Hi All, I'm a fairly new member who recently purchased, rather rescued my first Buick. It's a decent, matching numbers car that the previous owner invested a lot of money into the engine+drivetrain but did little else. He had no mechanical skills and had to pay others to do everything, now I have to sort a lot of what was done incorrectly. Car was originally Bambo Cream on Burnished Saddle, now is painted what looks like a 1971 or later Gold. Going to prep the body myself, on the fence on what color to paint the car, considering Diplomat Blue or perhaps 70 Harvest Gold, on Sandlewood. Just want to make this car a nice driver and enjoy it. Used to Drag Race Mopars 25+ years ago and a friend had a 70 Stage that ran well against the 426-440 Wedges I used to build. One night he let me drive it, I was really impressed how solid the car felt for a convertible. Figured you guys might like to see some pics as I work through the car. If this is the wrong section, Mods please feel free to move it. This weekend I removed and rebuilt the 7040240 Qjet with a "Cliffs Q-jet" HP Kit, www.CliffsHighPerformance.com. Cliff is genius... The Comp XE 274 cam the previous owner installed makes great mid - high RPM HP Torq, but idles a bit rough for my taste. After installing larger Idle Tubes and enlarging the Idle down restriction plugs it idles better and now pulls 15-16Hg. Anyone else have experience with this cam or Rhodes lifters? Anyone know the correct finish for the Fuel Filter housing? Used Eastwood Carb Renew and Gold Cad paint, came out looking decent, paint seems to hold up well to gasoline. Posted a pic that shows real Gold Zink , on Choke Pull Off, next to the Eastwood Gold Cad 3 step paint. Looks OK for paint. A lot more work ahead.
I'd go with Diplomate Blue, attached is my father in laws 70. I did a body off for him in 06 or so. This is the original color combo. Nice work on the QJ! BTW, you see more pics here http://www.v8buick.com/garage_vehicle.php?do=view_vehicle&id=179
Welcome to v8buick.com. That carb looks great! Nice work. Don't cover it up with an air cleaner. :grin: If all your work is that good your car will be fantastic.
OK, I'm prejudiced: go with the Bamboo Cream. It just goes so well with the interior color. I saw one in late 1969 when I went to order my 70 GS and just fell in love with it. 43 years later it still looks like the right choice!
not a fan of the bamboo cream myself, but go with what you like. The burnished saddle interior goes well with green, blue, burnished copper, cortez gold and white among others .
This is very important. YOUR ACCELERATOR PUMP ROD IS IN THE WRONG HOLE IN THE LEVER. IT GOES IN THE INNER HOLE. You will not get a good shot of gas when you step on the gas and the car will bog.
Better safe than sorry. This info on hole is in the service manual. I would bet with the stock pump the rod would bind in that outer position.
I'm really leaning towards Stratomist.... Very nice looking color on your car, 55 Buick Roadmasters, Specials, Century's are also great cars. My Aunt had a 56 Century convertible for many years.. Washed/waxed it as a kid, took it into auto-shop and tuned it up and put a timing chain - fuel pump on it in the late 70's. It was a really well built car and was surprisingly fast. Blew away an new LT Camaro in 78-79.. Wish I had it today... 55 or 56 is on my short list to own one day, simply beautiful and well built cars, when GM was at it's best IMO. Pricing has started to go out of site on them recently. Would enjoy seeing some more pics of your car...
Mine is a spring 1955 color - Colonial Blue. here's a link to my pics (click the photo see more pics)
Looks like a bomb went off in my buddy's shop. Tore down the front a rear suspension components, media blasted and painted everything installed new ball joints, bushings, parking brake cable assembly, rear backing plates from Engie and quick Ratio steering box from Hector. My buddy also installed Walker Quiet-Flow 3 Mufflers, Vibrant SS Resonators and made an X pipe. It quieted things down substantially, especially considering the cam, headers and increased my idle vacuum 2 Hg. Balanced +new U joints + detailed Drive-line and replaced Trans Center Section bushings+hardware while I was at it. Should have it back on the ground early next week will post better pics once its all back together.
Rebuilt another 70 GS 455 carb I had lying around. Cliff added a PP adjustment screw to the base plate, modified the idle circuit re-bused and re-plated the throttle plate hardware and did a few other tricks to the air bleed and idle circuits. Tip in at idle and at 2000 RPM reflected a slightly lean condition before with last carb. The ATP screw is a nice feature, gives you the ability to adjust AF mixture at and just off idle. I now have 16+ Hg at idle with a Comp HE274 cam . Idle quality is pretty decent and off idle response is strong , Cliff sure knows his stuff. TCS is added for looks, but is bypassed. Need to swap the gas tank next, pull accessory brackets, power steering pump and detail, reroute aftermarket gauges/wiring, recharge AC with R12 then mechanical side of things will be about done, for now anyways. Going to pull windsheild, shoot the cowl, dash and pad black, this weekend and should be onto the bodywork and painting next week or so.
Re: 70 Buick GS 455 Convertible Resurrection, Shot Dash Pad and Cowl Going to convert the interior from burnished saddle to 70 pearl white with a black dash, carpet and console. Pulled the windshield, shot the cowl with SEM Low sheen Trim Black, column and lower dashboard with Duplicolor Semigloss Acrylic Lacquer. Dash pad with SEM Satin Black Color Coat. Shot some test pieces with SEM Landau Black and it looked a bit too shiny for a dash pad. Going to detail the Buick Dash Emblem after the pad dries and sets up for a while. Before Primed dash metal and cowl with SEM High Build Primer After
