Finally Home!

[Bigpig455]

Aside from picking up the headers this week, I also finally brought the car home!

In the inagural 6 mile ride I found:

Car runs strong - will spin RR (open diff) tire from standstill with no brake preloading, and will continue to spin until you've had enough

Something smoked under the dash and the blower motor stopped working along with burning plastic smell - preliminary look shows no melted wires thank god - maybe the resistor?

Like 20 turns lock to lock - might have to look for a newer steering box.

Washed it! Alot more orange in the Flame red than I though!

Intermittant rocker type noise when idling - have to change oil and listen hard

Pics to follow

Rhett

[Bigpig455]

Washed - for the first time in 3 years -

Rhett

[Bigpig455]

Dont know what happened to the attached pics - lemme try again..

[wildcat65]

Really nice.

[Loren At 65GS]

Rhett,
Looks very nice!!
My first guess would be the switch for the blower. Seems to be a weak spot from my experience with the '65s.

Loren

[dsags]

Very nice 

[Bigpig455]

Thanks to you all - I'm pretty pleased with it too.

Loren - I'll break out the ohmeter - Any idea if the switch is repoduced or has any crossover (olds, etc..?)?

[Chris]

Car looks really nice... very classy color combo.   

I see what you mean by the orange tint to the paint.

Chris

[GSDavid]

Very nice car!!  Looking good!

[Brian]

Make sure you are using some kind of zinc additive/break in lube in your oil.  If not, you could be wearing out a cam lobe and causing the ticking noise you are hearing.  I put a bottle of the comp-cams break in lube (zinc additive) in all my Buicks every time I change the oil.

[gngeorge]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET CAR...RHETT

[Bigpig455]

I'll definately add the zinc when I change the oil, thanks for the tip.....

The car has been repainted, so I dont know if the orange tint is just on my car or all Flame Red cars are that color..I had a 71 Skylark that was alot closer to Blood Red - much more blue in it...

Sorry about the crappy pics - When the weather gets better I'll get the thing out in the sun and take some clearer shots

I'm told the car was built with a black top, and the previous owner changed it over to white (which I like better anyway) It also has a red top boot, and as nice as the interior color is, it's a little TOO much red....I'll probably pick up a white top boot at some point. I have one on the Corvair and I like the look, it'll break it up a little...

Rhett

[Loren At 65GS]

Rhett,
The switch is not reproduced , that I'm aware of. NOS do come up on ebay now and then. It is used in both '64 and '65. I'll have to look up the part # for you. Try to get that latter tonight for you.

Loren

[Loren At 65GS]

Blower switch:
GM part #
Group 9.275 pt# 1362737
It is used on '64 and '65 Special, Skylark, and '65 GS. Both non A/C and factory A/C vehicles. It is not the same as the switch used on the Buick Custom dealer add-on A/C.

Good luck on your hunt.

Loren

[Bigpig455]

Found a used oneon ebay for 20.00 - I'll grab it and put it on the shelf if it isnt the failure point.

Loren - It sound like you've had personal experience with the blower/switch failure. When mine failed, the car filled with a strong burnt plastic smell and when I turned the blower switch on, there was a definate draw on the electrical system and the lights will dim...

My first thought was that the blower cage was physically blocked, although it was working fine when I bought the car. I suppose a mouse nest could have fallen in there, but it seems kinda sudden. I didnt find any melted wiring at the motor terminal or the resistor either.

I'll try the switch quick and hope for the best, but I also wanted to check to see the motor/cage was able to turn free. Whats my best point of access? Through the cowl/wiper panel? I cant see the access to the fan when I put light into the cowl well, but I know it has to be there. As I look at the shop manual, it appears the heater core housing doesnt give access to the blower are either..and I'm pretty sure pulliing the blower motor itself is no picnic...I hate to start dismantling without knowing where I'm going.

Any suggestions?

Rhett