterey in 2012 I had a total blow of my right rear tire. I was too stupid (it was raining, after all) to stop in time. Result? The sidewall of the tire was shredded. I was running on BF Goodrich whitewall radials. I slapped on my spare, an old Michelin radial, and drove on. Of course it would not do to go onto the show ground with an oddbal tire! Pride must abide! Except I had a hell of a time finding ANY new tire that had a 1" or so whitewall. Finally, in San Francisco, I found a dealer who sourced a set of new 1" whitewall tires. To my chagrin these were KUMHO brand. Eeech! Korean tires on a classic American car? How far have have the mighty fallen?? Oh well, so I bought them. Of course, they ride just fine and look new, but please don't ask me to explain the name on the tire. Who would think to market a tire with such a name? KUM-HO??? Is this the "Red Light Special"?? I'd rather name it COME-HERE!!! My god, maybe I need to do more standup comedy? Next time I'll hold my nose and pay for those repro 3-band bias-ply's I saw in the Coker catalog...

I might be off-topic here, but are there any copyright issues to reproducing parts in this way? I assume GM isn't too keen on chasing a small-guy restorer, but just wondering what could happen if one reproduces parts without licensing. Is it like copying a CD, where if its for personal use then it's not deemed to be copyright infringement?