Back in Black

Agreed

Daryl - I got the wheels and tires as a package on Tirerack.com. They have such great service there, and the combo was at my house in under 48 hours.

And as long as your Riv isn't black, I can allow some copying .

Al - So far I haven't found any Buick caps that fit. All I know so far is that the caps are 600mm (2 5/16") at the widest. The closest I 've found by measurements alone is these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-4-Buick-Riviera-Lesabre-aluminum-Wheel-Center-caps-NOS-/230968320388?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ABuick&hash=item35c6c8e184&vxp=mtr

However, I think the clips are too wide of a diameter to work properly. Today I just ordered some laser cut acrylic disks so I can make inserts for my existing Sport Edition centercaps. I'd like to stick with the 'R' logo found in our grilles and trunk lock covers. If I end up finding anything, I'll be sure to post about it!

What bolt pattern?

They're 5 x 115, but do require centering rings, which they include in the price. Mine fit perfect.

Got home from work the other day and it was about time to give the car a bath. I also wiped down the engine a bit too, just because. Few pics!





Gotta get my new bumper painted and installed...the bumper was already smashed when I got the car last year, so it's way overdue.


Rear bumper too lol.






My desktop background. Im still glad I painted my lower moldings. Makes the whole car look so much better.


Not too bad looking still!



Thanks for looking everyone!

Looks great. I was tinkering with the idea of "Gran Sport " emblems on the sides as well at some point. Dunno though.

BTW, I picked up a used center cap from one of the SE-14 wheels the other day. I may order some various Riviera round emblems/caps and see if any may fit glued on.

Z-type wrote:

Al - So far I haven't found any Buick caps that fit.

BTW, as I mentioned in another thread, I picked up a center cap for these wheels and I've found a couple/three different Riviera center caps that may be a direct or very close fit with some minor modifications. It looks like they are a similar size to the center cap opening on the Lucerne 17x7 wheels I am also considering so I'll get the caps and test both and post the results.

Al

Hey Al, thanks! As for the centercaps - can you post an example of what Riviera center caps you were referencing?

your 17" spokes make me really want 17" spokes. Looks wonderful.

17 " is cool but  i'd like to see 18" on our cars,hm.....gotta see first!

Thanks! I love the look of them so much. Makes the car look completely different. I think 18" would look great! In my case, I was trying to stay more 'period correct' and didn't want to go TOO big.

Here you go...  not great photos, but....

The first was waaaay too big.   The second was only a couple mm too big in diameter once you took the plastic center out.  Another downside was that in prying the plastic center out, the glue holding it in pulled the chrome plated "R" off of parts of the back of the plastic center.  If someone took more care, maybe that would not happen, but it might be tough.

Haven't had anything to update for a while, but speaking of centercaps, I'm still waiting for my friend to do my damn decals for them so I can make them. They're going to look nice on my wheels though.

In other news, I did another transmission fluid pan drop and filter change, adding more DEX VI this time. Turns out I didn't really NEED to do this, but I did anyway because it made me feel better. The fluid (even with mostly old DEX III) was very clean and pink/red and the filter, magnet, and pan we nearly spotless.

And thanks to Matt's help, I got an Aeroforce gauge!! I'm excited to use it. I have it mounted in the door with my boost gauge where the vents used to be. Unfortunately, I didn't have the foresight to install the power wire (I assumed it would get it's power from the OBD II connector) so I haven't been able to really use it yet. I would have finished but it's raining. I'm going to a short jaunt to Erie, PA tomorrow so I'd like to have the gauge working so I can monitor my trans temperature and make sure my cooler is cooling enough.

Fun!

I'm interested in that Intense intake but it's listed for 97+. don't think there is a difference as far as the intake goes on the Rivieras that would prevent this kit from working on a 96. Is there something im missing?

You're good as long as you have a supercharger.

96_Juggernaut wrote:

I'm interested in that Intense intake but it's listed for 97+. don't think there is a difference as far as the intake goes on the Rivieras that would prevent this kit from working on a 96. Is there something im missing?

I really dig that avatar  

Though you guys would like it  

Been a while since I updated! Thought I'd through a few pictures this way. I meant to show this picture of my Aeroforce weeks ago. I debated for hours whether or not I'd keep my boost gauge, but since I've had my fair share of vacuum lines crack on me, I figured it might be a good idea to have in sight all the time. I may regret not having that left side vent come Winter, but at least my heated seat works still lol.



I had to use the auxiliary power tap-in with this model of Aeroforce, and to do that without cutting anything, I got an Add-a-Fuse and plugged it into my radio fuse. This way, the gauge turns off when the door opens and doesn't stay on longer than it needs to.





And I finally got my centercaps!! A friend found these for me, and they can be ordered with almost any background and script colors. Lucky me, they come in 2 1/4", which is EXACTLY the size of my Sport Edition center caps on my SE-14 wheels. They're actually a domed polyurethane sticker, with vinyl underneath.




Now no one will be the wiser that my wheels aren't stock...lol






I haven't had to do much to the car lately. The only thing I'd like to do before winter is install my front F41 sway bar. I've been so busy with the Century and Skyhawk I haven't had a full day to sit down and take the car apart to do it.

Thanks for looking everyone!

Holy crap, those caps turned out nice! (+)

Nice.

Nice caps man

WOW those caps are legit. Nice find

Thanks! It was one of those details that was making me nuts, and it had to be fixed. Couldn't have turned out any better!