Going nowhere fast.

Discussion in 'Kill Stories (Where Hemis Never Win)' started by black70buick, Oct 15, 2008.

  1. black70buick

    black70buick Well-Known Member

    So my buddies and I were coming home from a late movie and since I had to work the following day I was driving myself home (in my ’70 Rivi.) So, the driving arrangements were an audience of six in a minivan and a punk (me) in his ’70 Rivi. There was no one else on the road so naturally I was showing off a little, aware that I couldn’t do anything spectacular because it had rained. Usually the first rains in Az draw oil to the surface of the pavement making things quite slick and I did not want to wreck the car. We proceed to make a left hand turn and I show my skills off by drifting the car in a low speed controlled manner; the reactions were a few cheers at the next light. Unknowingly, another reason for the cheers was the z28 that had pulled up to the light on my left (this is a three lane road). So I proceed to ease into the gas pedal in attempt to not spin the tires but to out accelerate the van…but to my surprise the z28 was ready for a race and had nailed it, spinning his tires. So, my head snapped to the left as I became aware of the competition ( I never intended to race him). I chuckled as I pulled away leaving the Z to zig zag to the next light. My buddies waited to leave the light allowing the Z to clear the intersection which gave them the opportunity to watch the whole show. At the next light, I thought my competition had realized his mistake…nope. He creeps through the intersection just before the light turns green and then proceeds to nail it breaking his tires loose again. I shook my head and eased into it rolling up next to him. I nod to his girl who is desperately gripping the dash for dear life… he’s screaming Yeah yeah yeah. (I’m not even out of 1<SUP>st -</SUP> we were doing less than 40mph and he’s screaming like an excited 2 year old) I’m thinking this guy needs to learn how to drive and just as that thought clears my head, the nose his car lines up to my door, and my car shifts into second which unintentionally breaks my tires loose. I thought oh well, I lay into the gas because I realized the tires were never going to hook up because of the rain so here we are swimming (fishtailing) down a three lane road the whole way to the next light. We never went passed 50 mph (speed limit was 45mph) as my buddies paced us from behind. The Z lost the second time by about six feet (a little less embrassing than the ten or so car lengths the first time) and immediately made a left at the next light. I have to admit it was fun. We sure did make all kinds of noise going nowhere fast.

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    Last edited: Oct 16, 2008
  2. 68Rivi_In_Cali

    68Rivi_In_Cali Well-Known Member

    Going nowhere fast And u Still beat him like a drum! :3gears:

    this gives me hopes for my Rivi!
     
  3. black70buick

    black70buick Well-Known Member

    68Rivi,
    Don't be fooled by thinking rivi's are slow, at only a ~100# more in weight than a GS/Larks these cars still move. I think the most crippling thing in performance in my experience with my '70 is the 2.93 (3.08) one legger because the car is nose heavy. Putting a 3.42 posi makes things come alive even with a stock engine allowing the car to squat and go!
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Chad,
    It is more like 600 lbs heavier than a GS. Buick torque makes up for more weight.
     
  5. 68Rivi_In_Cali

    68Rivi_In_Cali Well-Known Member

    I know they are not slow! I have my trusty 455 in it, needs fine tuning but when it wants to run right:Dou:, it's like a bat out of hell, My friends call it the batmobile! I also thought about the weight too, It is almost as big as those skylarks, 4222 lbs? The rivi?. I also heard the 1970 rivis were a bit heavier so if his rivi can do it, my half assed rivi should be able to get pretty close!

    I want to build a sleeper rivi, nice and quick
     
  6. black70buick

    black70buick Well-Known Member

    I honestly don't know how much mine weighs in reality; the numbers I've seen published (on websites) differ between the '70 cars' trim packages (from what I 've seen at best there was 152lbs difference, 4199lbs GS to 4351lbs Rivi). My dad who has owned and race both cars side by side with his buddy (1970 Rivi GS and a 455 GS both having 3.42 rear ends) was a very close race. Again I have nothing to quantify this, but its a good story my dad tells.:Do No: Either way, they are both fast fun cars.
     
  7. 68Rivi_In_Cali

    68Rivi_In_Cali Well-Known Member


    yup, i finally figured why my Rivi was slow, The people who rebuilt the engine bought plugs for a 68 Rivi, so they were gaped to 30. I checked them and some were around 40 and some at 30 so I regapped them to 40. On it's a maiden voyage, I didnt expect to spin the tires and a cop was bahind me but he let me go,:Dou:
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    If you look at the 70 Chassis manual, they have a curb weight chart. For my GS, which is a 44637, they list the curb weight as 3738. Fuel and coolant add another 162 lbs for a total of 3900 lbs. I have weighed my car several times at the track, always with me aboard, 1/2 tank of gas, and NOTHING in the trunk. When I had iron heads and intake, it weighed 4110. Subtracting my body weight of 165 lbs, it weighed roughly 3945. I have A/C and the heavy Rallye wheels.

    The Riviera is 49487. It is 13" longer and 2" wider. Curb weight is listed at 4351. Adding gas and coolant weight of 169 lbs gets the Riv to 4510.

    Of course car weights will vary according to how the car is optioned, but most Rivieras came loaded, it is more like 600 lbs. Weigh your car, I think you will be surprised.
     

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  9. JimJames

    JimJames Well-Known Member

    It rains in Arizona? :confused: :pp Good story tho! :TU: Yeah, it does get a little "greasy" on the roads after a rain here in "dry heat" Arizona, but then I don't drive the Buick in the rain either. :Brow: Jim
     
  10. otter

    otter It'll be done someday.

    I had my 69 Electra weighed at a salvage yard just to see, it came in @ 5760 lbs, I now have a 68 'lark, I would like to shave down to 3760 lbs just so I can see what a difference it is to run with a ton less weight.
     
  11. TABuickMike

    TABuickMike Michael Tomaszewski Jr

    1) Where in Az are you arizona guys?

    2) Where and when did it rain?!? We didnt get it up here in Scottsdale/Phoenix
     
  12. black70buick

    black70buick Well-Known Member

    1.) North Phoenix

    2.) This story took place in 2001...Come to think of it, I believe that was the last time it did rain .:confused:
     
  13. TABuickMike

    TABuickMike Michael Tomaszewski Jr

    Do you ever go to the car show at the Pavillians?

    What about that insane storm back on aug 28? with the nonstop lightning, that was crazy!
     
  14. black70buick

    black70buick Well-Known Member

    My car has never been to the Pav. I have though.
    As far as the rain, we've not had good consistent rain (monsoon) since 2001 especially first rains. That’s just my opinion. Scottsdale as you know can recieve rain without Phoenix receiving a drop. I've always been fascinated by the ability of nature to allow rain to fall hard while a block away not a drop has fallen. August was a good show but, I did not recieve any rain.
     
  15. TABuickMike

    TABuickMike Michael Tomaszewski Jr

    Actually Phoenix will get rain but Scottsdale wont most of the time (at least in our area haha)

    One of these weekends I'd like to get all of us Buick guys together and go to the car show at the Pavillians, I think it'd be fun.
     

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