1965rivgs

Hi Sergio, If your Riv starts in the run position and operates properly after that point your resistance wire is OK. I dont have a schematic in front of me but as I recall your `63 bypasses the resistance wire while cranking from the ignition switch...and not from the starter solenoid like later cars. Take a look at your ign switch to be sure it is showing battery voltage at the crank/bypass terminal while in the crank position. Tom Mooney

Hi Mark, Love to see a pic if you have a poster which features the `66 Wildcat. Cool original item! I`ve never seen one, Tom Mooney

Cant fault a "lowered " Riv for being non-stock. Buick did it with the `65 GS model equipped with the H2 ride and handling package! Often times the more things change the more they stay the same... Tom Mooney

1056 Rivieras were produced in flame red. 2000 Rivieras received vinyl tops Some combinations were tracked but not the combinations you are interested in. It is necessary to do the math as a percentage of total production and convert that percentage into a number for the GS models. Because we dont have exact figures that leaves the obvious gray areas like "Is it more likely, being a high performance model, that there were more Riv GS`s produced in Flame Red than the overall production run?" From more than casual observation over the last 30 years my opinion would be "yes" for both the Flame Red color and the vinyl top option. Tom Mooney

Hi Dan, This car was for sale on Ebay several times recently. At that time I emailed the seller to inform him or her that the Fisher Body plate which was displayed as part of the auction was in fact from a `64 Riviera and not a `63. Part of the reason I did so is because the seller made a point of noting the car was the very desireable silver on silver combination. The data plate displayed is for a `64 Riviera which was silver outside and black custom inside. Either your car is a `63 which someone has switched the data plate on or a `64 which has been mistakenly identified as a `63. Many ways to tell, something is not right. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and the last thing I want to do is resurrect the "Riviera police"! Just trying to help, Tom Mooney

Jason is correct regarding the rarity of the air cleaner housing. This air cleaner housing is necessary for someone correctly restoring an original California car....or anyone tired of smelling blowby while driving a typical original. This setup also requires the Cailifornia only driver`s side valve cover and breather. The hose is correct...and harder to find than the breather! Tom Mooney

Hi Brian, Just a few observations/comments...in my area, Chicago, your estimate of paint and body work would need to be doubled. In my opinion, in today`s market, there are many nice cars for sale which are DONE and reasonably priced. Unless one is looking for the experience of restoration it makes economic sense to buy a car which does not need work in any of the areas you note. Just my opinion... Tom Mooney

That is a great price for a recore-leaves me suspect of the number of rows in the new core. Recoring in my area (Chicago) is a $400 affair. Jason offers good advice for a fresh engine. I have found it an excellent rule of thumb to install a fresh radiator with any engine rebuild. In your situation GO NEW. For what it is worth, any full size `66 donor will work, they all took the same radiator. AC rads have a curved neck at the top, non-AC have a straight neck. Good luck, Tom Mooney

Hi Joey, A relay can be wired any number of ways internally so the guideline you suggest is not a sure fire way to go about shopping. The info you have regarding the `65 system is close but incorrect. Very early in the production run Buick added an auxillary relay in the headlight system to remove power from the system in the CLOSING cycle. So, the key must be in the ON position for the headlight motor to close the clamshells. They will OPEN no matter what the key position. If you have 2 relays behind the battery you have the updated relay system. The 4 prong relay should still be available thru Delco. Just ask your counterman for a high blower relay for a `70 Buick. The 3 prong relay, which is the auxillary relay, has been unobtanium for years but occasionally come up for auction on Ebay. Try disassembling yours and cleaning the contact points. Be sure both relays are mounted clean and tight as this provides their path to ground. Hope this helps, Tom Mooney

Keep the breather hose. When in place it creates a "closed" PCV system and will direct blowby gases back into the air cleaner instead of into the atmosphere....and the interior. Subsequently, the smell of blowby in your clothes and hair wont clash with that new Christmas cologne...unless the wife is a gearhead. Tom Mooney

Hi Ed, Never heard of a M7 Fisher body code? Seat Belt group is Group 5. Hope this helps, Tom Mooney

3B, when it appears in the lower portion of the cowl tag, is rear window defroster.The other options you mentioned were installed by Buick in Flint and cannot be documented...unless you have the POP. Tom Mooney

Hi Chris, Car looks like a very, very nice example. Viewing the photos the only thing that stands out to me is the car`s stance-a little too high. No big deal. Otherwise, really looks nice. Jim is right on with the body build date. If you post a pic or dictation of the data plate we can decode it for you. Congratulations! Tom Mooney

Hi Mike, Thanks so much for the info! Tom Mooney

Has anyone found a source for the chrome bullet shaped caps which cover the outer hinge pin on first gen Riv bucket seats? Thanks in advance! Tom Mooney

Wow! Very cool car...and an S Type to boot! Thanks for posting your extremely unusual Buick time capsule to this Buick only forum. Good luck with your sale, hope it goes to someone in the BCA (or ROA). Tom Mooney P.S. Perhaps you should also consider posting to the Riviera Owners Assoc forum, accessible here at this website. Quite a few needles in that haystack!

It appears as if the horn cap snaps onto the horn cup. Under the horn cup should be a bellville flat washer which returns the horn cap/cup to a resting position after being depressed. If this is the case all that is needed is a horn contact which brings voltage from the horn contact ring under the steering wheel, thru the hole in the steering wheel hub to the bellville washer under the horn cup. When the horn cap is depressed the bellville washer grounds to the steering wheel hub and trips the horn relay. GM used this setup for decades on everything including heavy duty trucks. The horn contact which you need has a plastic housing and a spring loaded plunger. They usually install from the top down and are held in place by the bellville washer and a machined step in the hole. Tom Mooney

Afte all these years and all these Rivieras I have only owned or serviced 1 car with a bad rear end; they are VERY strong and durable. Proceed with caution, Tom Mooney

Be careful, Buick parts books also list a 5.5 inch wheel for the `63 and `64 Riv as opposed to the 6 inch `65 wheel. Dont know if this different rim width affects backspacing but I think it a likely possibility. Ed raises a good point. Mock the actual wheel choices on the car to be confident you have made the right choice. Tom Mooney

Welcome to the ROA! There are many late model owners, you are in good company. Good luck with your Riv! Tom Mooney

Hi Rob, What difference does it make if this rear was originally in a GS? What if this particular GS was equipped with an optional rear end ratio? Have the seller count the number of turns of the pinion for one full turn of an axle. Then you will know what gear set is in the diff itself and not what should have been original standard equipment in the car it was removed from. Make sense? Good luck, Tom Mooney

ttt

Hi Rob, Cool collection of parts, I`d love to make it a car again. The rust in the door hinge area is typical but quite extensive given the condition of the rest of the sheetmetal. The lower corners of the cowl are wiped out (behind the front fenders). Not a big deal but the car likely has alot of "sitting around in the weather" kind of rust. Too bad the present owner has stored it this way. Also hard to tell if the car is straight as most of it is in primer. Looks like a decent start for someone familiar with the cars so a proper initial inspection can be made. In terms of price I think the perspectives offered need to be adjusted for the fact this is a GS model and has a much higher potential value than a regular Riv. Higher potential value could be as high as 2 times your typical Riv...but you already know that. Good luck, if you need any info dont hesitate to call, Tom Mooney PS If you pass on this in the $2500 price range let me know, I`ll wire the money and send a transporter.....immediately!

Hope someone can help...need a full set of special flat head studs and tapered nuts to install cast aluminum wheel covers on my `64 Starfire. Also need correct `64 spinner center caps-will trade for `65`s or purchase outright. Thanks! Tom