1969 Buick Riviera
Well, by now you can see that I am a certified car nut. I am not sure exactly why I am attracted to the big Riv - could it be the Pimpin' Feelin' of driving such a big car? Could it be the classy look with the muscle to match? Who knows! All I know is that I now have a small collection of them...and I still want more!
I bought this 1969 Riviera from my buddy Angelo M. from the ROA. Angelo purchased this car last summer but he now wanted to pursue his dream car - a 1965 Riviera GS (a beauty). He has known of this particular car since his high school days. Angelo was the third owner...now I am # 4. She came with original documents; including the window sticker, owners manual and warranty card. He also gave me a couple of matching shop manuals and a trunk-full of parts. Buying this car from Angelo was a pleasure. He was happy to sell it to me knowing that the car will be cared for well.
Angelo poses with the car back in January, 2002. It was at this meeting that we first spoke of my purchasing it. I brought her home in June 2002.
The car is optioned with: * Full length console * Sonomatic radio with power antenna & rear speaker * White wall tires (8.55 x 15) * Air conditioning (manual controls) * Rear Defroster * Tinted glass * Door guards * Remote control outside review mirror * Custom trim strato bucket seats - vinyl
Other options: * Turbo hydromatic 400 transmition * power steering * power brakes * Electric clock (needless to say, another GM clock that doesn't work...shocking, isn't it) * Dual exhaust * Tilt steering * Trunk light * Courtesy lights * Deluxe wheel covers * Custom padded cushions.
The car is Azure Blue, with white bucket seats and gold carpet, dash and console. It is a strange combination for sure!
So in 1969, this Riviera cost $ 5, 720.14!
How do you spell relief? B-I-G-B-L-O-C-K! This ride sports a 430-4bbl. She haul her big self & pukes torque...effortlessly!
Restoration Progess
April 25, 2003:- Bought rechromed right front bumper trim pieces & NOS front turn signal bezel on Ebay.
April 27, 2003:- Well, I've had the car a year and have done nothing but drive it! Today I won an NOS rear bumper since I paid 1/2 the price of rechroming it! Wahoo! Last week I also won on Ebay some chrome front bumper trim.
May 19, 2003: Took the car to a local shop for an estimate for new front seat covers and door panels. I am confident that the rear seats can be cleaned up. I also called and got some prices for 2.75 inch white wall tires (size 225 70 R15) by B. F. Goodrich (now made by Coker Tires). The tires are a nice pimp touch.
August 23, 2003: Got some replacement stickers for the engine compartment while at Corvettes at Carlisle for the following componants: air cleaner (430-4), radiator expansion tank, side of air cleaner, and a few others.
November 2003: Oh YEAH - a long time wait - the Star Wars Air Cleaner was won on Ebay for the Riv - sweet!
June 26 2004: Took car out today for 1st time in a while. She ran a bit rough. After a few short trips, the driver's side door got stuck! This happened to the previous owner and even to me last year - but somehow, it fixed itself. Oh well...
June 27, 2004: Took car out yesterday for the first time in a while - car ran rough! Replaced the spark plugs today and discovered that the gap was off by a bit - the old plugs averaged about .040 while the specs call for .030. Changed the points/condensder and rotor - and then I ran into a problem - car wouldn't restart! After my buddy Mario came to save my rear, we discovered that a wire that accidentally touched probably shorted out the condenser. Mario then showed me how the set the points dwell & we fooled around with the idle (which is high due to the linkage being too short). Car's performance improved but still needs work. It got late so I will get into replacing the cap & wires, timing, oil change, radiator flush and etc within the next 2 days - before the ROA trip to Lancaster, PA. - - - THANKS TO MARIO FOR HELPING ME!
June 28, 2004: Replaced cap & wires. Also lengthened the throttle linkage which allowed me to lower the idle to 575-600 RPM - it's been high at 1,000! Car runs real smooth now!
June 29, 2004: So I leave for the ROA Lancaster, PA annual meet tomorrow. I need to change the oil, flush the radiator & chage the 'stat - what could go wrong? Well, you know I am leading you to a story...
I should have spent an hour on the car, instead it became an all-day affair. Oil change - no problem. Coolant change - easy to drain. So what went wrong? I snapped a bolt in the block attepting to remove the water knuckle to get to 'stat. One of the 2 bolts was rusted and broke, leaving a 1/4 stud sticking out of the intake manifold. After trying forever to use vise-grips to unscrew the bolt stud, I gave up. I drowned it with WD-40 and no luck, vise grips simply ate away at the stud. After meeting my buddy, Tom at a Sears, I bought an easy-out set, plus another "rusted bolt/nut remover". I was also prepared with a propane torch to heat up the base, in the hopes that it would loosen the stud - but that didn't work. This time, Tom tried the vise grips - also with no luck (it was worth a shot - he's a lot stronger than me so I had nothing to lose).
The solution - the new Sears bolt/nut remover. It actually worked easy. After all the delay, I was back on track. I replaced the coolant, added the new 'stat and raditor cap. Everything went well. I filled the tank & added a carb cleaner. We also tried to repair the stuck driver's side door - but it didn't wanna work! So tomorrow, off to Lancaster, PA I go for the 2004 ROA annual meet - with car in good running shape, but the door is a different story! Maybe next week!
Sometime in August, 2004: The once-stuck driver's side door is now unstuck - I don't know how, but it just did!
September 12, 2004: Washed & waxed the Rivster today. Mom also spent the better part of the day cleaning the seats & panels. Parchement white is slowing coming back - it was dark grey for a while...
April 2005: Car died at highway speeds. Funny - it would restart & run for a short bit. Feels like it was running out of gas, unfortunately, it has plenty in the tank.
June 19, 2005: Installed a new carb since the fuel line crossthreaded the carburetor intake to chunks (literally). Added dry gas & changed the dule filter & now she runs great. Maybe it was poor gas, maybe the carb has issues but whatever it was, it sems to be fixed.
Above: The cross-threaded carb fuel intake. It was hot for more than 1/4 inch in. Chunks of threads came out and I was not able to get a clean seal.
The old carb, above, seemingly has issues.
----- Last Updated on June 20, 2005 -----
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