The spoiler is on!

I had some instructions from a service manual but I threw them away real quick. Nothing lined up like in the exploded diagram

This spoiler had no holes in it so I had to drill my own anyway.

I love it though!

Vacuum leak.. or something?

Well, after the rebuilt carb, the car drives like a scald cat!
But... it wont idle

The offenhauser intake, is a square bore design, where the quadrajet carb is a spread bore design therefore there is an adapter/spacer to allow the two to bolt up.

Couple problems here.
1 - I think a vacuum leak is causing my idle problems and this adapter/spacer is one possible source I need to eliminate.
2 - The dual snorkel air cleaner specific to the GS cars will not fit because of this spacer as the carb sits about 1" higher. My goal is to put this air cleaner back on so a new intake that matches the carbs spread bore design will put the carb back in a factory position and allow the air cleaner to fit.

So the engine came apart.



Intake removed, and some fresh Buick Red paint. I have also painted the AC and power steering brackets and the pulleys with some fresh satin black.















The new intake is an Edelbrock Performer, designed to keep the carb in the factory location so the GS air cleaner can be used. Its been blasted, and painted with high heat aluminum paint. All the fittings have been cleaned and its ready to install.













I even cleaned up the brake booster with some gold paint and the master cylinder with some cast iron paint


















Here's where I am right now. The intake, carb and aluminum valve covers are just laid in place for now. Hope to have everything back together by this weekend.

Carb Rebuild

I was really intimidated by the thought of rebuilding the carb.
I bought a rebuild kit and new float.
The Dr. came over and I had the carb off ready to go.


Ready to start piecing it back together



Rebuld done


Back on the motor


The car started after some pumping. Also noticed a leak around the throttle shaft bushings.
But at least I can start the car now without starting fluid.

A guy on the www.V8Buick.com board who rebuilds carbs offered to build me one, that looks correct. I found out the one I have has a Pontiac choke on it!
The rebuild includes all new bushings, adjustments, float, larger jets, and a coat of carb renew paint to make it look pretty.. how could I refuse! That should be here soon.

The October BOP (Buick Olds Pontiac) show is coming up in 2 1/2 weeks.. cant wait!!

Some Glamor Shots

After I got the transmission pan on (and fingers crossed my leaks are resolved) I had to go for a drive and take some pictures with the new wheels and tires. Wheels make a huge difference!







A short video clip




Tucked in for the night

Trans pan is on

First the aluminum pan has a nice thick flange and I think it will solve any leak in the gasket area....but....

The aluminum pan's flange is not as wide as a stock pan. And the bolts are actually sunk into the sides of the pan.
you can see in the picture how the bolt holes are grooved into the sides of the pan, Even the bolts are allen key, cause they're so tight to the pan you cant use a socket



I thought about making a bracket, and I started to... but the metal left around the bolt is just too thin for my liking...

So I posted on the Buick board, the only recommendation I got was to cut my existing bracket using the pan as a template


I did just that
I removed the pan, I had it only temporary on anyway, and the shifter bracket.
On my bench I did some grinding, and removed enough to to let the bracket fit in against the pan and let the bolt holes line up.
I test fit the pan, and it looked good.
took it apart again, put the gasket on, finger tight bolts and it was good.
Except.....



With the bracket on the bolts that came with the aluminum pan were now a little too short, and I felt I would strip them if I tried to tighten then.
Made a trip to Tractor Supply, they had the exact same bolts but just a little longer and it worked nicely. All bolts tight and bracket is solid.









Its filled with fluid, warmed her up, checked it again, added more etc.. went for a little run, and my excitement has been renewed again

And the tires/wheels look awesome!

Fingers crossed no more leaks

Wheels are on!

I could not wait... So today at lunch I headed for the garage.

The center caps showed up yesterday



Very nice pieces, diecast, not plastic.






And they are mounted with small bolts, so they cant fall off or be stolen












They sure do finish the wheel






















And of course, I had to put them on

August Update

Some odd jobs done
Front bumper tightened
New fuel pump
New steel fuel line to the carb

I have a small starting issue, very hard to start without starting fluid down the carb - looks like a rebuild for the carb soon.

The trans pan is leaking like crazy. I removed it, and it was badly beat up. Ordered a new finned aluminum one that should be here this week.

And most exciting, new wheels and tires.
15x8 all around wrapped in BF Goodrich Radial TA's 255 6015's
New center caps and lugs too.. gonna be nice!