Welcome

Fellas, what's up with all these Rivi's???

How are you all? My name is Rob and I have been in love with Rivieras since I can remember, especially the 72 boat tails. I'm 50yrs old and getting ready to purchase my very first Riviera, the final year (1999). I was told the bottom end needs work.
My question is, "having the engine bulletproofed and is it worth it? Or would a new engine need to be purchased? Are the Rivieras front wheel drive?
And finally, how do I get to view the gallery of Rivieras?

Welcome to the forum!  I moved your post to this new thread so that your post gets more noticed.  Unless there is something wrong with the engine you shouldn't have to touch the bottom end. The transmission is a weaker link than the engine.  

The late model Riviera's are front wheel drive and you can find the Riv gallery's here.  https://rivperformance.editboard.com/f3-showroom

The Well Dressed Car wrote:

Fellas, what's up with all these Rivi's???

How are you all? My name is Rob and I have been in love with Rivieras since I can remember, especially the 72 boat tails. I'm 50yrs old and getting ready to purchase my very first Riviera, the final year (1999). I was told the bottom end needs work.
My question is, "having the engine bulletproofed and is it worth it? Or would a new engine need to be purchased? Are the Rivieras front wheel drive?
And finally, how do I get to view the gallery of Rivieras?

Most likely you can find a good/great used engine if you loo. Try the late '90s Park Avenues with the VIN 1 SC option, it's the same engine and those cars tended to be owned by affluent foks who kept up with maintenance. See http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUICK-PARK-AVENUE-Engine-3-8L-w-supercharged-option-VIN-1-8th-digit-00-/152239058941?hash=item237227affd:g:rIsAAOSws4JW8BUo&vxp=mtr to get an idea of what you might find. They are NOT hard to find, all over the place.

Albertj

Welcome to the site

Bottom end work? Does it knock? Tick? Hot or cold?
Most of the time people mistake the worn out Supercharger Coupler knock for an engine problem that takes about $30 and a few hours to fix.

The bottom end pretty much is bulletproof. Even years of neglect, a 3800 will keep on runnin

Welcome Rob

Abaddon wrote:

Welcome to the site

Bottom end work? Does it knock? Tick? Hot or cold?
Most of the time people mistake the worn out Supercharger Coupler knock for an engine problem that takes about $30 and a few hours to fix.

The bottom end pretty much is bulletproof. Even years of neglect, a 3800 will keep on runnin

+1 for Abaddon's post, wish I'd thought of this: when the coupler in the SC is worn it sounds like a pretty nasty engine problem. People will junk cars over that silly noise...

You may have got yourself a Baaaahgain.

Hey guys, thanks for your welcoming friendships and assistance with my questions...
I will keep you posted on any progress made.