Thank you! Yeah, no posi, cruise control, or F41 and sway bar. A posi is on my list of updates as is the boxed rear control arms and sway bar. There are other items that I need to address first. Everything except the power locks work. At some point I will get to those, and try to fix the transmission on the power seat.
The dealer just had to miss the option block on the order list. His hand was probably getting really really tired checking everything So just 3 options missing.. I also have seen alot of loaded cars that don't have a clock, just that marked little area in the dash??
I would have been OK with it not having the clock. Since it does, and it did not work when I got it, I updated it with the quartz kit, which was pretty easy to do when I had the dash apart.
Took the GS400 to a car show in Clearwater today. Looks like I'm the only Buick here, out of 75 cars. Represent'n!!!
How did she do in the 60-mile ride to Clearwater? I have a buddy who lives in Zephyrhills & many friends in the Largo / Clearwater areas.
She did awesome! When the car show was over, they had a car parade to a Veterans Assisted Facility in Largo. After that I met my sweetheart for dinner back in Clearwater, ran to my parents house in Clearwater, then hit up a cruise-in in Dunedin. After that I headed home to Zephyrhills. Over 120 miles with the Buick and a great day!
Hit up another cruise-in this morning in Lutz, FL. For anyone that is from this area, it was in the Khol's parking lot, on Van Dyke Road. Got to meet some new people and see some cool cars (like the 65 El Camino that I parked next to). This time I wasn't the only Buick there. Pictured is a super nice, super clean 1965 Skylark. The owner was really cool and is preparing to replace the small block Chevy motor with Big Block Buick power. More good times with the GS400! Put another 50-ish miles on it today. I noticed at the show that the drivers side valve cover gasket is starting to weep some. Good thing I already have some new Fel-Pro cork ones to replace them. Another project for another day, though.
I found this video on my phone, that I took this past weekend. I mainly did this for reference of the idle sound before I pulled it out of the garage. Exhaust is cast iron manifolds, TA 2 1/2" down pipes, Pypes 2 1/2" exhaust system with X-pipe, and Thrush chambered mufflers (FlowMaster copies).
Been a while since I've posted any updates on this thing. As I posted in another thread, last night I fired up the GS400, since it had been about a week since I last started it. I noticed after the thermostat opened (at 210!) that a puddle of antifreeze developed on the driver's side of the timing cover. Couldn't see where it came from, as there was not any evidence of it coming from above. the level of it seems to go up and down with the speed of the engine. Shut it down, dried it up and can now see where the timing cover gasket has squeezed out, in that exact spot. I was planning on replacing the timing cover next year, as the water outlet to the lower hose is pretty badly corroded (some of it is gone), the front seal leaks, and one of the fuel pump bolt bosses is a little stripped. I've also been having an issue with the temperature gauge doing a weird increase to about 210, when your off the throttle and coasting. Once you get back on the gas, or come to a stop, it drops back to the normal 160-190 range. This timing cover gasket leak bumped that timing cover replacement plan up, along with replacing the thermostat (again... 3rd time). Today I ordered a new timing cover assembly (with oil pump installed), gasket kit, balancer, balancer bolt and washer, water pump, and oil pump priming tool from TA Performance. Spent an hour on the phone with Mike, getting an education on the timing covers, harmonic balancers, and things happening at TA and in Arizona. What an awesome guy! Next time I'm in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, I want to stop by there. I also placed another order with Stage One for the timing cover bolt kit. While I was at it, I also ordered the hardware to fix the headlight adjusting situation, so I can use that wicked headlight adjustment tool that I got from Jason. Next week I'll be starting the replacement of the timing cover, instead of the disc brake kit and suspension rebuild. Once that is done, I'll do the brakes and suspension, since I have everything already and the master cylinder is starting to leak a bit at the back (near the booster). Hopefully I can get this all done (including the brakes and suspension) before BG in May.
Patrick I thought about it. I came to the decision that this will always be a street/cruiser. If I get into event racing, it will up my stress level, and since this will be my first time to BG, I really want to relax and check everything out. It's also got the original motor in it still, and I don't want to hurt it.
Oh yeah... and with the rear brakes/suspension rebuild, it's getting new mufflers too. I have had enough of the god awful drone those chambered mufflers make inside of the car. It's so bad that I had to get under the car and make sure that the exhaust system wasn't touching anything else.
Today was parts painting day, since the weather is fantastic! A little Buick red to brighten the day:
Got started on the timing cover replacement today. It is all apart now and cleaned up, ready for the new cover, gaskets, and harmonic balancer. Right now I'm torn between replacing the timing set or not. Seems loose to me, but this is my first Buick and I'm not sure if it is OK like it is. See my post in another thread for opinions and guidance on that. https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/timing-chain-replacement-and-crank-key.376076/ Glad I went with the new balancer, as the one on it was split where someone tried to force it on without it lined up with the keyway. In the other thread, I posted a video of the timing chain slack, looking for opinions and there is more detail on the balancer. Here is where I left it tonight... Pay no attention to the cords hanging down for the lights. I just put those up yesterday and had to order a coverplate and some other stuff to finish it off. The stuff came while I was working on the car.
Yeah Brian, I was pretty shocked when I got it off. Probably been that way since 1993, when the cam was installed.
Since I have the front of the motor apart this far, I might as well just replace the timing set. What's another $60? The piece of mind is well worth it. LOL Ordered a Melling 3-498SA set. I went with the Melling set, mainly because on their web site, it said Made in the USA.
