NEW OWNER - 65 RIVIERA GS 425 dual-quad This is my first adventure... I just inherited a 65 Riviera GS 425 w/ 2x4bbl. It has been sitting so long (~20+yrs.) that it was originally black but is now dirt brown. Luckily it has been in a building mostly protected from the weather, no major body rust. But both front tires are completely flat and the rims have rusted away at ground level. I plan to pull the motor & send it out for re-build , body and paint & most interior redone by professionals. I know BIG $$$. But even though I was around garages & cars in my teens & 20's it has been 26+ years since I've even oppened the hood to any car. Any one have a list as to what to do first, second, third, etc.??? I do not know exactly where to start??? any suggestions... o No:
Welcome to the family. Sounds like you have a great car there. :TU: I'm jealous as heck. My first suggestion is to ask around on the board and find someone in your area that knows their Buicks, and get recommendations from them on where to get your engine looked at. Don't take it to some local Chevy or Ford guy and have them destroy it for you, take it to someone that knows Nailheads. I can't emphasize that enough. After that, I'd just ask your local Buick gurus about the parts of your car that need work. If you can't find anyone local, just post up here and ask. This board is among the best places on earth to gain arcane knowledge of cars like your Rivvy. Next thing I'd do is start going to shows. There might be some winter ones in your area, but when the spring hits, make it a point to go to ones in the area. You want to do two things there: First of all, you want to find other people with old Buicks in the area, and tap into their knowledge. The other thing you want to do is take a look at paint and bodywork on all kinds of cars, and ask people who did their work, were they happy with it, and would they recommend the shop they went to. Most people are happy to share if they really like the service they got, and even happier to share if they hated the service they got. Write down some names of shops to look into and shops to avoid. If your car needs it, ask the same kinds of questions about interior work too. That should get you started. - Freed PS- Or, if it's all toooooo daunting a task, I'll take that car off your hands.
You already made a good move, coming here! Welcome. Besides that, I would get a shop manual. Check ebay for those. Every old car guy I know will tell you that. Get ready for some aggravation and some satisfaction.
the 65 riviera should have a nailhead motor not a 455 the easy way to tell is if the valve covers sit straight up on the motor.if it is a factory 2-4bbl motor the engine code should be LX located on front passenger side vallypan edge. on the drivers side edge should be engine serial # and hopefully it matches the cars vin #. hope this little info helps scott 1964 wildcat
Welcome! Your Riv should have the 425 C.I. Nailhead which has a torque rating of 465. That is what should be on the label of your big chrome air cleaner. Guard that motor and 2 x 4 set-up as it is a very desireable piece :Smarty: They just might go missing if the wrong eyes see them. :rant: Don't let any "engine expert" try and tell you that you will need hardenend seats in this motor. You don't and never will. Now please post us some pic's of this new find.
Hey Doug, I personal messaged you earlier tonight. Just so everyone doesn't think i'm trying to scoop you on your new aqusition, I've got a 65 Riv, 425 2x4 in your town and would love to share my successes and my failures in it over 2 year restoration. I'm posting this publicly, just in case as a new user you didn't receive the PM.......Dan
THANX - to all that replied so far including the pm's. We have a few things on the list to check out on the car now (actual engine) and will get back soon as possible. Hopefully with some pictures, taken this past weekend and just sent for development. We had to have a car appaisor look at the 65 RIV for the Estate / Inheritence thing due to my father-in-law's passing. (he appaised my father-in-law's 1926 Ford Model T, all original ~$900 value condition #5 also , but we have no plans for this car other than storing it for right now.) This guy was the one who said it was a 455 engine, called it a #5 condition for restoration, and valued it @ ~$2100. ~77,000 original miles. I know everything is original to this car so all numbers are matching, the only things that seem to be missing are the original hubcaps and the hood ornament is broken off. Also, there is a small plaque inside passenger door that states this car was made especially for FORD B. DRAPER, this is the person that my father-in-law purchased it from some 28+ years ago. We have not decided exactly how we are going to restore it yet, we're thinking mostly keep it stock. Any ideas are welcome.
Good to have a complete history on the car. For appraisal numbers that low, I can only guess that the car is either barely restorable, or that your appraiser is crooked and offered to buy it off you for just a little more than he appraised it at. Even if you parted it out, you could probably get at least $2100 for a rust-free 65 Riv shell, another $800 for the intake manifold and carbs, and probably at least $500 or so for the rest of the engine and the transmission. Then you start looking at all the other trim pieces, fenders, bumpers, etc, and you have a lot of value there as well. Heck, if you were unscrupulous, you could probably sell your VIN tag for another grand or so too to someone that's making a GS clone. So, just as a pile of individual parts, your car's probably worth $4000 if you wanted to dismantle it and sell it off. In my uneducated opinion, whomever made your $2100 appraisal is on crack. - Freed
Freed, how can you use a VIN tag to clone a Riv GS? The VIN doesn't indicate if the car is a GS or not? Someone would have to use the original drivetrain along with the VIN tag to make a clone. Scott
Thoses numbers do sound a little low, but we haven't seen the car now, have we? If it's really a #5 those numbers may be accurate. One other thing to ponder.....a low appraisal on an inheritence is a good thing. Means you pay less tax. :TU:
Hi, As a technical advisor to the Riviera Owners Association since the `80`s I`m sure I can answer any questions you have about your `65 GS. This particular model is my specialty. I currently own 4 `65 Riv GS`s and have owned at least a dozen others over the past 20+years... Just a couple of points...your appraiser is whacko but that is probably OK for now as his appraisal is most likely what you needed to buy the car from the estate....congratulations! Just go to a different appraiser if you choose to insure your car.....your air cleaner decal should read "Super Wildcat" and does not have a torque rating as the other air cleaners did in `65. I visit this site infrequently so if you require comprehensive, immediate answers to your questions it may be best to ring me up on the phone. If that is your preference PM me and I will supply contact info. Same goes for any other guys who might have a question or two. I`d love to help but just cant sit for hours at the PC hammering these keys with two fingers! ou: :TU: Tom Mooney
Your appraiser is doing you a favor. Estate taxes are paid as a percentage of value. You want the value to be low! He probably asked you when you hired him what the appraisal was to be used for. I'm sure the number would be much higher if it was to be used for insurance purposes. Rick
I just assumed you could tell on a 65 Riv from the vin if it was a GS like you can with a 70 Skylark. My mistake.
Trying To Post Pic's - Our 65 Riv I'm having trouble posting pic's, it keeps telling me file is too large. I hope we have better luck with the restoring of the car than I am with attaching pictures to this site. Help....???? :Comp:
November drive Hey, I think I saw a Riv under all that dust! I'm taking mine out for a drive, North NCCo, on Sunday. Any interest on swapping looks at the Rivs? Let me know.....Dan
sorry I missed ya Sorry I missed Ya... I didn't check the board until Monday AM... Were you at the firehouse on Kirkwood Hgwy.??? They had a small drive in of older / classic cars. I couldn't stop and look at any I just noticed it on my way down the road. Saw a couple of old Shoebox Novas, and the usual classics everyone retores.
Doug, No I went down to Kahunaville for their Sunday drive in, but they had a rod run in NJ on Saturday instead. So I went home and tweaked it a bit and took it back to storage. I am planning on having it in North Wilm, this weekend, weather permitting. Got enough into her at this point that she stays dry. I would like to see what you have going on, and to introduce you to (at some point) two other Wilmington Riv runners, 65' 2x4, and a 70' 455. Keep in touch. Also interested to know what segment of the Ag/Hort industry you refered to........Dan Deebenarc@aol.com
engine number ??? can anyone tell me what the number " 5H936026 " found on engine by intake manifold would mean ?
Match those numbers up to the last digits of your VIN and tell us if they match. Looks to be a late build date car.
