New Here- Gonna need you Guys!

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Hi All-

Just signed up.

I've got a '71 GSX sitting in storage that's been in the family since my dad bought it in '71 when it was six months old. I got it in High School, but college drained my money wise and it's been sitting since 1981! (I know, it's a shame)

I suppose that's good and bad news. It's only got 70kmi on it, and there's no rust, but mechanically it's been untouched for all those years.

I finally moved to a place with a decent sized garage and I'll be bringing the car here shortly to begin getting her going again. I think initially I'm going to go through the motor, drivetrain, brakes, etc to get it road-worthy again.

I'm going to need a ton of advice and I'm happy to have found this board!

[Smartin]

awesome car!!! do you have pics of the beast? we all would love to see it...and drive it. Is it for sale???:cool: :Brow:

Adam

[BUICK528]

Welcome to the board..

2 things..actually 3 things

1) Join the Buick Performance Group immediately
2) Join the N.E. GS/GN Club in your backyard
3) Identify yourself when you post, so we's all knows who's ya be !!
:Smarty:

Welcome,

Jim Haas:beer

[killrbuick66455]

TO 71GSX455-4SPD, A Big Welcome to the board !! This is the best place for any buick lover to come and share infomation with !!! Whats your name ? we would like to know... :TU:

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Hope this picture attaches ok...

As you can see, my car was the victim of some thieves long ago. You can see the hole in the hood where the tach WAS (they cut the wiring harness :af: ) and the grill is missing the GSX emblem. They also made off with the ram air filter assembly.

Jim, I'd like to join those groups. Please steer me in the direction of how to go about doing that. I appreciate the heads up. I also plan to join the GSCA.

And yes, I will sign my name from now on- starting right now! :)

Ken Lisk

[BUICK528]

For starters..

www.buickperformancegroup.com

J

[71GSX455-4SPD]

OK, I think the pic was too large, let's try again...

Ken

[Smartin]

Does it run? I'm drooling. I wish I had that sight when I opened up my garage door.

Adam

At least I have a buick...that's a start:grin:

[70455ht]

Ken,

Great car! Looks like it needs some TLC. Take your time and do it right. There are people here to help!

[BUICK528]

Ken, I'm sure your thankful at this point, that whomever stole the emblem...didn't steal the grille too... I have a serious disdain for thieves...:stmad:

Jim

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Thanks Adam. The car has not been run since 1981. I'm guessing it probably would be a mistake to even try to turn it over. Gotta be some rust in the bores. What do you guys think? Should I even try to turn it over? Or will I just make matters worse? BTW, it's not for sale because I just could never sell it. I'm sure you know what I mean! :cool:

Carl, I am definitely counting on help! And I do plan to do it right! The first time I waxed it was in 1971 when I was nine years old. It's like a long lost friend that needs a helping hand...

Jim, I just did paypal for the Buick Performance Group. Thanks for the link. And yes, I gather the grill wouldn't be too cheap to replace. I've seen broken ones on ebay for ungodly amounts of money!

What about a hood tach? Are there any originals to be had? I see Pontiac tachs on ebay all the time, but I don't think I've ever seen a Buick hood tach.

Thanks,

Ken

[BUICK528]

Ken, put a notice herein in the Parts Wanted section for the hood tach...they ARE out there lurking... I'm sure you'll get a hit soon.

You might be surprised how easily it will get back running again. Rebuild the carb, clean the fuel tank, new rubber fuel hoses, new battery, new fuel filter, new spark plugs....... and let it rip !!

J

[n2buick]

What about a hood tach? Are there any originals to be had? I see Pontiac tachs on ebay all the time, but I don't think I've ever seen a Buick hood tach.

Ken, the original tachs don't come up for sale that often, but there are some reproduction ones available from several vendors.

By the way, have you checked out Mark's site? He run's the GSX registry. It's got a lot of good information.

GSX Registry (http://www.buickgsx.net/gsxhome.htm)

Welcome to the group!!!

Jeff

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Beautiful car, Jeff!

I've resisted buying a repro as I recall reading something about the way the lighting works (reflected vs direct or something like that) looks different than stock. Is there any truth to this?

I did join that registry a while back, yes. I think it's great that someone is taking the time to attempt to gather up information on whatever cars are still remaining.

Ken

[n2buick]

I've resisted buying a repro as I recall reading something about the way the lighting works (reflected vs direct or something like that) looks different than stock. Is there any truth to this?

Ken, I've heard that about the lighting as well. Something about it being back lit on one, and not on the other. Other than that, they seem to look correct. I think I have a post of someone upgrading the lighting on one. I'll see if I can find it.

Keep us posted on the progress of your car. I always liked the lime mist cars personally. A neat, different color combination.

Jeff

[GSThunder]

Welcome aboard Ken, I have a 71 GSX clone and an original 70 GSX that was also missing the hood tach.The repro hood tach from Poston I used for the 70 is indeed wired differently.
Our cars originally had a 3 wire plug for the hood tach, one wire from the neg. side of the coil,one from the instrument light curcuit so it lights when the lights are activated and a ground wire. The newer type of tachometer used in the repros also need a 12 volt power wire to run the tach, so what they did was tap into the light curcuit for power to run the tach.If you simply plug the repro tach into your plug,you'll only have an operational tach when you turn your lights on.( you can guess how I found all this out).
:Dou:
I ended up running an additional power wire to power the tach and removing the connection to the light curcuit at the plug so I have a tach during daytime use.
By the way,is your car a 350 or a 455 ?

[Stagedcoach71]

Wasn't this picture posted on Cars in Barns.com? I drool every time I see it.

I covet thy grille:)

Good Luck!

[dualqwad]

Stagedcoach71 said:Wasn't this picture posted on Cars in Barns.com?
That looks just like the same one that I saw there.:puzzled:

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Hey Al, thanks for the response on the Poston tach. I wonder if the Year One works the same way? Geez, and I thought that it would be plug and play! :pp It's a 455 car, non-stage.

StagedCoach71, as far as that car being on Cars in Barns, it is one and the same! In fact, that is the same pic! I also have a '96 Impala SS and had posted the GSX pic to our local forum as there was a thread on older muscle we have/had. A few months later a guy my wife works with showed it to her on the cars in barns site! Needless to say, one of my 'friends' in the Impala community submitted it. Come to think of it, I still owe that guy! :spank:

Anyway, I have more pics of it if you think I might have heisted that one... :)

There is a story about the grill as it was replaced once in the late 70's. The front bumper, passenger fender and grill took on a VW bug. The bug lost. Anyway, the body shop put on the grill you see and I noted it was different than the one that was there before. Now my father bought the car six months old from a family friend, and we don't think the grill was replaced before? :puzzled: I'm pretty sure it's a correct GS grill now, so what the heck was on there before? Anyone hear of '71 cars coming thru with '70 grills? I can't remember exactly what the old one looked like, but remember thinking it looked 'meaner'.

Ken

[Stagedcoach71]

[i]

Anyone hear of '71 cars coming thru with '70 grills? I can't remember exactly what the old one looked like, but remember thinking it looked 'meaner'.

Ken

Ken:

A '70 grille is completely different as are the headlight doors and hood lip molding.

1971 grilles are extremly hard pieces to find even in repairable shape. Crummy ones sell for 300+ on Ebay. Be VERY careful with that one!

Other than Mr. Conleys '71 GSX, yours is probably the one I would pick of any Buick. Very cool ride.

I would like to see more Pix if you have any.

:TU:

[71GSX455-4SPD]

David-

Thank you for the explanation of the 70/71 grills. I will be extra careful with it as it sounds like a bad (expensive) idea to break it! I can't remember really what was different about the original, only that it was different. Maybe some old pics will surface at my parents house someday.

Here's another pic of the side. Note the vinyl top! I can't imagine that was a very popular option for a GSX. I've debated eliminating it if I ever redid the outside, and currently think I would keep it as that's how it came originally.

What color is Mr. Conley's '71 GSX? He is the same guy that has the original prototype, correct?

Ken

PS- What's etiquette on posting pictures? I'm thinking it might be a problem for slower connections. Am I already screwing up?!? :(

[LARRY70GS]

Ken,
That looks like a correct 71 grill to me. From the pictures I have of 71 GSX's, it looks like parts of the grill should be blacked out(someone correct me if I'm mistaken:rolleyes: ). Seems like that could be corrected with some masking tape and the right color paint spray.
If you plan on cranking her over, do all the things suggested so far, and also squirt a little Marvel Mystery Oil in each sparkplug hole and turn the motor over to distribute it. Then after changing the oil and filter, prime the engine by removing the distributor and spinning the oilpump with an electric drill. I bet she cranks right up and runs just fine. Buicks are known for that! Good Luck and Welcome to the BB.:TU:

[Duane]

Brad Conley's 71 GSX is Black with Cortez Gold stripes. It was originally his fathers car and will be passed on to his son.
Duane

[Brad Conley]

Jeez guys, Mr. Conley was my DAD...I'm just Brad.

Ken, neat car! Another vinyl roof car! Bumper guards, too! Cool...BTW, the grill you have in there looks correct to me. I had posted pictures of my '71's grill somewhere here on the board...shows the black in the grill with detail. Do a search and you should be able to find it.

Thanks for joining the BPG...you'll be glad you did! If you need any help, just shout.

[Chris Lott]

71GS455, that is a beautiful car! I'd bet that most of the people on the board have seen that car on Carsinbarns, it's really cool to have it show up on here! Glad to see this unique car is going to be back on the road again. I love the limemist!

[Brad Conley]

Found that post I was talking about.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9125

[gotbuick]

Ken,

Welcome...
As you can see by the response, you have a neat project that is extremely rare. As you do research you will see what I mean.

96 Impala SS huh? You also have something in common with us Roadmaster guys too. I frequent the impalassforum myself.

On the 71 GSX, send up your cowel tag (under the hood) info if you get a chance. Do you have any original paperwork?

Enjoy your time here. There is a wealth of knowledge on your car around these parts.

:TU::TU: :TU::TU:

[Jim Weise]

David,

Buy the Tach from Year One... PN P57.. I installed one on the GSX we did last year, and had a Original to compare it to. The only difference between the two is that the original is held together with screws, and the new one is siliconed together.

That's a pain, because if your going to paint it correctly, the best way to do that is to take it apart.. it can be done, and then siliconed back together, but it won't be the easiest thing you ever do. But I did it about this time last year. That's one of the pain in the butt jobs that makes a GSX more expensive to do here. But with patience, it can be accomplished correctly. I had about 4 hours in just the hood tach!

The face, lighting, and wiring are identical to the originals, and when installed, it looks perfect. Comes with the correct plug and wiring harness. I did have to fabricate the spring clip that holds the plug to the hood bracing.

There was a different repro on the market first, and that tach was very wrong, in wiring, lighting, face design and appearance.

JW

[9secStage1]

Ken,

I'm close to your area just 20 minutes from Danbury, I'm in Mahopac, NY. Also Northeast GS/GN member Bob Christo has a 1971 lime green GSX big block auto its a documented exported Canadian car w/under 70 K on it. He bought about 1986 from the original owner for 6 grand. It's 10000000% all there and original perfect! Anyway he resides in Ct. If you like give BPG, BCA and NE member Carl Rychlik a call. He is in process of a frame off '70 Stage 1 car and also owns a GN. This guy will definately help steer you in the right direction. Plus he lives in Monroe, Ct. Give him a call his number is 203-261-0457 cprychlik@aol.com) Mention my name, we have been friends for over 10 years now, he's a top notch Buick buff! And knows his stuff too! You can reach also John Csordas the Director of the NE GS/GN Club who is also a BCA, BPG and GSCA member and owns a slew of Buicks including a low mileage '70 GSX. John can be reached at 845-528-GSGN again mention my name.

If you have problems reaching them you can always give me a call.
Great looking "X" ! Keep in touch!

Rick Martinez
Editor Buick Performance Group
Editor Northeast GS/GN Club
Member BCA and GSCA
845-228-9894
845-228-9895 fax
Marti4@Prodigy.net

[Jim Weise]

I went for a stroll thru the hard drive, and came up with this pic, of the GSX tach, on the hood, as it was being final detailed. That's the Year One repro.

JW

[71GSX455-4SPD]

I have to say I am overwhelmed with the response! I am definitely in the right place to reignite my Buick fanaticism! I went with my dad to the Buick dealership to pick this car up when he bought it. He bought it from a family friend, but they did the deal thru Biel Buick in Milford, Ct. I was only nine years old and almost wet myself when he put the key in the door!

Mr. Conley, er Brad.... :) I would love to someday see that prototype! What a special piece of history. Thanks also for the thread about the grill color. I've bookmarked it. It may very well be that the accent paint is missing from the replacement grill. I would think the dark coloring would make it look 'meaner', as I said was my 20+ year old recollection of the difference. It's also very cool that you plan to someday make your dad's car your son's. I am in that same position and hope to do the same thing one day for my boy who's currently six.

GotBuick, I recently picked up a '96 Roadmaster for my brother in Dark Cherry Metallic (one of the three Impala colors). It was pretty dirty, but I bought it back to looking perfect. I spent so much time with that car I almost didn't turn the keys over when it came time! It looked as clean as my Impala. On the GSX, I have a lousy picture of the cowl tag and had written down the info some years ago also. Hopefully, this is correct:

ST71 43437FL1 000642BD
TR168 43-B PNT
01D

Does that make sense? The VIN is 434371H137128

Jim, thanks for the heads-up on the Year One tach. From the pic it looks correct. I suppose a one-time pain-in-the ass deal to take it apart and paint it wouldn't be so bad. I'll have to figure out something on the wiring as the thieves cut the tach harness below the connector, if my memory is correct. I'll have to get a new Year One catalog and place an order.

Rick, I had actually met Carl Rychlik a few years ago at a local car show. We made a tentative plan to hook-up and go see the buick but it never happened. I think at the time his car was in canada being painted. Does that sound right? Anyway, thanks for the phone numbers. I'll call Carl when I get the car here. It's snowing this weekend, otherwise I'd do it! Rick, how do I go about joining the Northeast group?

Thanks again for all the kind words and advice. I appreciate being welcomed into your community. :beer

Ken Lisk

[Brad Conley]

Ken,
The data tag breaks down as follows:

ST71 - 1971 model year

43437 - GS hardtop

FL1 - Flint Fisher Body

000642 BD(Y) - body number 642. 71 GSX's had "low" body numbers...I think you either missed the "Y" or they misstamped

TR168 - Black bucket interior

43 - lower body color - Lime Mist Poly

B - upper body color - Black Vinyl roof

01D - Body built 4th week of January

VIN:
4 - Buick Motor Division
34 - GS
37 - 2dr hardtop
1 - 1971 model year
H - Built in Flint Mi
137128 - Sequential production number

Neat car!!!

[flynbuick]

OPG sell the same tach I believe as YO much cheaper. I think I have one of the real deals off a 70 GSx which needs to be rebuilt but I do not remember any material differences from the YO repro.

Jim Lore

[LARRY70GS]

Ken,
To join the NE GS/GN club, just call the hotline number Rick provided, 845-528-GSGN, and leave a mmessage for John Csordas. He'll send you what you need. We usually have a Spring meeting to kick off the racing season in April or so at Johns Shop in Chappaqua.(mini car show too weather permitting). Hope to see you there!

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Hey Brad, thanks for breaking down that tag info so quickly. I had heard that '71 GSX's had early numbers and I assumed that meant VIN numbers. Thanks for clearing it up that it was the body number. I ordered assembly/service manuals from Year One and they arrived yesterday with a copy of the BPG "The Build Sheet". It was an August issue with a write-up on your prototype's interior included. Very Cool!

Jim, are you interested in parting with the '70 tach??? I'm still on the fence as far as repro, and would love an original. I think I have a website bookmarked somewhere of a guy who rebuilds the Pontiac tachs. I sent him an email long ago and he said he could do Buick tachs. Let me know. BTW, does OPG have a website???

Larry, thanks for the info on joining the NE group. I already left a message for John with my mailing address! It would be great to meet you guys in April with a running car...

Thanks,

Ken

[Marco]

Very cool car Ken, and welcome to the V8Buick Board.

You have the 3rd GSX which I've heard of that came with a vinyl roof (and the cowl plate verifies it).

Very interesting and rare indeed. Good luck!

[mangiesbuick71]

Well im really looking for a grill fro a 71 buick skylark . if any one has one or knows something could you let me know at mangiesbuick71@yahoo.com