I got another one, this time it's a Buick !!

Ok guys, let the pounding began. I took another car in on trade. This time it's not a Blue Oval I am concerned about, though I did acquire a '76 Cougar on the deal, also. I am now the owner of a '63 Buick Riviera, I will be loading it up and bringing it home sometime this afternoon, and will post a pic or two of it then. It's all Pro Z's fault, he said he was building one for his significant other, I had this deal pending, and I decided to go for it.

It has a fairly solid body, and of course the 401 Nailhead motor. I can't tarnish my image by putting it back together stock, so how about some ideas on what might turn this beast into a hi speed luxo cruiser?? All I know about Buick's would fit in a thimble, and leave a lot of room left over. I did the standard search on google, and came up with a bunch of restored units, (boring) anybody got ideas on where to look for some customized ones that I could start putting ideas together for the build on the car??

Ok, so it's not a Blue Oval, but at least it is not JAC !!! (Just another chebbie).

killer body style ,
americans in 20s and 18s , airride , mild shave .
i can see you driving it already !

Way to go Dave..Congratulations.
Owning a '67 Riv. I am anxious to see what you create. Good Luck!
Wanted to buy a '63 back then myself, but 2 "Rug Runners" were the priority of the day, ha.

Dave
Go with the votes.
What condition is it in first?
Since one of your options posted was to trade it to a purist who wants to do a restoration, are you really motivated to take on the task given the conditio. Yo might want to turmaround and sell/trade it in for something you really want, or use the cash to build up any project you are currently working on.

That being said, the 63 Riv is a sharp car and would make a great
custom. The style is sharp, The interior is one of the best looking of all early to mid 60's icars. The 401 is a rare engine and runs strong.

About a year ago I remember reading a Street Rodder Magazine issue that had a 66 Rivera ( Alittle different but close in looks to teh 63) The car came out great. It had cosuom Grill work done, chrome wheels, deep blue paint etc.... Yo can easily update th esuspension with that car by incorporating suspension parts from later model Buicks and Caddys. Go to Barnes and Noble and get an interchange guide. You will find out that your search for parts will be easier than you think.

If you decide to customize it, I would suggest not going too radical, but slightly improving what is there already ( Adjust the stance, Cool paint job (House of Colors paint and two tone paint jobe really bring out the lines in that car ) , update the interior a little, Dressup the engine compartment , removing any excess chrome/stainless trim that was on some models and chrome wheels (Go with 17's) If you live in the Northeast yo will have to deal with potholes and older roads. NO WHITE WALLS PLEASE!!!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

It's gotta be low for sure! And it's gotta be a driver. I think Buick made a Wildcat series on the '63, with 2 four barrells. That would be slick, or go retro and put a buncha strombergs on it. I always thought Buicks looked good with wire wheels. Not sure what sizes are available but that's something to consider.

Good luck with it, can't wait to see what you decide.

Pat

Thanks for the input on the Buick, hopefully will have time to haul it home later today. However, if it's the usual Monday, I probably won't have time til Thursday !!!!!!!

Weird! About a year ago I played with the idea of doing one of these..................but didn't.

These are so well styled they don't need much. I'm with kenny on the bags and mild shave, but I'd probably only go 17's and 18's because of the wheel opening shape, something like a Budnik Sapphire, or Knuckle FL.

Getting a little more exotic you could do the Winfield thing and fog the highlights with the paint. Then to push it a little further a MILD chop, just to take out the slightly too tall look. Say maybe 1 1/2-2"

hey Bob, "mild chop", is that like a "little pregnant"?? Don't know if I can do mild, soon as that sawz-all gets in my hands.............. But yeah, done right the car would be double throwdown killer kewl. Thanks for the input, gotta check out those wheels.

Hey Dave,

I'm sure you've already looked at CarDomain.com ...but there's a number of Rivera's on there for ideas...i also found a number of custom jobs on the net...let me know if you want some links...

Jeri

one example

Thanks, Jeri. hmmmm Bob is right, that roof is a bit tall......now if it were lowered a bit, the front fender tips and hood center extended a bit, maybe a touch of re-arch on the wheel openings..... anybody got a dual 4 intake for it??? I know I got some WCFB's around somewhere...... Then there's all that stainless 1 5/8" tubing in the box in the corner to build some headers with........hey, I gotta get to work!!!! See ya all later, and thanks for the help.

or dis?

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
..... anybody got a dual 4 intake for it???

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Remember Dave, subtle...................subtle on the chop!;)

An infrequent poster here is IBUILDM, he's got his email link active. He posted some nailhead stuff about a year or so ago, and I know he's got a nailhead in his '32 roadster. He owns a rod shop (built that killer orange Zephyr that was so hot a couple years ago) in Spokane. He could have a lead on the manifold for you, and maybe the neat finned aluminum factory valve covers too.:3dSMILE:

Dave,

For a chop you could do something similar to the chop on my Studebaker, a so called "Gentleman's Chop". Take about 1 1/2-2 inches out of the A pillar and just a thin pie cut saw blades width from the C pillar. This just drops the front a little and you can leave the rear glass stock. Then you can decide if you want to take the wing windows out or not. A lot of people do not realize mine is chopped till they see it next to a stock one, but it really accentuates the sleek llines. Maybe shave the drip rails off too. I think you would want to lose that front bumper as well, or somehow suck it in more. Those cars looks so good to start with don't need many changes. I like the stance on the second Jerilynne posted

Pat

The first car I ever owned was a 65 Rivi with a 401 Wildcat!!! I would recommend going with the 65 grill and headlights if you can find them, it will clean up the looks of the front end to go with that clean shaven look!...

I always did like the looks of those cars...

Dave Brisco

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
It's all Pro Z's fault, he said he was building one for his significant other, I had this deal pending, and I decided to go for it.

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Well Dave, It's not a bow tie, but it's a step in the right direction ................ It's best to start with baby steps, rather than shockin' yer' system by goin' directly to a Chebbie. He He He :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :eek:

The Riv' would make a kewl cruiser for sure. :)

come back to the light . .........

The vote seems to be going towards mild custom, and so far only 2 people have suggested therapy !!!

Hey Z, this is as close as I will ever get to owning a chebbie. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was at the Kansas City Goodguys show last month. Bad Ass! My brother has black '64.

http://www.jayspot.com/images/Goodguys04/IMG_3292.jpg

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Originally posted by Dave Severson


Hey Z, this is as close as I will ever get to owning a chebbie. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Today a GM .................... Tomorrow ...................:)

Well, Dave, It's not a Good ol Blue Oval. But at least it's a Buford and not a (bite my tongue) Chebbie. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

hey I like them rivis heres an idea:p

what ever you do don't replace the engine with anything other than an nailhead, If you didn't already know your tranny is probably a sp400 (not th400) which is a switch pitch transmission. When you nail it the torque converter switches it's stall higher then back down. You might want to join V8Buick ,they have alot of information to be had there. Also thoght you might like this
:) never liked pink but there's something about this one http://www.rrrclc.org/P9140099.JPG

Shaved, lowered (maybe air), no vinyl top, frenched this 'n that, wheels and tires (but something simple, not rubberbands), NO whitewalls, and for heaven's sake, keep the nailhead.

Just had another thought while looking at some of the pictures posted. How about fill in the existing tail lights and get some of the vertical lights from a late model Cadillac and French them into the rear corners.

Pat

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Originally posted by pro70z28
Today a GM .................... Tomorrow ..................

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Maybe a Hudson!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!! **)

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Originally posted by Bob Parmenter
Maybe a Hudson!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!! **)

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Car or Truck????????????:)

Well, thanks so much for all the great input and the fantastic pics, the pink car is just way kewl !! And on the poll, there's still only 2 people there who think I need therapy .. So anyway, a really wild Monday at the funny farm, but I did manage to escape about 5 and go get the Riv.

The Caddy tailights could be just the ticket. Thinking the bumpers will need to be cut down some, maybe lake pipes, or some big megs out the rear valence???? Who knows, it's gonna be fun, anyhow.

The body looks pretty good Dave. I know you will have some fun with this one!

Pat

Those rear fenders are shaped just right. How about taillights from a 77-79 LTDII/Cougar? they would fit the fenders almost perfectly.:) :)

Body is in good shape, Pat. The dash has been cobble a bit, but certainly nothing that can't be fixed.

Thanks for the idea on the tailights, Duane. I think you have a good plan there. Was also considering the mid 70's Lincoln Mark lights ????

Great looking ride Dave. That is a real find. Sure you will incorporate some Blue Oval accents, ha. Have fun and enjoy your creativity.

Oh yeah Dave...This is gonna be so fun! Promise you'll post pics as you go? ;)

I love these Rivs. They were so perfect in the beginning that they don't need much to be outstanding. I had to bring this picture back to point out a few things. One being that a shave is about all you need on that body.

http://www.jayspot.com/images/Goodguys04/IMG_3292.jpg

Once it's lowered the top is no longer too tall. I would go air ride and 17&18s. You have been given a lot of tail light ideas but what could look nicer than these stockers? The proportions are just right and the look is so clean. Shave the bumper bolts for a more detailed look. They do need a grille that runs horizonal to widen the front look and I prefer the stacked headlights like in the '66.

I got this Nailhead Wiend Drag Star with 6 97s a few years ago for $250. so they are still out there. One of the long bolts is seized in the manifold (no threads; just a pass through tube to the head intake bolt hole) and the head is twisted off so I just use it for garage art. I put the carbs on a 4 carb Chevy intake for a future project..

Good luck with your Riv. It's a keeper.

Tom

I agree.... lower it a little, add some nice wheels, and you're good to go.

Here are some more pics of the RED riv.....

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Egads !!! Somebody put a chebbie in that red Riv.!!!!

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Originally posted by Dave Severson
Egads !!! Somebody put a chebbie in that red Riv.!!!!

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That's beautiful. Somebudie' "hit the NAIL on the HEAD" with that SBC. **) :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: