Smartin Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 I bought Ted's car this weekend <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />See story here:http://www.bpgforums.com/showthread.php?t=3762Brian - time to update this thread: <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />http://forums.aaca.org/showflat.php?Cat=...ge=2#Post269406 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Adam, congratulations on acquiring a beautiful car.Nice to know that there's now someone else I've met who has a '71 Formal Coupe!I can only hope we'll get the two of them together someday for photos.I'll update that other thread someday soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Adam, your photos on the BPG forum are dynamite -- really showing off the beauty of 1971 Burnished Cinnamon.Amazing how similarly optioned (or non-optioned!) our cars are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 Yes, I discovered yesterday, that the side moldings on this car are aftermarket! :-P I can't remove them without repainting, either. I guess they will stay :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Adam, I had noticed that they weren't on the option list included on your build sheet. They are very stock in appearance, based on your photos.It seems rare to see the '71/'72 full-size Buicks without the protective side moldings, so it's interesting that both your Sandpiper Beige LeSabre sedan and this Formal Coupe were delivered without them. Mine also lacks them, as does Keith's recently acquired Flame Orange convertible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Adam, I e-mailed photos of your car from the BPG forums to Gary Klecka in Alaska. He remembers you, of course, from our meeting in the hotel parking lot in Flint.Here was Gary's comment:"WOW! What a car! I like the color combination. Is this car unrestored?Thank you for making my day with these photos!!"Both Adam?s and your Centurion need to be photographed together because of the scarcity of these models. Two Formal Coupes together would be great!By the way, how many louvers does Adam?s trunk lid have? You?ve got me looking for early/late production ?71?s when I see one."I replied that your car was built the first week of June, 1971, so would have the later style trunk lid. Regarding the scarcity of the '71 Formal Coupes, I mentioned to Gary that I last met another '71 Formal Coupe owner in 1979 in Walla Walla, Washington. And what a beauty that one was -- one owner, low miles, Twilight Turquoise with black roof and interior, and loaded with options. It was for sale at the time; I'm sure it's long gone by now. I've hardly seen another '71 coupe since that time, except one on the street in Denver (Silver Fern) in 1985 and San Francisco (Burnished Cinnamon) in 1985. Oh, and I test drove a beater on a used car lot in Columbus, Ohio (Sandpiper Beige) in 1983. As you might imagine, I keep my eyes open for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 Brian, the only thing that has been done on this car, restoration-wise, is paint on the midsection (below the paint stripe, and above the lower 4" of the body). I think this was due to the large number of door dings & such.Of course, typical maintenance items like plugs, wires, cap, rotor, hoses have all been changed. There is still one heater hose, a tower clamp, and all the vacuum lines still original.In order to get this thing inspected, I need to get a set of mufflers on it. I blew them up like balloons on the way home. It's almost cartoon-like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted October 11, 2006 Author Share Posted October 11, 2006 Did you see the last photos I posted of the interior? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted October 11, 2006 Share Posted October 11, 2006 Adam, yes I did see those interior shots. I think this is probably the nicest original '71 Formal Coupe still out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted October 22, 2006 Share Posted October 22, 2006 Wow! How sweet it is!!!CongratsJD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 4, 2006 Author Share Posted November 4, 2006 I installed a 2.5" dual exhaust system on it this week. It's my first exhaust job...doesn't look too bad for a beginner! I'll get a picture or 2 up when I get back inside. I am throwing a rebuild kit in the carburetor this afternoon to see if I can get it to run a little better. I had to put the old one back on, since the convertible finally left yesterday. I had been running the carb off that car so I could drive this one around town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 5, 2006 Author Share Posted November 5, 2006 Quick update on the exhaust - it's finally finished!Not a bad job, but it's not perfect, either. It looks presentable when you stick your head under the car. Pay no attention to the crooked pipe here or there. It sounds really nice, too. I had the short case Dynomax muffs on the convertible, and it was pretty loud. These long cases sound a bit more tame. Of course, this one doesn't have headers in front of it, either.I put a rebuild kit in the carb this evening, as well. I found out when I took it apart that it was missing the spring under the piston the holds the metering rods. No wonder it ran like crap. I put in some rich secondary rods, and it bogs when I open up the secondaries now. I have some tuning work to do with that.Speaking of the convertible - I said goodbye to it yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 5, 2006 Author Share Posted November 5, 2006 Video of the new exhaust system:http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/exhaust_rev.avi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Adam, the exhaust system looks nice. Good work! Thanks for keeping us updated on your projects.I had new duals installed on my Centurion in August. We omitted the resonators initially. The exhaust people dislike them because they tend to accumulate moisture and rust out. Unfortunately, the roar during part throttle acceleration or on hills just about droned my wife and kids out of the car. So I had the resonators installed. It's perfect now; still throaty and powerful sounding, but comfortably quiet inside the car.The convertible looked beautiful for your final farewell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 It had some ratted out resonators on it when I bought the car, but the whole exhaust system from the mufflers back was pretty much trash. I got a set of 2 1/2" tail pipes made with the stock pattern, and they fit perfectly. The mufflers I bought are performance mufflers, since I'm a go-fast nut. They were a bit long, so it was difficult getting them to fit in the spot where the old muffs were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 70 Electra Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Wow! Stunning example of what has become an incredibly rare model! Thanks for sharing the photos. I hope to see it at a BCA meet...maybe Flint in '08?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 It'll be at the Heartland Regional this year, and in Flint '08! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted February 23, 2007 Author Share Posted February 23, 2007 Time to bring this back up to the top. It's warming up in the garage a little bit, so I need to start thrashing.Probably going under the knife this weekend, only to return as a fresh complete detail. It's either start NOW, or wait until after Easter. If I start now, I will try to make my deadline Easter Sunday so I can show it in the big Easter Show in Forest Park. I have everything I need, with the exception of a little paint....so it should go fairly well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chucks70 Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Adam,Looks like you have something decent to start with. Please post pictures of the surgery... I enjoyed your updates when you were working on the LeSabre engine bay.Good luck Doctor, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 It's finally getting some attention!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 I'm tired of bagging and labeling bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ZondaC12 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 jeez!!!!! i cant believe you! i look at that engine bay picture and think "wow what a good clean looking engine bay. and then you go and tear everything apart to clean it up! man you must really want that thing perfect, huh? poor engine block looks so small in there!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">man you must really want that thing perfect, huh? </div></div>You betcha! As perfect as I can get it...you've seen the last two engine compartments I've done, haven't you? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />This isn't just to clean it up, either. I have another set of heads and a cam I'm installing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ZondaC12 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 yes i have seen them and thought the same thing each time!!!and i was a little puzzled as to why you tore it down that far <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> what kinda gain are you expecting from the swap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 I'm hoping for 100hp gain. The heads should really wake it up. They're ported big time, and I paid a mint for them <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ZondaC12 Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 WHOA!!! holy hot-rod Batman!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />niiice. it would make a good sleeper. go kill some cocky ricers! (though ill bet you could anyway!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 Just a little closeup of some of the parts I cleaned up tonight..These should look good all bolted back up!I always wondered what these looked like out of the factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Thriller Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 I wish I had your tireless energy...then again, I do have a wife and children around here. My Wildcat would show a lot better with the sort of detailing that you do...maybe someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 5, 2007 Author Share Posted April 5, 2007 Tireless? I don't know about that <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ...I'm pretty beat right now.I absolutely LOVE doing this. It's the only thing that I can look forward to doing on a daily basis. I scramble home from work every day so I can get dirty in the garage. Is that wrong? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 NO... NO... NO... As my ex said, its either the car or me.... I sure do miss her <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 11, 2007 Author Share Posted April 11, 2007 ...trying to keep my momentum up while it pours down rain!I need to bug Duane for a new control valve donut..Thanks to Ted for saving the old Delco VR so I could use the cover with the new style regulator! I also got the AC lines cleaned up. The aluminum polished really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhclark Posted April 15, 2007 Share Posted April 15, 2007 Absolutely incredible work Adam!I certainly wish I had have your energy and devotion, not to mention tools.If I could afford your hourly rate, I'd have a car on it's way to you right now!How about a top ten list of tips and tricks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 15, 2007 Author Share Posted April 15, 2007 Top 10? That might be fun...I'm off to the garage to install the cam first! Up early this morning to burn as much time in the garage as possible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 16, 2007 Author Share Posted April 16, 2007 Here's what I have for progress today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Finished the brake booster and underhood/insulation...also cleaned up the AC box and worked on detailing the steering box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 25, 2007 Author Share Posted April 25, 2007 ...majority of the black surrounding areas are painted!I still have to get under the motor to clean it up a bit, but this is it for the night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyrock70 Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Lookin' sweeeet Adam!the pics kind of reminds of another car you did! de-ja-voo? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Quick update: new rally rims adorn the LeSabre. Had to get a new asbestos gasket for the automatic choke well. The high heat sealant didn't hold. They are not easy to find, if you are having trouble finding one for your Centurion, I have a guy in GA that can send a gasket sheet of asbestos that you can cut to fit. John Rocklein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 25, 2007 Author Share Posted April 25, 2007 De ja vu, indeed!Bummer about the choke gasket...I think the only way I could've gotten away with the sealant, is if the surface on the intake was milled flat.I will be using an aluminum intake on this car, so I won't be using the stock choke setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted May 6, 2007 Author Share Posted May 6, 2007 workin' hard.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64BuickCat Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 WOW!!!!!!!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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