Had a good day today. I got my Dad's 64 Riviera started up and running today. He bought it in 1984. It's been sitting since he passed, about a year and half ago. Just haven't been able to bring my self to work on it until now. He rebuilt the engine a few years ago and calmed it down quite a bit. He mostly just raced it back then and ran a 100 shot of nitrous on it, ran 12.60's. If you ran at the Cecil Buick Race several years ago you've probably seen it. It's a 425 with dual quads, switch pitch trans and a 9" Ford rear with Detroit Locker and 4:11 gears. He was in the process of redoing some body work and making more of a driver out of it. I'm going to continue on with that theme as time and money allow. But for now I'm so happy just to hear it run again. Ken
I used to love watching you guys running those Riviera's. They looked great going down the track together. I was 12 years old when he got this car and we were at the track almost every Friday night with it for many years. Lots of memories. Ken
I got this far with my 400 and decided it was a good idea to replace the timing chain. I don't know about a small block, but the timing chain set for the big block was only about $35 and took another hour or less to install (motor was on TDC before I took it apart).
I hid my GN in the garage due to the predicted crazy rainfall from the renants of a tropical storm. Started putting in a Sirius adapter. I am more proud of what I did on the MV-1. The lit-up-in-blue A/C "On" and "Recirc" switches are supposed to stay engaged when pressed. They don't -- one engages 50% of the time and shakes loose, one never engages at all. New A/C module is over $500; the screwdrivers were extras... Hey, at least I used Craftsman tools, eh?
Replacing the brake system on my Wildcat. All new shoes, wheel cylinders, hoses and the drums are all being turned. Springs and hardware all cleaned up nicely, as did the bearings.
Got the rears all done in the Wildcat, so it has new lines from the master to the back, all new cylinders and new shoes. Got it bled out and took it for a drive! It feels like a 70,000 mile car!
A good idea for sure, but I am leaving my 10k engine with overhaul chain alone, as with my luck things would be stuck, valve train with catch on fire, the timing would be 180 off and the project will turn into another 3 months of no cruising and my angrier than normal teenage daughter strangling me. I have changed the oil with best oil: Brad Penn, Joe Gibbs, VRI, Amsoil Hot rod, And now Royal Purple. All high zinc and the amount of oil changes are 15 so far. I am not going mess with it at this time. Gotta get the lark back the road ASAP!8
Understand that! At the time, my motor had about 20-25K on the rebuilt and new cam, but that was also 28-years ago and who knows what it had been through since. The old chain on it seemed pretty loose to me, too.
Got the Wildcat on the road and drove it, for the first time since last fall. Attended to it's major issues this past week; - brakes, heater core, fuel pump, tune up and a lack of gas. Put $100 in it, ended up with just under 3/4 tank; - and took it for a drive. It feels wonderful; just like a 70,000 mile car should. It's nice and tight.
Still sanding. Needs primer in a couple spots. I found another couple minor dents/low spots to fix. Very close to color. Want this beast painted so I can drive it and start putting all the trim, glass, interior etc back on/in it. Spent a few more bucks on sealer, more primer and a few other misc things.
