Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[yachtsmanbill]

So the intro went well and I feel pretty at ease here, so I thought Id start a long running (long winded??) thred about this new build. Yeah, Buick M.D. started the GS line with this vehicle; one of only four built and only one know to exist... I love jerking the judges chains LOL...
  The car is in amazing shape for being 54 years old. Other than barn dirt, its really exceptionally clean. Im new to antique Buicks so bear with me fellas! The ol' fireball 6 is coming out (anyone need it or a 3 speed, probably non synchroed' first gear) trans? Speak up! Its locked up from sitting but will probably have the heads off tomorrow. Gonna pull the 455 from the 400 and get it on the stand and opened up. Im ready for surgery. O.R. is prepped and the nurses are on standby having a smoke outside...
   Its been a long day (felt good to do something actually!) and will shoot the breeze tomorrow after looking at stuff. If anyone has something to ad, PLEASE JUMP IN!! Honest, I need to learn this antique stuff hahaha...   ws

[ppat324]

Ha Ha!! This is Pat, yachtsmanbill's old lady. He can talk about not knowing old stuff all he wants. 8 years ago he BUILT a 1926 Model T speedster in the garage. That was my introduction to want he can do. Now seriously, help him out. I want to drive the 1972 GSX with Bill in the '64....ppat

[TrunkMonkey]

I love it Bill!

It's a time machine. 

And I look forward to the build journey!

(I have done two '64s. Both complete drivetrains, suspension and brakes. 40 years apart, first was and Olds 330, the second is a nailhead, and I am putting a BBB in my 1968 'lark, so I will help with any questions you might have. )

[GS66]

Will be following along all the way.

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Mike... those old pics mustve come outa the shoe box LOL. Was that in about the mid 70's? Ill have a million questions, but as we move along, I know I am gonna need 67 GS 400 motor mounts for this one, and a rear sump oil pan for the 455. Otherwise just puttsing with trim and some odd sundries. I like the Cragars on the blue '64! Im torn between that and dog dish caps.  ws

[TrunkMonkey]

Yes. the 70s. Like yesterday and a million years ago.

The '64 Special are from slides using an old "Pana-Vue" handheld viewer and took pics with my cellphone.

Tiny bulb and AA batteries makes them really yellow. 

[WkillGS]

Mike, try putting those slides in a Viewmaster so we can see them in 3D!

Bill and Pat, congrats on getting the deal done and getting it home. Looking forward to the progress!

The '64 chassis isn't much different than the '72. The front upper A-arms have metal bushings, the rest is very similar if not the same.

[yachtsmanbill]

PanaView... Man! all I used to do was slides! Last time I hauled them out, some had gotten damp and literally bled all over each other. The started to look like Jimi Hendrix posters LOL...

So on the advice of another member here. the engine pads I need are for a 1967 400 to get the 455 to bolt into the '64 frame. Am I getting close? Gonna start pulling stuff apart today. Lotsa pics coming up!  ws

[cwmcobra]

Looks like a great project, Bill.  By all means, bring us along on the journey! 

And a special welcome to Pat.  We have a few ladies that have posted here, but precious few spouses of members.  So, I'm looking forward to hearing Pat's perspective on the project (or life, or whatever  ) as Bill progresses.  Teamwork is a wonderful thing!

 

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

So yer from the Kalamity-Zoo eh? Yeah... Pats my right hand girl and go-to mentor when I get frustrated. Life for her before me was ho-hum with 6 kids, then she met "Mr. Excitement"... My projects never cease to amaze her!    ws

[cwmcobra]

Close to Kalamazoo, actually south of Battle Creek.  Kzoo has lots to offer, but we live in the 'Ginky Weeds'.  Stop by any time!

I don't know how life could be more exciting than raising 6 kids  , but I'm glad that you've taken her over the top.  Keep on amazing...her and us! 

 

Chuck

[yachtsmanbill]

WILL DO CHUCK! Pat had never been on a big boat before, so her first intro was to my 36 foot Roamer and the 65 foot Hatteras. BIG STUFF and she picked it right up! I knew then she was special. We just celebrated 10 years together. We are both 63 now, and both becoming a tad more frail, but she sure isnt afraid to help where she can. Heck, she can read a tape measure and grab me tools outa the box and shes a wiz refinishing boat wood with 20 coats of varnish. I am blessed to have her!

We are both enthused about this project. She loves to drive the '72 XGS 455 and Ill teach her how to bang some gears with the four speed in the GX Special.

Her kids are all adults with 12 grandkids now. Whew. I never knew the joy hahaha.

So I have a pal that owns a limestone quarry in Bellevue, and the major mini-mart gas station in Williamston, not too far from you. Drop by and ask for Bill "SKY" Cheney. Send my regards...  ws

[TrunkMonkey]

TA has the pads.

TA1820E  $100

[yachtsmanbill]

Thanks Mike! I understand they raise the motor enough to interfere with hood to air cleaner fit...Ill look into the T/A website a little later. Warming up the air compressor right now LOL...   
 SKYBIRD 300 from V8 is stripping a 1967 ragtop GS 400. Its in parts for sale. Lotsa needed stuff there too.

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Pat, Michael, Jim, Walt, Chuck, and 65GS.com citizens,

Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

. . . . Sufferin' succotash!  This is a most gabby secret I've seen in a long time! . . . .

Ha Ha!! This is Pat, yachtsmanbill's old lady. He can talk about not knowing old stuff all he wants. 8 years ago he BUILT a 1926 Model T speedster in the garage. That was my introduction to want he can do. Now seriously, help him out. I want to drive the 1972 GSX with Bill in the '64....ppat

Well, you then also deserve your own welcome.

By all means welcome to 65GS.com!

Bill maybe you can answer a question for me.  So what is in the space for the automatic transmission shifter?  I painted the OEM shift indicators black like this:



But than I went hog wild and put a polished aluminum plate to hide the window:



Am I seeing your photo correctly and the window just shows a black surface?

PanaView... Man! all I used to do was slides! Last time I hauled them out, some had gotten damp and literally bled all over each other.

*Sigh* memories!  I always preferred slides.  My underwater photos were almost always slides (except when I explored B&W!)  However, my amateur astronomy photos would use whatever film had the best speed for the situation.  For a long time the print films were a lot faster than slides.

So on the advice of another member here. the engine pads I need are for a 1967 400 to get the 455 to bolt into the '64 frame. Am I getting close?

Thanks Mike! I understand they raise the motor enough to interfere with hood to air cleaner fit.

My wagon has the TA-Performance pads and does have clearance problem but that is because she has a EFI throttle body that is an additional inch taller than a standard carburetor.  I don't know if the TA-Performance pads are actually taller than then the 1967 OEM pads.  Perhaps someone can go public and answer that question for us all!

Thanks for all the insight guys!  That's what makes this forum so pleasant! 

Cheers, Edouard