MartyWorld

Good morning NTX............. The rods are shown on one of the last web pages. Yes...........a lot of great nailhead stuff. Thanks, Marty

Group........... Please check out webrodder site for nailhead. Shows vanadium rods (factory) for 401/425 nailhead. Thanks, Marty

Good morning Group. I also understand there were some "export" connecting rods made for the 401/425. Anyone heard of this? I do have the experimental cylinder heads, manifolds, but not the rods. Thanks, Marty

Hello group. Received the package tray yesterday (Saturday, October 23rd).......looks very good. The dark green color looks correct, the grain is good, and the rear window defroster cutouts are there. I will photograph in a week or two, and give it to my interior man to install with the headliner. I will provide photos and updates. Thanks, Marty

Good morning Group. Picked up a NOS "export cam" a while back for the 322 nailhead. I am planning on having it checked for lift and duration. Still trying to resolve the differences between the 53-56 adjustable rocker arms and the 57-58 ones..............is there a ratio difference? Why the different part numbers? Now I just need a 55 Buick Century to put it in. Marty

Colin.........some questions. Vibration on acceleration? Can you cruise @ 65 mph without vibration/shaking? If no vibration, please check the following first. Since the vehicle was an A/C car, your fuel filter may still be the A/C design, meaning a "return" line to the fuel tank. This has been a problem for many 1963 to 1965 Rivieras. Plug the return line, then drive the vehicle. The pulsing of the return line can cause a knock sound. Marty

I just left OPG this morning and they ordered the wrong package tray again. Sequence of events. Ordered package tray "in person" June 15, 2010. Called by OPG tray was in, July 23, 2010. OPG ordered a grey tray with defroster cutouts, and a green one without. I wanted a green tray with cutouts. An issue is their ordering system, GR (gray), GR (green). This was July 29th, in person, at OPG. Reordered green tray on July 29th while I was there. Called OPG on September 16th, regarding my package tray. OPG states on August 22nd, they have a note "No Contact", and the tray was sent back. I inquired what "No Contact" meant and did not receive a satisfactory response. After some research while I was on the phone, I was informed the tray was returned to "stock", their own in house inventory and not their vendor. I was then told it would be ready for pickup and I informed them I would be there today to pick it up. The tray received was gray in color, the wrong one. The gentleman that assisted me today apoligized for the ordering issues and will rectify the situation. Marty

Excellent idea. How is the "electronic Bugle trial" going, or has it started yet? Thank you, Marty

Yes the package shelf did arrive on Tuesday of this week. It was incorrect. The shelf I ordered was to have the cut outs for the rear window defroster. The one that arrived did not. They promise to have it to me promptly. The color and texture looked great though. As soon as the correct shelf arrives I will post photos. Thanks for the followup, Marty

The paint on the plastic or fiberglass around the area of the ignition switch is wearing very thin. This is regarding my 65 Riv. Can this material be painted, and if so, how is it done to blend in with the rest of the instrument panel? Thanks, Marty

Who rebuilds early riv (1963 -1965) posi units? Are the clutch plates available? I am located in Southern California. Thanks, Marty

I have decided to go with the OPG package tray. It's been ordered and I will receive it within two weeks. My 65 Riviera is the dark green exterior with the dark green interior. OPG offers various colors, green being one of them. It will be interesting to see how close the color is to factory. I will post my review of the product here. Thanks for all the input..................... Marty

A fuel accumalator may help to reduce pulses before they reach the metal fuel line. An inline fuel filter mounted upright with the input being the bottom fitting and the output the upper fitting may help rectify the problem. This would be mounted on or near the firewall in the fuel return line. Thoughts, comments........................ Thanks, Marty

Since the general consensus is that the package tray was not covered originally, the OPG package tray would be the CORRECT unit to purchase if originality is the goal. Of course, that is assuming no other vendor(s) produces the factory cardboard. Comments...thoughts? Thank you, Marty

Bueautiful trunk! What size tire do you use for the spare? Mine fits snug up against the torsion bars supporting the trunk lid. My spare is also mounted on the ralleye wheel which is a little wider, 6" compared to 5.5" for the standard wheel. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Marty

What is the cure for the fuel return line (a/c equipped vehicles) knock? Mine (65 Riviera) tends to knock more when cold. The sound is coming from the rear of the vehicle, either at or near the fuel tank. Any suggestions? Thanks, Marty

Good morning Fred. Please contact Vince @ "C.H. Topping Company" in Long Beach, California. He writes articles regarding "old school"vehicles and supplies the correct shoes for your vehicle. He handles ALL brake issues at his shop, power brake boosters, wheel cylinders, drums, etc. C. H. Topping 520 W. Esther St. Long Beach, CA. 90813 (562) 432-0901 He remedied many braking issues in my shop. Had a 56 Buick with new shoes that was a bear to stop. Replaced the shoes with his linings.......no problem. Good luck, Marty

Anyone use the "Original Parts Group" (OPG) package tray for their 65 Riv? This would include the 63 and 64 models. They are available with or without the rear defroster option and are available in various colors. The price is around $50, with the padding it's $70, approximately. Clark's is $324, with padding and covered in vinyl and uses fiberglass construction. Although the Clark's unit would certainly be more durable, you can buy several of the original cardboard units from OPG and have them covered in vinyl. Another consideration would be cutting the hole in the fiberglass unit, already covered in vinyl, for the rear defroster option. Thoughts? Marty

Has anyone installed the OPG package tray? How did it fit? And, of course, how does it look? Thanks, Marty

I believe the color of material is a consideration. Clark advertises there green color is "close" (not an exact match as their other colors). SMS is an exact match for the dark green seats. Also the SMS material is thicker just as the original seats. In your case, Clark's has the exact match for the color black. This is no criticism of Clark's. I have purchased several items from them. Excellent products and service. Its just that their vendor(s) for the green vinyl is different than the original. Thanks, Marty

I know that Clark's price is $328.00. It's fiberglass and covered with vinyl. It also comes with padding under the tray. Although the Original Parts Group is made of cardboard similar to the factory, you can still cover in vinyl and it also comes with padding as an option. Total price with padding, without vinyl, about $70.00. Covering in vinyl cannot be that expensive. Therefore, since both units would be vinyl covered, what would be the justification to pay the much higher price? Durability, sure with the Clark's unit, but how long would the factory unit last, five, ten years? Thoughts............. Thank you, Marty

I would go with Clark's due to their very fine reputation. It is just that the SMS materials are much thicker and appear to be identical to "stock". Marty

I ordered samples from Clark's Corvair and SMS for my 65 Buick Riviera, dark green vinyl interior. The SMS material is much thicker, much like the orginal seats. I am going with SMS. The material from Clark's is very thin. Marty

The exhaust valve of the 1957 and 1958 cylinder heads are smaller. The size of the 401/425 exhaust valve is 1.50" and the 364 valve size is slightly smaller. The 1959 through 1961 364 engine uses the larger 401 exhaust valve. The 912 head listed above is the very rare "D" cylinder head casting with an 1/2" taller exhaust port. Thanks, Marty

All dynaflows produced for the 1955 model year through 1963 utilize a "variable pitch" stator to raise the stall speed of the torque convertor. Engine rpm will increase when the stator changes from low angle to high angle. This is accomplished by depressing the accelerator to the floor mat. The transmission will always remain in "direct" drive unless the operator of the vehicle shifts to "low" range. Marty