56 Buick

Actually I lie, I changed out the starter relay with a NOS unit. But the engine cranks so it cannot be related to the relay.

Runs fine once the engine fires.

Merry Christmas all I am hoping someone can assist. Put a carb kit through the Rochester 4GC on the 56 and ever since the engine has been very hard to start. Prior the engine would fire up straight away. Didn't touch anything but the carb. Any ideas of what may be the issue? Thanks

Thanks. I think the Buick shop manual shows the older type.

The 2 idle mixture screws in the rebuild kit were different to those I pulled out the carb. Those removed had a long gradual cone shape but the replacements had a long thin cylinder type nose before a short steep graduating cone shape. They look very different but I am not sure what this means practically.

Thanks for the replies. I would have used the thinner gasket but I have now already put it back together.. i ran the car the ofher day.and it seemed to run okay. The idle was rolling a bit but I am yet to fine tune it. If the power valve was activating at ixdle and low spesds I am curious to know ahat signs I may see?

Hi Ben, the taller gasket would mean more fuel earlier but I am not sure exactly how much fuel or whether it would be noticeable. I failed to take good notice when I pulled the power valve out but I think it was a thinner gasket. The only other issue I am not sure about is whether a fibre gasket is okay in constant contact with fuel - not 100% certain but it seemed to me the inside of the gasket would be exposed to fuel at all times. Thanks

I am putting a kit through the Rochester 4 barrel after cleaning same. There are a number of small gaskets in the kit and I am trying to choose a gasket for the power valve. There are 2 likely canidate gaskets I could use. One being thinner and the other a fibre gasket about twice as thick. The height of the power valve likely has impact on how it operates and the amount of fuel released given the power piston that works against it is in a set position. My query is whether the height of the gasket will make any difference? And irrespective of this should I be using a particular gasket for some other reason, for example don't use the fibre gasket? Thanks

Have a google search for that model car. But a lot of GM cars of the era used the same setup. There is usually a lock ring nut that needs to be removed. It has 2 slots 180 degrees apart that are used to remove it. Now there are special tools for this but you can use a screwdriver or 2 by putting the bladed end(s)in the slot(s) and applying pressure counterclockwise to rotate the ring out but there is the danger of damaging paint by the screwdriver slipping and also the danger of damaging the slots of the ring. Recommend special tool. After that there is also a small latch or tang that holds the wiper arm onto the pivot spline shaft. You need to push out the tang before the wiper arm will pull off from the splined shaft. I have always used a small bladed screwdriver to release the latch or tang. If you have a small mirror that you could use then I would suggest using that to look and identify where exactly the tang is.

BTW a rag carefully placed in behind the handle base will work well without the possibility of ripping any upholstery. You use a hand on each end and work it back and forth and back and it will take the horse shoe clip off.

Hi all I have the Rochester 4GC carb apart to clean. I am looking at the separated throttle body and for each of the venturis there is a small hole running from the inside of the venturi to the outside. Each hole is toward the top end of the throttle body above the throttle valves. These holes essentially vent straight to the outside. Is that normal? Thanks

BTW will pulleys from any year 322 work or are the pulleys specific to year of car?

Thanks. Ah yes, I forgot about those pulleys. And if any pulleys have slight rust pitting on the belt surface then does that make them unserviceable or can they be cleaned up without issue?

Hi all If you were looking at fitting air conditioning to a non PS car (that is a car with a single pulley on the harmonic balancer), can you simply use the double pulley from a PS car instead? And what do you need to be mindful of in regard to condition of the double pulley? Thanks

"Bit if wiggly" means "bit of wriggling" 😅

It is not unusual to see a set of wheel cylinders come with different sized - metric/imperial bleeder valves, so I wouldn't be too stressed about that. Re the park brake strut, it is a tight fit but it should all fit ... there is usually quite a bit if wiggly around when putting everything together and a wish for a third hand! The strut has the bend or cutaway that kinda sits around the wheel cylinder.

I actually found the strap at the rear passenger side going to the firewall although it is well hidden! Thanks

A timing light with an inductive pickup on each spark plug lead could be used to ascertain the consistency of the spark going to each spark plug. If there is misfire then that should show up but someone may correct me if I am wrong about that. As indicated in post above, it does sound like an electrical issue.

Thanks all. No specific problems Keith. I was assessing the ground cable within the distrbutor and then just had one of those 'thinking' moments and looked for other ground straps but didn't see any.

Hi all The 56 has the cable running from the negative battery terminal to the engine block but I cannot see any ground strap or similar from the engine to the frame or body. Should there be such a thing? Does anyone have an answer or have a view. Thanks Drew

Not sure if already covered but considering it's an issue on a near full tank, is there a gasket between the tank and the vent tube that could be leaking rather than the vent tube itself?

There are few holes in the bottom areas of the sheet metal. It may well be that the undercarriage is fairly well rusted away. Wouldn't be unusual for that to have happened in a salt belt State. And the cost to repair that could be incredible. Only way is to visually check the state of the undercarriage. Just my 2 cents.

Wow looks extremely nice. I am no 58 expert but convertibles are always expensive and you really need to compare it to other 58s in condition versus price.

Hi Craig, yes you certainly do have drums to suit the Century but they are just too expensive for me presently. Besides I am thinking the larger Roadmaster brakes would be an option with braking improvement. Thanks

Hi, I have been looking for some good brake drums to suit the 56 Century for a while. Not having too much luck. So am now trying to see if anyone has the front drums and backing plates for the 52-56 Roadmaster - may as well get better braking at the same time. I am looking for good drums of course that have limited wear as I don't want drums worse than what I have. Thanks, Drew.