It looks like the valve covers were reversed. The one on the driver side shows the PCV connection pointing forward (with no PCV valve connected) and the passenger side cover shows the oil breather/filler and rubber grommet for the California emissions at the rear. On my 1965, it's the opposite.
It looke like there is no rubber grommet at the front of the driver's side valve cover on that car like there is at the rear of the (reversed) passenger side valve cover of the red 1964. Were they all like tha? Was there a closed PCV setup in 1964 for the cars sold in California or did it began in 1965? Here's what my 1965 looks like... (Wish it wasn't mine!) Note the (painted) rubber grommet on the valve cover. And a 1965 Electra with the closed PCV for California emissions.
Yes-when they have the valve covers on the wrong heads, makes one wonder about everything! It's probably going to take alot of hours and $ to get that cat right. The mechanical stuff can be sorted out, but rust is another story- I wonder how the frame is?-and they can do much rusting from the inside out, too. Phil, I can see the vent plug on the valve cover-is this supposed to be a Calif car?
If you are speaking about the second picture I sent, yes it is. It's from a 1965 Electra 225 Custom pillared sedan that was for sale on eBay and it still had the California black plates on it. It was loaded with most options including power locks but it lacked A/C. Note that my Wildcat (on the picture above it) has the wrong (California emissions) air cleaner. When I got my car, the original air cleaner was gone and there was an aftermarket open element filter instead. The one currently on it comes from another 1965 Buick that was sold new in California and it has a hole in it's snorkel for the breather hose. I got it from Ted Nagel and he told me about that before he sent it to me. He also included the hose and the breather that came with it in case I'd like to install them.
Phil-I thought you were refering to the subject car. I have a couple Calif cats and some how just couldn't leave all that air pump stuff on the cars-those parts seem happy in storage boxes :Brow: I kinda like the look/function of the early Riv type air cleaners and popped a '64 cleaner on a '65 49 state cat that is still running the original old small throat Carter AFB-
Dan, the AIR pump wasn't used before 1966. In 1965, the California emissions consisted only of a closed PCV system like there was in all 1968 and newer Buicks. The idea was that the engine would "breathe" it's blowby fumes in conditions where the PCV would fail to do it.
