kreed

Highly recommend Steve (Fostermom ) - great guy who knows these motors inside and out . KReed ROA 14549

Hi Jason - thanks for the note . Yes , I saw exactly what you described when I opened the one relay . The very fine wires and the thin brass piece was definitely touching the side of the relay . Everything looked OK but I could have easily missed something as I really didn't know what I was looking for ( very much unlike surgery where we think we know what we're going in for but occasionally find something unsuspected ! ) . Actually everything was spotlessly clean inside the one I did open - not a speck of rust but like you mentioned, I could have easily missed one of those very fine connections . I may take you up on your offer to take a look at them . I'll send an email later to discuss . Thanks or all the help. KReed ROA 14549

Her are the pictures of the four relays that I have . The one on the top in the first picture and I n the middle of the second picture is the one that actually works ( has a little bit of cadmium plating left ) and is the one I took from my very original 66 GS and it works perfectly in the problem child car . The two relays that look exactly like the one that works were "left overs" from my 65 restoration and definitely do not work in either of my 66's . The newer looking one has a sister 4 prong that I bought from Jim Kehr ( best offer counts ) and they were sold as new 65 clam shell relays ..... I took one of the originals apart and it looked pristine inside - put in back together and still no go so..... I am beginning to believe that the 65 and 66 auxiliary relays are differrent animals even though they look identical . Does that make any sense at all? Or am I just lucky enough to have three other auxiliary relays that are bad ?..

The rocker trim was only used in 1965 and was an option . Most , but certainly not all 65 GS , had them . Not sure of fitment on a 64 . Personally , I think they really dress up the 65 . KReed ROA 14549

Problem solved - I tried all the suggestions by both Tom and Jason. Came to the conclusion that the relay was bad . My son , who is a real smart ass said " duh.....why don't we just take the auxiliary relay out of your other 66 which we k ow works and see what happens ." We did and it worked perfectly ! The other two three prong relays I have , one of which is new , and originally bought for my 65 do NOT work so as Jason stated they must be different even though they look Identical ?.. So if anyone has a for sure 66 relay , I am interested . Why GM would make different relays a year apart , I do not understand . Oh well , many thanks to Tom and Jason- the undisputed experts ! On a lighter note , a friend sent me this today ( hope I don't get banned for ROA , but her goes ) A suspected Covid-19 male patient is lying in bed in the hospital, wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.A young student female nurse appears and gives him a partial sponge bath. "Nurse,"' he mumbles from behind the mask, "are my testicles black?" Embarrassed, the young nurse replies, "I don't know, Sir. I'm only here to wash your upper body and feet." He struggles to ask again, "Nurse, please check for me. Are my testicles black?" Concerned that he might elevate his blood pressure and heart rate from worrying about his testicles, she overcomes her embarrassment and pulls back the covers. She raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles gently in the other. She looks very closely and says, "There's nothing wrong with them, Sir. They look fine." The man slowly pulls off his oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly, "Thank you very much. That was wonderful. Now listen very,very, closely: "Are - my - test - results - back?"

Supposed to get the car back from the glass guy tomorrow and will give it a try . That would be nice if that’s all it is ! KReed ROA 14549

You know that ground issue might be the problem as I had my guy paint the radiator support right where the relay mounts - wonder if thick paint might prevent the ground ?.? Appreciate all the help . We’ll get it figured out . KReed ROA 14549

Wow - you two are amazing ! Many thanks . Took the car tongue glass guy to have the windshield and back glass put in tomorrow so will play with it this weekend . Very much appreciate the help . Stay safe and wear your masks ! KReed 14549

Really on firewall clicks perfectly - no such luck on the auxiliary relay on the radiator support . Hope fully can find one . My brand new 65 three prong does not work and probably is incorrect as you said Jason . Will keep you uodated . Thanks Ken

That makes total sense. Thanks for the discussion Jason. Interestingly the headlights were working fine prior to me taking everything apart to do the frame on paint . I must be doing something wrong in the reconstruction . I simply took out the grill to clean it up, bolted it back on and plugged in the motor and never touched the relays on the radiator support or firewall. The only thing I did was change the headlights switch . Is there anything in the switch that would effect the up and down movement of the lights - obviously they go down when the switch is pulled but not up when it's pushed back in, ignition of or off ?.... Weird. Am I missing a ground somewhere . Will check out the 65 schematics Tom sent . Thanks again to Jason and Tom KReed ROA 14749

Ok I will try it tomorrow Jason - thanks KReed ROA 14549

Thanks Tom - I am hoping to have this solved without bothering a bunch of people although you are always welcome here . It’s probably something simple but my electrical capabilities are severely limited . I can take out your pancreas , lung , colon or liver but remain challenged changing a fuse or doing a butt connection between two wires ! Other butt things are easy 😀😊. Stay safe and wear your mask ! Ken

No luck - switch on or off - lights go down , switch on- lights don’t come up . My understanding is there is a relay on the driver side firewall and an auxiliary’ relay down by the passenger side lights . Had brand new ones which were originally for my 65 and no go there either . Changed my light switch when I put the dash back together - could that be the problem ? Frustrated! Tom - do you make house calls ? LOL . I also have several wires that I don’t know where they go . I have N-95 masks ! 😀 KReed ROA 14549

Hi Tom - I will try that .The 66 is the only one I know of that the key does not need to be on to open the headlights . I think I tried it in all positions but will try again later orang and let you know . Thanks Ken

I am a complete idiot when it comes to anything electrical so here goes . Just got my car back from the paint shop and putting it back together. Did the dash yesterday . My problem is : the headlights come on and flip down as they should but will not come back up when the switch is turned off even though the lights go off . The motor works just fine as I checked it with a power probe - goes up and down as it should but when I plug it into the harness after raising it with the Power probe, goes down perfectly but will not come back up . Changed the relay on the back of the passenger side headlights - no go still. Is this a ground problem or a defective switch in the dash ? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks KReed ROA 14549

Can anyone tell me why people are buying toilet paper when this is a respiratory virus ? Things are pretty quiet in Iowa now but it's coming this way and our governor refuses to put out a shelter in place order . It is very clear that states that were ahead of the curve with stay at home orders have significantly less cases and fewer deaths . Wear your masks and stay safe ! KReed ROA 14549

Hi Tom - yes I absolutely remember you telling me I would over the color and I do ! I have never seen it before . I have to put it all back together now as it is scattered out all over my garage floor and may be calling you soon as I seem to always have "nuts and bolts and little pieces " left over . 😃Waiting on replating Of my bumpers now . KReed ROA 14549

Interestingly I have just finished painting my ' 66 GS back to its original B code gun metal gray in a frame on restoration I am hopefully getting the car in the next couple of days from the paint shop and I will be glad to send you some pictures. My car was at some point painted black laquer in a Texas dust storm! I had it taken back to bare metal during this repaint . I can tell you that when I had the paint shop spray out a card for me , it was absolutely a surprise . I loved it! As mentioned above , it's a very subtle blue hue that pops in the sunlight ! . There is "nothing " gray about it . I highly recommend it . Picture to follow soon . KReed ROA 14549

Thanks Bill - that looks like a handy little gadget ! Will see if I can find one . KReed ROA 14549

Agree with Bill that the second recommendation works 95% time . I find that if they sit for more than a few days they are always a little slow to start . Fact is the same for me personally if I sit more than 30 minutes in one spot . 😀 KReed ROA 14549

Thanks Tom - I was afraid that would be the case . Will try to get the nerve to do it tomorrow and let you know how it goes . Stay healthy! KReed ROA 14549

Gene Guarnere ( thanks Gene ) sent me a beautiful passenger side cowl vent , got it painted and ready to install . Question: it appears that the windshield wipers need to be removed and the entire cowl removed to replace the vent - right ? There are three very small screws on the front edge of the vent and the nozzle for the squirter. Does the nozzle screw off or will it slide off when the entire cowl is removed ? not much help in the service manual . I’m always nervous about removing the wipers w/o scratching paint any secrets there - heard there was a special tool ? Any help/ advice appreciated . Thanks KReed ROA 14549

Great advice .....😄 KReed ROA 14549

Thanks for everyone's help . Think I found a very nice replacement which should match perfectly . Now if I can just keep from breaking the windshield ! 😛 KReed ROA 14549

I was offered the car last week before they listed it and passed for several reasons too numerous to list, and glad I did after see Tom's post . I really don't need any more Riviera 's according to my wife ! I actually have a bought a couple of cars from them over the years and have been satisfied to this point . Suggested they change the engine color, compressor bracket and compressor and steering wheel . Can't tell If they did the engine color by the photos but I obviously none of the other things . I suspect if someone came in at. $50-52 K they might buy it - just not my cup of tea . Thanks Jan for getting the info out originally . KReed ROA 14549