rodneybeauchamp

Hi, just cruising through page two and came across a familiar tag! What a great read and great story. So much of that car has Buick Skylark all over it, especially underbody shots. Guessing GM/Fisher Body used the same floor pan for all the BOPs compacts. Gee it does sound sweet. Love the way you lifted the body up to access the engine. Thinking in a convertible that may not work due to strength. And after all that work it gets sold back to the old owner. Look forward to the rest of the storyline! Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

A lot of that will buff out with a clay bar and some ambitious rubbing. Weekend project for some! Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

Well all is sweet. Ran nicely all the way to Goolwa and back for coffee this morning. Coolish overcast day but still had the top down. Heater kept us cosy. No stumble, miss or hesitation at all! Nice to find a simple problem and fix it. Speedo just rolled over to 69,000 on the journey back home. Just this photo. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

Well as you know 99% of fuel related problems are electrical. So off to our monthly breakfast in the Skylark as there was little chance of rain and it had not been out for a while. Well part way there it started running terribly so decided to abort and return home. Managed to catch up later with the guys so all good. Well today I decided to check the fuel system so replaced the fuel filter and checked the pump for flow. Took out the pressure regulator expecting it to be full of rubbish but super clean. Again checked the flow so all good. Hmm 🤔🤔 Took the distributor cap off and had Jo crank to confirm the points were opening. They were but there was a lot of sparking that I didn’t think was right. A closer look revealed the condenser wire had come out of its place where it should be clipped in alongside the other wire. The nylon bush seemed a little weak so changed it out for another I had. Also opened up the leg of the terminal to reduce the tendency to pop out. Started it up and away it went, just as it always has. What stumped me was electrical problems usually mean it won’t run but this would run but run poorly with any throttle position. Will take it for a run tomorrow and Saturday to satisfy myself all is good. No pictures today 😀😀😀 Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

These are what I use. Part of a wire brush assortment that I bought. Ideal! Rodney 😀😀😀😀

This our new family member, Billy. Six month old Groodle (Golden Retriever & Standard Poodle cross) enjoying his first Cars n Coffee outing in Victor Harbor. Not really enthusiastic about riding in our Subaru Forester, he seemed to revel in open top travel on the day in the ‘63 Skylark. Perhaps it is marque status, who knows? Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

A Dremel with small wire brush attachment will make the internals like new again. Make sure the lead terminal is secured properly in the lead. A bit of dielectric grease will keep it all new too! And the same clean up on the distributor cap is well warranted too! Don’t replace parts unless you can prove they have failed. just my two bobs worth Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

Pete, I made up a long black wire attached to one of the sender unit screws and followed the sender wiring up into the bodywork and fixed it to a tail lamp bolt on my Skylark so I didn’t have to drill another hole. Covered it in black protective cloth to prevent damage. On my ‘38 did a similar thing but found a suitable screw on the chassis or bodywork. Both worked well for me. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

Hi, if you wish to delve deeper into the setup, you will find online the complete Rochester Service manual for your carburettor. They are comprehensive and give you diagrams and technical specs for settings and step by step procedures. The tab on the carburettor should give you the details for the exact carburettor you are working with. I found one for the 4GC for my ‘63 Buick Skylark and printed off the pages for the choke set up. It is much more comprehensive than the Buick Shop manual. Mine had been converted to a manual choke and was difficult to start. Conversion back to the original automatic choke makes it easier. Search Rochester 2GC guides or manuals - you will be surprised with what is out there! cheers Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀 PS I also saved the download as a favourite so I could easily find it from time to time

Hi, admire what you are doing. I have had great success using LEDs from SuperBright LEDs (no affiliation) with the Warm White colour as they look like the incandescents they replace. I used them as DRLs in my ‘63. They also backed up their warranty when one failed after 12months. Their website is worth a look and they have holiday sales too! just my two bobs worth Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

The fatties were Monroe and from the look were original from 1963. I replaced with the standard OEM Monroe and it was fine. At the time I was chasing a jarring sensation which I found later was due to a drivers seat cushion that had broken and weak springs rather than suspension issues. Would have preferred the fatties to keep it original HD Springs and Shocks but the numbers on the shocks didn’t lead anywhere. Once the seat was repaired the ride was fine. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

Interesting looking at the photo above comparing the shock absorbers. When I replaced the fronts on my ‘63 the fat ones were what I removed and replaced with the trimmed standard ones. The original owner ordered Heavy Duty Springs and Shocks and I gather the fat ones were the originals. Photo below shows what I removed. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

Hi Les, might be worth posting a photo of your spring. If it is Holden bodied Buick, the latch may be similar/same as used on the same year Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Cadillac and perhaps Vauxhall. And perhaps earlier or later years. You may want to contact the Buick Clubs in NSW, QLD and Victoria for help. BTW if the spring is required to correct a sagging door handle, the factory fix was to put the square shank in a vice and twist it against the droop so it would sit horizontally. What I needed to do on a ‘40 Pontiac and it worked. Just my two bobs worth Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

Hi Jon, enjoyed your post and the pictures. Please consider starting a post under Me and My Buick where this can be enjoyed by many! Seats look amazing and appear as Buick would have intended. Lots of room up front too! cheers Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

Well the long search is finally over, found an excellent Riviera that matched my criteria and ticks almost all the boxes. Watch this space, all to be revealed once it lands here in Australia. Excited 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 Watch this space! Rodney

Once I get confirmation it has landed here, then I will do a post with pictures. I can’t wait till it arrives, all very exciting 😀

Our latest accessory for our Buick Skylark. Not sure if it was in the Buick Accessory Brochure but he sure looks good! Meet Billy, our five and a half month old Groodle, cross between a standard Poodle and Golden Retriever. All 22kgs and still not fully grown. Might need to upsize to a full size convertible! Have not done much car stuff as we have been on holiday in Tasmania for nine weeks with our caravan and just returned. Last time I used the Skylark it disgraced itself by running out of fuel even though the gauge showed plenty. So another job on the list to sort 😔😔😔😔😔 But today was Cars and Coffee at our new venue by the foreshore in Victor Harbor. Great event with eighty plus cars turning up and the weather was kind for Mothers Day. Billy appreciated the ride with the top down with lots of fresh air and things to sniff. Once the fuel gauge issue is sorted then the Skylark will be put up for sale. There is another Buick coming and I need the garage space. Watch this space! The Skylark has been an adventure and some fun but time for someone else to become the caretaker! Anyway photos, otherwise it never happened. 😀😀😀😀😀

Just rereading the post, my ‘64 Skylark 300 HIgh Compression with power pack four barrel carburettor timing was set at 2 and 1/2 degrees. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

I had similar issues with my ‘63 Buick Skylark after draining flushing and cleaning out the heater core. Borrowed a special burping funnel that raises the coolant head or level above the air lock. Running the engine allows the air to bleed out. See picture below. Worked for me! Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀😀

Hi Ed, yes I have and reached out to a guy that had one for sale. It was almost right except for some poor attempt at touch up on the bumper which was highlighted. However when I asked for photos of underneath I was just given words saying it was good. Given the owner had a hoist, I didn’t feel it was an imposition but still yet to see the photos. Also for a car having travelled only 55k it seemed a bit knocked about and feel I can do better. And wanting specifically ‘98 or ‘99 which narrows the field. BTW our Riview arrives here a month or so after you receive it. cheers Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

Hi Craig, Yes, shipping is no issue, just costly. Have imported two Buicks previously so am prepared. This is possibly the last one I will buy so it needs to be the right one. thank you for that. I had found these two, the first using Searchtempest for the first time! The first has 128,000miles which is far more than I want (50k or less or pristine if more than that) The Silver Arrow is missing the rear window glass and LHF fender wheel arch moulding which seems strange. I did contact them a week ago when it came up asking for better photos as most were taken at night but the silence is deafening 😀😀😀😀😀

Thanks John, often the younger ones have the knack and the speed to hunt! Happy to look at anything that he comes up with. And am aware of the rust issues, hopefully low mileage well cared for cars don’t have this. Have seen a few where the underneath was pristine, one a ‘95 and the other a ‘98 but with accident history and still some issues, so I passed. many thanks for your interest, Rodney 😀😀😀😀

Hi Wayne, as of last year, our State Government changed the ruling to 25 years for LHD. Hence the search. Rodney

Hi all, As you may be aware I am searching for a low mileage 1998 or 1999 Buick Riviera. What are the better search engines or forums that I should be using to locate my next Riviera? What do forum members use for Nationwide searches? The ones that come up often produce the same result or ones that have been sold or cars that don’t even fit my search criteria. Am am located in Australia so not sure how that affects my results. Any help would be appreciated. Rodney 😀😀😀😀😀

BTT Still looking. Happy to be the next custodian of your ‘98 or ‘99 Riviera. It will be cared for 😀😀😀😀 Rodney 😀😀😀😀