BulldogDriver
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Posts posted by BulldogDriver
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You can get them were they have a gimbal on the hand side. Craftsman, GearWrench, etc. I use mine all the time in tight areas.
Ray
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The odometer which is what you would be basing the MPG number should be accurate as long as the tires and differential gear ratios are correct for the what the odometer was setup for. Speedometer readings can be off from wear and inherent error’s without effecting that accuracy. Using mile markers would be efficient for checking that.
In my experience with GPS it is the most accurate way to gauge true speed and distance traveled. Even if the signal is off by whatever amount, usually no more than 30-50 feet, it is effecting the accuracy of pin pointing exactly where you are at any given time and not so much as speed/distance. Just use a known accurate unit.
Ray
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The OP has the axle ratio and tire size. The calculator will give them the drive and driven gears for the transmission. Pulling the bullet will confirm that the correct driven gear was installed and they can replace or adjust as needed. Can’t see that anything’s needed past that. I don’t think Buick was running their own set of gears unique to their application.
From my observation the parts manual is lacking in the coverage of Gen 1 Rivieras.
Ray
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Use this to calculate what should be in the car. You should be able to pull the bullet out after removing the cable and count the number of teeth on the shaft. It should match the color in the chart.
https://www.tciauto.com/speedometer-gear-calculator#2004REBay lists these parts all the time. FYI make sure the shaft is the same length or a little longer as the one you pull out. Also make sure the seal is seated all the way in the bullet if you replace the seal/bullet.
Ray
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Gearbox out of a Cadillac would work fine. I did one from an Eldorado from the early 70’s and had it and the pump rebuilt. Definite improvement over the original box.
Ray
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Thanks Ed
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Wouldn’t hurt to ask them if they could look in the vacuum cleaner.
Ray
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Ed,
If you have the time could you post the measured height of the new filter and maybe a photo of the old and new filter together. My concern is height.
Because of me using an Edelbrock carb and a TPS mounted to the carb, I had to go a little higher with the mounting of the air cleaner. If I remember correctly the Edelbrock is not as tall as an original Rochester so I think it was still close to the height of a Carter AFB.
My measurement of a WIX 42092 was 2 15/16” when I compress the lip down with a flat bar. Your photos seem to show the new filter being a bit higher than an original filter, my lid sits tightly to the body with the filter installed loose with no gap between the 3 parts.
Ray
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Oops sorry
Ray
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These guys have them listed for front and rear. Looks like there is a number that might be the Bilstein part number listed.
https://www.performanceonline.com/1963-65-Buick-Riviera-Rear-Bilstein-Shock-Absorbers-55-R410/
Ray
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On 8/28/2023 at 9:21 AM, RivNut said:
Tim,
Don’t seem yourself short. You’re s damn good mechanic; I’ve seen your work. You may not have made it a profession, but you’re good. Good enough to take on installing a Vintage Air system when most of us would either suffer from the heat or empty our pockets to pay someone else.
I installed a Vintage Air in my car and yes it is a bit of a challenge to fit it up tight inside, some minor cutting in the center area, and making some extensions for the floor vents, it is very doable using VA’s Gen4 evaporator unit. I think anyone that is up to doing their own work on a car can do this. I had the luxury of being able to do the firewall stuff without working around the engine, mine was out for other work, but others have done this with engine in place. I think one of the nicest things is to be able to use the original controls on my 63 car.
The biggest downside for me was losing about an inch of space for the radio and that eliminated the use of the original unit. I have discussed this in other threads. The VA seems to put out plenty of cold air. I’ve had it keep the inside tolerable in 90* plus with the windows down this summer. The thing with converting a R12 to R134 is one unit is made for a particular type of gas and changing over to another will diminish performance. My original AC looked to be rebuildable but once I got into the job it was going to be a lot like what Turbinator Bob went through.
So a conversion was looked into. As we are seeing with something as simple as getting an air filter has become impossible and any replacement part questionable as to their reliability will be even more so in the future. My decision to go this route was a matter of reliability and access to parts in the future. The VA conversion has been the least troublesome thing done so far on this car. Installed/charged and has worked fine since. Can’t say that about the other things that I’ve done.
I’ve got a good car but it is at best a driver and really doesn’t deplete the gene pool of all the strong original cars out there. It looks original inside and out until you open the hood.
Ray
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So my order from Cars came in today and……….. filters are for the 2x4 barrel air cleaner. It’s what I expected and will have them returned.
I personally think that Ed’s idea is going to be the most logical solution for an air filter. I would not rely on WIX as this is a nuisance thing to them and as they are now a German owned company I can’t see them having any vested interest in our cars.
My next step is what Ed has already done. Truly hope this will be the answer.
Ray
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I checked the dimensions of a 2x4 carb air cleaner and they are not the same. Don’t remember exactly what the difference was but it wouldn’t work for a single carb unit.
Ed could you give an example of the aftermarket filters you referred to in your previous post? I have looked multiple times for something that would replace a Wix 42092 with no joy.
Ray
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Ed,
What elements have you found with those dimensions? The ID would need to be 13 3/4”.
Ray
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None that I have been able to find. They are so wide that nothing seems to be close. Only ran in Gen 1 Rivieras, 59/60 Cadillacs, and I think it was 59 Oldsmobile.
Ray
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Looks like a 3.23 posi listed on Facebook.
Ray
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Probably be hard to get to those numbers even with the Cadillacs and Olds that used that filter.
Ray
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Actually the flange isn’t the big problem with this air filter. If you could find a filter that was the some diameter and height it would be usable. Only difference would be the air coming into the air cleaner would be around the perimeter and the snorkel which should be less restrictive. The carb/intake are still sealed from contamination.
I have been looking for a filter that met the specs of the original without the “lip” with no luck. If one does exist then that could be a solution to the problem. These air cleaners are unusual with their low wide profile.
Having said this I recently ordered 2 filters from Cars to get the back order number high enough so Wix would get to making some of these. Well they are saying that the order has shipped. I don’t know who the manufacturer is of the filters but if they are truly shipped, it will be the first in over a year.
Ray
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I’ve dealt with Tony in the past using his disc brake conversion and both sway bars. He’s a great guy and as long as you can wait for the parts to be made and shipped, if I remember it took 6 months to get mine, they are top quality. Shipping was realistic when I bought mine.
Ray
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Thats why I suggested sourcing the original pieces to add a shroud that would have been used if it had AC. I doubt that Flowkooler will have Riviera specific brackets. Mounting location on the car should be the same on either non or AC.
The reason I suggest this is I recently installed an aluminum radiator that was touted as “drop in”. Had to come up with my own rubber mounts top and bottom, bend the top mount plate to match the radiator. This did correct my problem of engine running hotter than it should and was less than half the cost of a recore on my original radiator. Things are fairly tight around the radiator and fitting whatever they suggest might not be worth it. It’s also why I said their water pump is not a magic pill for running hot and the original does just fine.
Just saying.
Ray
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By the time you come up with a way to attach this shroud it might be better to just source original lower brackets and top mount and then get a repro shroud from Cars or BestOfferCounts.
Ray
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Ed,
Kudos to you! I tried want you have accomplished.
James and myself were looking at options if Wix weren’t going to make them any longer.
If the issue is not enough orders for the filter then maybe the members should place orders now so Wix will get moving on production. I’ll get this info out to the Cadillac and Oldsmobile club so they can help with this.
Ray
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3M 33 or 88 electric tape has been my go to for many years. I’ve never had a problem with either. Could just be my luck.
Ray
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I’ve not had much luck with silicone tape. Personally I rewrapped my harness with plastic harness wrap and then over that 3M Super 33+ electrical tape. Harness can flex as originally meant to and the tape gives it a better abrasion resistance than the thinner plastic wrap made today.
Ray
Rubber molding behind top of rear bumper on a '63
in Buick Riviera
Posted
This should be correct.
Ray