EmTee

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/402897-fs-1986-olds-98-regency-brougham/

The beltline stainless trim and matching bumper sure gives it an Art Deco feel. I think a different color scheme would look better...

Nice looking Catalina. No frills, but looks to be in beautiful condition. Someone will likely score a bargain on this one.

https://oldbuickparts.com/ https://oldbuickparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cat360.5.3.23-compressed_1.pdf

I just love Ian Roussel's bubble tops!

Holy cow - where do you find these cars? She's another beauty! Obviously you're not one to keep a 'low profile'...

Thanks @JohnD1956 - I think you've solved the mystery! The covers on your 400 look just like the ones on @Deadpurpledog's 430. I think someone has installed a set of 400 valve covers on this Riviera. That said, there are a couple of options to solve the breather dilemma: 1) Get a rubber plug to fill the small hole and replace the solid oil fill cap with a twist-on breather cap or, 2) Leave the solid filler cap and find a push-in breather with grommet to put in the small hole (like the picture I posted above). From CARS: https://oldbuickparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/catriv.pdf Look here for a push-in breather to fit the hole in the valve cover: https://www.summitracing.com/search?SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=push-on breather

That's one job that would be easier to accomplish with the engine out of the way...

In the crankcase?

Just found this photo of an A-Body GS-400: This has a closed cap, but there is a breather in the other hole. I don't know whether this is correct for a 400, but it looks like the driver's side cover on my 430. Point is, there needs to be a breather somewhere to allow for air into the crankcase...

Well, I personally have never seen covers like those before. The hole on the right cover looks like the one typically punched into that flat circle at the forward end of your left cover. On my '67, that hole has a rubber plug in it since it is a 49-state car. CA cars would have a hose attached there that connects to the air cleaner housing. The right cover on my '67 has no holes. Looking on the internet, I did find pictures of a GS with covers like yours. That car has the hole plugged, as I would expect for a 49-state car. The left cover, however, has a closed cap like yours (but chrome) which I believe is incorrect. If the PCV vent port is plugged, the oil filler needs a breather cap to provide fresh air intake for the PCV system. Maybe @JZRIV or others can comment, but if this were my car, I'd plug the hole in the passenger side cover and install a breather cap on the driver's side cover like the one I posted above from CARS. Hey, wait --- are the pictures I posted from the internet actually YOUR car???

From a foot or two away, the one on my '64 GP is pretty convincing. Even if not perfect, it does give the engine bay a more period-correct aura. I liken it to putting YOM license plates on your classic car.

Getting close! Is there anything you need to do to the truck before the engine goes back in?

Or at least jealous!

My only comment is that my '67 came with the later road wheels and 1/4" spacers. I wound-up replacing them with a set of original '67 wheels. I wasn't happy with the amount of lug nut thread engagement remaining beyond the spacer. In the end, if you have a similar concern, you could always install longer studs to restore the lost thread depth.

At least it's not a 'derby' car...

Oh my...

Maybe the owner trying to emulate the vacuum gauge installation on his old '63 GP...?

Just beware that the modern condenser will not last 100 years. They certainly don't make them like they used to!

That's a great idea - I like that much better than sticking it to the paint!

Progress!

The 1938 Buick shop manual suggests depressing the clutch when starting in cold weather in order to remove the transmission load from the starter when the transmission oil is like molasses...

Yes - that's what I remember!

Paint looks nice! I agree with Frank, that stainless molding can be smoothed out with some time, care, a few odd scraps of wood, and gentle persuasion...