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!

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

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 !!


Welcome,

Jim Haas

[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...

[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 ) 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

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

[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!

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

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).

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.

[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! 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!

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? 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.

[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 ). 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.

[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

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!