Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 This past Memorial Day I was walking through a local swap meet (minding my own business) when I stumbled upon a scruffy but surprisingly solid white 63. The paint was bad and the interior was nonexistent, but it had only a couple spots of rust. It couldn't be an Ohio car...it had trunk floors and rear body mounts. Sure enough, it was a Southern California car and best of all it was cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Here is what it looked like when I drove it home that day. The wide low profile tires look terrible and the brown pinstripe did it no favors either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 I have been hip deep in a vintage Porsche restoration for four years. For a break, I needed something to play with where I didn't have to worry about "numbers matching" or proper "date codes". Something more "high school shop class" type mechanicals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 This isn't my first Riviera though. About 16 years ago I bought a fairly low mileage silver/silver leather 63. The silver paint had failed completely, so I put it in Grey primer. The wheel choice was based on what I could afford, not what I really liked. It was a cool car, but I was young And broke and had to sell it to finance another toy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I found the factory wood wheel and the tach in a junkyard. Edited August 27, 2015 by Cornpanzers Riv (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 That car was sold to a friend who ended up selling it to famous hot-rod builder, Bobby Alloway. Next time I saw it, it was the giveaway car at a major street rod show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 My new car will never be a Concours candidate. At some point had a complete 64 driveline swapped into it including a 425. All of the hoses and lines were dried out and cracking. The brake booster was blown, so I decided to Swap to a dual circuit system. One thing led to another and I had the top end completely apart. Turns out the valvetrain noise was a collapsed lifter. No biggie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 I fixed the lifter, threw in a bunch of new gaskets and hoses and gave it a rattle can restoration. Turned out pretty good.BTW, VHT Argent Silver wheel paint is a good match to the original stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 very interesting story and pics.....thanks for posting and welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68RIVGS Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 . . . great story and pictures, enjoy !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I have a correct red wrinkle air cleaner for a '63 that I'd trade you for that chrome one. You have to use an adapter for that air cleaner to work on your carb don't you? If not, are you running an aftermarket carb? Ed http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/photogallery4/1963-buick-riviera-eng2.cfm Edited August 27, 2015 by RivNut (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Thanks everyone.Ed, I drug that air cleaner home from a Pomona swap meet in California about 10 years ago. It's not correct, but I love it. I think it is a 66 GS piece. And yes, I have an adapter on the carb. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 My vision for the car is an early 60s mild custom...with some patina. I took off the goofy low profile tires and replaced them with more appropriate white walls. I also dropped the suspension about 3 inches all the way around. It will never be a show car. Just a good ole cruiser. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K. Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 Nice Rivy and Nice Porsche! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) This has been dormant for a long time. Now that I have my Porsche project done, I'm back on the Riv. It had got lightly rear ended back in the 70s and the bodywork repair was questionable at best. The only real rust on the car was in the trough below the rear window… Pineneedles had collected there and rusted out the window frame. Last year I rebuilt the window frame and that was about as far as I got. As of this week it's at my buddies body shop getting the rear half straightened out. Some think I'm crazy, but I'm only going to paint the back half for now. That way I can get the glass and interior back in and enjoy driving it this summer. Next winter I will do the front half. I don't have the time, money or zeal for another full restoration. It's white, so I'm not concerned too much with paint match. Meanwhile, I have collected a really nice wood steering wheel, factory tachometer and original aluminum valve covers. I have a new carpet and headliner from Clark's and a full round of chrome interior roof line moldings. Can't wait to be driving it again Edited February 16, 2018 by Cornpanzers Riv (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 Here is what distracted me for so long. It's a cool car and I'm very proud of the end result, but I'm looking forward to having something that I can pile all my buddies in a go out for a night on the town. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapom Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I like the look of your first riv. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Good to see you back on the forum.....The Porsche looks great and I look forward to seeing more pics of your Riviera project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Love those Daisey spoke wheels on the car from years back !!! Looks like a big tire on the rear !!! I like old skool stuff !!!!!!??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 IF you lower the Riv. 3 inches you will NOT be able to fill it with your buddies & go cruisin' because the frame will be dragging the ground UNLESS you use MUCH stiffer rate springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 Sooo...once we got in there I started waffling on only painting the back half this year. Monday afternoon I started stripping off the front half panels. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 This morning the paint-work began. Yay! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 Oh that's sharp !!!!!??? nice work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 Sunny and mid-40s today, so I tried to get some detail work done. I hate buffing in my shop, slinging debris everywhere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted March 5, 2018 Share Posted March 5, 2018 Are you putting a new headliner in ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share Posted March 5, 2018 Yes, full Saddle interior - Headliner, package tray and headliner I already have. Just ordered all the side and door panels from Clark’s on Friday. Going to have to build up some operating cash before I can do the seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Good to have the tools to be able to do the work yourself !!! Those mouldings look great ! I am installing a new headliner this week ,,,, should be loads of fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Being a lifelong midwestern guy, it’s nice to work on these old California cars. Check out the paint on the cowl. That’s all original just wiped down with wax and grease remover. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Paint is nearly done. Pretty much everything is buffed out and reassembly is starting. Getting pretty excited 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Very impressive progress in a very short period of time.....nice job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Even without the headlight buckets installed it still looks like it’s going 100 MPH !!! KOOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted April 13, 2018 Author Share Posted April 13, 2018 Making more progress. The bumpers are good driver quality, but I just don’t have the cash to have them plated at this point. Same with the wheels. A friend of mine owns Dayton Wire Wheel, but I just don’t have the spare cash. Paint turned out really well. When I delivered the car, I told them not to make it a concours piece like we did on the Porsche. I told them I want a nice cruise-in quality car...Something I can enjoy. A critical eye could pick out some gaps that are not exact, but it’s going to look really good at the local cruise night. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 Got a bunch of work done this evening. Fit my 65 grill and wood steering wheel. Starting to look more like a car. Tons of trim to install still. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 More progress...slow as it may be 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 Still lots to do 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 That looks like a very nice wood steering wheel in your car. Is it as pit free on the chrome as it looks in the picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornpanzers Riv Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty nice. Nicest wood wheel I have ever had Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 If it is, you'd better take it off every night and put it in your safe. Winston is on the prowl. ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Yes, I need your address please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Ironic. A really nice wood wheel on a car in a year in which the wood wheel was not an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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