XframeFX

Good relations between Firestone and Ford. That is until driving an overloaded 1st Generation Explorer with under inflated Firestone Wilderness ATs on a hot Texas Hwy at high speeds. Finger pointing between them ever since, not the operators! I miss my 30 year old 225/75-15 BF Goodrich 3/4" WSWs! I detected flat spots with my new Chinese tires yesterday while leaving the neighbourhood. Hopefully I'm wrong.

For the same $$$, could've had a 4-Door - LOL😆 The "Dud Engine" for SBCs was that 305. In a 1981 Caprice wagon, better MPG w/cruise in direct drive than OD. In a 1985 GMC Van, cresting the top of a hill the 305 was screaming in 1st gear, barely made even though I made a "run" for it on the approach. With a friend driving, me as passenger and bringing attention to a steep hill up ahead, he didn't think it was necessary to make a run for it. Full stall, had to make a dangerous backup to turn around near the top and try again with more velocity! Overdrive not an asset for the 305!😑 In the final years of those GMC Motor coaches, they switched to the Olds 403 without addressing the shallow final drive. I recall some yearning for the 455 in those 26' Units.

Just attempted another partial inspection to determine Left Side 'Clunk'. This is the lower right side shock absorber mount. The left side is still intact. Again, found nothing, all is tight and solid with a crowbar. Need to remove those shock absorbers for a better inspection but, as you can see, will not go back in. Will splurge for George's Bilsteins over the winter. I usually address deficiencies before they they become as bad as that lower mount. Never noticed earlier. Must be recent degradation. Typical Riviera, like my rough idle, no silver bullet to left side clunk . . . as yet.

. . . . . and space. I miss my OT paychecks in retirement. I'll always want a shop be it just a bench, shelves and drill press over my car projects. I can switch to smaller projects after down sizing. Ed's Bicycles!

Makes sense. I noticed the Trim Ring and you referenced it with your latest comment. I like no chrome plating. No resources for that anywhere near my area. They're all gone! Also, no desire to pay for shipping a set of 4 round trip! I like the look! I always found the wheels were too deep inside the wheel well. There's a How-To on rivowners.org for converting these wheels to 17". I like the above method better in 15". What tire size are recommended for the now 15X7 Rim? Couldn't find 235/70-15 in WSW except Vitour sold in Long Beach CA: https://www.performanceplustire.com/tires-for-sale/vitour-tires/galaxy-r1-whitewall/ts:235-70-15:ty:Tire/

I too have this Owner's Manual which I acquired years back for my '63. Good idea to post the 3 booklets, the last entry has the JW Engine. I wonder if Jim C. has them in his 10963 DataBase? Strange how 2 of the Owners are Companies? Expecting maybe Doctors and Lawyers? So, to continue match-making, the last page of my Owner's Manual has numbers that do not match my car. The Riviera for my Book still out there?

Bringing this back after 3 years because I had to laugh having received the same MI October 1962 issue today with MacCahill and that early red 1963 Riviera on the cover. Also, here: Inside this issue on Page #78/79, predictions for year 2000! Gadgets were, Ear Pellets, backpack copters, fast moving sidewalks, infrared pool deck heaters, even anti-gravity cars. Ha Ha.

Me too, especially in my modern driver. I ordered my JL Wrangler w/o the DSA. Traction control works fine in 2WD and if slippery, switch it to 4X4. Also, I don't like the idea of having rear wheels locked when encountering black ice at hwy speeds. If reacting too late, lose control. Sigh, I have a DynaSlow! True and more so now with my '63. Changed tires that had a slightly larger OD than original standard 7.10-15 BIAS Ply to slightly smaller 225/70-15. MPG was bad, now worse I'm sure. What engine noise? All seals are new but have yet to install Vent window rubber. Need to crack a window at hwy speeds to reduce the "racket". Typical 60s hardtop, with all side glass down, actually less noise. Side glass up, not a comfortable cruiser on the highway.

When my kids started driving, one of the two (and his like demographics) would purchase 20-year-old high-end rides, mostly European that were $85K CAD new, from the late '90s. Jaguars from that era (both Ford Jaguars and prior) would be especially cheap. Seen one kid pulling up to the neighbours' kid (still living at home) in the last generation T-Bird with hardtop off. Original Owner had it pegged as an "old car". I wish the same would be the case with the original Owner of a Cadillac CTS-Vee!

OMG, they are so inexpensive, I keep the one with a broken target beam in my Riv's glovebox. Not so much for overheating but for ongoing rough idle troubleshooting. A youtube channel has the dyno test cell operator squirting water on each primary header tube. Huh? A better tool here in 2023 would be sequential testing with an infrared thermometer.

Key word, "Better". If I had a 1965 Riviera, definitely not customize the rear. Just like no desire to change the front of a 63/64. For one, want to preserve originality and 2nd, either styling grows on me. One thing on the '63, is the Twin Turbine. Sure wish it had the ST400. It may still happen one day. If I have to tolerate poor MPG, I at least expect good throttle response. I will still consider my Riviera an original G1 with a Switch Pitch ST400.

So, most of us have seen online images of 1963 & 64s with 1965 Riviera front clips. Best of G1 FrankenRivs perhaps? Few hide-away headlights look cool both open and closed as the 1965 Riviera. But the earlier rendition grew on me. Wouldn't change the basic look of my '63. Good analogie Bernie. Thanks to this Forum, I have connected with other long time G1 Riviera Owners. I acquired mine in 1979 or was it 1980? Then a parts car in 1989 to combine the two. Otherwise, my Riviera would not exist today. For some reason 1963 & 64 "survivors" show up even in rust belts, some with <100,000 miles. Maybe because they were perceived as a limited run and became "keepers" when new? I had to order my 1987 Buick Grand National twice because of a Dealer Scam. Such an ordeal to acquire a Unit. So, would I have allowed that car to rust away? However, 1965 Rivieras appeared to have been "used-up" before being recognized as a milestone car. Evolution of new and improved American Muscle Cars after the 1965 Riviera GS to its peak in 1970 didn't help. I thought I was one of them. But if I had known of the existance of the 2X4 1965 Riviera GS . . . . .

Nothing new with this link. They advertise in the Riview. There are other vintage wrecking yards such as in Denton TX. Desert Valley Auto has 3 locations for their yards. 1968 vintage would be at Black Canyon north of Phoenix: https://www.dvap.com/

Maybe I should switch to custom E-Bikes in retirement. Cheaper too and requires a smaller space. https://autos.yahoo.com/autos/report-california-looking-restrict-travel-120000026.html?guccounter=1

Pictures? The door card has a stamped steel cap along the top which has vinyl ipholstery covering the whole assembly.

Did this last week 1 block from the tire shop. Video'd my attempt at torching 30 year old tires before new Chinese rubber. Created dual smoke and black stripes but no runaway rediculousness. Old tires still had printing between treads as if still new. I miss them already! Have yet to put 4 links of chain on driver's side motor mount for just-in-case protection. I wonder if my Twin Turbine is contributing to rough idle? Yes. RPMs drop slightly when in gear but, that's when it's bad

Yes. Simply wanted to replace with over the counter parts and be done. OK with a stamped steel arm vs AC laminated arm. But no longer having 1/8" NPTF Ports for inlet & outlet like the previous "cheap" canister pump was the deciding factor. See image above showing dual NPT ports that are no longer offered on cheap pumps. Not Like-for-Like replacement, Like-for-Less now.

Sold - $76K https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-buick-gran-sport-9/

"Evans Cool" Jay Leno has $$$.

Oh, not here. Idle still terrible. No silver bullit after 3 summers of ON/OFF troubleshooting and lots of parts! Looking at my nailhead idling with the hood up, not too bad. Rev'ing the engine, excellent. But waiting at a red light,🆖! I have the idle set high after limiting vacuum advance and slightly better. But increased creep has me throwing the shifter to Neutral at a long Red Light. My Nailhead runs like a top? Not with its terrible idle.

When both, the NAPA Parts Man and myself inspect the pump on his counter and gave it a thumbs down, it's not good. Sure, it will get you back on-the-road but how long? Again, its a cheap replacement for a Chevrolet pump with Chev fittings, a Chev gasket but with a nailhead arm. I think 2 manufacturers one of which is Spectra Premium. They did not reply after I reached out to them. All from China. Ironically, for Chevrolet SBC & BBCs, there are numerous upgrade options for this application at Summit, some rebuildable. Yes. Same here. OE AC #4706 are becoming scarce. I finally located a rebuilt Unit, all good now. No need to park backed-in on my sloped driveway LOL!

Same here. Although practically all "ticking time bombs" have been eliminated on my Riviera, I still have a disgusting radiator with "no warranty" on its last repair in 1993. Recently, I shook it upside down eliminating rattles and sprayed acid on green sections. It pressure tested OK! Luckily the fan shroud and AC condensor hides the radiator. The top tank appears identical to original. But being 60 years old, we may not have an original radiator. I had to remove the drain petcock because it interferred with the lower right saddle. No desire to recore with incorrect bottom tank. Where to source a new 3-core conventional copper/brass radiator?

Type-O. It's a 1962 Interesting, TX. Did not know this! Your old Lemans is certainly unique and rare? Tempest/Lemans were never marketed in Canada. Like Full Size Canadian Pontiacs on Chev chassis and Chev power-trains, GM Canada transformed 1962 Chevy II and deluxe trim "Acadian" (Nova) with itty bitty 13" 5-on-4.75" except 14" for V8. The new A-Bodies for 1964, the Chevelle dressed up as the "Beaumont" with deluxe trim also Acadian. Extremely few ordered a 409 Parisienne, 396 Beaumont SD or 427 Grande Parisienne back then. However, seeing the odd one today, I suspect they're clones. 235, not the same. Preferred Like-for-Like replacement for old 225/75-15 or opt for 235/70-15 like yours is what I wanted. MPG will be even more atrocious with these 225/70-15s @ 27.4"OD.

Possibly. Will check that too. TX.