1965rivgs

Hi Guys, I am installing a set of these wheelcovers and do not have a full set of the studs or any nuts which mount these covers to the steel wheels. I am guessing the nuts have a bevel like a lug nut but the studs are a course thread and the only lug nuts available in this diameter are fine thread. Anyone have a full set of the original style nuts and a handful of studs? Has anyone found something from another application that will work? Thanks! Tom

I have a very good if not expert opinion on this car as I sold it to the Ebay seller 3 weeks before this auction appeared...I had it price locally at $6500 at took much less. When I read the auction description my jaw hit the floor...speaking of floors, this car needed a complete pan from front to rear including inside rocker panels and lord only knows what was behind the rocker panel moldings-I never removed them. I disclosed the issues with underbody rust in my initial phone call with the Ebay seller.The seller described the car in the Ebay auction as never any rust???? Aside from the under car issues the lower rear quarters were very obviously very soft, etc.....hope the new owner has a forgiving soul as, in my OPINION, at the selling price level, he is in for an unpleasant surprise. How can two individuals (myself and the Ebay seller) be so far apart in evaluating a car? Having stated the above this GS was an all numbers matching including Protecto plate car. All the little fasteners and brackets were in place, the interior was actually pretty nice and the car ran like a raped ape. I owned it for 5 or 6 years having obtained it in a partially dismantled condition. I wanted to see the car preserved in one piece as it was so original including documentation so I put it back together, used it to run errands and the infrequent midnight ride. I suspect this car will be rebodied, and aside from the obvious legal pitfalls involved, is a great candidate for same. The `65 Riv GS has been recognized as a classic car since inception..and for more reasons than this two finger typer has patience to document. Classic cutting edge styling, even by today`s standards, comfort and convenience items and as much SUBSTANCE as most any casual performance enthusiast can handle. This car is not an emblem package with alot of hype, they perform! Have a great Thanksgiving guys, Tom Mooney

Hi Rob, As I explained via the telephone the BS coded trans had a different governor and valve body which resulted in higher shift points at full throttle. Buick used this trans code designation right up thru the later GS cars for their high performance turbo 400. All `66 Rivieras did NOT use the BS coded trans. Standard Rivieras used the BT coded trans. Only the Riviera and Wildcat GS cars were built with the BS coded trans...and I have found exceptions to this documented via build sheets. The internet is much the same as any other media outlet...just because you read it in the newspapers (or the internet) doesn`t mean it is true!! Be careful, there`s much bad info out there. :eek: Nothing beats crawling over and under the cars for a couple decades...the cars themselves represent reality. Tom Mooney

Buick "detuned" the 425 single 4 barrel cam for `66 to obtain a smoother idle. They retained the earlier Super Wildcat cam for the factory built `66 Super Wildcat dual quad engine. Tom Mooney

Hi Rusty, Both the VIN and Fisher body number are spread across several different models for `65. Would be cool to see a pic of your Fisher Body plate. No doubt your car body was manufactured in the first week of production. Tom Mooney

for $1500 my 3:91 gear set would need to find a home in someone else`s rearend... tom mooney

hi todd, check voltage across both battery terminals WHILE CRANKING. if starter and battery are up to snuff you should be around 10 to 11 volts. move your test probe from the pos battery terminal to the positive terminal on the coil and again check voltage WHILE CRANKING. voltage at the coil should be about two or three tenths less than at the battery . if not, you are not getting full system voltage to the coil in crank mode. place a jumper wire from the positive post of the battery to the positive post of the coil (dont touch it to ground!). if this cures your problem there is most likely a problem in the wire or connections from the small terminal on the starter solenoid to the positive terminal of the coil. feel free to phone if necessary as I am local for you. my number is in every issue of the riview under tech advisors. good luck, tom mooney

Hi Sid, Congrats to you and your son, the car looks great. I love the junker to nice, functional driver stories. Is this a factory color for `70? Seems I`ve seen it quite often on `68 and `69`s but not on the `70 models. Again, congrats and thanks for sharing, Tom Mooney

The frames are the same Ron, Tom Mooney

The standard and accessory under dash harnesses are seperate from the power window and vent harnesses. The only difference between the standard and accessory under dash harnesses are the addition of the pigtails for the Cruise and Guidematic options. See pages 10-138 and 10-139 in the `65 Buick service manual for an easily read and accurate illustration of the two harnesses. Tom Mooney

Yes, if the customer ordered cruise or Guidematic. The power vent harness draws power from the circuit breaker in the driver`s kick panel-same place the power windows draw from. Tom Mooney

Just an FYI here...the standard harness has the plug for the cruise transducer in the engine compartment. This is not an indication the accessory harness is installed UNDER THE DASH. The plugs for the cruise components under the dash are, however, peculiar to the accessory harness. The harness for the power vent option is a seperate harness and is not related to the accessory/standard under dash harness. Tom Mooney

Hi Bob, Have you been adding any fluid to the brake master to maintain a consistently full level?? If so, the source of your leak is most probably the reason for your low pedal (although you may have more than one issue). Sometimes, the seals in the master cyl will leak toward the rear of the m/c and into the brake booster where the fluid is visually undetectable. If you have not been adding any fluid be sure your brake adjustment is proper at ALL 4 wheels, as Jim has suggested sometimes the adjusters freeze. When this happens the stroke of the pedal needs to compensate for the increased clearance between the drum and brake shoes. Also, it is possible the master cylinder is "bypassing". This will generally present itself in a pedal which slowly falls to the floor with LIGHT PRESSURE. Full pressure will generally seat the seals in the m/c but light pressure will allow them to bypass. Depending on an emergency brake to stop a tank like your `65 is asking for big trouble. Dont drive the car again until you have the problem fixed or pay someone to do it for you. You`ll be money ahead in the long run and you and your Riviera will still be in one piece! Good luck! Tom Mooney

Bingo!!

Hi Doug, The springs index into a notched area on the upper inside clamshell. They help the covers close completely. Hold the headlight assembly up to the fender and the point of attachment will be obvious. Tom Mooney

The points raised regarding rust and the absence of options are valid. However. everything I see in the pictures indicates to me this is a legitimate 38K mile car. Absent the large stain in the trunk, this is a VERY nice original trunk-very hard to find these days except in a well kept garage queen. The driver`s door panel isn`t warped like a potato chip and the carpeting retains good color; as does the wood insert. This is the condition in which an experienced collector wants to find an old car. Apply a liberal amount of elbow grease, a set of nice Buick rallyes and a good going thru mechanically (like a set of new radials) and I can envision this car at the 10K mark. This would make an EXELLENT driver with a minimum of fuss. Tom Mooney

Just to add a few comments here.. The correct color for the headliner in a black interior`65 riv is silver. This may sound strange but folks almost never notice the contrast unless specifically looking up at the headliner. The benefits of this color are it looks very elegant against the chrome trim moldings and adds to the light levels in the interior. Seriously, it makes a significant difference to my 50 year old eyesight. Another point which I find to be a neat little fact...in `64 the white interior had black contrasts in terms of the carpet and console, windlace, etc...the `65 models with white interior have dark charcoal accents, carpet, console, lower dash color, etc...apparently the Buick designers wanted to soften the transition between the bright white upholstery and the adjacent components. Try finding a mint condition standard `65 steering wheel in dark charcoal! Aggravating this situation would be the fact the custom version of the white interior in `65 was only available from mid-year on. That is the reason why, once in a while, a loaded `65 with white STANDARD interior will surface. Early in the model year, if a buyer wanted a white interior and a well optioned car, he/she had no choice but the standard trim. Tom Mooney

Hi Mo, This may seem a randon question but is the nicer convert a Canadian car? Thanks! Tom Mooney

Hi Dave and All, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I specifically recall a post by Dave which definitively answered a question I had for many years. I had been told by a very trusted and knowledgable original member of our club that the `65 model has the VIN stamped on the top of the frame rail but never saw any documentation. I have parted many cars but those I disassembled down to the frame were so rusty an inspection for the VIN was impossible. Dave answered that question both for me and any other member who poses that question to me in the future. Thanks Dave! From my perspective as a long time member, Trustee and Tech Advisor, anyone who asks or answers a question gets an "A" for effort and participation no matter what the question or answer! Thanks to all who do so! It is simply unacceptable to chastise someone on or off list just for participating. Having said that, I do have a suggestion for those seeking a possibly more definitive, immediate and personal response...make a well placed (during the evening but not too late!) phone call to the appropriate tech advisor. Their contact info is listed in every Riview.This is a benefit which we all enjoy with our membership. I have often taken advantage of this option myself. (Thanks Tim!!) Once again, Happy Holidays to all and above all else, keep participating!!! Tom Mooney

Hi Tim, If you dont manage a fix before you put the car into storage try this....place the tilt wheel in the position you would use while driving. Then adjust the turn signal switch position so all signals and brake lights function properly. With most collector cars there is really only one driver and that individual will always use the tilt in the same position. I have several `60`s cars which I have done this as a temporary repair meaning to one day get to a permanent repair. I havn`t done so because I am the only driver and it has not been an issue. I know this is not the answer you are looking for but it works. Tom Mooney

Hi Don, Great info!! I`ve printed a copy and added it to the ROA library. Thanks for sharing! Tom Mooney ROA Librarian P.S. Always interested in donated materials from our members in the midst of "cleaning house"...hint, hint! (: (: (: ...thanks again!

Gentlemen, Congratulations on your initiation into the Clamshell Clan. Henceforth, you shall see dreams (or nightmares) of operating clamshells when closing your eyes in quiet reflection or while at rest. Do not be alarmed. This is normal after initial exposure to "The Bulletin". Perhaps you may find comfort in this old ROA proverb... May your clamshells never fail to open in the dark...and close at the next BCA judged meet. :confused: Best of luck, Tom Mooney ROA Librarian

Buick published several service bulletins on the headlight system but the gran-daddy of them all was a 28 page comprehensive bulletin which includes theory, adjustments and lubrication. The ROA library has this bulletin on disc (thanks Ed Pentico !!) and can be attached to an email for any members requiring this info. Cheers, Tom Mooney ROA Librarian

Sorry to say I`ll be missing this years annual meet ): A shame too, I heard Sacramento`s mayor is offering free car washes with the first wave of stimulus money! (Sorry guys...couldn`t resist) Have a great time! Tom Mooney

I havn`t seen a sample of Clark`s fabric but the original fawn interior fades to a color with just a hint of green., like a greenish/champagne. Usually the vinyl does also but it is a metallic like champagne color and can look very different in differing types of light. Be sure you are judging the color match in natural light and not under flourescent garage lights. You really didn`t think accurate original fabric would match the 45 year young fabric in your car, did you? (: Good luck, Tom Mooney