New Guy from California - 65 GS Resto

[TrunkMonkey]

We have chewed a lot of the same grass.

Grew up in the early drag racing scene in SoCal, all my family on both sides were machinists, engineers, mechanics, racers, in planes, trains and automobiles.

Drove Harleys for may years, USAF Crew Chief, and flying aircrew member, retired and then 27 years IT as Director of IT for several corporations in four states in the south east.

(Owned a 1975 Karman Ghia autostick, 1968 Type 3 1600 (U.S.) Square Back, 1973 German Type 3 Square Back and a 1970 Bug while in West Germany in the early 80s, and had a lifelong friend that was a big Hot Rod VW Bug guy in the 70s (had a wild bug with a 1600).

The Nailhead, and me being nearly the same age, just have a relationship that is hard to describe. I trust it to get me anywhere I want to go without giving it any thought.

But none of them impressed me as much as Buicks with the bottom end torque.

Nailheads, and (older) Harley's are cousins.


The 65 GS is a challenge, as specific parts are sometimes hard to come by, but for those that love the, it is worth the journey.

I am partial the the '64 Special and Skylark. (but could not help myself adding a nailhead because, why not?)

There is just something about the 64/65 GM A-Bodys that have a siren's call, and I cannot resist.

[Jim]

Kinda small world, usaf avionics  56 beatle 59 van bitburg early 70's,vans another story .jim

[TrunkMonkey]

Bitburg/Spangdahlem 80-83   

[Jim]

36th ams  bitburg 70-72

[Clatter]

When my dad graduated from college he bought a brand-new 65 Olds Cutlass.
He didn?t even have a job yet.
Ultra high-compression 330 and an M-21.
It was dark green with a white interior and tach on the console.
My Mom used to drive us in it when i was a tot.

Another friend had a 65 GTO convertible in the 90s
389 4-barrel and another M-21 - no console.
We used to rail along the freeways in Phoenix at night with the top down.

Something about 65 A-bodies is indeed the best of the best.
Styling sussed out, true muscle, and not yet bigger and bloated.
Luckily for all of us not everyone knows which cars are the best.

[Clatter]

Been pouring thru you guys' build threads here.
SO much great info!
Learning that there is very much to know.
Things like motor mounts or hood hinges or steering boxes.
Looks like I'll be following trails y'all have blazed before.

Attached are a couple VW pics.
Only because someone asked! 

Also,
Trying to determine if the engine itself was painted the right color.
Obviously, some knickknacks are wrong.
I'm kinda colorblind.
Any chance one of you fine gentlemen could tell from a couple snaps if our engine color is ballpark?

If it's going to need re-painted, then we'll pull it before adding oil and firing it off.
On the stand with no oil - opening it up will be irresistible.
Looks like this project might go to fully apart sooner than later?

[schlepcar]

Very nice project?just when you think we have no more 65 GS builds going another  good one pops up. Car looks complete and still correct under the hood which is the hard stuff to find. Your engine is the same color as mine which is sorta correct but not as good as some others I have seen. The correct color has a shade more bluish tint and maybe someone has found a good supplier. The color I used was originally a diesel color that was very close. Not sure if Bill Hirsh paint is still out there but it was a better match in my opinion. Let us know how it runs and hook up a live gauge to the oil pressure before you fire it.

[WkillGS]

But don't go as blue as the valve cover bolt!
For some unknown reason (to me anyway), there are a lot of pics of blue Buick engines online. I don't know if it's just the camera/pic or if a bunch got painted blue at some point.
Bill Hirsch and POR-15 offer Buick Green engine paint.
https://por15.com/collections/all/products/engine-enamel?variant=39607020945575
https://www.hirschauto.com/ENGINE-ENAMEL/productinfo/EE-QUART/BUI%20GRN%20LT/
Some have used the Detroit Diesel Alpine Green.

Cool V-Dubs!

[Clatter]

Thanks for the assistance gentlemen.

Went by and got another pic in different light.
Maybe this can help determine if we indeed have Buick Green?
A phone camera or computer screen might change the way it looks?

This is a tough one. 
If our color is decently close to Buick Green,
I would be -real- happy to skip re-painting a fresh engine.

Cannot help but feel that Ray the builder would have bought what was sold as Buick Green.
How close does it have to be?
Were there variations from the factory?
Could a real show judge tell if the green was wrong?
Some retail brands do not mix colors accurately?

This is all fascinating to a colorblind guy.
If you told me that block was blue or grey Id believe you.
A great way to suddenly appear a complete idiot to someone who sees colors! 

[dsags]

Looks like Buick green to me.

[cwmcobra]

Me too. I've not experienced judges getting too wrapped up in the exact color.

[Loren At 65GS]

To me, it looks like the correct green with some age to it.
From a judging aspect, you would get dinged for the orange balancer and crank pully re-enforcement piece. Along with dirt and rust showing.
 The thing to keep in mind, from a judging point of view is that the vehicle should look as it would have when presented to the first owner. If you are interested in having a car judged at a BCA event.

  Loren

[schlepcar]

 I believe mine was painted Detroit diesel green because it was the closest thing I could find and it definitely looks different in picture from reality. If you see an original 65 GS the color may look different in a pic.

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53f76ddce4b0ba6a4c5b0e49/1413644487801-VX6S8Q5A6FDFCK3WD65Q/Buick+Green?format=2500w

As far as pic goes this is the closest I have seen on how it may actually look but blue and green always come out funny like red and yellow.

Mine and many others seem too green  in the pics but look normal in daylight and the colors we have used do appear very correct for an aged engine. I have some original pics where the color is blueish and faded to a lighter green with time. There is a newer duplicolor engine color that I was curious about also but have not used it. I personally believe the color you have looks as correct as any we have used but I still think the diesel color looks faded.

[Loren At 65GS]

There are three different "Buick" greens, depending on the model year.
An early green used from 1922-1930. Then another green used from 1933-1938. The third green was used from 1953-1965. These are all different shades of green.
 The year gaps are filled by a Charcoal Grey [ 1939-1940] and a Turquoise [1942-1952].

 Just a little history,
  Loren

[Clatter]

Oh, man, so glad to hear this..

We pulled the dipstick and there was oil in the pan.

Re-painting that motor likely would involve a full teardown and tanking if the paint was going to stick.

Dag,
I keep looking at this:
https://www.nailheadbuick.com/26-most-common-mistakes

Even tho the PO was obviously a skilled builder and had motors throughout his shop,
This makes me SO nervous to just fire off that numbers-matching motor!