Well, haven't been on in a while. Sold the '50 B2B and helped my daughter buy a 1964 Buick Riviera. It was a mild custom - lowered, cool paint at one point in its life, custom interior with pinstripes, flame throwers... KOOL! It needs a ton of work, but being a lifelong Buick fan I think it's worth it. I've had a few nailhead cars and think they're amazing. I love the unique sound and the hot factory performance... I had a 65 Wildcat KX (Super Wildcat 425 2x4) that was evil. Hers isn't going to be crazy, but fun nonetheless! Here's a pic of her digging into it to re-seal and refresh the 425. She's been up to her elbows in grease every day cleaning the frame and engine bay. She's removed the engine, trans and rearend, pulled the dash and heater (we will be going to a Vintage Air system). Rebuilt the entire brake system, even bending lines and wants to go disc, but thinks the big aluminum drums look cool... raising her right. I have a question. Have any of you dealt personally with Russell Martin? He is a Buick Guru and I wanted to order parts. I already had some steel shim NOS head gaskets and I have a source for BEST gaskets so I bought a graphite BEST engine gasket set. I wanted to order the front and rear seals from Russ, but I wanted my daughter to make the call so she could get the hang of ordering parts from someone other than eBay or Amazon, lol!! When she called Russ gave her such a hard time he had her in tears. She p***ed the phone to my wife and he grilled her also. Russ told my wife I didn't know what I was doing (I have been a GM, Ford and ASE certified mechanic for over 30 years... but that's irrelevant...) My wife and daughter didn't know what type of gaskets I had, they just knew I wanted a certain part number from Russ, had the part number and description on hand and he wouldn't sell them to her. I understand he knows what works for the nailhead, but to to put a little girl to tears and to rip into a man's wife and then cut down someone he doesn't even know sure seems like bad business. I ended up researching the neoprene seals and BEST was able to help me as well as Federal Mogul. They were even nice to my girls... That's saying something. So far this has been the only negative moment in the entire build... let's pray it stays that way.
I miss my old 64 Riviera I had. Great way to have some quality time with your daughter, and teaching her some good skills that will help her throughout life. My Rivi was just a 401 2 barrel, but it drove great and had plenty of performance for a cruiser. Good thing yours is 64, first year for the ST400, no dynaslow issues like the 63 has.
Congrats on getting your terrific Daughter a Cool ride. Never know who you will come in contact when dealing with anyone operating a business, or supplier of parts & information. very pathetic of this Russell Martin guy to be so self absorbed that he can not deal with others on his level. which is apparently lower than low. I hope that you will never try to do business with him again. for those that are interested in contacting Mr R Martin: Centerville Auto Repair, Gr*** Valley, CA. met his Son Matt at Billetproof in Antioch, CA earlier this year with his truck
Bummer on her and your wife's dealings, my daughter get the same thing when I send her into town for something...even if I write out " a 3 prong heavy duty flasher", the effers will send her back with some solid state thing...."because it's the most popular one we sell"/...I could go on, but really, thing is, many men in that deal with a "mans world" are just *** wipes to women....whether it be car parts, lumber or a plumbing fitting. Take your kid to a swapmeet, have her negotiate a price on something...anything for you, if she can get through a face to face, then the next time something like this happens over the phone, she'll be fine.
Sadly, I stopped doing business with Russ not all that long ago. I build a lot of Nails and was ordering a lot from him until he left me hung out to dry on a set of $200 valve springs that he resold from TA that didn't fit. I have been sourcing my own parts and looking at manufacturing more just because. It ****s, I see this happening more and more with vendors. I am guessing they just get to the point they don't care anymore.
Thanks Everyone! Work has been slow. I had a heart attack and my daughter has been working a lot, which she says is her Buick fund! We have gotten a lot done, and each new part or repair gets her closer to driving it! The engine is currently heading to the machine shop and a lot of goodies have been powdercoated. Here is photo of when we picked it up and another of some of the finished parts. Now that I'm feeling better we should be getting back into it again!
That doesn't seem right talking to some one like that when they are trying to learn something about cars. I am glad your daughter is getting in to cars .Heres my granddaughter Eva helping Pop-Pop. lay down new carpeting in the oldsmobile station wagon.lol. Bruce .
Man a heart attack!!!.I guess we are al showing our age . I am 63.my self. I am glad your feeling better. Keep us up dated on your buick build .Been there and done it too.Bruce.
Still trudging away! Found TA Performance in Scottsdale (DualQuadDave mentioned them above, but I had a brain fart...) awesome folks - made my girls feel like their only customer. The engine is done, and ready to go back in. The firewall has been filled and smoothed and she will be installing a Vintage Air system someday - a college girl working part time with dad helping but that's a big chunk! Some before and afters... Engine all back together - .030 over to clean up the rusty cylinders and all new internals except the crank. Dual quads coming someday. I have a KX manifold but no carbs or linkage so that will be a maybe someday thing. Engine bay - not perfect by any means but 100% better than before and will frame the 425 nicely! And the powdercoated wheels - She's thinking spiders and trim rings! I'm liking her style! Installed -
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