Finally after hearing about this car sitting in the bush 20 minuets from me, I tracked it down, 71 Centurion , 2 dr, 455/4bbl , PS. PB, PW, 86,000 mi. Frame level with the ground, half the wheels below ground level. Cracked the windshield jacking it up, so that tells me what the frames like. The crank will budge with a Johnston bar but wont roll over. Its been sitting for 12 years, hood and breather are intact, oil still in the pan, coolant and pressure still in the rad. I figure its just stuck from sitting. Anyone know the best way to un-stick it? Thanks Bruce
Pull the plugs and put Liquid Wrench in all the cylinders. Let sit for a day then blow out the cylinders with air. Put Marvel mystery oil in the cylinders. Let sit for a couple of days. Work the motor back and forth and leave in a new position. Rotate every day and leave in a new spot. Pre lube the motor bearings by pulling the dist and spin oil pump with a long screwdriver-handle cut off- and drill. When drill starts to drag, pump is primed.Turn motor 15 degrees at a time and re-prime at each new spot. Hook up battery and spin over( plugs still out). After it is spinning freely, put in new plugs, file the points , fill carb float bowl. Use another fuel source by disconecting fuel line from tank at the fuel pump, ad a length of new line and put end in a gas can. Set choke and crank away.
"Use another fuel source by disconecting fuel line from tank" Tank what tank. There's no tank under there. Thanks for the reply, I'll drag it home (my wife's going to kill me) and give it a go. Bruce
It's home and my wife is still talking to me. :laugh: A little bit of a brute to put up on the trailer by myself, not running and I only could get air to hold in 3 tires. Did you know the rims off a 70 LeSabre won't fit on this car ou: different center diameter. I had brought 4 good tires and rims when picking it up, but I only could get the back ones on. Look for a thread in the parts for sale re what's good.
Can you get me the VIN and cowl tag info from that car? I run a Centurion registry... www.buickcenturion.com
Hi, Yes were parting it out. I've listed some stuff for sale in the parts for sale thread. As I take it apart I'll list whats good., The floor, trunk pan and frame is shot. If you need anything just ask. 71 Centurion vin #: 466471Y42519 Cowl Tag #: ST 71-46647 Y01849 BDY TR 460 41 G PNT C8GB8 02C 0415 Thanks Bruce
Bruce, I could use the alternator core if it's stamped 1100849. This is a '71 number. Working or not is OK.
Amazing that at 86,000 miles this car would be left to rot. My 94 Explorer has 200,000 miles on it and it's my daily driver. Guess they just never used to build these cars to last. Or people just got tired of doing maintenance. I just don't get it.
Or they just bought a really clean one a couple years newer with less miles for a few hundred bucks, and let the old one sit. In the days when it was possible to get a clean muscle car for under $800 I stumbled upon some "hidden" late 40's chevy's with suicide doors, a 49 merc 2 door among other cool things sitting in the bush behind a long abondoned farm house. A little investigating showed me that the guy that lived there has been deceased for 30 years, and he was a store owner that would buy a nice new car every other year, and push them to the bottom of the hill with his tractor when they got a couple years old. So they have been sitting for about 50 years. Even the tractors are still there, untouched. I'm trying to go through the loopholes and get them to fix up before they are completely gone.
Hi Steve, The alternator face casting is cracked, through the ear on the top. Did you still want me to check the number? Ok I just checked a 71 Skylark alternator mounted on a 350 out in my garage, it's a Delco, Where's the casting Number?? Thanks Bruce
Hi Steve, Where can I find the casting number. Would the one on my 71 Skylark 350 be suitable if it has the correct number??
Bruce, Look on the top of the case, near the front, just behind the mtg. boss. Mine is also a 350 car. Numbers are stamped on the casting rather than cast into it.
No wonder I couldn't find it. I had to scrub the surface with thinners to get under the grime. 1100905 37A, Sorry. Bruce
Bruce, I need this piece, it goes under the steering column. Mine is cracked in 1 place and the bottom two mounting holes are also broken. Any color, as long as it cleans up, can't imagine the shape the interior is in. Thanks :TU:
