bob71GS

Matt I have to disagree with you on the point that we should be hoping this guy gets a MASSIVE score with this car. I truly believe you are missing the point that what everyone is trying to say is the dealer is trying to hype this car as being a #1 councours car when in reality it is a low 2 to 3 car and it does not justify the ridiculous price he is asking. Bob Bonto

Yes I watched the video, like everyone else I lost count on the incorrect items. I don't believe it was a frame off resto, just someone getting carried away with black paint, even the gas tank is painted black. I got so tired of listening to the overhype that I quit watching it. This guy sure knows how to spin it. He should be a politician. Bob Bonto

While i'm not against any dealer making a fair profit, this is just plain ridiculous to think anyone with a half of brain would pay $80K for this car. As my mother would always tell me, a fool and his money are soon parted. The facts are that that the boattails are not commanding that kind of $ no matter what condition it is in. Check the Hagerty valuation values. Asking $80K and getting it are entirely two different items. https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1973-Buick-Riviera-GS Bob Bonto

There are several Facbook forums, here is one for the boattails https://www.facebook.com/groups/1279681368844455/ Bob Bonto

Randall, In checking my archives, I found 596 72's were built for special car order paint -extra charge & 735 special car order paint-no extra charge. They are listed as option code 35 & 37. I think that if someone wanted another GM division color, some would be extra charge and some would not. At this point it would be hard to know what the actual paint code was. it would have been nice if GM would have put SCO & then the paint code #. Good luck. Bob Bonto

The data plate will show the two digit paint code. If you notice in the box for exterior paint, it is blank, the dealer had to put in the code #. as there were so many colors to choose from . Bob Bonto

Seafoam is correct, just drill out the holes. just make sure you use at least #10 strength bolts & nuts. Bob Bonto

Yes you can mount the bar as long as it is from a Riv and not a skylark. There is a "u" shaped bracket that mounts up in the control arms. Make sure you get those brackets. Buick did not use different control arms for the GS package. I have the rear sway bar on my 71. Bob Bonto

check the vacuum hose from the back of the carb to the vacuum tee on the fire wall. they are known to become brittle, I suspect you are loosing vacuum,

You are absolutely correct that the interior has been redone and not in the correct fabric. Bob Bonto

I put the Bilstein's on my 71 GS, I also used Moog HD 5549 coils for the front and Moog Cargo CC-611 for the rear. Gives it a very nice ride. Bob Bonto

Last year I sent my clock to Instrument Services to have it converted to quartz, after getting it back and installing. it ran for about 5 hours then quit, if I tapped on the dial face plate, it would start running again. this kept going on for a week. I called them and they told me to send back, after 2 weeks they sent it back and said they could not find anything wrong. To this day, it runs for about 5 hours then it quits. I have to either tap on the face plate or pull out the stem to get it to start again. I'm extremely disappointed in their work and not being able to fix it. I would never send them anything ever again. Bob Bonto

The 73's had the gold GS emblems Bob Bonto

Last year I bought the electronic ignition kit from Lectric Limited. it is very easy to install and uses the stock wire from the coil. I've had absolutely no problems. http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm Bob Bonto 1971 Riviera GS

Bill, Since you are dead set on going with a set of black wires. You can check these out from NAPA. https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/BEL700127/BEL700127_0210216944 If you do a Google search, I'm sure more will come up. Bob Bonto

Now that the dielectric debate is over. I bought a set of date coded wires from Lectric Limited for my 71 many years ago and have not had any problems. Last year I also bought and installed their electronic ignition with absolute no problems. No one else is making the date coded wires as Lectric Limited is the only one licensed from GM to make them. if you feel that one wire tested 20,000 ohms, then I would quit anguishing over it and I would pick up the phone and give them a call. They are nice people to deal with. Bob Bonto

I'll second that!!! Anything that has an electrical connection in the engine compartment, A/C, water temperature, oil sending unit, I use the dielectric grease. I also put it on my tractor battery terminals, no rust ever. Bob Bonto

Many years ago I put SS from the engine back to the mufflers. worst decision I ever made, SS is more nosy. Shop had trouble getting it to seal tight at the mufflers. When the mufflers rusted out, I put aluminized on that came with a life time warranty. Everything still looks new. Aluminized will be a lost less than SS. Can't help you on the Magnaflow Super 44 mufflers. Unless you are planning on taking your car to the Buick Club of America national meet where they do the 400 point judging or to an AACA judged meet, I would not bother agonizing over if it is or not factory original. Bob Bonto

Chimera, You misunderstood, what I was trying to say was that only the "A" was showing in your picture and unless you did more cleaning there was no way to determine if it was a TA or WA based on the picture. Glad to hear that you found it was a TA. It looks like your car was built in the 3rd week of December 1970. Bob Bonto

I am attaching a file from Jim Weise who did an article on the 455 engines on how to ID and what the numbers mean and where they are located. It is impossible to determine if your engine is a TA or WA. Pages 7-11 will have the information you are looking for. Robert Bonto Big Block Buick id prep oiling mods by Jim Weise.pdf

Purported 455 Buick Riviera 71 GS engine stamp date code. I see an "A" then bellow "080" I am guessing that if I clear it off more, perhaps it would reveal a "TA" for GS and then the 080 is January 8th? 1970, first week in August, or??? Or is the first digit a letter? Sorry for the rough picture. Any thoughts? Thank you.

Check this web site http://automotivemileposts.com/riviera/prod1963riviera.html Bob Bonto

According to my mast Buick parts catalog, the original part # 1236998. I cannot honestly say if any of the universal ones would work. I also checked the Parts Voice site to see if any dealer may still have an NOS, but nothing came up. I'm afraid that your only solution will be to try & find a good used one. The new Riviera catalog from OPGI came today and they don't have any either. Bob Bonto

Ed, According to the 65 sales catalog, tilt steering wheel was listed as standard equipment. Bob Bonto