Dave Cs '75 Century

[Dave Cline]

Ok, this is my first time posting on this site so please forgive any screw ups. Been looking for a site like this for years. Here is a pic of my '75 Century which I have had for about nine years.

[Ken Mild]

Wow, that's a really cool car man. Welcome too by the way. :TU:

I never realized the similarity between the (gasp) Monte Carlo with regards to the nose. The Buick is of course much classier. :beer

Cool color too.

Is it a 455 or a 350? Or a 305?.....Not too familiar with those years.

The rally wheels really finish it off well. :TU:

[Dave Cline]

Ok, now that I know it works, here is a modified photo of how I expect it to look when transormation is complete, hopefully in about a year or so. Work has begun and is ongoing. By the way does anyone else here have a car in this persimmon metallic orange? I think it was a '75 color only and have seen only one other car this color, a '75 El Camino. Would be interested to know how many cars were painted this color. Also, anyone know where I can find the sport roof (across the top) moldings? These are the only parts I simply cannot find for this car.

[Dave Cline]

Thanks for the compliment Ken. The engine is a 350 - 4bbl., the top option that year. Unfortunately the 455 was discontinued on Buick A-bodies after '74. Fuel economy was the order of the day back then and this was the year the 231 V6 was introduced which is still being used today. With some superficial modifications my 350 is quite perky and has no problem smokin' a tire now and then. One day I hope to be able to have it messaged a bit. I would like to eventually get 300 - 350 hp out of it.

[rex362]

looks good...the modified veiw also....but if i had 2 modify anything...all i would do is have T-TOPS proffesionaly installed....max..maybe 1g

[Dave Cline]

You know I thought about the T-top option. I even found a possible donor car in a salvage yard a few years ago but the glass panels and some of the side window exterior trim was missing. Interior trim and rubber were ratty. I finally decided that after I found all the necessary parts (even if I could find them), had the doner car hauled home and found some place to store it, then get the surgery done properly plus quality paint work. the cost would be through the roof (no pun intended). I already plan to spend about $2500.00 on paint and body work for the restoration alone.

Do you have a photo of your pace car?

[rex362]

no photo yet....but wait till i get my hands on a digital camera..i will flood this board with em...:pp ..

..im not much into the latest gizmos....but soon..

[rex362]

the 75 pace car had t-tops...also...same body as yours...do you have buckets or bench seats....?

..ive only seen pictures of 75 pace car...never a live one......

[rex362]

there r costom shops that just install t-tops,sunroofs..ect....im guesing no more than a grand...

[Dave Cline]

Yeah, I considered the aftermarket route too, but I'm trying to keep it as factory original as possible. If I did go with the T-top it would have to have the factory Hurst panels and all the trimmings. I did briefly check and many of the aftermarket installers aren't doing this work anymore. Seems car manufacturers aren't making cars with frameless windows anymore and there isn't much demand. The '75 pace car replicas were not really that much different from the regular production Custom models with the exception of the black out grill and tail panel, T-top and wild paint scheme which not all of them got. They basically started out as white Customs with white bucket seat interiors and the same power train that mine has. Don't quote me on this but I think they were the first production models to have the T-top. Olds, Chevy and Pontiac didn't get them 'til '76. Mine has the custom cloth & vinyl buckets and console.

What power train does your's have? My Buick book doesn't say much about the '76 production models. :bglasses:

[RWarrior]

ive only seen pictures of 75 pace car...never a live one

there's one near my town.. also mint condition...

it has the T-top, floor shifter, white interior free spirit decals..:jd:

I must never know it to be for sale... I would buy it RFN...

Very cool car! It rocks!

[OLDS442GM]

Wasnt the pace cars also turbo?:Do No: . One of my friends had a 75 Free Sprirt....let it sit too long and the apartment complex towed it away (thought it was abandoned). He didnt even bother to try and find it again.:eek2: I found it 3 days later at a local junk yard stripped of everthing...I asked the ower of the yard what went on with the car..he said in 4 hours every part was accounted for and paid in full. It was the fastest car he has ever stripped.:eek2: I looked under the hood 350 turbo...I was looking to nab that, but it was sold as well.

Go's to show what stuff people throw away :(

P.S. My newest toy is under the (testing) posting....let me know what you guys think of my T/A! :TU:

Larry :TU:

[OLDS442GM]

Here is a little tid bit :laugh:

Dont worry I do have a Buick :TU:

Larry

[RACEBUICKS]

I like the 75 its a tough looking car too I have a 73 that hasnt got the shine you have but its still simular lines!!! You have a nice car there Dave!!

http://www.networksplus.net/mrbuick/century.jpg

[rex362]

in 76 there were only 2 real pacecars...with v-6 turbos..and big hp for a v-6..one of these would be a real gem...big time.......buick made about 1290 replicars...some came with regular v-6 and v8....mine has just 350 4v 350 trans....all stock...nice 2 look at....the only thing i will be bolting on this car will be true dual exhaust...and thats it ...nothing else....it stays original...even down 2 the am-fm radio...

the 75 production and history im not 2 keen on...but it is sweet 2 look at...

[RWarrior]

it stays original...even down 2 the am-fm radio...

you could install an 8-track radio, use an adapter 8-track compact cassette and an adapter tu use a CD player on a tape player :bglasses:

it's a solution to listen your favorite music:beer

[rex362]

thanks...but i have a music system in my garage..bad company,rolling stone,ect....ive had the car for the last 7 months....i have only put 20 miles on it(i think)....i spend massive time staring at it though.....nothing 2 do to it but keep the dust off.....have 2 find myself a project car....:Brow:

[Dave Cline]

According to Bill Holder's & Phillip Kunz's book "Buick Muscle Cars" the '75 pace replicas had regular production 350 4bbls with single exhaust like Rex's and mine. Buick's advertising literature for them seems to corroborate that. Also no mention of a turbo in any of my service literature. I suspect the one you saw, Larry, was aftermarket modified. Hurst apparently was working with GM in those years and apparently produced a few one-offs so who knows.

The two real '75 pace cars had 455s with larger than stock valves, special cam, 2.5 in. dual exhaust, 10:1 compression, cold air induction and specially modified Quadrajets and distributors in order that they could get up to 140 mph.

Racebuicks: That's a very clean '73 you've got there. I'm guessing it's a southern car. To be honest I like the '73s best of that series. The nose is better sculpted and the tail is more composite, no fat bumper. I suggest you hang on to it.


Rex: I have converted mine to dual exhaust and ran into a couple of complications. I can give you some tips if you are interested.

[rex362]

dave..please do.....i already have my double humped crossmember...from a 73 cutlass.....2 free flowing cat-converters and 2 dyna max mufflers....had a buddy that worked at a muffler joint....(very meticulous with his work)....but the owner just sold...have 2 wait for him 2 find a place 2 work,,he is offering 2 do in my garage by jacking the car on all 4....but i dont want 2 put him up 2 that.....with clamps i could do it myself...but rather having it all welded ......and aligned correctly...all im going for is looks and sound...all stock manifolds

..thinking of 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inch pipe with an H-pipe....

whats your advice...?

[Dave Cline]

Well Heck, never mind. Sounds like you've got it all figured out already. I couldn't find the right crossmember locally for mine so we just crossed the left manifold pipe over to the right similar to the path of the original y-pipe. So the pipes run side by side about the length of the transmission. Then the left pipe crosses back over to the left, right behind the tailshaft. Similar to the set up on '80s corvettes. I had planned to use a cat converter that accepted double pipes but in the end just left it off. Testers here don't check for equip violations on pre 1980 cars. Power went way up and believe it or not hydrocarbon and CO readings went way down so I passed their test no sweat. I used the same brand mufflers you are using. I think my pipes are 2 1/2 with 2 1/4 tail pipes with chrome megaphone style tips just peeking out from under the bumper. I think you will be very pleased with the looks, power and sound when you get it done. It's music to the ears, only now in stereo.

[rex362]

dave..a fella was telling me about installing duals that exact way....running 2gether on same hump....but this other fella told me that they wouldnt be true duals...the left side being a longer path for the exhaust 2 escape...then another fella told me that when you run both underneath the same hump,they have 2 hang lower and might bottom up......

way2 many fella's:Dou:

everybody has their ideas.....how did yours work ?..any bottoming out..?

and i wish illionois air team was that leniant

[RWarrior]

if you put the "X" pipe at the place they are close, this would equilibrate the pressure in the manifolds



In quebec, it's not long that you know when the exhaust are badly done.. one white smoke more than the other when it's cold:bglasses:

[Dave Cline]

You may be on to something regarding the unequal length of the pipes. I haven't had any troubles out of mine though. Heaven knows it certainly runs better and stronger than it ever did with single exhaust. Clearance was no problem. Double pipes took up way less room than the original cat. Even if I had used the converter I had planned, I think I still would have had plenty of room. I did raise the tail of the car about three inches though. One time when I had a back seat full of people and turned up my father-in-law's super steep driveway one of the tips got smashed between the pavement and the bumper. Man, that really pxssxd me off.

Actually during warm-up it is normal to get more steam out of the right side. If the heat riser is working properly the left side should be mostly closed off.:grin:

[lostGS]

rex362 said:the 75 pace car had t-tops...also...same body as yours...do you have buckets or bench seats....?

..ive only seen pictures of 75 pace car...never a live one......


Had one, nice car kinda wish I still had it. may know where it is thou. would love to have another.

Also not all where 4 bbl mine was a factory 2 bbl, single exhaust. I need to check with a freind of mine on what he remembers as he works at the GM proving grounds and was involved with the 75 pace car project.

Tim

[lostGS]

Dave, if you are intested when I am getting my 73 GS455 it comes with a parts car, a 73 regal with duals should have the double hump tranny mount, I will let you have first crack at it. If you want it. I will be getting the car in Feb( or when income tax comes in.

Tim

[Dave Cline]

Thanks very much for the offer Tim but I think I'll pass. My system was done very well with galvanized pipe and stainless mufflers and works very well. I drive it so little anymore I will probably never wear it out. However I am still on the look out for those sport roof moldings mentioned in a post above and my console could use a freshening up so if you have any extra console parts or the shifter button or handle I would definitely be interested.
I can't remember the last time I saw a clear trim insert that wasn't broken.

That's interesting about your 2bbl. pace car. This isn't the first time my references have been wrong or unclear.

I would love to hear your friends story.......how the car was chosen to be the pace car, how it was developed etc etc.

I would love to see a pic of your GS when you get it. Good luck.

[rex362]

since dave dont need that double hump crossmember....give me a holler when your parts car comes in.. ..know a freind thats might be needing one

[lostGS]

I will be posting the parts that are/ will be available fo the regal when I get done stipping it.

Oh by the way it comes with a ,:blast: chain steering wheel, anyone want it:error:

Tim