My Silver Cloud 1963 Buick Riviera

July 23, 2012

Hello, I am new to this forum. I own a 1963 Riviera that I purchased in 1999 at the age of 18. I found it at a import car dealership parked between 2 dumpsters with batteries stacked around it and mostly covered with a snowbank. When I inquired about the old Buick parked out back they laughed at me and reminded me that i was at an import dealership. But one of the salesmen came over and told me that they took it in on trade parked it and left it, I bought it that day.

The engine is a numbers matching 401. but the air cleaner and carb don't seem right from what i have read I will post some pics and maybe you can help me out. ( will attach photos a little latter I am having trouble getting them to upload)

Serial Number 7J1058968

Data Plate

02B

Style 63-4747 FB 20638 Body

Trim 728J2 DD Paint

ACC D I6 N2 SU8 Z4

July 23, 2012

Riviera Pics Including Air Cleaner and Carb - Photobucket

RivNut · July 23, 2012

Welcome to the forumj. Very nice find!!!! Nicely equipped as well.

The pictures you posted definitely show a non 63 Riviera air cleaner. If you 'google' 1963 Riviera engine, and click on the images link, you will see picture of a large red "pancake" breather.

In '63, the console was covered in a black pebble grained vinyl, not wood.

If you want to bring the car back to original conditon, these are very small items to change.

The gauges in the console are also aftermarket.

Your data plate decodes as follows:

63-4747 = 1963 Riviera

2B = build date, 2nd week of February

FB# = production sequence 20,638/40,000

728 = Silver Leather

J2 = Power bucket seat

DD = Silver Cloud paint

D= provisions for a radio

I6 = tinted glass

N2 = Air cond.

S = Remote outside mirror

U8 = Both U7 - power windows plus U6 power vents

Z4 = Remote Trunk release

Not on the data plate but also visible as options are

Cruise control = H1

Your radio is the AM wonder bar w/ power antenna = sales code D4

Guidematic = X1 - dims high beams (override is achieved by depressing the dimmer switch halfway)

Tilt wheel = L1

What I can't tell from the pictures that's also possible would be cornering lights = H2. If when you turn on your turn signals at night, does a lamp inside the turn signal housing light up the curb? Under the hood, do you have the four note horn option?

You can also tell what sized tires were on your car when it was delivered. If the rims are 5-1/2" rims, (5-1/2" inside the bead) the car was equipped with 7.10 x 15" tires. If the rims are 6", the car was equipped with 7.60" tires.

I don't have the option code for the wire wheel covers right at hand, but I can find it if you're interested. Most cars if equipped as well as yours usually have some of these other less popular options. Let us know what else you find.

Options not on the data plate are the options that could be added during final assembly. They did not require Fisher Body to modify a base body to accommodate anything.

If you're new to the Riviera game, be sure to check out our club. Welcome to the Riviera Owners Association Homepage.

Ed

Edited July 24, 2012 by RivNut (see edit history)

60FlatTop · July 23, 2012

That is the air cleaner I have run on my '64 Riviera for 34 years, 2 months, 3 weeks 3 days, 18 hours, and 50 minutes. Once I put a correct one on and it just broke my heart to cover that beautiful nailhead engine. 10 minutes might be a generous estimate.

Bernie

July 23, 2012

Thanks for the feed back. The car is equipped with cruise control and four note horn. I thought the air cleaner and carb might be from a 64. Its a mystery to me why they are on the car I rebuilt the motor in 2000 and it showed no signs of ever being out of the car or being taken apart. I am going to take out the gas tank and restore it this weekend, the sending unit doesn't work and the muffler has a whole in it so it seems like a good time, should be easier with no muffler

1965rivgs · July 23, 2012

Looks like a `65 or `66 air cleaner. There may be a part number on the sticker which is still in tact.

Check the carb number which is located on the passenger side lower front just above the mounting surface. There should be a 4 digit stamped number there which will decode to year and original engine size.

Tom Mooney

July 24, 2012

Did some fact searching the part number on the air cleaner as mentioned earlier showed up as a 65

The Carb numbers 3503SA showed up as fitting 1963 Wildcat, Electra, Riviera or LeSabre 401 or 425 everywhere I looked. but some literature I found stated that the 63 riv came with rochester carbs only so I'm a little confused maybe some one can give some clarification

lrlforfun · July 24, 2012

OK Lost One: Apparently you aren't lost and you know you have a very nice 63 Riv. I would like to give the person who told you that you were at an "important dealership" a time out. Yes, every dealership may be important and the world is full of these a%^ h@#*%. I'm glad you got it.

I like the condition and equipment. Silver is not my favorite color but being as this car is so clean and unmolested (more First-Gen Rivs are molested than Chevelles) I think it'll live. Mitch

steelman · July 24, 2012

I would like to give the person who told you that you were at an "important dealership" a time out. Yes, every dealership may be important and the world is full of these a%^ h@#*%. I'm glad you got it. Mitch

OK, Mitch, time to go get your glasses. He said IMPORT car dealership, not IMPORTANT car dealership. Definately not the same.

Lost Boy, good find. I'm glad you got it, too.

RivNut · July 24, 2012

I've seen only a few '63 Rivieras that came from the factory with the Rochester 4GC carb on them. My '63 Chassis manual confirms that the 3503 is the correct Carter AFB for 1963 - all models 4600, 4700, 4800, and model 4400 with the power pack.

Great looking car. Drive it and enjoy it. Unless you're going to show it in a BCA or similarly judged event, no one will care. If you happen to find an OE 63 or 64 Rivirea air cleaner, paint it red and put the proper decal on it. CARS Inc. sells a really nice reproduction of the proper decal (get the silk screen aluminum disk, not the peel and stick decal.) There's an air cleaner for a '64 on ebay right now for $100 but in my opinion, that's way over priced - especially for the conditiion this one's in.

Ed

Edited July 24, 2012 by RivNut (see edit history)

lrlforfun · July 25, 2012

OK Steve: I really messed up that one. Oh boy:(. Thanks, Mitch.

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My Silver Cloud 1963 Buick Riviera

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