1972 GS Convertible 455 lead

You guys are awful influences! Or the best influences?

It’s staying stock! Decided. Lol

 

Louie,
I like the updates.

Just keep the engine repairs simple at this point is my advice. Fix or replace what is needed to make it run properly and reliably and leave the rest of the internals alone for now. Don't try to boost performance with big valves, different cam, etc. Keep it simple and move on.

 

Yes, it can snowball quickly as I very well know..

 

I think it would be a good car to run in BSA…
Patrick

 

Ok guys, thanks to V8buick and the power of the internet, I believe I uncovered some history that could be about this car. Bear with me, I can be long winded. I want to start by thanking @BQUICK for putting me in touch with Glenn M.

Glenn informed me that he worked at MountJoy Buick during this time period and that his father was the only other salesmen besides the owner. The dealership was small, and his father sold a majority of the cars. Glenn remembered a gold 71 or 72 GS convertible with an N25 bumper that a woman named Sue R. owned near the dealership in the same neighborhood he lived in. He remembers seeing it in the garage regularly. Unfortunately, I found out that Sue passed away in April 2015, but her brother Michael was listed on the obituary as the only surviving relative. Michael moved from the Hanover area to Colorado where he still resides in 1974, after spending a couple years in Philadelphia at graduate school. Fortunately, there was a number listed for Michael and I gave him a call out of the blue. Michael is in his late 70s and doesn't specifically remember this car because he wasn't in town during that timeframe, but confirmed that Sue primarily drove Buicks and would only buy them from MountJoy. She would trade them in every 2-3 years and get a new car from MountJoy. Sue was only 24 in 1972, so she was doing fairly well for herself if she owned this highly optioned vehicle. The house she lived in was built in 1970 as well. I texted the guy I bought the car from to ask if he knew where his father got it from, but he didn't remember. He also told me previously that he thought his dad was the 4th owner, but it was titled in his name in July 1975 fitting the above timeline of Sue trading in cars and buying new ones.

While I can't confirm this is the same car Sue owned, I still find it interesting that we have been able to uncover this as a potential ownership trail. According to Glenn, MountJoy was a small dealership and the owner would not typically order high dollar cars like a GSX for stock unless ordered directly by the customer. This was a $5,000+ car new, so I am not sure that Sue would have ordered it. However, we know that there were only 193 total converts produced with an N25 exhaust in 1972 (numbers not available in 1971 that I can find). There were only 18 converts produced in cortez gold with sport mirrors in 1972 (64 in 1971). It is unknown if the car Glenn saw previously had sport mirrors. I find it hard to believe that multiple Cortez Gold GS convertibles with an N25 exhaust would pass through this dealership, regardless if they were a big block or small block. I guess it is possible. Michael also said that between he, his sister, and his brother who passed in 1994, they often bought convertibles.

Michael is going to look through old photos he has and see if the car is in the background. That can really help solve the equation. He mentioned that this wasn't the first time a car guy has reached out like this (LOL). Back in the day, he bought a 65 mustang convertible new that had a high performance package. He sold that car back to the dealer in Gettysburg, PA who kept it for at least 20 years. A few years ago, a guy restoring it out of Arizona called him to talk about the car.

The search for more information continues, but it was my pleasure connecting with Glenn and Michael. I look forward to meeting Glenn and others at BG.

 

Great story. Sounds like you're on the right trail. My very nicely optioned '71 GS convertible was special ordered by a single lady in western PA. Unfortunately she "didn't want the big engine" (or a 4-sp).

 

Getting back into the 72 shortly. The 38 is on hold again due to an unforeseen issue with the head after engine repaint, forcing us to get the old head machined and worked on. The heads for the 72 are on another machine shops schedule and we hope he gets caught up in the next couple of weeks. Progress being made on small parts..

 

Well you guys spoke it into existence. Set of fresh ‘72 heads with S1 valves are being picked up next week. I have NOS rocker shafts complete somewhere that I need to find.

It’s 8 degrees out and decreasing, but I was able paint a few small parts earlier this week. The air cleaner is ready for paint, and several other small parts. I also started sourcing A.I.R components since they were previously removed and (rightfully) tossed. I have the correct aluminum power steering/A.I.R pump bracket, and correct PS pump metal bracket, but need to find the correct A.I.R pump adjustment bracket. Can I use this pump and swap on the correct diverter valve? This setup came from a big car, but I believe the hose to the intake will work. Not sure. A.I.R pump PN is 7801149 which is not listed in Walker’s 72 by the numbers book. I believe it came from a 73 Riv.

Some semi-gloss black and zinc dichromate (Eastwood). No idea if it will hold up to the heat.

 

Someone on the board years ago posted a thread about evaporust. To date, it’s the best $80 I’ve spent. Soaked each manifold for about a week. The pics don’t do it justice with how effective it works. I have a total of 30 minutes cleaning these with a wire wheel on a drill. I’ll coat them with Eastwood’s manifold paint when it warms up. Also got the first order for the car in from Todd. My guess is that it won’t be the last.

 

I enjoy watching the progress.
Thank you for sharing.

 

Manifolds in Eastwood’s exhaust paint. Love this stuff. Air cleaner base and lid in gloss black. Not thrilled with the lid, may respray. Going to let it flow out for a couple weeks and reevaluate.

 

Up next was the ram air scoops. The original came with the car, but was broken at some point beyond reasonable repair. My dad and I visited GSFred’s place a few months back and came home with this piece. It needed attention in 2 spots.

I wanted to avoid any sanding on the top side of the piece as it would ruin the natural finish. I bought two versions of JB weld- dark grey and black. Black was closer to the finish of the plastic. I’ll tune in the side piece, but happy with the outcome overall. That pesky dimple will be hardly noticeable to anyone not looking for it…

 

Finished product

 

Looks good.

 

@nickbuickgs hooked us up with a set of 72 date coded stage 1 heads. Engine comes out this weekend

 

BG is in 3 months… 1 car is ready-ish

 

Stripped down as far as I’m going to go. The timing cover and oil pan have definitely been off this car before. Both were covered in blue RTV for gaskets, same goes for the fuel pump. It’s not the original timing chain either. It has some play, but I’ve seen worse. It will be replaced regardless along with a new water pump. I haven’t pulled the oil pump apart yet, but am encouraged by the overall condition of the timing cover. The original fuel pump will be cleaned up and reinstalled. I do have 1 spare S1 pump left on the shelf and hope to not have to use it.

The plan is to get everything ready for paint, assemble, paint, and then bagged into a corner waiting for reinstall. Once the engine is ready, I’ll pull the front clip and trans to degrease and paint. 3 months out…

A beer on me for anyone who can correctly guess how many timing cover/WP bolts broke.

 

I'm going to guess 2...

 

Will you be at BG? Nailed it! I broke one of the long ones from the timing cover to the block. The other one was a shock. The oil pan to cover bolt closest to the oil pump… surprisingly no water pump bolts.

 

Yes! I am planning on going. From the picture, it looked like it was at least 1.