Alright, this thread will begin from the start of when i got my Electra to present, and future repairs/progress. First off, I had sold my 1972 Buick Riviera in August of '04. The same day i sold it, I was already searching for another one and calling people. I wanted a Riviera bad but found that many of them were out of my price range once shipping was factored in. A loan was not an option because im under 18, and also i like to pay anything off i can. Or simply, i wont buy it until i can pay it off in full. Skylark/GS I liked but not enough to own and there a bit too small for me. :laugh: I was mainly looking at the big buicks from 1971-1973. LeSabres, Centurions, Electras and Rivieras all crossed my path. If i was to get a 4-door it had to be non-post. Centurion convertibles crossed my path a few times but each time i could never see my self with the top down. So that defeats the point of the convertible. I did however try to buy a Centurion 4-door non-post with the same color combo as my current buick but the owner never anwsered the phone. ou: It had the Stage 1 heads from the factory too. LeSabres were few and far between so i never really had anyone look at them. And at least once a week there was a boattail to be checked out. But it took over one year till I found the right one and got it. I found mine on Ebay and got the winning bid in for $787. Here is what i saw on ebay. Within 6 days of winning the auction it was in my driveway at 5:00am. Delivered by Specialty Mobile Systems shipper, very friendly on time and no complaints. When i go it that morning i was estatic to say the least. Finnally i had a buick again! :grin: I expected to have some rust in the front fenders, as i saw in the pictures and also assumed that for $787 it would be rusted elsewhere. But to my surprise and delight there was none to speak of. :grin: Trunk was complete with cardboard, spare, jack and carpet. No rot to speak of. Same goes for inside, VERY dirty but complete. Engine bay is also a mess, i have no a/c compressor but that will be added down the road. Car was filthy when i got it, literally tons of mud fell off the underside of the car when I washed it, especially by the fender skirts. The front fenders are rusted out for one reason, the debris, leaves, sticks, etc. fall into it, get trapped and rust it out. Ohwell, that was beyond my control. Once the mud came off the underside, the true beauty was revealed. There was no rust, no rot whatsoever and the factory undercoating is still there, just now starting to peel off in a few isolated places. As of right now the car doesnt run because of a bad timing chain. A new one will be ordered this week along with gaskets and new bolts. I got the ok to bring my car to work. I work at a gas station with a 3 bay shop. My boss also owned the same year, make and model of car coincidentally. So the car will be brought over there this week. Along with the timing chain and gear swap, the water pump will be replaced and a major tune-up also. The carb has 1 minor leak, and im not taking any chances with this car so that is going to be sent out to be rebuilt. Brake job at all 4 corners will be done too, including lines. Last Sunday my good friend Karl met with me to drop off some much needed 1973 literature. The Friday before, he went to Auburn in Indiana and picked up almost everything for me. Service Manual, Fisher Body manual, 1973 Brochure, Owners manual, Warranty & Emissions booklet, 1973 accessories, consumer information, maintenance schedule, fuel recommendation card(slips over sun visor) and two original heater control instruction cards and ventilation card. The build sheet was also found earlier this week, about 2/3 of it remains. My car is pretty loaded that for sure. Here are a few of the options i have:deluxe black belts, power locks, tinted glass all the way around, power windows, 6 way power bench seat, notch seat, electric trunk release, rocker panel mouldings, body side mouldings, belt rev mouldings, door edge guards, moulding wheel open, air conditioning, litter container, rear window defogger, vinyl roof, remote control mirror, cruise control, 2.73 axle, rear door jam sw, lower fender mouldings & conpt lid mouldings to name a few. Some future things i'd like to do is: Add positraction (if i dont have it already) Stage 1 heads dual exhaust Hei ignition remove smog pump add digital clock add passenger side mirror Buick road wheels all the way around, and in the trunk weatherstripping everywhere besides cowl replace old speakers or missing ones send gas tank out to be boiled and repainted
Rob, Why don't you create your own website about the Electra ? If you don't have your own space from your internet provider, you can always use Geocities to make your own free website. PS: What will happen to the plans for the Boattail registry now you've bought an Electra ?
Erik, I might create one in the future but i dont like all the advertising that comes with "free" websites. The boattail registry will continue on, and possibly grow to a website size. Depends on funds right now, there not tight but im budgeting myself with this buick. :bglasses: :beer
Nice car, and what a bargain it was. Im glad it went to a good home. Also, the future things you are planning to do with it sound good to me! :TU:
