1971 Buick Electra 225 Limited -freshening up

I did the engine work with a friend. Slowly but surely I will work the quarter back into shape.

 

Looking good

 

Replaced the heater core today. Fixed one of the fuel problems I was having. Now It won't idle down. I'm going to take it to work tomorrow and see whats wrong before work.

 

vacuum leak.

 

I put the car away for storage way way way to early, September. I could have been driving it this whole time.

I'm pretty sure that the spring in the idle circuit of the carburetor needs to be cut. I'm planning on going to visit the Electra this weekend, throw it up on jackstands for the remainder of winter and pull the carburetor.

On an interesting side note, I'm investigating a transmission swap. Specifically the 6L80E transmission. It would allow me to either step up the rear to a higher ratio OR keep my current "highway gear" and achieve phenomenal fuel mileage. Lots of investigating to do. I just did the motor, whats a trans? Easy as pie!! :grin:

 

Rob,

What happened to your "Boattail Registry" plans o No: ?

Post from 2004:

 

Same here: only for the last week orso the weather changed to rain and rain and euhhh rain.

Started to dis-assemble the Electra on the outside already 2 months ago (added a few goodies: power door locks, rear window defogger) Will PM you a link with a few photos later :beers2:

 

You should move to the West coast, almost no rain here :TU:

 

I brought the Electra home from storage this morning. Put the adjusted carb back on, hooked up the battery and it fired right up! I didn't go to BPG because of my financial situation but its coming out now because I sold my pos Toyota. This will be my daily driver until the snow flies or I find a suitable Buick daily driver. I'm thinking 95-99 Riviera.

Coming home the car drove great! I flew down 290-W. Everytime I thought there was traffic, it turns out it was some idiot on the cell phone while driving.People need to stop driving phonebooths.

There is still an issue with the carb. It will die sometimes, too much fuel. I don't think the metering rods are working correctly. The holes the metering rods are in might be too worn which prevents the vacuum from working them. If thats the case, I'll be on the hunt for another good Q-jet core. It runs a little rough but the important thing is its home! It was over 90*F today and the temp stayed at 190* and oil pressure was 13lbs in gear at idle with Amsoil 10w30.

 

Drove the Electra to work (40 miles) no problems. On the way I home I picked up some battery cables. The positive was smoking when I took it out of storage. The pair of cables were $20. Come out of Napa and it will not crank, maybe 1 slow revolution before it stops. No click from the solenoid. I learned something that day: I don't need to jack up the car to change out both battery cables. I can slide underneath and change them on the pavement. :Brow: Trip home was uneventful. Went to Downers for a car show and met Dan (Postsedan), great meeting him. Glad to know there is another Buick guy in Elmhurst.

I did a few little things while I was waiting for the car too cool off, new wipers, rear marker lamp bulbs, lubed door hinges. I also got a little bit of cleaning done during the car show.

I have a few things to do still.
-Find one lugnut to match the current set
-Fix minor oil leak from the oil pressure tee at the front of the block
-Replace washer fluid lines
-Work out some bugs on the Automatic Climate Control system, Comfortron.

 

I tried to start somewhat early this morning, around 9am. It was very nice out all day, not so humid like it has been. I attempted to fix the oil leak coming from the sending unit. No luck yet. I'll take a stab at it again soon. It is the only leak from the car and if I can get it fixed I can have the driveway (asphalt) sealed.

Found that a few lights are out, driver's side reverse light, passenger side cornering lamp with signal. I'll have to get new sockets for the cornering lamp, the previous owner pulled the wires out and was a real hack when it came to anything he touched. What can I expect, he was a gang member, there is no way he was smart. :laugh:

Also determined that the fuel sending unit is bad, not the gauge in the dash. Glad I know which it is now instead of stabbing in the dark.

Found that the secondary choke pull-off hose was off and two vacuum lines were incorrect. So I'll have to pickup some rolls of vacuum line to re-do some of them.

The carburetor I had was rebuilt and re-bushed but it was dumping too much fuel in. The only way the car would run is with the idle turned way up. This caused frequent stalling when I shifted into gears, long warm-ups, vapor-lock when I shut the engine down and incredible shake when I was stopped in gear. I have a '74 455 that I pulled from an Electra. It was rebuilt but I tore it down to verify what was good. The carburetor from the '74 had issues (sediment and dirt in the fuel chamber) but ran the engine enough. I got a rebuild kit from Napa, Echlin Part # CRB 25781. I tore the carb down, washed it in mineral spirits, blew out all the passages and rebuilt it. I swapped it on the Electra and to my surprise, the car fired up immediately. A little tuning of the fast idle screws and the carburetor works like it should! I never would have guessed it would work this good! Now my car has a fast idle circuit, I can kick it down and it doesn't slam into gear. The difference is NIGHT and DAY! So much quieter too! The car is no longer a bear to drive. I've never had a working Quadrajet before! The throttle response is scary fast. I can't wait till to motor is broken in. :grin:

 

I did a little more research and it turns out the rear end is a 2.93 posi. I spent the better half of the day cleaning the entire car from top to bottom. The weather forecast calls for sun all week. The vinyl top is original and has small cracks everywhere. I have had the hardest time finding vinyl top cleaner or preservative or cleaner with uv protection. Meguiars makes two different types and 3M makes a few. I had Nu Vinyl but that was like water, no help. I went to five or six different stores looking for vinyl cleaner with no luck. I looked outside the box on this one and went to West Marine. I know boats are still produced with vinyl seats and ended up buying 3M Marine Vinyl Cleaner, Conditioner, Protector #09023

It was $13 but well worth it. I also had a friend pickup Meguiar’s Marine Vinyl and Rubber Conditioner for about $7. Part # M5716.
Cleaned all the chrome on the car with Bar Keepers Friend. The bumpers turned out nice. Also hooked up the gauges to the IGN wire that feeds the radio, in my case yellow. I don’t have a radio so it works out well. Now I have gauge lights when its dark out.
Fixed the oil leak, it was the factory idiot light sending unit. A little pipe dope and its all good. The car sits just right and still rides perfect with the original spiral shocks!
I’ve got a few more things to add to the list of things to do:
-Drain and refill rear end, new gasket
-R&R Passenger cornering lamp socket x2
-Track down a rattle in the driver’s side of the car.
-Thinking of pulling the windshield and resealing it properly. So I'll need to have another set of trim set aside just in case.

I think the original owner must have been a higher up at Illinois Bell Telephone.

Also while vacuuming the interior I noticed a tag on the carpet from the manufacturer in 1970. See the picture below.

Enjoy the pictures! :TU:

 

Very Nice!

 

Good looking!! What are the contents of the rebuild kit? (Echlin Part # CRB 25781; I couldn't find a description of it... I have one that probably needs work
)
Is that electric rear window defogger/de=icer an option or AM?

 

Rob,
I attached a pictures of the rebuild kit contents. It does have an accelerator pump too. It was $19 from Napa. Let me know if you want me to get you one.

Yes that is the factory heated rear window defroster. Switch is in the dash above the climate control. There is also a small light next to the switch to tell you when its working. Option M9 on the invoice, about $68.

 

I wish I could post continued progress but I have had no time lately. I start class at 7am and walk through my back door at 10pm every week day. Work and school occupy most of my time. But the car has consistently gotten 11.5 mpg in around town driving. The motor has 1000 miles on the fresh rebuild, 1000 more and I can open up the secondaries! :TU:

This list of things to fix has grown.

-Find one lugnut to match the current set
-Replace washer fluid lines
-Charcoal canister line
-R & R fuel sending unit
-Mix touch-up paint
-Front brakes squeak
-Gauge light in temp gauge causes temp to climb to 250*F
-Rattle in front end (sounds like some trim is loose)
-Order engine wiring harness (original has frayed wiring down to the starter causing no start when hot)
-Install quarter window weatherstripping
-Order hardtop weatherstripping from Steele
-Install new battery cables
-R & R rear end gasket only
-R & R cornering lamp socket

 

1500 miles on the rebuild. :bglasses: I've averaged 11.5 mpg around town.

I haven't had time to much except install the quarter window weatherstripping and lube the front brakes which cured the brake squeak. It didn't take long but someone at school already keyed the car down the passenger quarter, rear door and part of the front fender. Police were of no help.

 

That's a damn shame! Some people just can't realize a true classic when they see one. This just means its time to freshen up the whole car with new paint.

 

That sucks, I know the feeling.. There is no shortage of idiots, that's for sure.

 

Hey Gold, Awesome looking Electra!!! Love your tires and rims, would you mind telling me what your wheel/tire combo is? I'm curious because I have a '72 leSabre with the 15inch ralley's and my tires are 235/70/15 with a narrow whitewall. Iv'e looked everywhere online for whitewall tires in that size, but have had no luck. I like how yours are a little bit lower profile, really looks good!
Thanks!