Secret experimental 1964 GX 455

[elagache]

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

Radiator.....
The generic aluminum radiators fit the late 65-67 well, but your 64 had the downflow rad as original. It has a different bottom cradle than the crossflow rad support. I don't know if there is enough difference to make the alum rad not fit.

Yes Walt you are correct.  I was assuming that Bill was going to get his hands on a cross-flow radiator support. 

The first sound that radio made was a loud MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, then nada. A.M. sucked 40 years ago and im sure it hasnt improved LOL.

Indeed AM has been in decline since the early 1970s.  One of the first "mods" I made to my trusty wagon was to solder extra leads to the speaker so I could connect my cassette reporter.  That was *so* much better than the lame AM stations of the late 1970s!

Probably some stoopid blooteef thing in the glove box to make more noise than the monster motor.
. . . .
Pretty tapped out on SIRUS radio too. If anyone listens to it with a tuned eaar, youll notice that even tho you are paying for original artists (copyrighted stuff) a lot of the songs lyrics were changed by dubbing in a few key words, or being played by tribute bands. Ill be happy with a 2" exhaust blowing outa da back!

SIRUS is probably being nickel and dimed to death by the penny-pinching accountants.  These services are relatively expensive and are losing listeners to Internet-based alternatives.  So cost cutting is the order of the day and of course that won't please the listeners.

I have a very large collection of music that I started uploading to my computer starting around 1990.  So it is easy for me to make a playlist on my computer, download it to my smart-phone and just let it shuffle through that.  That's a lot of work if you haven't been doing that all along.  You can still get access to some Internet services like Pandora.  That might be better than SIRUS and a number of car stereos support direct connections to those services.  Perhaps you can scrounge yourself one of those stereos.  They have been around for a number of years already.  I put on into our 2000 Buick Century back in 2015.

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Ferget the radio stuff... thats just noise anyway when theres a monster from the IDD roaring in front of you. Whats the make up on a cross flow radiator support? I hope yer not talking the entire core support, rather just a cut n' weld chunk out of a later model core support.
Hopefully, Ill be able to get mine mounted and see how the radiator fits with room for expansion.

On another note, got my package from Pegasus Racing (throttle pcs) and now have a nice full functioning throttle; from idle to WOT. Also cleaned the heck outa my drive shaft. I was gonna do the cut and shorten job myself, but found a guy that does them for 112.50 including balancing and 25.00 per joint (Spicers) installed. At least he wont be getting a rusty old POS. Bill

[yachtsmanbill]

Dateline Two Rivers... Hot off the wires !!! Got that linkage swivel yesterday and with 1/2 hour had an operating gas pedal. Cool!! Cleaned up the driveshaft (CLEAN!), and primed and painted it. Dont want to take the DS guy a dirty POS. Thinking about a barber stripe on it when its done. Thats just to yizz off the bald yudges LOL...

Some other stuff showing blasted and epoxy primed core support stuff. Johnny and his new tool box had the foresight to do this much anyway. Standby fellas; theres probably some unicorn semen missing here too LOL...

Thanks again to Loren and TrunkMonkey for the help/advice!  Bill

[WkillGS]

.....Whats the make up on a cross flow radiator support? I hope yer not talking the entire core support, rather just a cut n' weld chunk out of a later model core support.
.....

From what I read here, it's just the bottom piece..... the 2+' long lower cradle. Someone else will have to give you details, I don't have any downflows in my Buick collection.

[Loren At 65GS]

Walt is correct in that the bottom part of the core support is different. It is wider , front to back  in the piece that the radiator sits on. Hope that makes some sense.

You can remove that lower piece from your '64 support and weld in one from a '65.  But whoa there fella, not all '65  Buick Skylark core supports are created equal.  The early '65s had a down flow radiator same as the '64. That means the lower part of the early '65 is the same size as what you have. Oh.. and you can't use a '65 core support with your '64 fenders either. Just doesn't fit. Been there and tried that.

  Loren

 

[elagache]

Dear Bill, Walt, Loren, and mid-60s Buick restorers,

You can remove that lower piece from your '64 support and weld in one from a '65.  But whoa there fella, not all '65  Buick Skylark core supports are created equal.  The early '65s had a down flow radiator same as the '64. That means the lower part of the early '65 is the same size as what you have. Oh.. and you can't use a '65 core support with your '64 fenders either. Just doesn't fit. Been there and tried that.

Okay, mea culpa.  I didn't realize that so much had to be changed between 1964 and 65 to fit the cross-flow radiator.  It might be a good idea to send a PM to Ted Nagel:

http://65gs.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=32

He put a Buick big-block into his 1964 Special wagon and gave me some tips on making the conversion for Biquette.  As far as I remember all he did was has the radiator rebuilt with additional cores to absorb the extra heat.  Another possibility is finding an aluminum radiator that would fit in the 1964 footprint.  Perhaps you can get a model at a bargain price.  Certainly a aluminum radiator will give you extra peace of mind - at least as long as the fans are working!

Cheers, Edouard 

[yachtsmanbill]

Whoaaaaa Silver! I think I need to get the core support in (MU) and see whats what. From what I can tell at a glance is that the two lower saddles are bolted in and theres a bunch of other holes wider apart, in symmetry. Possible the 64 saddles can get removed and later ones installed at a wider stance?


Its too bad that 63-64 Novas didnt run 427's and 409's! I know capacity is gonna be an issue , but the two row V6 rad. should run OK for a shop run on water(frugal). Id at least like to get the cam run in and some edges worn off the rings. In another few weeks, Ill have the XGS back here to help model something more substantial.

Tomorrow Im gonna knock out the brake lines and clean and paint the rear end (for esthetics) and by then some core support install parts should be crossing the big muddy LOL...   Another week or so and it might be time to take the turbine off of turning gear.   Bill

[Loren At 65GS]

Whoaaaaa Silver! I think I need to get the core support in (MU) and see whats what. From what I can tell at a glance is that the two lower saddles are bolted in and theres a bunch of other holes wider apart, in symmetry. Possible the 64 saddles can get removed and later ones installed at a wider stance?
   Bill

  That could work. I have a couple of sets of the lower radiator mounts that bolt in. I don't know if they would fit the tank of a four row radiator core or fit your core support.

  Loren

[yachtsmanbill]

C'mon man, betwen the sawzall, cut off grinder, Miller MIG and a pneumatic pop riveter, anything is possible. Only hold back is your imagination. After I hear this thing run, Ill know what direction to Run In.

Got plugs, wires, cap and rotor today for the HEI. Thats for tomorrow while the place warms up. After that its the two steel lines for the rear brakes and start bleeding. That will complete the whole system, minus wheel cylinders. If theres a leaker, we'll cross that bridge when we get to the River Kwai. Cien por Ciento.
The worst is gonna be cleaning and painting down there. Not much for grease, but road mud? By the mile! After lunch Im gonna hang the core support and get some of that figured out.

Bill, Golden Oldie 65 on V8 told me that the mystery rubber weatherstrip is off the leading edge of the cowl. The cowl is a tight fitting piece; maybe the rear hood lip?

Anyways, we are moving right along. Right now I am where I wanna be. Showered and surfing LOL...    Bill

[TrunkMonkey]

Bill, take pics and measurements of your lower core support, front to back, and the two "side panels" width between each other and the top to bottom.

My '64 convertible had a 300 with the small downflow and I put in a 1965 GS crossflow.

I purchased a "better cooling" unit so I still have the 65 GS radiator, and the 64 downflow.

The GS radiator sets in the lower support, and since I did not have the correct brackets for the bottom. I used thick rubber "comfort mats" with a "honeycomb" that are about 3/4 of an inch and another on the top under the top plate as well as the top plate support rubber isolators and I made a pair of side panels that are 90 degree, bolted to the core support side panels and the 90's hold support the radiator front to back and keep it "pressed" against the front.

It is solid, and I can take some pics this weekend.

If you can give me you measurements, I will compare them to my car before you start cutting, as you may not need to, but only fashion proper support for a radiator, and I can give you the dimensions of what I have that fits.

[yachtsmanbill]

Get that battery charged Mike!  Up early today which means an early start!  Its 0530hrs here now which means an 0800 start. Thats good! Seiously tho, thanks much and I will get as many numbers as I can. Theres been a few guys here that have really been a help, and whilst in between and taking a breather, i'd like to offer a giant THANK YOU for the help and mental core support LOL...    Bill

[Brian]

That mystery weatherstrip piece does indeed go on the front edge of the cowl panel.  It seals to the back of the hood when the hood is closed.

[yachtsmanbill]

So Im guessing this is the orientation?? Thumb towards the trunk?   Bill

[schlepcar]

The bottom photo.....thumb to trunk. The cowl has to be loose or removed to fit right. As you see in the photo....the large gap is closed as you shut the hood. Installing rubbers should be taught by parents not the web.....lol.

[TrunkMonkey]