Guest Buickrva69 Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hello I live in Springfield Mo. & wondering if there is a Buick Club near me?? Also i bought a 1969 Buick Riviera GS back in February, It needs totally restored. I need a Front bumper. Mine is damaged. This site is new to me, So i'll post a Picture of the car soon. I found the engine # But its the same as the Vin Number, But with a few Numbers missing at the start of the Car Vin Number. I'm now it's a 430-4 ( BUT ) I'm also hoping it's a Stage -1. Made in Flint MI. Was told by a Buick Dealer , That it depends on where the Car was Built is what engine was but in. Different Buick Company's but in Different engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 I think there's a BCA chapter in the Kansas City area, or there used to be. For more exacting information on your car, I suggest the Riviera Owners Association. Welcome to the Riviera Owners Association Homepage.I'm also betting that some '69 owners will chime in here to help out as well.All '69 Buicks had 430's in the, and up until the later generations were built in NJ, all Rivieras were built in Flint. Decoding your VIN will confirm that. You'll need to find more than the VIN # on the block to know if your engine is a Stage 1.Welcome to the Riviera Owners Association Homepage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob71GS Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hello I live in Springfield Mo. & wondering if there is a Buick Club near me?? Also i bought a 1969 Buick Riviera GS back in February, It needs totally restored. I need a Front bumper. Mine is damaged. This site is new to me, So i'll post a Picture of the car soon. I found the engine # But its the same as the Vin Number, But with a few Numbers missing at the start of the Car Vin Number. I'm now it's a 430-4 ( BUT ) I'm also hoping it's a Stage -1. Made in Flint MI. Was told by a Buick Dealer , That it depends on where the Car was Built is what engine was but in. Different Buick Company's but in Different engines.In checking the Buick Club of America web site, there is a BCA chapter in Fenton, MO. Having owing a 69 Riviera before I purchased my 71GS Riv., I can tell you the 69's only had a 430 engine, there were no Stage 1's for the Riviera. There was a Stage 1 engine for the Skylark GS400 but it was only 400 cubic inches, not 430. As Ed stated, all Riviera's were built in Flint, I would also suggest joing the Riviera Owners Association.Robert Bonto#277 ROATechnical Advisor 71-73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivdrivn Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Hello I live in Springfield Mo. & wondering if there is a Buick Club near me?? Also i bought a 1969 Buick Riviera GS back in February, It needs totally restored. I need a Front bumper. Mine is damaged. This site is new to me, So i'll post a Picture of the car soon. I found the engine # But its the same as the Vin Number, But with a few Numbers missing at the start of the Car Vin Number. I'm now it's a 430-4 ( BUT ) I'm also hoping it's a Stage -1. Made in Flint MI. Was told by a Buick Dealer , That it depends on where the Car was Built is what engine was but in. Different Buick Company's but in Different engines.Hello from Illinois! As others have said, the ROA is a great source of expert information, some of which is on their website for anyone to see. In 1969, all Rivieras had the same 430, the GS was a factory handling option, and the Stage 1 was available over the dealership parts counter (very rare and difficult to document). All were made in Flint. Sounds like you have a numbers matching engine. For smaller parts I suggest you scope out CARS, OPGI, and eBay. You may also enjoy V8buick.com. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Hello from Illinois! As others have said, the ROA is a great source of expert information, some of which is on their website for anyone to see. In 1969, all Rivieras had the same 430, the GS was a factory handling option, and the Stage 1 was available over the dealership parts counter (very rare and difficult to document). All were made in Flint. Sounds like you have a numbers matching engine. For smaller parts I suggest you scope out CARS, OPGI, and eBay. You may also enjoy V8buick.com. CheersMember's of the Riviera Owners Assoc. have "member's only" privileges on part of the website. Within that there is a very comprehensive list of vendors who can supply parts and services for you car. There are also Tech Advisors who specialize in certain years that are more than willing to help. I'll go out on a limb, although it's pretty sturdy, and advise you to search the archives of this site before buying anything from OPGI.Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buickrva69 Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 I have a Question. This is my thread So i'm asking for some advise. I have the 69 Buick Riviera GS, But it needs Floor Pans & work in the trunk. Plus some Miner body work. I put a ad on Craigslist for extrs parts & i got a call the other night. He says he has a parts car that Him & his wife are using are using for parts for their Riviera, But the parts are left i need for my car. The question is my Body is a GS with a 430-4 in it with matching numbers. The other car is just a 68 Riviera. Body is the same. Mine has Buckets * the other is a bench seat. BUT the body is in better shape then mine With a little damage on the left back side Quarter next to the trunk. Floor pans are in good shape & trunk. Is it possable to switch my 69 GS Body & use the 68 Body & make it a GS. By butting my 430-4 inside the 68, & restore it back to it's new look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but if you switch bodies you no longer have a GS. You will have a "clone" and a non-numbers matching car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZRIV Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) I have a Question. This is my thread So i'm asking for some advise. I have the 69 Buick Riviera GS, But it needs Floor Pans & work in the trunk. Plus some Miner body work. I put a ad on Craigslist for extrs parts & i got a call the other night. He says he has a parts car that Him & his wife are using are using for parts for their Riviera, But the parts are left i need for my car. The question is my Body is a GS with a 430-4 in it with matching numbers. The other car is just a 68 Riviera. Body is the same. Mine has Buckets * the other is a bench seat. BUT the body is in better shape then mine With a little damage on the left back side Quarter next to the trunk. Floor pans are in good shape & trunk. Is it possable to switch my 69 GS Body & use the 68 Body & make it a GS. By butting my 430-4 inside the 68, & restore it back to it's new look.Let me make sure I understand what you want to do. You want to take your engine and put it in the 68, then transfer GS ornamentation to maintain the GS option? Please let us know if that is not correct.Initially I see a couple issues. You no longer have a matching number car (probably not a big deal in itself on this model)unless you swap the VIN and body tag from 69 to the 68 and it goes without saying thats niether legal or ethically accepted. You would or should maintain the VIN from the 68 to avoid legal issues now and when the car is eventually sold.Then you have the issue of transferring the 3.42 axle and springs from the 69 GS to the 68 both of which are critical parts of the GS package in 68/69. The engine and transmission was no different between GS and non-GS. It would be silly not to carry through with this part of the project. Then after that you'll need to (or may want to) swap the center shifting console and buckets and neither this or the axle and spring swap are a small undertaking.......though admittedly might not be as bad as replacing floors and reconstructing other parts of the body and certainly would be cheaper and not bog down the project. Buckets and console didn't always come with the GS and I think really seal the GS package when it was delivered that way. Having said all that the bottom line is its your car and you can do what you want with it and I try not get caught up in telling or judging people for what they want to do except when its done with ill intent to fraudulently misrepresent a model in order to make money and I don't think thats your goal. You simply are looking at options to revive a special model that might otherwise end up as a parts car. I understand your reluctance to get involved with major bodywork and I can guarentee there are much deeper issues with rust than what you can see now. Its very important to take time to access the magnitude of these things before jumping in. Many a project has died in agony due to lack of planning and understanding the work and money needed to reach the goal. Edited April 16, 2013 by JZRIV (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buickrva69 Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Yes thats what i thought about switching Bodys of the 69 to 68. BUT if i sell the car as a clone ( GS ) With the 68 BODY ( BUT ) Would i get the same price as though IF i keep the 69 GS as is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 It will be much less work and you'll keep the integrity of your '69 GS if you just cut the needed sheet metal from the '68 and weld it into your car.Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68RIVGS Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Good advice from ED - just utilize the sheet metal from the '68 'parts car' to repair rust damage on the '69 GS !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZRIV Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Yes thats what i thought about switching Bodys of the 69 to 68. BUT if i sell the car as a clone ( GS ) With the 68 BODY ( BUT ) Would i get the same price as though IF i keep the 69 GS as is?There are too many variables to give you an accurate answer on this question. Generally speaking a well meaintained solid body car throughout will do more to increase the value than a rust bucket with more desireable option(s). There are exceptions to this but do not think they are applicable here. Unless you are skilled/experienced at major metal restoration, or are looking for something to fill up all your spare time and clean your wallet out for many months/years you might be better off with the 68. Certainly I would like to see you revive 69 GS in its original form but I understand fully that sometimes it just doesn't make good sense depending how deteriorated the condition is and thats tough to determine without knowing alot more about or seeing the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buickrva69 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Ok I have one more Question about my 69 Riviera GS. On the title It says just ( 69 Buick ). Not Buick Riviera 69 GS. If the car is a GS i think the title should say 1969 Buick Riviera GS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I copied and pasted this from the ROA's website from the "How to ID a Gran Sport" articleThe only difference in the 68-69 GS engines was that the lid of the standard air cleaner was chromed. This chromed lid was also available on any model as a dealers option. The GS option also included a heavy-duty suspension and a 3:42:1 axle ratio positive traction rear.I highighted the word option in bold print. That's what everyone needs to understand; the term Gran Sport refers to an option not separate models with unique VIN's. You don't identify any other car on its title using options with which it is equipped so you don't do it on a Gran Sport either.Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buickrva69 Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 I just what to say Thanks for all your Help in ANSWERING all my QUESTIONS. Thanks Again JOE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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