bob71GS

:)I checked the wholesale order form, you did not have to order the H2 option with the A1 Riviera Stage 1 package. The H2 option. which was the firm ride & handling suspension package only states that it was not available with A9 on the Riviera. The A9 option was the Riviera GS suspension package. I also would like to clarify my January 11, 2011 post, "Buick did require one option to get the other, they were separate." I meant to say that Buick did not require one option to get the other, both the A1 Stage 1 option and the A9 GS option, were two separate options. My fingers sometimes don't work the same as my brain. Bob Bonto # 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

George, You are looking at the spec's for the Skylark GS/with the Stage 1 engine. The label on your panel is correct. The initial timing should only be 4 degrees. Bob Bonto # 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73:)

Yes they are the same except for the bezels. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Jason, Great post, it appears to be another classic rip off by someone trying to get a high price by making false statements.You are absolute correct in stating that you have to be carfeul when buying a antique car on Ebay. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Sent you a PM Bob

There were 2 climate control A/C systems available in 71, the manual type and the auto type that had a temperature dial that you could set to the temperature setting you wanted. You did not specify exactly which system you have. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Unless you have all the proper equipment, like a vacuum pump that can fully evacuate your system, I would find a shop that specializies in A/C repair and call them to make sure they have someone that knows what they are doing. I'm not talking about Goodyear, Firestone or one of the national chains. The shop will also have a leak detector. What you end up paying will be well worth it to have it done correctly by a certified shop. Nothing beats a fully functioning R-12 system. Like you said, "you converted a R-12 to R-134A with dismal results". Bob Bonto ROA # 277 Technical Advisor 71-73

TA Performance makes a timing chain cover # TA1530B. TA Performance Products Inc. - Your Leader in Buick Automotive Parts and Accessories Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Ed, In today's Historic Vehicle Association August newsletter, they have an article by a Ed Syrocki who is the owner of EMS Classic Car Care of Warren, MI on the effects of the ethanol fuels are doing to our antique cars and what he is recommending. Here is the link to the article: Kernel Knowledge: One man on a mission to show how ethanol is wrecking your engine Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73 :mad:

Chuck, The XF code is correct for your 73. Quote: have another 73 Riv and it did not have the flat spot behind the oil filter and the flat spot below the power steering pump does not have any numbers. Not sure where they may be. It appears the block may have been decked since there are no codes on the flat spot between third and fourth plug on drivers side.] Since you cannot find any codes on the bock between third & forth plugs, I would have to say that it has been blocked and you are not going to find any numbers. Bob Bonto # 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

A properly charged functioning system with R-12 should be getting down to 42 degrees. Did you check the sight glass? Is there bubbles or is it clear? If there is bubbles, that is an idication that the system is not fully charged or has moisture in the system. While I'm not familiar with your Freeze 12 refrigerant, you did not state who put this in. Was it a A/C certified technician or did you put it in? You indicated having a outside temperature of 90+ degrees. If the relative humidity is low @90, the evap pressure at the POA valve should be 35 and at the compressor head 205. If the humidity is high, then the POA reading should be 35 and the compresser head 240. The POA valve could be bad as well as the Expansion valve and or receiver/dryer. Again, you did not state who worked on the system. But unless you are a certified A/C technician and have all the necessary equipment, bite the bullet and take it to the experts. Just make sure you find a shop that knows how to still work on the R-12 systems. There is nothing better than a good working R-12 system. Bob Bonto # 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Rubber The Right Way is excellent to deal with. They used ROA member Matt Tupiano's 72 trunk lock cover gasket to reproduce them. The gasket is a perfect match. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

If your 71 has a half landau roof, then some aftermarket shop put it on and there is no value. You could only get the full vinyl top in 71 from the factory. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Ed, I don't know of any car show except maybe Bloomington Gold for the Corvette's where a judge would attempt to crawl underneath a car and start checking tranny code numbers. That is about anal retentive as it comes. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

All 71 Riv's including GS's should have a BT code trans. I also own a 71 GS that I ordered new. My 71 only has 19,000 miles on it today. It has the BT code trans. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

You are looking at the wrong codes. Trans code BB & OW are for the Skylark model with the Stage 1 engine. You can find all the info on the Boattail Registry web site under library. Boattail Riviera's by BUICK - Library - Links All 71 Riv's should have a BT code transmission. Rob Hayes who is maintaining this site has documented all of this. In checking my 69 Buick Service manual, trans code BU is for a Lesabre with the 350 engine, that would make it a turbo 350 trans and not a 400. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

The fisher code for Silver Fern is 41, Dupont Code 927-AF174 & Ditzler code #2332 Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

You have found the two best places for everything you need. Quote: My system has been "open" for an unknown period of time and the shop I'm using says there appears to be "scaling" and contamination of the whole system. I apparently also need a "muffler"Once the A/C system has been open and there is contamination, you cannot clean/flush any of the components. They have become trash. You will have to bite the bullet and replace. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

Like I said, I have gotten several car covers from California Car Cover and have been very satisfied. My 71 has always been garaged since the day I brought it home. So I keep it covered from the dust. Yes their covers are not cheap, but you only get what you pay for. All of their covers are custom made to your vehicle vs a generic one size fits all. I will say that I did buy a Duststop cover from them, after about 4 years it began falling apart and I was only washing it once a year in a commercial washer using the detergent they recommended. In 2005 I purchased one of their Weather Shield covers and I have had absolutely no problems. Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73:)

Contact California Car Cover Co. They are the experts on car covers. I've gotten several from them. Cal Car Cover ? Custom Fit Car Covers, Motorcycle Covers, Cleaning Products, Garage Accessories, Collectibles and More Bob Bonto # 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73

I have one of Faxon's CD for my 71, it has every page from the complete service manual and also the complete Fisher Body manual. You are getting two complete manuals for a very cheap price. I love using them. If you are so concerned about them having the information you are looking for, why don't you either call them or email them? Bob Bonto# 277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73:)

They are called "Tower Wittek" Unless you are planning on taking your Riv to the BCA nationals where they have the 400 point judging and do deduct for not having them. You can save yourself a lot of money just using the good screw type clamps. But you can get the "tower" clamps at Cars Inc. www.oldbuickparts.com group # 1. Bob Bonto ROA #277 Technical Advisor 71-73:)

Bep, I certainly would not jump into buying any antique car that I knew absolutely nothing about before I did my homework and extensive research on. The internet has a wealth of information available to you at your fingertips. If you want to learn about the 63-65 Riviera's there is no better place than to join the Riviera Owners Association. Our dues are only $30 a year and it is the best your money can buy. Check out our web site: www.rivowners.org Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73;)

What I can't tell from the article or the production figures at the end of the article is this: Could you order the Stage 1 engine and not get the GS package? Were theytwo separate options? You could get the GS option by itself, but to get The Stage 1 option, did you have to order the GS option as well? Perhaps someone will make this more clear. Ed It seems we have really opened a can of worms on this subject. So please allow me to try and answer everyone's questions. Centurion, Yes Buick used two different cams and were building two Stage 1 engines. According to the letter and documentation that Dennis Manner sent me. The Riviera GS/Stage 1 engine and the Skylark GS Stage 1 both used 1/8" oversize intake and exhaust valves. While the Riviera GS/Stage 1 engine camshaft did have more lift, the Skylark GS/Stage 1 camshaft had significantly more duration for more top end power. I also believe you asked about the 73 Stage 1 grill badge. It would only have this if the Stage 1 engine was ordered. Brian, ED, In 73 Buick separated the GS/Stage 1 package into two separate options, there were 3,933 that had the GS handling package, but only 1,234 had the Stage 1 engine. You could order the Stage 1 engine and not the GS handling package and vice versa. Buick did require one option to get the other, they were separate. The GS or Stage 1 packages had nothing to do with the interior. You could get a GS/ Stage 1 with the standard interior or the custom. Although I have never seen any GS that had the standard interior, all the one's I've seen had the custom interior. I hope this will answer everyone's questions. ROA member Rob who is maintaing the Boattail Forum has posted a ton of information. Buick Riviera Boattail 1971 1972 1973 Bob Bonto #277 ROA Technical Advisor 71-73