Howdy, I am almost scared to post this so if I get too much hate mail I guess I'll pull it and take the hint. Some of ya'll know that I am planning on putting a Buick Turbo-6 into a 65 Riviera. While this offers many challenges I'm up for it. I really don't want to be told again that its too much car for that little bitty motor, I've heard it and you aren't going to change my mind so I'd really appreciate it if you keep that out of this thread. I've started looking casually for a car to mod with the requirements I want on it, namely a black deluxe interior and preferable a black exterior. Most of what I'm finding doesn't meet those requirements or is a mint restoration. I found a damaged car that is a numbers matching GS that is black on black. While I am tempted to just restore and repair it.... thats not what hot rodding is about. I'm going to try to keep from really messing with the car but there are certian things that I will have to do to make certian parts work and other things work better. Will ya'll string me up and shoot me for seriously modding a wrecked numbers matching 65 Riv GS? Thanks,
Is that the one on ebay that hit a deer? Go for it. I've found the Riv guys to be pretty open to mods, providing they are well done and not some hack job. I'm seriously thinking of making my 64, see my avatar, a true working convertible. I have been looking for one to modify and haven't found what I am looking for so I may just do the one I have. I've been told a 66 skylark top will work with a little modification. I hate cutting up my car but may anyway. I think the red with white deluxe interior would be perfect for a convertible. Larry
While I hate to se a rare "GS" get hacked, and would prefer a stripper to be your starting point, I say GO FOR IT! Sounds like a cool car. Not to beat a dead horse, I'm just asking what kind of torque the turbo v6's have? We all know they come alive once the boost is up, what were you planning to do to get the barge rolling, so to speak? Will you mod the computer to increase boost at lower RPM's to assist the Riv on take off? Just curious. I think if the initiol girth can be addressed so the thing can move without grunting too hard then it would be a nice ride. How heavy are the turbo cars? If they are close to 4000 lbs, then I don't think it will matter for your 4300 lb Riv, unless you have four 200 lb guys and a trunk full of luggage to tote.
Thanks for the support, First the weight, a full weight T-type weighs in about like 3800lbs. Granted the Riviera weighs 4200, but thats with a nailhead. I loose like 250-300lbs just by going to the V6. Torquewise, I'm going to be using a new tech ball bearing GT wheeled turbo that will spool faster with a lower and tighter stall converter so I don't have to run a 3500 on the street, probably a 2800-3000. I'm also running the "big 6" 4.1 so I have an extra 25cid to play with and almost .2" of bore size that makes it breath better. The computer actually has not a whole lot to do about getting more low end power unless you mess with the timing tables a bunch but you can really get yourself in trouble if you lug the engine down under load and it decides to go to high timing up a hill. I really want to mod up an Series II L67 computer but getting that to control the transmission and to be able to use the low impedence injectors and then be able to tune the car will require almost the money of an aftermarket setup so I think I'll go with the tried and true computer used in the T-types.
I agree with Yardley, Start with a basic Riv for your mods, It will be cheaper and you will not have to worry about any guff. A club member up in here in the northland found a stripped 54 Skylark and with the help of a special coupe and a rolled 86 GN, He now has a cool machine. He took a lot of crap from the purisits :spank: but his car was a rust bucket that had been stripped. He turned it into a running car with the GN interior that a lot of people like to look at. Kevin :beer
I think that's a great project :TU: :TU: Maybe you could keep us posted with photos and stuff on the all new 1963 - 1999 Riviera Forum ?
Well I'm pretty sure I'm not buying the GS I originally intended but I found another one that needs less work but already has a messed with motor. It's also missing some trim items and as hard as those are getting to find, I decided to experiment with blacking a Riv out in a simular manner to the LO2 package on the T-Type. The bumpers would be done in Black chrome... if I could afford it. Check it out:
Drop yes, convertable no. I don't like convertables from the factory much less a hacked roof example. It looks nice but I'd be worried about the body stiffness for handeling stuff. If I make a looker, it'll be a removable hardtop 64. Thanks,
Are you planning on using a production 4.1 block or a stage block?? the production blocks are very weak in the lifter galley area and wont stand up to alot of abuse, some of them dont have the turbo crank either, depends on year and 2 or 4 bbl. just some food for thought.
Or find a wrecked Buick Grand National or a GNX and merge all that stuff like Dr. Frankenstein. Intercooler badges would get some attention on the street.
84 production 4.1 block and yes I'm aware of the various short comings of the production blocks, just can't afford a $2.5k stage block. Its got an Eagle forged crank, stock rods, custom 8.3:1 forged pistons, billet caps, roller cam, roller rockers, and Champion CNC iron heads. The engine did have a turbo crank that I sold to make money for the project and most 4.1's had'em just a lot have been rebuilt meaning the machine shop stole the turbo crank for the stock NA crank. The car will be mostly 65 Riviera except for the engine, transmission and rear end. The cosmetic stuff will come as I decide what I like, can get, or afford. Engine is in final assembly in my garage though its short headers and part of the fuel system. The transmission is the next thing I'm saving for. So its all coming together. Will keep ya'll updated,
Did this project die? This idea hit me driving home from work on Friday. I knew someone had probably already done it. What's the status? Rick
Got a '64 Riv in nice clean shape... well mostly. I'm fixing her up right now for Powertour '06 and continuing to get the motor ready for the car. I got an offer from virtually free dyno and flow bench time coming up here in the Fall so the motor won't meet chassis till around November at the earliest. I'm hoping to have her together and painted in time for Powertour '07. I'm plugging away at it but its slow going when you are fixing up the car, building the motor, working full time, and going to grad school. The current plan is to use 64 LeSabre 300 frame pads, HR Hardparts&Stuff mount Poly mounts and the original trans crossmember for the TH400 that will pull intial duty till I can afford the built TH200-4R. I'll also be having to cut the innerfenders/coresupport to fit the 92 Camaro Z28 Radiator and 2000 Ford Powerstroke Intercooler. I'll also have to bad set the whole "cooling" stack to keep the IC out of the grill though I don't think I'll have a problem clearning the front of the Turbo6 since is has 3/4 the number of cylinders of the Nailhead, even with the electric fans. This isn't going to be a simple swap nor is the motor just a basic Turbo6. I'm going full out trickery for the whole project. 71-76 B-body front discs with 91-96 ABS reluctors, Bosch 2U 3-channel ABS, B-body master cylinder and booster, customized 8.5" 30-spline 10-bolt with 3.42's, Torsen T2, Moser Axles, 9" housing ends 96 B-body rear discs. The engine will be sporting a Garett GT40R ballbearing, water cooled, dual GT wheeled turbo, I'm adapting a 3800 Series II gerotor oilpump as we speak to the front cover and am working on getting a L67 3800 Supercharged computer to run the whole thing with possibly LS1 coil near plug ignition system. Whew... this thing will be awesome, if it works. Once PT'06 is over then I'll start a running post of the progress like Rick's 67 GS400 Convertable Clone thread.
Whew! You just talked me out of it. Sounds like it will be one fine car. Ya gotta figure out how to integrate the small black spoiler on the rear trunk lid.....and of course the the "Riviera GNX" badging. This will be too fine. Ya need to name it the "Time Machine".....60's beauty meets 80's technology in a violent yet elegant exhibition of acceleration. :beer Definately keep us posted. RIck
LOL!!!! I didn't even mention the oilpan issues you'll have with the front steer pan and the rear steer chassis. The simplest way to do it will require 64 Lesabre frame and motor mounts, and the radiator. You'll need to modify the oilpan so that it fits around the rear steer centerlink. Get an electric fan that will fit the radiator and run the stock intercooler. The TH200-4R requires a different driveshaft but the same tranny mount location. Then you also need to get a high pressure return style fuel system and then the proper ECM and wire that in. Not too bad if you know what you are doing. I'm going full trick because I want to try new things and make this car extra different.
