First time 63 Wildcat 425

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by 1963Wildcat425, Jan 26, 2018.

  1. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    20180126_115557.jpg 20180126_155252.jpg Hey everyone. New to the forum so I thought an introduction was necessary. Im Nick, Ive owned multiple classic buicks but recently just picked up my dream car. A 1963 Buick Wildcat Convertible with the 425 nailhead. Im the second owner and will be fixing it up over the next two years. Mostly rebuilding to original. Anyways nice to meet you all. See you out there
     
  2. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    Very cool! This is another with the silver painted engine. Seems like the 63 425's were silver like the Riviera.
    Keep us posted , and welcome from Cincinnati.
     
  3. rvlanger32

    rvlanger32 1965 Custom Wildcat Conv

    Great Wildcat, my Wildcat also has a 425 nailhead. Welcome from Queen Creek, Arizona!
     
  4. 2001ws6

    2001ws6 last of the v8 interceptors

    Welcome aboard! Nice ride! :cool:
     
  5. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    Yup Ive done quite a bit of research and fully believe the 63 425 was painted Silver from the factory for cost savings but also for wow factor when you open the hood. I couldnt pass it up for such a low price and it even runs!
     
  6. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    Nice! Any suggestion on things to do to spruce up the engine? I was thinking of having the heads taken off and cleaned just for piece of minds sake and maybe even pulling the oil pan to check some bearing end caps and play. It sounds good when running though so Im not sure.
     
  7. JoeT

    JoeT Member

    Welcome, Nick! I was just looking around on the site to see if anyone else had a 63 Wildcat and there you were. Nice car can't wait to see it all cleaned up. Does it all work? Mine is the 4o1 nailhead with the Dyna Flow transmission. Was a different trans used with the 425? I just got mine, in fact, it will be a week ago tomorrow but until today I haven't had a chance to drive it. What a car I haven't smiled so much in years. Can't imagine what the 425 is like the 401 didn't take second to any car on the road today. Good luck with your restoration!
     
  8. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    Thanks Joe. I was told it ran back in the 70s so I think Ill do a startup video of some kind. She kicks over with good compression. Im going to change the oil and clean out the fuel tank before trying to start her. I believe the same transmission and gearing was used. My reverse is the last gear if thats any indication. All 4 tires are flat on it so im getting those replaced first along with brakes. If it doesnt run I still want it to be a roller for now. Thanks for the good vibes and good luck on yours as well. Ill be posting a lot of pics especially when it comes to body work time as that is where my skill set lies.
     
    300sbb_overkill likes this.
  9. JoeT

    JoeT Member

    Mine is my dream car too from childhood. My grandfather had one. I'm 63 years old and it has been worth the wait. Good luck and keep us all posted!
     
    300sbb_overkill likes this.
  10. StagedCat

    StagedCat Platinum Level Contributor

    Welcome from CA......
     
  11. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Welcome from SE Michigan! Sweet car! Love the blue.
     
  12. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    Nice! Thank you. Im from Santa Rosa, CA I lost my house in the CA Tubbs Fire in Coffee Park back in October so I decided to move up to WA to the Olympia area and am loving it so far.
     
  13. JoeT

    JoeT Member

    My cousin Pam lost her house in the Tubbs fire. Back in 74-76 I lived on a little ranch called Willow Grove owned by Dr. McCorkle right off Coffee Ln. It was devoured by the building of the Coffee Park subdivision. I used to work at Cloverleaf Ranch as a wrangler when I was 18. Small world.
     
  14. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

    Wow thats awesome. Yeah that whole side of town is a wasteland now. Cloverleaf was burnt as well. Everyone is saying they will rebuild but jobs and housing was hard enough to find as it was. So I decided to take the insurance money, sold the lot for about 190k and RAN. I drove across the united states looking for the best spot and settled on WA just because I couldn't escape the west coast and the great fog from the ocean.
     
    JoeT likes this.
  15. red67wildcat

    red67wildcat Well-Known Member

    welcome to washington. I saw this car on local craigslist
     
  16. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Welcome!
    Cool car;)
    Even cooler is your the second owner!
     
  17. STAGE III

    STAGE III Lost Experimental 455-4 Bolt Main Block.

    IMG_3595.JPG IMG_3602.JPG

    Welcome from North Carolina!

    Look what I hauled out of an early 60's Wildcat back in the early 1980's

    Sorry the headers are for a 455 : )

    Best wishes on your restoration!
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2018
  18. 1963Wildcat425

    1963Wildcat425 Active Member

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