New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...

Hello from sunny, hot, muggy, SoCal

I just purchased a nice, mostly original, '65 Buick Sport Wagon with a '67 340 motor. Help out an old Pontiac guy while I familiarize myself with my new Buick.

I have a rather lengthy list of sensible mods (my wife says that there is no such thing as sensible mods :rant planned for this swell little wagon:

Vintage Air Mark IV style under-dash style unit, radiator shroud & alloy radiator as required to keep the engine sufficiently cool after the a/c install, re-valve the seriously over boosted p/str., Bilstein shocks to replace the existing KYB GR-2s, new springs/foam for the front seat, front disc brakes, 2 1/2 turn quick turn steering box, 455/2004R/12 bolt drive train (maybe, Redi-Rad for the original am radio, and I'm considering removing the roof rack to lower the car's profile and better show off the skylights.

I look forward to learning a lot from the :Smarty: members of this Forum .

 

Previous A/C install example (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...)

Dear wheelspin and V-8 Buick longroof fans!

Welcome to V-8 Buick!

By the way it is also hot but not muggy here in Northern CA . . .

An excellent choice!! Not that I am biased on anything . . . . :Brow:

I'm rather partial to mods myself . . . .

I started out the underdash route but ultimately decided I wanted something that looked better than that and went with an in dash install of the Vintage Air SureFit GTO kit (with required mods of course.) You can read more about how I got this done on this thread:

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.p...t-system-into-a-1964-67-Buick-Skylark-Special

Once more, . . . . Welcome!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

P.S. You don't seem to have enabled Private Messages. This is a very handy feature that allows you to communicate with other board members without giving out your email address. Without PMs it is difficult to settle private details like the negotiating part purchases.

 

PICTURES!!!

Congrats on your acquisition!

Steve in Mpls.
'65 Custom Sportwagon 3-seat (red)

 

Re: Previous A/C install example (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...)

.

Great site and thanks for the welcome, Edouard :grin:. I greatly appreciate the details and pics included in your V/Air installation thread. Newbie question; what year/s factory a/c mounts can I bolt onto my existing '67 340 V-8?

Thanks, Les Iden

 

Underdash A/C vents can be done. (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner)

Dear Les and V-8 Buick seekers of cool! :bglasses:

Unfortunately, the only bracket to fit a Vintage Air compressor onto a Buick engine is for the Buick big-block. On my car, the engine builder "spliced" part of the Pontiac bracket onto an original Buick bracket. The other option is to use the Pro6TEN compressor which fits onto the 67 brackets:

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catalog/compressors-parts/21-2201sh/compressor-p-8390.html

I have been told that the Pro6TEN compressor will work with Vintage Air, but I don't know any details.

By the way, you could go with underdash vents instead of replicating the 1965 vents. However, the only good way to do that is to build a housing to enclose the bottom of the dash. Since you have quite a few cars you might have the skills to do that. The Vintage Air underdash kits are really cheap plastic and I don't think you would be happy with it.

Best of luck with your latest project!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

Re: Underdash A/C vents can be done. (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner)

Edouard,

Thanks a lot for your advice to use a Pro Ten compressor on modded Buick brackets.

Regards, Les

 

Les, that's really a beauty! Thanks for posting the pics.

I wonder how common that split second seat was among the two seater Sportwagons. I've only seen it a couple times.

Best regards,
Steve.

 

Very nice!
Is this the wagon on BAT?
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965-buick-sport-waon/

 

The very same. Failing to reach the seller's reserve, BaT supplied the seller's and high bidder's contact info to each other in order to see if a sale could be brokered. The seller contacted me, a deal was struck, and my son Mike drove me in his new '66 GTO to Paso Robles to pick it up :laugh:. We left mu SoCal location around 4AM, and were back home @ 2pm from the 550 mile round-trip .

Beautiful drop-top, Mike!

 

I really like it...nice, nice color combo. My Burgundy 65 Sporty had the same split 2nd seat.

 

Tempting (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...)

Dear Les, Glen, and V-8 Buick longroof fans, . . . .

Of course my Deluxe Special wagon doesn't have the split rear seat. But you do find those seats in junk yards from time to time. It isn't very high on my priority list at the moment but you never know!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

Duuude .. that is a most Awesome Sporty !! Congrats !!!

I never knew the 2 seater could be ordered that way

 

Very nice and welcome to the WagonClub.

 

I'm making some serious headway on my a/c install thanks to Forum member and good friend Bill Moore who provided the 340 a/c pullies and some compressor mounting brackets. I located a A-6 style compressor mount that bolts in three positions on the passenger side head and onto the long exhaust manifold stud underneath the mount. I opted to use a 4 Seasons brand aluminum A-6 replacement compressor that I obtained from Amazon for only $230!

 

Congrats! (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...)

Dear Les and V-8 Buick "longroof" fans,

Looks great! Glad you were able to find something that would fit in the original OEM brackets but still look really good! So what are using for the rest of the installation? Did you go with a Vintage Air Sure-Fit kit or are you cobbling the pieces separately, or doing something completely different?

A curious mind would like to know! :idea2:

Cheers, Edouard :beer

 

Looking at the awesome engine compartment it appears you have added disk brakes? If so what brand and are you using the stock 14" ralley wheels? Did you have any clearance problems if you are using 14's?

Thanks,

 

I'm making some serious headway on my a/c install thanks to Forum member and good friend Bill Moore who provided the 340 a/c pullies and some assorted compressor bits. I located a A-6 style compressor mount that bolts in three positions on the passenger side head and onto the long exhaust manifold stud underneath the mount. I opted to use a 4 Seasons brand aluminum A-6 replacement compressor that I obtained from Amazon for only $230 :TU:!

I also installed a Summit front disc brake kit, quick turn steering box, a large front sway bar, and Bilstein shocks. The handling and controlled ride with more modern steering feel has transformed the little Buick into a capable canyon carver and occasional track day ride .

 

Re: Congrats! (Re: New '65 Custom Sport Wagon Owner from SoCal...)

Hi Edouard,

Going hybrid on this install: Using the V/Air EZ Clip hose kit, Old Air under dash evaporator unit (300 series-4 each 4" round outlets, brushed aluminum front)/dryer/condenser, for the 1965 dealer installed a/c look in the interior .

 

Hi Chuck,

I used a Summit sourced disc brake kit that was 75% boxed up parts from Right Stuf Detailing. Not sure if it is designed for 14" wheels since I have later 7 X 15 Buick Rallys.

 

"I also installed a Summit front disc brake kit, quick turn steering box, a large front sway bar, and Bilstein shocks. The handling and controlled ride with more modern steering feel has transformed the little Buick into a capable canyon carver and occasional track day ride ."

Les, are you using 14" wheels with the Summit disc brakes"

Thanks