Route 66 Riviera

[Route66Rivi]

On Jan 8  2022 my journey began. I purchased a 1966 Riv. The reasons I choose this particular Riv apart that it ran and has working vacuum powered lights. Were all the visible options. Second reasons , I was purchasing the car from the daughter of the original owner. The car sat outside for years in the California desert. 

 

Options 

AC , Power seat, power windows , bucket seats with the headrest, center console, power antenna, remote mirror and the rare cornering lights. Not sure if this was an option but it looks factory - Passenger side door has speaker grill what looks like a 4 or 5 in speaker 

 

The original color of the car is Gunmetal Riviera which I intend in restore it back to. As I dug more into the history about the Car , I learned the car was originally bought brand new at Krell Buick .The Dealership was located in Pasadena California on East Colorado Blvd / part of the Iconic Route 66.  Please advise if this adds any value to the car. 

 

I have attached a few pics I took of the car the day I picked it up at the sellers home. 

 

Hugo 

Marine Combat Veteran

Owner of the Route 66 Riviera

 

 

Edited February 21, 2022 by Route66Rivi
Typo (see edit history)

[CaliRivin]

That's a dope ride! So much potential.

 

Jeremy

[RivNut]

I see two things that stand out (to me). One is the missing switch for the kickdown/variable pitch torque converter,  the other is the lack of a fan shroud. In 1966 engines in the Riviera were painted red.  Check the Production Code Number to see if it’s MW, the code for 1966 425, and  Engine Serial Number to see if it matches the VIN.  (the illustration is for a 1966 401 MT)

 

[arnulfo de l.a.]

Nice score! Love them consoles and buckets in the second gens

[Seafoam65]

Hugo, if you are a married man, please refer to my post on the thread regarding the true cost

of restoration on this same page in the forum!

[Route66Rivi]

3 hours ago, RivNut said:

I see two things that stand out (to me). One is the missing switch for the kickdown/variable pitch torque converter,  the other is the lack of a fan shroud. In 1966 engines in the Riviera were painted red.  Check the Production Code Number to see if it’s MW, the code for 1966 425, and  Engine Serial Number to see if it matches the VIN.  (the illustration is for a 1966 401 MT)

 

Hey Rivnut , The engine color threw me off as well. The Vins do match. It seem like at some point the engine was rebuilt and they painted it blue. Their are spots where you can see some of the red showing .

 

The fan shroud was left in the trunk. Broken but it's there . You're also right about the kick down switch. Only half of the connection is there.  Great Eye!!!

[EmTee]

What does the Hydramatic tag on the transmission say?

[RivNut]

9 hours ago, Route66Rivi said:

Hey Rivnut , The engine color threw me off as well. The Vins do match. It seem like at some point the engine was rebuilt and they painted it blue. Their are spots where you can see some of the red showing .

 

The fan shroud was left in the trunk. Broken but it's there . You're also right about the kick down switch. Only half of the connection is there.  Great Eye!!!

I’ve since noticed that this is a built for California car with the emissions hose running from the front of the left valve cover and the pump.  Hopefully you got the correct air cleaner for it too.   Looks like a fun project.  I had a couple of 66s, both bench seat cars.  Didn’t realize how much power they had until I punched it on a wet street one day and in a split second I was looking at where I’d been.  Damned posi. At least with a peg leg you have one rear wheel pointing forward all the time.  Keep us posted on your progress. 

Edited February 21, 2022 by RivNut (see edit history)

[Route66Rivi]

2 hours ago, EmTee said:

What does the Hydramatic tag on the transmission say?

I know it has ,66 on it. I'll have to crawl under to check the complete number.

[Route66Rivi]

1 hour ago, RivNut said:

I’ve since noticed that this is a built for California car with the emissions hose running from the front of the left valve cover and the pump.  Hopefully you got the correct air cleaner for it too.   Looks like a fun project.  I had a couple of 66s, both bench seat cars.  Didn’t realize how much power they had until I punched it on a wet street one day and in a split second I was looking at where I’d been.  Damned posi. At least with a peg leg you have one rear wheel pointing forward all the time.  Keep us posted on your progress. 

Yes sir, Also have the air cleaner in the trunk.  Def keep everyone posted. I'll be asking tons of questions. 

[rocketraider]

It's amazing the AIR system is still intact, but if it has always been a California car it had to be functional.

 

Which radio does this car have? If AM-FM also look for a stereo multiplexer amp in the car, which might explain the door speaker.

[EmTee]

6 hours ago, Route66Rivi said:

I know it has ,66 on it. I'll have to crawl under to check the complete number.

Just curious as to the two-letter code on the tag.  I'm guessing it would be "BT", or possibly "BS".

[Route66Rivi]

54 minutes ago, rocketraider said:

It's amazing the AIR system is still intact, but if it has always been a California car it had to be functional.

 

Which radio does this car have? If AM-FM also look for a stereo multiplexer amp in the car, which might explain the door speaker.

I was amazed as well. For the most part everything is there. Door panels and a few other items where placed in the trunk. 

 

From things I have found in the car. The owner of the car worked at Walt Disney imagineering studios in Glendale (Deep Pockets ?? ) Right down the road from where it was originally purchased in Pasadena. 

 

Rearview mirror still has their parking pass sticker 86/87 from the Walt Disney studios.

 

As far as the Stereo , it is an AM/FM. I have not dug deep enough to locate the multiplexer amp. 

[RivNut]

The stereo units for these radios was mounted under the dash on the passenger’s side.  Look in a chassis manual to see if there are instructions on how they should be mounted and wired.

 

[JZRIV]

Hugo

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the 66. Looks like a nice straight black-plate example. That's a well optioned car. There was no door speaker option available. As you probably figured out the headlights are not vacuum powered. electric motor. 66-67 headlamps were some of the most reliable over engineered hidden headlamps of their time. Relays are typically the only problem.

Check the bottom of the left axle tube about 3" over from the differential housing. Look for a 2 letter stamp. That will tell you what gear ratio you have an confirm posi.

Love the gunmetal color. One of the key performance features of these cars is the variable pitch (switch pitch) torque converter. Make sure it is functioning. Really helps launch the heavy car.

Edited February 22, 2022 by JZRIV (see edit history)

[arnulfo de l.a.]

Those are some cool disney stickers

[first64riv]

If I'm not mistaken, the Imagineering group was the engineering side of Disney.  If that's correct, I'm sure he did well for himself at the time.

 

Definitely cools sticker!

 

Chris

[steelman]

Chris, that is correct. These were (are) the guys and gals that develop all the Disney rides and attractions.

[Route66Rivi]

Almost a year since I got the Riviera. In the thick of the restoration. And of course we find rust. After removing the windshield we found some bad rust issues on what I'm calling the dashboard top shell that butts up to the windshield.  Any suggestions on repairing this or maybe if anyone has a parts car. Please let me know..

[60FlatTop]

Only a life long GM guy would connect that a Buick Riviera could be associated with Disney while, at the same time, Chrysler was hooking up with Looney Tunes.

[C-Rad]

That's a great place candidate for restoration

 

[65VerdeGS]

Hi Hugo,

 

Anything is restorable, given enough time and $$.  A skilled welder can probably cut some fresh patch panels to replace the rusted sections beneath your windshield.  I'm no expert, but I had similar rust issues in the back window channel of my '65.  The bodyman who did my car repaired it by cutting out all the rusty sections and replacing with new steel that he bent and fabricated to match the original metal.

 

Darwin Falk, our resident 2nd Gen expert, can advise on other options and more importantly, if this type of rust is actually repairable.  Does it extend further down and back along the firewall?

 

Good luck with your project.

[65VerdeGS]

Addendum: Jason Zerbini is another 2nd Gen expert who would also know the rust proclivities of your '66.. He may be able to advise you on best way to deal with that base-of-windshield rust.

[dr914]

the very easiest way would be to cut a piece out of a donor. That area is complicated to fabricate.  MOST parts cars will not be rusted here so chances of finding a very good piece are very good!  Gene should have one

 

[RivNut]

Try CTC Auto ranch in Denton Texas.  Dry cars.  I just checked their website. 7 71s, 8 72s, and 7 73s.  

[JZRIV]

Yep - Been there done that a couple times!  Finding a donor with a rust free section will be challenging and when you do, getting someone willing to cut out exactly what you need will be equally challenging and if you do, the cost will likely be significant. But its always worth a try, never know. Problem is there are 2 or 3 layers of metal sandwiched together in that area with some sort of foam (which holds moisture) in between. Probably there to eliminate vibration rattles. If you happen to find a willing donor, probably easiest to have them cut through all layers and you can separate them as needed.

Yes it can be repaired by cutting out all the bad and welding in with new metal fabricated by hand. The raised section is more difficult to make but it can be done in sections due to the gradual curve. If there is any positive, most of that area is hidden. Just need to make sure the proper contour is maintained so the windshield seals. Easy enough with the help of filler. For someone who knows what they are doing, its not as terrible as it looks. I didn't know what I was doing and managed to complete it without any noticeable evidence.

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by JZRIV (see edit history)

[Route66Rivi]

Thanks for everyone's input. We were able to replace the sheet metal and fill it up with some fiberglass filler to reshape.

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by Route66Rivi (see edit history)

[EmTee]

Good for another 50 years... 

[65VerdeGS]

Nice work!

 

Great to see another Riv being restored.

[JZRIV]

Good job! Saved yourself a bunch of $$$. Be sure to do a dry run setting glass in place with no sealer to verify fitment along the repaired area.

[Route66Rivi]

Here's some body work update hoping to get some paint on soon. I also got the original black California license plates restored. 

[dr914]

keep up the good work and I personally congratulate you on bringing back another first generation car

[65VerdeGS]

Great thread - good work and keep us updated!

[Route66Rivi]

Here some more updates on the build. 

 

 

 

[EmTee]

I would lose the Edelbrock and find (or rebuild) the original Quadrajet.  It's ironic that you have to use a square-bore adapter on top of the spread-bore nailhead intake manifold.  I'll bet there are several people on this forum who would gladly swap manifolds with you...