Progress on my 73 GS [Archive]

73BuickGS455

06-29-2006, 10:00 PM

Just a little update on the restoration of my 73 GS455. Got the whole front end off and I am now starting to work on the frame. Frame is solid! :eek2: :grin: Just a little pitting which can be fixed. Body is also Solid! :Brow: And the original paint on the body looks great. More info to come. :beer

73BuickGS455

07-07-2006, 10:05 AM

Headliner is down. Only trim left on the interior is the dash and pass. door panel. :beer

OneBadBu

07-07-2006, 11:08 AM

Headliner is down. Only trim left on the interior is the dash and pass. door panel. :beer

I'm jealous. :)

I can't even mount my inside rearview mirror because there's no metal there.

Nice lookin' car.

73BuickGS455

08-04-2006, 08:56 PM

I'm jealous. :)

I can't even mount my inside rearview mirror because there's no metal there.

Nice lookin' car.
Thanks,

Well the underneath of the roof may look okay but the top is like swiss chesse. :spank: :Dou: But I got another roof for her that is solid. :TU:
I found my rearview mirror on the floor when I started on the car. But I guess the glue just dried out because mine goes on the windshield.

Upper A-arms are coming off this weekend! :TU: :beer :beer

sean Buick 76

08-24-2006, 01:08 PM

Keep it up and keep us posted on your progress. Glad to see one of my favorite cars getting saved!

Eric B

09-22-2006, 10:11 AM

Keep up the good work. Are you doing a body off, or just cleaning everything up really good?

APVGS

09-22-2006, 10:19 AM

Keep at it Anthony!! :TU: Later,Tony.

regal1973

10-14-2006, 06:29 PM

And the original paint on the body looks great. More info to come[/QUOTE
Is the original colour going to be kept or are you changing the colour as you have the car apart. I hated the green olive on my 73 Regal so while I had it apart I painted it a Spice Hecker straight red tinter which really stands out.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/ioannid/73bui.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/ioannid/cortina0002.jpg

speed70

10-14-2006, 08:28 PM

1973GS464

10-14-2006, 09:10 PM

I found a build sheet under my back seat. I've always heard of one possibly being above the tank, but have never had it out. Oh well, maybe one day I'll look. How's the progress coming along on that '73.
Steve

Eric Schmelzer

10-15-2006, 12:24 AM

I fount a build sheet for my 73 laying on the floor under the back seat also. Nothing on top of the gas tank though. Mine was also built in Fremont Ca.

regal1973

10-16-2006, 06:07 AM

Where the 73 Regals/ Century's all built in Fremont California? I found mine under the back seat & its built there as well was a hire car until it was shipped to Australia in 1975.

sharkmonkey

10-16-2006, 06:44 AM

Hmmm, now I'm going to go try to find my build sheet. I've already had the door apart so I know it's not there.

Lennard

10-19-2006, 03:16 PM

mine was also under the back seat
not in such a good condition but most of it was there

Greetings Lennard

Joe

10-23-2006, 04:08 PM

I found mine above the gas tank and my Regal was built in Framingham, Ma then shipped to Connecticut. I grew up with this car. Used to be in excellent shape until my sister used it for college, then it went to hell. I have a NOS quarter panel I bought for 45.00 on e-bay form a guy in my home town. Also have two other quarter panels so someday I hope my car looks as good as some of the others posted in this thread.

sharkmonkey

10-24-2006, 06:46 AM

Hey Joe, what did you do to make your Regal go 11.11? Or is your build listed in another thread?

Joe

10-24-2006, 02:40 PM

Well for what it has it’s kind of an embarrassment that it only went 11.11. My only saving grace is that I don’t post much and most people don’t know who I am or what I have, so 11.11 may seem pretty good. The motor is a 14:1, 464 that should put me into the 10s with out much effort but it’s been a struggle so far. Some issues were due to my own lack of knowledge (still on a learning curve) and others just bad luck (broken parts).

I think I finally got things figured out and next season I should have it running like it should. Before this motor I had a very mild 430 that ran 11.70 at 115 all day long. For six years of racing and beating the snot out of it I only had one broken rocker shaft. The 464 is a completely different story. As soon as I know what I’m doing I can start having fun again and make a few 10 sec passes.

73BuickGS455

11-04-2006, 07:43 PM

Keep up the good work. Are you doing a body off, or just cleaning everything up really good?
Thanks Eric, I am planing on maybe just lifting the body up off the frame to clean up and paint under there and replace the body bushings. I'll let you know what I finally do. :beer

73BuickGS455

11-04-2006, 07:44 PM

Is the original colour going to be kept or are you changing the colour as you have the car apart. I hated the green olive on my 73 Regal so while I had it apart I painted it a Spice Hecker straight red tinter which really stands out.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/ioannid/73bui.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/ioannid/cortina0002.jpg
I am going to have it painted the original color, Burgandy with the white pin stripe and decals. Thanks.

73BuickGS455

11-04-2006, 07:47 PM

Hey Anthony, I noticed in another post that you found a build sheet between your tank and body recently. Mine was there also, but I found an identical second one in the passenger side upper door panel. My Century was assembled in Fremont Ca. Maybe its different than where yours was assembled though. Well anyway keep us posted on the progress. :TU:
Yes, I found one on top of the gas tank. I got it off thankfully. I also had one in the back seat that was mostly gone because of the mice. Wow, that's odd that you said you found one in the pass. door panel. That is the only part of the interior that I have not touched yet besides the dash. I'm gonna take it apart and put the other one back together at the same time. Thanks!!!! :TU: :beer

73BuickGS455

11-04-2006, 07:53 PM

My car was built in Framingham, MA. Jason Cook was the one who told me there should be one in the back seat cusion and on top of the gas tank. They were both there!

New Info:

Planing on sandblasting the front to the frame this weekend and painting some of it. Have all the wiring harness and other things covered up. I'll keep everyone updated. I have my engine out at Stage 1 Automotive right now, so when that comes back it'll be time to put that together. Thanks everyone! :beer :beer

73BuickGS455

11-16-2006, 12:41 PM

Update:

Have all but the pass. side lower control arm off. The blots are stuck. :Dou: Once I get them out and get the control arm out of there...sandblasting starts.

Picutres to come! :beer

73BuickGS455

05-07-2007, 07:32 PM

Got an update for my 73 GS:

I got the engine back from Stage 1 Automotive in NJ. The engine is .030 over with 10:1 pistons and the crank was cut .010 under. It is a short block right now, but I just need a few more parts to complete the engine! I'll keep the thread up-to-date!:TU:

73BuickGS455

06-13-2007, 01:40 PM

I am going to CC the heads this weekend. I just bought the head bolts and full gasket set from TA Performance, so I'll be ready to put the heads on very shortly! Here are some pictures of the heads. Then were done by Greg Gessler and it is a Level 2 porting job!

sean Buick 76

06-13-2007, 03:09 PM

Thanks for the update your 73 is going to be NICE!!!

73BuickGS455

06-26-2007, 12:55 PM

Thanks for the update your 73 is going to be NICE!!!

Thanks! I can't wait to get it done! It is going to be a nice, fun car.

I am ordering some heavy duty chassis paint from www.eastwood.com And I am planning on re-doing the frame very shortly!

Stage1 Jeff

06-26-2007, 01:03 PM

hey there! long time no see!!
you're making good progress there, keep us all updated.

and now........ GIT R DONE

73BuickGS455

06-26-2007, 01:12 PM

hey there! long time no see!!
you're making good progress there, keep us all updated.

and now........ GIT R DONE

Hey Jeff! Yeah I haven't talked to you in a while! Thanks for the kind words! I'm moving along on the car slowly, but I think I'm getting more motivated so it shall start to come together soon. Ill keep everyone updated!:beer

73BuickGS455

07-27-2007, 03:56 PM

Okay...so I actually did some work on the Buick today! :rolleyes:

I took the rear bumper off and took a look the rear (body) section of the car. Everything looks great! Not that much rust and it's all solid. The trunk pans are shot, but I can get new pans from The Parts Place.:TU: Luckily the area I can't get...is the section that's good!:Smarty: I got lucky! I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them here.:beer

73BuickGS455

07-30-2007, 01:02 PM

The rear section of the car.....

I will be putting the front suspension back together soon with new bushings, springs, and shocks!:TU:

73BuickGS455

08-20-2009, 11:21 PM

Wow, looks like it's taken me two years to get any further on the car so here's a little update:

Got new bushing put in the A-arms and am putting the ball joints in now. Also coated the frame, now it just needs a coat of black paint!

Then front suspension will go back on then I drop the engine in! (Oh gotta take the body off too!)

Doug Ray

09-11-2009, 03:03 PM

Winter will be upon us soon, that means more garage time!!! Keep up the good work, Looking Good :TU:

73BuickGS455

01-12-2011, 01:00 AM

Wow, haven't updated this in a long time.

Alot has changed since then, I got the engine all together and most of the frame back together.

And rebuilt the carb using parts from Greg Gessler :beer

breakinbuick11

01-12-2011, 01:35 PM

Looking good! Any other info on your motor build? What part of PA are you from?

Louie

bignastyGS

01-12-2011, 04:17 PM

Looking good! Any other info on your motor build? What part of PA are you from?

Louie

Leave Ant alone Louie...He is a Giant fan as well.....lol He's from the Philly area..I remember when he was just a young lad without a license too...Now he scooped a license,started dating young chicks, and we never see him anymore...:laugh: :laugh:

breakinbuick11

01-12-2011, 04:45 PM

73BuickGS455

01-12-2011, 04:50 PM

Leave Ant alone Louie...He is a Giant fan as well.....lol He's from the Philly area..I remember when he was just a young lad without a license too...Now he scooped a license,started dating young chicks, and we never see him anymore...:laugh: :laugh:

Good to hear from you Pat,
Well now that the Eagles are out, I guess you could say that.:pp

Yeah.... alot of girls have put my car projects aside but I've come to realize that at least the ones right now don't matter that much to distract me from the Buick.:laugh: :laugh: :3gears:

But I'm back for good espically now that this beast will be running soon!

Louie, I'm from Chester County. I see your from Scranton...bet you got alot of snow up there!

Here's a few spec on the engine:

~462 Block with 11:1 Compression Ratio With work done by Rob @ Stage1Automotive
~Iron heads with Level 2 Modifcation done by Greg Gessler With Stage 1 SS Exhaust swrill polished valves
~Matching Edelbrock B4B Intake and Exhaust manifold to flow with the heads
~TA 292-02H cam
~TA 2500 Stall Converter
~.77 Jets and .045 Rods

Should be a good setup...I'm hoping to be able to run low 13's to high 12's with it:3gears:

breakinbuick11

01-12-2011, 05:00 PM

Nice Anthony, We didnt get that much, only around 6 inches. Good luck with the resto.

73BuickGS455

01-12-2011, 07:13 PM

Nice Anthony, We didnt get that much, only around 6 inches. Good luck with the resto.

Thanks! I see your fairly young like me and restoring a Buick too! I'm really glad to see that....we are gonna be the guys ending up with alot of these cars in the future!:beer Best of luck to you as well!

philip roitman

01-12-2011, 07:31 PM

Wow T long time. Glad to hear U R still doing the Buick. Driving sportcars and girls gets addicting! Happy New Year.

breakinbuick11

01-12-2011, 07:45 PM

Thanks! I see your fairly young like me and restoring a Buick too! I'm really glad to see that....we are gonna be the guys ending up with alot of these cars in the future!:beer Best of luck to you as well!

Yea when I first got on here one of the first threads I saw your "muscle car to buy at 16" Are you graduating this year or did you already graduate?

73BuickGS455

01-23-2011, 12:39 AM

Wow T long time. Glad to hear U R still doing the Buick. Driving sportcars and girls gets addicting! Happy New Year.

Phil, good to hear from you too...I see you are getting one of your 73's all painted up...the T-code car right? Century w/ 455? Looks really nice!

Save me a race once I have the GS done. Deal?:TU:

Here's a few more pictures.... got the front coil springs back in and put an insulator on the top to keep them quiet. Also got the Q-jet all back together. :TU:

73BuickGS455

01-23-2011, 12:42 AM

Yea when I first got on here one of the first threads I saw your "muscle car to buy at 16" Are you graduating this year or did you already graduate?

All done with high school and I go to school now at LaSalle University!

Where are you looking to attend?

breakinbuick11

01-23-2011, 10:33 AM

All done with high school and I go to school now at LaSalle University!

Where are you looking to attend?

I was thinking about LaSalle but its not high up on the list. I'm really holding off to see if I can play football anywhere, but even if I can I dont know if I would want to. So with that in mind I was looking at Temple, St. Francis, Pitt, and then local schools around here: Marywood University, Misericordia University, and the University of Scranton.