Ah, I wondered what that bracket was for! The recess to the left of it was a trap of sludge and grime, I was scooping it out! Thanks for the info too, I read about this 'Covert' colour - odd name. There seems to be real confusion between that and Sandalwood. I put Sandalwood in my signature as that was the description in the '72 sales brochure. I read there is a subtle difference in the shade. Here is a question - my rear window has a line running down the middle and yet I heard that was just the '71 year which had that. Does mine have a '71 rear window in that case?
Whilst thinking about the belts, I thought about the timing belt. Is it a chain on the '72 Riviera? Does it need replacing or inspecting?
Especially if it is original. Original ones had nylon tipped teeth on the cam gear that come off and end up in the oil pan where they can clog the pick up. You can get a general idea of chain stretch by taking the distributor cap off and watching the rotor as you move the crank with a breaker bar. Rotate the crank one way and then the other and watch how long it takes the rotor to move.
Ok, thanks for the info guys. Would a timing chain replacement involve lifting the engine out? Looking at the procedure in the service manual I assume it is a fairly expensive job?
The timing chain job isnt too bad if you follow the book. DO NOT FORCE FASTENERS. Theres methods to loosen without breaking. ASK QUESTIONS! The hardest part will be to loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt. May need a damper puller; maybe not; but theres several ways to do that. If you get that far, shout out for info. How many actual miles on the engine? Chances are it may already have a steel gear and chain (probably worn anyways). The oil pump should be serviced. Thats in need of being VERY clean for accurate measurements. T/A Performance is the go-to place for pump stuff. Cleaning all the stuff will be the most time consuming AND rewarding (no leaks!!). Again, shout out for help! While apart, I'd have the radiator serviced (if it is in need), new belts, water pump, front engine seal, maybe an alternator and a thermostat. Again shout out! Nothing worse than a bit dirty and tedious and time consuming. Its not a locomotive and its not a rocket either! ws
Thanks for the picture Brett. Thanks for the advice Bill. I am going to get the guys in the workshop to do it along with the belts at the same time as the fluid change. I would love to do all of this stuff myself but I just do not have the space. Being in the UK it could pour down with rain at any moment and so I don't want to start the job, get half way through and have to leave it in pieces, outside, overnight. If I had my way, I would have the whole engine out and clean, repaint everything, I would love it! I need a mechanic friend that doesn't mind me using his workshop! The mileage is 95,635 and the radiator was recored in in 2012 at 93,945, so should be ok? Sparks and oil filter done in 2013 at about 94,682.
Those numbers should put you ahead of the game for sure! Still wont hurt to check plugs and do an oil change. Buicks like fresh clean oil; especially 455's. ws
95k is great! The timing set probably hasn’t been changed yet, and probably hasn’t started losing its nylon, either. That’s good, because when it does, not only will it ‘jump time’ and strand you but also will leave little pieces in the oil pan so they can clog your oil pickup screen and starve the engine of oil. When your mechanic does the swap, ask about any missing pieces from the top gear. If they’re missing they’re in the pan. Patrick
Thanks a lot guys. With the sparks, should I get something specific from the US, or are they quite generic? Also, were the belt numbers that I gave correct? Gates belt numbers: 7640 7490 7448
AC Delco R45TS or NGK UR-4. Look it up on rockauto. Stay with a conventional plug, not platinum or iridium. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...5l+455cid+v8,1021464,ignition,spark+plug,7212
A bit off topic but this is a Buick site. Why didn’t you make your screen name Areivir? Nice ride by the way. Have fun with it. Cliff
Haha, very true. It's just the username I use and it's easier to keep it the same across sites, I hate having to come up with different usernames as I just forget them.
