Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick engine maintainers,

. . . .
A nice OEM 1970 dipstick... NO TUBE REQUIRED. I thought of Edouard when I saw it.
. . . .

Grumble, grumble, grumble . . . . I'll bet that 1970 dipstick will slide in and out with very little resistance.  Getting the dipstick out of Biquette's engine is almost as bad as pulling teeth!    I just checked TA-Performance's current listings.  Michael Jr. mentioned a new dipstick on V-8 Buick but I didn't understand what the difference was.  They do have a new kit designed for aluminum heads - that probably would have helped for Biquette's engine.  I'm still hoping that somebody will come up with a dipstick that is articulated.  Something like the Lokar dipsticks:

http://www.lokar.com/engine-dipsticks.html

Alas Lokar doesn't have a model for big-block Buick engines.

In other news, I see you have a recent (or at least very well cleaned up) Edelbrock carburetor on top of the intake manifold.  Which Edelbrock carb is it?

Cheers, Edouard 

P.S. Okay, I scrolled around your thread but can't find the answer - so I give up.  What is the source of your intake manifold?  It doesn't look like Biquette's B4B or any of the other TA-Performance aluminum manifolds.

[yachtsmanbill]

Well son, thats an Edelhoser all right. Not my perfect choice, but its new and was gifted to me. I owe the gifter a debt of gratitude; he's sent me two full boxes of T/A kinda stuff with very little dyno time only for gratis, just pay shipping.

Does your dipstick use a tube, or direct into the block? My 455 is a 1974 with a tube. I pulled the tube out and replaced it with a 1970 stick, sans the tube. The 64's V6 had a stick only as well. Dump the tube (always hated them!) and adjust just the stick. Do it after an oil change so you know its good.

Got the new PS pump all mounted with one more hose to make up. The early A models were slightly different than the later ones as far as hose sizes are concerned. I shall overcome !   

Took a bunch of pics of the carb for 1965Special... email me when you have the time!  Bill

[WkillGS]

....
P.S. Okay, I scrolled around your thread but can't find the answer - so I give up.  What is the source of your intake manifold?  It doesn't look like Biquette's B4B or any of the other TA-Performance aluminum manifolds.

I can't make out the casting number on the intake, but I'd say it's factory Buick......with Top Secret paint!
Should be fun at car shows!

[yachtsmanbill]

You guys floor me! The intake is an experimental 1964 cast ceramic unit that BMD made just for this motor. Its one of one. It matches the 6 bolt main block with the cross drilled main caps.

So tonight is laundry night; and this thing is taking me to the Lavanderia! Gonna spend some time underneath (Ill take my lunch box with LOL!) and get the shifter  put back on, speedo cable installed with the custom T10 routing brackets, cut the old single rotted exhaust off (the muffler was one big mouse nest), and start measuring up for a drive shaft.  Which leads me to this...

The other day when installing the manifolds, I had to break the rag joint and move the steering shaft to get one bolt in. Hmmm. Cleaned everything back up and went to close the joint and it seperated by about 1/4+". I could put vise grips on it to close it, but when released, opened back up. The VG's would also pop the firewall mount for the steering column.. just that 1/4", back and forth. I ended up moving the steering box side of the RJ "up" tp make it up. It looks way better, but is still lacking 1/4" on the box spline.

Is there a possibility that the frame sagged with the 455 up front? The jackstands are at the body mounts on the frame below the cowl, so the front frame member is "cantilevered" from the FW forward. Thoughts? Ideas??   Bill

[Brian]

Bill,
   There is a spring behind the steering wheel and a clamp at the bottom of the column tube around the shaft where it goes into the bearing at the bottom of the tube.  If you look, there is likely a large gap between the base of the steering wheel and the column jacket.  To fix, remove the steering wheel to free the tension of the spring, then adjust the clamp higher on the steering shaft so that the shaft is not as far up in the column.  Put the wheel back on to check the distance.  You may have to do this a couple times before you get it right.  When you are done, the rag joint should line up properly.  The steering column tube will also move some where it is mounted under the dash.  So all that to say, there are adjustments that you need to adjust to get the rag joint to align.

[yachtsmanbill]

Ill double check that. The first thing I looked at was the wheel to drum gap and it was good. I didnt go under the dash, but the rugs going back in today so thats a plus. I wanna get the hole cut in the rug for the shifter, get that installed with the ring and put the door sills back on.

FWIW... I have a front and back full width CHERRY (33,000 miles)  Skylark factory (?) floor mat. I think these are one or two year only. Its a 3 foot wide bird embossed into the heavy black rubber.  I hate to cut a hole in the front, so I'd gladly trade for a pair (or all 4) handy mats with the white tri-shield logo. Judges will be impressed!! 

Also Edouard... Iff'n yer handy, take a length of speedo cable and silver solder the end closed (a point) and silver solder it to the handle, and mark it accordingly with a DULL chisel. Just a thought. If you dont use a tube, Ill get that 64 V6 stick to you! for shipping. Bill

[Brian]

Not sure what those mats are from, but pretty positive they are not Buick.  Maybe a Thunderbird?

[WkillGS]

....
Is there a possibility that the frame sagged with the 455 up front? The jackstands are at the body mounts on the frame below the cowl, so the front frame member is "cantilevered" from the FW forward. Thoughts? Ideas??   Bill

Yes, the frame will flex with jackstands at the cowl. That could account for the gap.

Nailhead GS's have a steering column with a removable flange. A welded-on-flange column simply can't be removed with a Nailhead in there, not enough room! Changing a starter or drivers side ex manifold is a chore too. That 455 was just too easy!

Nice trick with the intake! Car show folks are going to be tapping it with their fingers. You can tell them it's a carbon-silicon alloy (which makes up about 5% of cast iron)!

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Walt, Brian, and mid-60s Buick caregivers,

Well son, thats an Edelhoser all right. Not my perfect choice, but its new and was gifted to me. I owe the gifter a debt of gratitude; he's sent me two full boxes of T/A kinda stuff with very little dyno time only for gratis, just pay shipping.

Very clever!  Certainly that will make a tale at car shows!

Does your dipstick use a tube, or direct into the block? My 455 is a 1974 with a tube. I pulled the tube out and replaced it with a 1970 stick, sans the tube. The 64's V6 had a stick only as well. Dump the tube (always hated them!) and adjust just the stick. Do it after an oil change so you know its good.

Thanks for the offer but I really don't think I can give up on the tube.  Here is a photo of the current setup on Biquette's engine:



Even with the tube it is difficult to reach and because the headers are so hot, even in this position checking the engine oil with the engine warm is a challenge to avoid being burned.  Without a tube, it would be just about impossible to reach even with the engine completely cold.

Took a bunch of pics of the carb for 1965Special... email me when you have the time! 

I was just curious because Biquette ended up with an Edelbrock carburetor between 2010 and 2012.  After that, I've switched to a FAST Sportsman electronic fuel injection system and I much prefer that.

Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Not quite ready to pull the jack stands Walt... Its a ground clearance thing LOL. ME AND THE GROUND! Gonna do some floor work today and get that outa the way. Shifter, speedo cable, old pipes (1), and start fitting up stuff for a drive shaft. Right now the rear stands have the diff. sagging on the arms, so thats gotta get jacked up to get a good measurement for a running length on the drive shaft; center to center on the U joints.
   Still hafta get the rugs and seat back in and then the shifter boot stuff... Never a dull moment eh???   Bill

https://youtu.be/-q_NtE37VPY

https://youtu.be/-q_NtE37VPY

Which youtube link works??

[elagache]

Dear Bill and mid-60s Buick owners who also do video,

https://youtu.be/-q_NtE37VPY

https://youtu.be/-q_NtE37VPY

Which youtube link works??

Both links work fine and take you to the same video.   I'm running a mile a minute today so I couldn't sit down and watch them.  Well, actually my computer also provides music for the house and so viewing a video . . . . kind of clashes!   I downloaded the video so we can watch it tonight on our living room TV.

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Be warned pal... at the Fortress of Solitude, I tend to talk to myself LOL... sometimes the language aint purty haha...  Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

So the gap widens... Brian, can you point out whats what  here?? I need to pull the wheel anyway for a loose signal stalk. Needs a drop of loctite. Just an AH-HA moment! I know what the AH is for. Its as bad as not being able to figure out how to adjust the seat belts too LOL.

Got the trans filled with some GL4 oil. It took 3-1/2 pints excluding the mess haha. Finished up routing the speedo cable. I have the OEM cable for the 3 speed with the bullet if anyone needs it. Front seat and rugs are back in and secure. Finished up the shifter install and the boot with ALL screws present or accounted for sir! I power washed the rug last week. New ones next year with paint and a headliner.

I need an antiquities exspurt to verify yay or nay on the mats. I cant see gramma buying nice heavy duty rubber T-Bird mats. I hate to cut a hole in this one if its "special". Front and rear match.

More pics to follow...   Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Save the drumroll... Shifter all done; looks like somebody came and did it LOL... Speedo cable routing to the starboard side speedo drive. Even had a chance to take a breaak and play drive the car for a while.   Bill

[Loren At 65GS]

Bill , that shifter install looks quite professional. Nice work !
I'm sure those mats are an aftermarket product and not a Buick item.

  Loren