alini Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 After identifying some flaws in my construction and some poor new parts we installed this morning right at about noon we got the engine to fire. I got the break in run done, high RPM for 20 minutes. No leaks, needs to be tuned a bit (timing - idle fuel - idle speed) but it ran with no noises and sounding good. 1351 days and 2 hours from the removal of the first bolt - 702.5 man hours invested. Still need to change the oil, do a final adjustment on the headlights with the cars electrical system, put the hood on. We didnt cycle the transmission but we did get it full, so need to check that, but it was professionally rebuilt so I have faith in it, check the brakes and pull it out of the garage, moving under its own power for the first time in 13 years. The previous owner parked it 13 years ago and I bought it about 3.5 years ago. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 WHOOPEE! I'll bet that was one sweet sound. Kinda' brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? Congrats, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 what brought a tear to my eye was my son was the key turner for me, the car fired...and he shut it off because it didnt sound like the other attempts we made. We laughed it off for a good few minutes and then cranked it and it started right up. Nothing like attempting and attempting and beating your head against the wall trying to figure it out and it still wasnt starting this morning. My timing light was not working properly, I hooked up a friends and we were 12 degrees retarded, once I got the distributor dialed in we were good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric's.64.Superwildcat Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Congratulations. I look forward to seeing a video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodneybeauchamp Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Wow, that is really great news, you must be over the moon after sooooo much time. Look forward to seeing and hearing more. The hours of struggle soon become a distant past with the sweet smell and sounds of success. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slosteve Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 A job well done, Chris. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 1351 days and 2 hours from the removal of the first bolt - 702.5 man hours invested. These numbers show a lot of perseverance, but in a way they're depressing to those of us who still have similar tasks ahead of us. I'm just glad you didn't show any $$$$$ figures. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fuzz Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 That's awesome, CONGRATS!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj5794 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Way to go, Chris. Congratulations!!! Jim VeselyBCA # 39477ROA # 7437 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Is the video link to the crank. It wasnt the first attempt mind you but the first time it actually did start. Ed if you really want to know I will tell you. I think you will be REALLY surprised how low I kept the cost. Edited March 13, 2016 by alini (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 hell I might as well boast a little. I am proud of the rebuild I did, its not a concours car and still has flaws. There is plenty of work to be done to make it flawless, but its a worthy driver and should do well at local car shows. It will look great cruising the Vegas strip on weekends.Including the cost of the initial car ($2500) I only just broke 20K for total cost of the rebuild. This is due to the fact I did everything except the transmission myself and my son did the machine work on the engine at school. I painted the car myself and used products from Eastwood.com which got the job done but there are far better products out there that would cost more.With that said, I did buy some pretty hefty tools. I got a 60 gallon air compressor and plumbed it into the garage so I have three points I can use air now and can paint a car. I bought the engine stand, the engine hoist, pullers, presses. This only totaled an addition 4K.I have heard of guys spending tens of thousands restoring their cars. I did a budget fresh rebuild, every part is new or rebuilt. Its been cleaned, polished, painted and inspected. and I now have a running 1965 Buick Riviera that will only require routine maintenance for the next ten years or so...for 20KNow I wish I had done it faster, but if you were to look at my time sheets, I stopped in May every year and started again in Sept. I also had breaks around Christmas and January, all because Vegas is a hot/cold place and I wanted my time spent in the garage to be fun and sweating/freezing my butt off isnt fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gord14080 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Its alive ! and has its own sound and smell.thanks for all the great up dates in your restoration,I hope all is well,keep up the good work,once again congratulations on a great job!All the best Gord Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog93 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Any time someone brings a car back from the dead they deserve a ton of respect. Now the next time the transmission needs it you can do a rebuild and check off every box Congrats and i hope you get to enjoy it for a very long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I'm in the same boat as you Chris except that I sent my heads out as well as the transmission. You're a good inspiration for a lot of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 The link to the vid didn't work, but I think I found it here. Congratulations.Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Edited the link in the post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 So, now that it's running what was the cause/causes of the no start??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 ignition switch with intermittent continuity in Start, bad starter solenoid, too high a resistance in spark plug wires/coil wire and we found my timing light was junk, I used my buddies and it showed we were actually retarded during cranking, so we advanced the timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jframe Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Glad you got it running! Looking forward to seeing it out of the garage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Congratulations Chris! Another one brought back from the dead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dwhiteside64 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) Great work Chris! My rebuilt engine first turned over a just few days before yours did. I was still holding my breath, even though I took the easy way out and had it rebuilt at a local garage in town. I'm sure you experienced even more relief than I because of the emotional and physical investment you have made. Let us know how it handles on the road! Darren Edited March 15, 2016 by dwhiteside64 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockinRiviDad Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 WOO WHOO!! Congrats Chris. This is a huge accomplishment that I can relate to. Sooooo glad u didn't have the same engine "break-in woes" as I posted in my thread. But I bet having a pro machinist for a son at your side helping the engine build was a key component. Congrats to the both of u.I just posted an accomplishment of my own on my thread that u might enjoy. Then I began to skim thru the forum to find this post full of awesomeness!! Thank for sharing...One cost u didn't mention was the A/C & insulation u installed in the garage. I too was gonna follow your lead. But California just doesn't feel as hot as Vegas. Lastly, does that color blue make your Riviera look small or are you like an 8 foot giant of a man LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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