I' signed up ages ago, and I think I've posted once. I've got a 72 Rivi and am about to start turning wrenches on it again. It's been sitting in one garage or another since about 2005 since it had an oiling failure and toasted the motor. I've got a 70 455 in it now, and from what I've been told it was a fresh-er motor when I got it. I know the motor runs (fired it up a few times in the doner car by poring gas in the carb. but I forgot to change the oil pan and pickup when I swapped it. So, it wont bolt in. Laziness and life has kept me from pulling it back out and fixing it. Its sat abut three years since I tried to put the new engine in. SO here I sit, on the cusp of a new year, and I really need to get this thing running. I want to hit the local car shows and meets this year. I never ever see boat tails anymore. Other than putting it back together, I need a bumper and more than likely a fuel tank. Oh and tires. the tires on this thing are older than my kid. lol Anyway, thanks for reading, this post is more a way for me to get me excited about wrenching on it again than anything. But thanks for checking it out. Matt thats a two car garage. next weeks job.... pulling this back out and cleaning it up.
Well here’s an update. Not the one I wanted but an update none the less. We opened the old motor Saturday and found the reason she gave up the ghost. Probabaly from sitting so long, there was a bunch of junk on the pick up screen. I mean so much that it sucked the screen up into the pick up. My dad wasn’t comfortable with just cleaning it out or trying to pull it back strait so we went on a hunt for a new pick up tube. We struck out a few hours of hunting and called it for the weekend. Good news is I think the heads and block are still good on the original motor. Baring are toast but the rest seems fine. I think I can rebuild it later. Now as far as the oil pick up, do y’all think I can straitened it out and fix it or should I keep looking for a new one?
I would replace it, myself. Once that screen is collapsed I wouldn't trust it to hold shape anymore. Others may have a different idea.
good luck on your journey to getting it roadworthy .. one bit of advice if I may Once you're set to go, replace the tires before going on any test rides. Tires that old can give up the ghost at any time .. most of them won't be pretty. You'll definately have the urge once it fires up to go for a quick spin around the neighborhood .. which can lead to a bit longer cruise, then a sprint down the highway. If you put new rubber on before you take it out you'll be good to go, and like you said .. they need replacing anyways I've read too many stories (and witnessed a few firsthand) of people shredding old tires
Yes, that bearing looks awful. TA Performance is wonderful to visit, and expensively tempting, know that firsthand! Those big boattails are so cool-looking
I’m really liking that stamped pan with the extra qt. If I end up being able to save that old motor, I think I’m going to try and build it to 500+hp and leave it at that. I want my Rivi to move out. Lol. Want to keep it stock looking for now, but concisering some handling mods in the future. I’d like to play on the autoX at goodguys. Not to be compedative, but just to have fun.
Here’s my own thread with a lot of relevant information on Rivieras. Should be helpful in some way http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/67-riviera-430-build.338697/
Welcome pal! Make sure you post on the "Bench" section first to get established. The bearing is a gonner, but the rod and crank may be salvaged. Yer lucky it didnt make a window in the block! Id go through the original motor if possible. Is it numbers matching? Just sayin... ws
Yes it's the original motor, numbers matching. if I can I plan on rebuilding it and eventually putting it back in. Maybe with a little hotter cam too. We shall see where the car's build takes me. Most all of my other cars are 400+hp with much smaller motors. 2.3l, and two 5.0l's all overhead cam mills. This is my only big block and one of two pushrod engines I own. I'm just looking to make Good guys on the 8th. lol
been working as often as I can, but made little progress. Need to put the fuel tank back in tonight, and run new fuel lines, then I still need hook the motor back up electronically, bot the torque converter to the fly wheel, mount the starter, power steering pump, ac compressor, fuel pump, mount the carb, put the radiator back in, hoses, belts, fluids, and then, well start it I guess. I'm hoping to have it on the road headed to Good Guys Friday. I have tonight, to morrow night, Wednesday night, and I took all of Thursday off. As long as nothing goes terribly wrong, I should make it. Biggest hurtle has been that I work 10-12 hours a day, and my daughter has had all day long volley ball tournaments on the weekends, and practices till 9 3 nights a week, oh and weekly track meets. lol
