More recent pictures of the '95

It's the least I could do! I don't want others to potentially suffer this issue.

I'm still not sure how this thing is still together...

I looked at those pics. What a shame . Out here where I live (Southern New Mexico)... rust is as rare as hen's teeth.

Hey all,

I thought I'd do a little update with some picture on the Riviera...it's still being parted out of course, but I've gotten almost everything out I need to do the engine swap on my Lesabre T-type and wanted to show some Riviera guts.


Most exterior panels removed.


Most of the dash out so I could get the wiring.


Because of the engine cradle issue, the engine and tranny had to come out as one, and out the front. I DO NOT recommend doing it this way lol. It was the biggest pain ever, especially without a car lift.


Oh, and sorry for the crummy pictures lol...trying to use your camera correctly while covered in various engine fluids isn't easy. And for the record, me and my dad did this off the top of our heads. Not bad huh?



Getting the car back into a roller.



Can't wait to get working on this for the Lesabre...


Heater/air box out.


Wiring ready to come out of the engine bay and through that tiny hole in the firewall.


...and out. And very unlike me, I was smart enough to label things before I forgot what they were lol.


And the engine bay is now wireless!



Thanks for looking guys. I thought you might think it was kinda interesting. Doing a project like this really makes you appreciate how much engineering went into these things...or any car for that matter!

How long did it take you pull all of that? I take it you're using the harness from the 95 on the T-Type? Sounds like an awesome project!!

Physically unbolting it and getting out of the car took about 3 hours. That was after all the wiring was disconnected and whatnot. That included taking apart the hubs and axles and whatnot. It was no fun lol. I really wish I could have dropped the cradle instead. At least I'll be able to on the T-type! I'm excited for that project.

And yes I am using the harness. The trick is know what I need to save from the Riviera to make everything work correctly. I want it to still use OBD 1.5, but at the same time, the Lesabre is lacking a lot that the Riviera has. I'm sure I'll need to keep a lot of components to fool the computer into thinking it's still a Riviera.

A lot of guys on Lesabret.com have done Series II swaps, and theres a lot of info. I have a feeling that doing a Series 1 swap with be a LOT easier in many respects. Especially mechanically.

Yes it is interesting, thanks for posting the pics Andrew. I can't spot the heater core? Is the heater core location on the '95 different from other years?

Haha good eye BMD. The heater core is actually on the garage floor about 8 feet away beside the airbag module. It's in the same spot as the other model years

But from the engine bay I can't see the heater hose inlet/outlet pipes? Also, if you can, can you take a pic of the blower location?

Andrew any chance I can get you to send me the original resolution pics of the riv torn all apart through email or something?

Turtle - absolutely. You have a PM.

BMD - here's some pics for ya.

This is the heater core, complete with blower motor. The blower is on the right side beside that wall outlet. It's about 9 inches in diameter, and effectively is installed right behind the glove box. The two vent holes closest in the picture are the vents right above the center console.


The hole in this picture above and to the right of the gas pedal is where the core connects with the hoses for the heater/AC.


Engine bay view - it's the hole just to the left of the master cylinder.


I guess that would be a bit confusing - all the hoses and hardware were removed in most of the pictures. In this picture you can see right above the exhaust the two hoses for the heater covered in the silver heat wrap.

Thanks Andrew, but for some reason the pics aren't comin' through?

That's weird....they were working last night. Turns out my server is having issues. Should be fixed by tonight...

Pics workin' now. So the heater core and blower must be removed as one?, what a b*tch! Thanks Andrew those pictures are very useful.

The framework for them needs to be removed as one unit, but you can remove the blower motor separately. There's one 3 screws holding it in, but for what I was doing, there was no need to take it out. The actual heater core itself isn't hard to take out once the wiring is out of the way, but you need to take the airbag out first. THAT is not easy...

Another update: The Riviera is done being de-constructed and is on it's way to Buick Heaven tomorrow .





Just so you know, i did remove the driver's seat - had to get it down the hill somehow .

Some better views of the subframe mounts. What you can't really tell from the pictures is that one the way down the hill from the garage, the frame rust completely snapped so the frame is only now held in by the front 2 mounts. That was a close call in my opinion - That could have happened on the highway...



One more picture tomorrow - Riv on the trailer

Good Grief !!! I never cease to be amazed at what rust can do. Makes me thankful to be living in the desert.

Well, its definitely gonna be a sad moment when she leaves, too bad. Could ya' leave the pics up for awhile, purely for reference?

Not a problem at all! The pictures are uploaded to the webserver downstairs in a closet under my steps, so they're not going anywhere!

Wow, Andrew, this series has a certain horrorlike fascination! I just can't look away.

It ought to have a title--"Riviera Autopsy--Oil and Guts," or "The Riv Ripper of Pittsburgh," or "I Spit on Your Subframe."

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to sleep tonight...

man....these cars look good even gutted.

Haha I should change the title of the entire post. Those are both awesome.

Well, of course, and as I expected, the tow company did not come through. Called another and we're trying for tomorrow morning before I go to work. We'll see. As much as I hate to see the car go, I know there's not turning back now and I really DO want it gone. It still upsets me quite a bit...

Ok finally...the car got picked up today. Moving forward first, here's pictures of what happened when the car got loaded onto the flatbed:

Driver's side, same as always:

Passenger side: Completely disconnected - ripped itself apart as it was being backed onto the flatbed. It was loud and nasty...at least it wasn't me and on the highway :'(


Anyway, the saddest thing to happen to me involving a car:







Goodbye 'ol girl! You never failed me!

But now...time to move her heart and soul into my T-type and burn some rubber

Heart wrenching pics for sure.THE QUEEN IS DEAD LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!

Yeah, that pretty much sucks. The last four sequential shots are really telling of how you or any car guys feels when he sees his baby disappear from view.