65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
Announcements => New Members / Bio's => Topic started by: Pete Phillips on November 02, 2016, 01:50:59 PM
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I bought this 3-speed GS coupe a couple of months ago and finally got it hauled home last night. Car still has its 1965 California black and yellow plates; never been owned outside of southern California until now. 3-speed on the floor with full console, at least one repaint, faded, not on the road since 1995, believe the correct mileage is 212,000 so it needs a rebuild. The only rust is the panel at base of windshield (does anyone make reproductions of that panel?). One of the motor mount torsion plates (is that what you call it?) is cracked all the way through--anyone have one of those for sale? I'm new to Buick Gran Sports but not new to Buicks--have 15 or 16 other Buicks, mostly older, including a 3-speed '63 Wildcat conv. and a 3-speed 1970 Wildcat. I like the rare, oddball cars; have three 1949s, two 1948s, four 1932s, one 1912, one 1950, one 1954, one 1958 hardtop wagon, one '59 Electra; a handful of Nash Ambassadors and a couple of Chryslers. Need to sell some--don't we all?
Pete Phillips, BCA #7338
Leonard, Texas
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Sorry, that last photo was not supposed to be there, but I had to stop and photograph this small town Buick/GMC dealership in Fairview, Oklahoma yesterday--1940s time warp--on my way to get the GS.
Pete
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Pete ,
Welcome to the home of THE 65 Gran Sport .
WOW , what a nice find !!!
Thats great another factory 3 speed car . Theres a wealth of information on here as you will find out .
WELCOME ABOARD :hello:
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The only rust is the panel at base of windshield (does anyone make reproductions of that panel?).
One of the motor mount torsion plates (is that what you call it?) is cracked all the way through--anyone have one of those for sale?
Need to sell some--don't we all?
Pete Phillips
Hi Pete - welcome aboard!
Yes, the windshield panel is reproduced - it commonly rusts on A-bodies.
I believe BuickFarm.com has the motor plate adaptors for sale, if not - a member on this forum should have a spare set.
And if you every want to get rid of this one - please let me know! I'm due for another project.
:occasion14:
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Welcome aboard Pete! Glad to have another Buick number in the group. Oh, and nice car!
If the motor mount torsion plate that you refer to is the one that bolts to the engine block, they are sometimes hard to come by. Member Wheelz might have one or a set. Not sure of other availability without some more indepth searching. The motor mounts are reproduced by Buick Farm. The cast iron plates that bolt to the frame cradle and that the motor mount bolts to are possibly available from members. Try posting your needs in our Parts Needed section and I'll bet you'll get some quick answers.
Cheers!
Chuck
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Pete, welcome ! Glad you finally got it home. The shift knob and boot are probably worth the price of the car. LOL
Oh yeah, congrats on the latest Bugle - it's a work of art.
Dan Ankeney
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Nice find Pete,
One of 405 Built. If you think you might need a new dash pad there is a project going on now.
Check out: Dash Pad reproduction for '65 Skylark/ Gran Sport.
JimL
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Pete,
Welcome to the party! I had heard that you had bought a '65 GS. Looks like a extremely clean and rare '65 GS. This will make a nice addition to your Buick collection. This is the place to seek information about the '65 GS and where to find parts for your restoration.
You have done a lot of quality photography for the Buick Bugle. Thank you and congratulations on your new purchase.
John Egel
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Welcome Pete! That sign jolted me - I bought my 65 GS 25 years ago from Steve Jensen.
Neat car, looking forward to seeing this one come to life.
Mark
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Pete, welcome and congratulations on the acquisition! Looks like a great car!
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Pete
Very nice rare Gran Sport, and is that a factory trailer hitch out back? :thumbsup:
Harle
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Harle,
I think you may be right. Someone else looked at that trailer hitch and said it was Buick factory equipment. The plug for the trailer wires is right in the middle of the back-up light delete plate!
Thanks, all of you, for the positive welcome and comments. Tried to start the engine today (it turns over easily and oil is not that dirty), but the starter motor needs a rebuild, and I discovered that to remove the starter is a major operation, so we may just go ahead an pull the whole engine and start the engine overhaul process. It turns so easily that it obviously has little compression.
Pete Phillips, BCA #7338
Leonard, Texas
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Dear Pete, John, Dan, Chuck, Dan, Jim, John, Mark, Jim and mid-60s Buick welcome wagon . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/welcomewagon.gif)
(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/wink_smile_triangle.gif) . . . One question! . . . . what kept ya' from joining sooner? . . . . .(http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/big_grin_triangle.gif)
Seriously, welcome to 65GS.com!! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/welcome_smiley.gif)
I think you'll soon find yourself feeling right at home!!
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
P.S. what would you guys do without me? Who else can provide the welcome wagon!! :laughing7:
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Pete, you might want to consider a mini starter if you need one anyway, room is tight there. You have a great project there!
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Welcome. Nice score on the 3speed 65gs. X2 on that mini starter. It makes life a lot easier the next time it has to come out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Pete, will be curious to know if the arm rest sonsole came in that car. My research has shown that Buick stopped using it when they went to the round style shifters like as 65 gs manuals had. Shifter will hit the console in 2nd and 4th gear, plus it will not open in 2nd or 4th gear.
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Might fit as the 3 spd Trans sits in different spot as 4 spd! Pete, nice find! We needed to get you a Gran Sport!
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Pete, nice find. Welcome to the group of 65gs owners. You will find that we are very helpful with information and parts that you may need. A very sharing group of guy's. Great job with the Buick Bugle. Glad to have you in the fold.
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Pete
Welcome to 65GS.com and congratulations on your very rare 65GS 3 speed.
As you have probably already noticed 65GS.com is a very active, low key, knowledgable and helpful group.
This site was the bases to bring together the group of people that you helped to create the BCA 65 BUICK GRAN SPORT DIVISION.
For this we thank you profusely for your help and extensive exposure in the BCA BUGLE leeding up to the creation of our Division at the 2015 BCA Nationals in Springfield MO.
THANK YOU!!!
If there is anything we can help you with just let us know.
Of particular help you will find the Forum Search Function on the Home Page very helpful.
We have also had a number of special projects to create or find sources for unique parts we need for the Mid 60's Buick A body.
Our current project is reproduction dash pads for the 65 Skylark / GS, if you happen to need one, thanks to the extensive effort of Loren Alexander.
Buy the way I just got my November issue of the BUICK BUGLE covering the 2016 BCA Nationals and it is clean out of the park.
Thanks again
MDKD
Milton Dale
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Welcome Pete!
Just got home from a week on the road. The car certainly looks like a great point to start a restoration.
Loren
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Hi Pete, great looking original GS to add to your Buick collection... All of us are here to help, the combined knowledge of 64-66 A body Buick's is nothing less than awesome !!! Thank You for all of your work in the Buick Bugle, Its a first class publication because of your hard work... :cheers2: I did want to meet you in Allentown but there was so much going on that did not happen and the Four days seemed like 4 hours. Enjoy 65GS.com Tony G Long Island Chapter BCA
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Welcome to your new extended family. If it's 65 GS question you'll find the answer here, but wait there's more... you'll also find a great group of down to earth GS guys here.
Yours is a rare find; photos lots of photos, always include photos.
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Will try to post a few more photos. Took the engine out of the car and started taking it apart. Found several broken piston rings, so I am glad it did not start when I tried to crank it last week. Found a definite ridge in the top of the cylinders, so it will need to be rebored. Internally, this engine is very clean--virtually no sludge in the oil pan. It appears to have had a valve job in the past, but no lower engine rebuild, which is due now.
It also needs a new clutch and pressure plate. Does anyone have a good source for that? CARS, Inc. has clutches for other 1960s Buicks, but does not list this one with the 401 V-8. Still need a passenger side engine mount auxiliary plate. Buick Farm no longer stocks them.
Pete Phillips
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Wow Pete, you're a fast worker! That car did indeed go to a good home! Best of luck with it.
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Hi Pete,
On the recommendation of many here on the Forum, I bought and installed a Centerforce clutch in my restoration. Fit well and I think it will work even better. I bought the kit that includes the pressure plate, disc, alignment tool, pilot bushing and throwout bearing. Centerforce part number KCFT355216. The throwout bearing won't work unless you can attach the two fingers that hold it to the release lever.
Individual part numbers are CFT165552 for the pressure plate and CFT383735 for the disc. I found the kit to be a bit less expensive than buying the individual parts.
Last I heard, Wheelz on the forum had a set or two of the adapter plates. I'd try to contact him to confirm.
Great looking project. Keep the pix and updates coming!
Chuck
PS: I run a Centerforce clutch in my Cobra replica and am very happy with it. Smooth and light pedal effort required.
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Nice car, Pete. Looks like an excellent restoration candidate. Sure that Chuck will chime in soon on clutch and pressure plate recommendations.
As I was writing Chuck indeed chimed in. LOL
Dan
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I don't often beat you Dan. I'm honored! :-)
Pete, might I suggest you start a thread in the "Projects and Restorations" section of the Forum. That will be an easy way for us to follow along on your restoration journey.
Cheers!
Chuck
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X2 on Centerforce. Had one in a big block 71 'cuda and loved it.
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Just so everyone knows the background, the reason the centerforce clutch is available for the 65GS is because the clutch on a 65 GS is the same as an 11" Big Block Chevy. Being common with the BBC opens up many different clutch options for the 65GS.
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Nice 3 speed. Would you mind taking measurements of the shifter height from the console and from the dash in first and second?