My 1998 Buick Riviera named Christine

My last car was named Christine, so technically it's Christine II, but it fits considering every time I talk bad about her, she gives me issues. Anyway below are a few pictures of her. Sorry about the mess and dirt all around, but it's winter and it's impossible to keep things clean. Below in no particular order are photos that I have from my phone.

OOO I like the pic of that hood looks cool with the water on it.

Just don't walk directly in front of or behind 'her'... On the bright side, you shouldn't need to buy any parts, as they will spontaneously regenerate themselves.

Tank wrote:

OOO I like the pic of that hood looks cool with the water on it.

I know, I wish I would have had my Nikon D40x on me when I took that. It would be great as a wallpaper. Too bad all I had was my phone.

I love how water beads up on her sexy body after a good wax job.

Eldo wrote:

Just don't walk directly in front of or behind 'her'... On the bright side, you shouldn't need to buy any parts, as they will spontaneously regenerate themselves.

If only that were the case.

My last car earned the nickname after I was crushed against the seat and the steering wheel once. No joke, the car literally had a mind of it's own. I was sitting in it talking on my cell phone, and the next thing I know the door locks start going crazy, and suddenly the seat starts to move up towards the steering wheel. Totally freaked me out. I still don't know what the hell happened. The seat never did it again, but the doors would randomly lock and unlock all the time. It'd turn the heater on at random times too, and would refuse to start one minute and the next it'd turn right over. I swear it was possessed. It made it fun to drive in a way. I guess that's what I get for buying my cars from recently dead people.

Also does anyone know where I can find carpet that matches the trunk area? I'd love to reorganize the stereo equipment and put some carpet over the boarding. I used the boards so I didn't have to mount the equipment to the car itself. The wires and the bare boarding drive me insane, luckily I don't see it unless I open the trunk.

GMFreak8 wrote:

Also does anyone know where I can find carpet that matches the trunk area? I'd love to reorganize the stereo equipment and put some carpet over the boarding. I used the boards so I didn't have to mount the equipment to the car itself. The wires and the bare boarding drive me insane, luckily I don't see it unless I open the trunk.

25646201 is the trunk floor molded carpet; Monster shows available, appx. $120 plus. 25672020 is the board, trapezoid shaped, that goes in the trunk up against the rear seat. Monster shows for $16.- plus, probably cheapest from dealer due to shipping, dealer price is $20.

What I would do is one of the following:

1) ask a dealer parts counter if they can get yardage of the fabric that is used to cover that board. They used to call such things "out of fiche calls." If GM has the stuff, they probably call it "yardage." My guess is the number might be 125-something, most of the other carpet yardage is. It also might be a RPO (repair parts organization) number, which I can not get to but the dealer can. If you do ask as the dealer, might be good to figure out when they are not busy as it may take them a long time to find it and almost no matter what it won't be a huge sale.

2) if your nearby dealer actually has a body shop, ask one of the body shop service writers where they get yardage fabric to match the trunk (GM uses the stuff by the linear mile in the different cars).

3) I found this using Google:

http://www.yourautotrim.com/trunklining.html

It may work, looks like the dark heather will match the trunk. It's $5 per running yard.

4) Depending on the size of your market, a fabric store such as JoAnn Fabrics may have the stuff in stock, you could phone and ask. They typically have headliners, vinyl and some fabrics in stock even in smaller markets. Hope this helps.

Albertj

GMFreak8 wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Just don't walk directly in front of or behind 'her'... On the bright side, you shouldn't need to buy any parts, as they will spontaneously regenerate themselves.

I guess that's what I get for buying my cars from recently dead people.

Now that's something i never thought of doing, looking for used cars in the obituaries.

Rickw wrote:

Now that's something i never thought of doing, looking for used cars in the obituaries.

Also a great place to find newly-available, rent-controlled apartments...

Don't live in a rent controlled area, otherwise would have thought of sooner.
Florida ought to be a good place to find nice clean cars thru the obit's.
Never thought of that while i lived there. But back then I didn't need the deals from the dead.
Had a good friend that was the GM at the largest Cadillac dealership in Tampa Bay area.
Nice, clean, low mileage nearly new Eldorado's (my choice) for less than trade in.

Rickw wrote:

GMFreak8 wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Just don't walk directly in front of or behind 'her'... On the bright side, you shouldn't need to buy any parts, as they will spontaneously regenerate themselves.

I guess that's what I get for buying my cars from recently dead people.

Now that's something i never thought of doing, looking for used cars in the obituaries.

Haha, I didn't purposely do it. Just so happens both of my Buicks have been white and the previous owners had passed away. Last one I actually stalked the son of the guy who died until he sold it to me. The Riviera, i didn't know it until I bought it, found the registration of the last owner and googled his name. Only result was an obituary. I don't want to know what from, be my luck it'd be carbon monoxide.

I will admit, I've apartment hunted from the obits and from the rescue scanner I have in my car. May be mean but last time I did it, I heard "LOL DOA on scene 27840 elm manor apartments" over the scanner. I went the next day and asked about it. Unfortunately someone had nabbed it already.

GMFreak8 wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Just don't walk directly in front of or behind 'her'... On the bright side, you shouldn't need to buy any parts, as they will spontaneously regenerate themselves.

If only that were the case.

My last car earned the nickname after I was crushed against the seat and the steering wheel once. No joke, the car literally had a mind of it's own. I was sitting in it talking on my cell phone, and the next thing I know the door locks start going crazy, and suddenly the seat starts to move up towards the steering wheel. Totally freaked me out. I still don't know what the hell happened. The seat never did it again, but the doors would randomly lock and unlock all the time. It'd turn the heater on at random times too, and would refuse to start one minute and the next it'd turn right over. I swear it was possessed. It made it fun to drive in a way. I guess that's what I get for buying my cars from recently dead people.

you hit the memory (exit) button.. this has happened to me before

What's that box on top of your coolant overflow tank?

Looks like HID conversion kits for his lights (has identical box behind passenger headlamp as well)? Just a guess.

Yes, that is an HID ballast, he mentioned he mounted it there in the HID thread.

Travis, I don't know if his last car was also a Rivi or not, but if he hit the EXIT button,
the seat would not have moved towards the steering wheel...

Hometown Hero wrote:

Looks like HID conversion kits for his lights (has identical box behind passenger headlamp as well)? Just a guess.

Eldo wrote:

Yes, that is an HID ballast, he mentioned he mounted it there in the HID thread.

Travis, I don't know if his last car was also a Rivi or not, but if he hit the EXIT button,
the seat would not have moved towards the steering wheel...

Ah, I see. Didn't read that thread.

Dale

4"FWI. K&N Filter. 180* Stat. 104 plugs.

Current Rivieras. 1970, 1996 SC.
Long lost Rivieras. 1966 GS clone, 1970, 1990.

Whats your sytem rated @ RMS? Your Polks are what 1200-1500 RMS a piece? I was originally gunna go with Bravox speakers and Zapco amps in my Riv. But out of all the years I have dealt in aftermarket audio I had my best luck with my old school Rockford Fosgate Power and Punch amps, as well as Soundstream. I have yet to see an amplifier surpass the build quality of my old school Reference 700. The RF Power 500a2 I have is very close, but they just don't build em like that anymore. Such a shame.

Hometown Hero wrote:

Whats your sytem rated @ RMS? Your Polks are what 1200-1500 RMS a piece? I was originally gunna go with Bravox speakers and Zapco amps in my Riv. But out of all the years I have dealt in aftermarket audio I had my best luck with my old school Rockford Fosgate Power and Punch amps, as well as Soundstream. I have yet to see an amplifier surpass the build quality of my old school Reference 700. The RF Power 500a2 I have is very close, but they just don't build em like that anymore. Such a shame.

Oh jeez, I can't even remember what I'm running RMS. I honestly believe it's 1400 Watts total RMS, with each woofer carrying 700. It's plenty loud enough for me. I'm actually looking for better full range speakers next. I'm not even remotely worried about the bass output. I rather have ear bleed inducing highs and mids.

I can't believe the quality of the Polk and JL Audio combination. Couldn't beat the price either. Got the subs for $300 from Amazon with $3.99 overnight shipping (got my prime membership worth there). I'm running an infinity amp and speakers for the full range right now at 90 watts RMS x4. Doesn't quite do it for my anymore. I'm not all that impressed with the amp either. I've got a nail stuck in the rear gain adjustment (otherwise the rear left gets all the output) and the thing loves to overheat and reduce power to 70 watts when all the way up in the summer. Meanwhile my 1400 watt RMS mono amp is as cool as a cucumber.

GMFreak8 wrote:

Nope, that wasn't possible. The exit function hadn't worked on that car since I had gotten it. Wasn't a big deal considering I don't use the function anyway.

Kyle, what kind of car was Christine I, anyway?

Hometown Hero wrote:

Looks like HID conversion kits for his lights (has identical box behind passenger headlamp as well)? Just a guess.

That's correct. I didn't have any other ideas on where to put the ballasts and it seemed like a fitting place. Especially after not being able to feel my fingers. I gotta say though, I'm downright amazed at the difference HIDs make.

Eldo wrote:

GMFreak8 wrote:

Nope, that wasn't possible. The exit function hadn't worked on that car since I had gotten it. Wasn't a big deal considering I don't use the function anyway.

Kyle, what kind of car was Christine I, anyway?

A 1990 Buick Electra Park Avenue. She was sent to the crusher for $225 a few days ago. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye properly. I did snag the hood ornament and keys though. I'm man enough to admit, i shed a tear when she was gone.

And here I thought Christine was a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, silly me .

Nice car man.

Ironclad-454 wrote:

And here I thought Christine was a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, silly me .
.

Nope, 1958 Plymouth Fury, though I admit they're closer than a Pinto and a Bobcat.

"Hell hath no fury like a Fury scorned..."

Ironclad-454 wrote:

And here I thought Christine was a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, silly me .

Nice car man.

Haha, A nice 1954 Buick Roadmaster would have been such a better fit for the movie IMHO, especially with it's menacing giant chrome grille.

Thanks for the compliment. Hope to get a new coat of paint for it eventually. I almost hate owning a car I love. I go broke fixing it up and modifying it.

I know what you mean about the high end having to be good. I made sure I went the extra mile with the wattage and speaker quality. My TRX 4.880 is rated: 130 x 4 @ 4ohms and 220 x 4 @ 2ohms, which is plenty, my TRX 2000D gets luke warm running the sub but never hot so it mates perfectly in my eyes. Where as the 880 is ice cold and turned basically all the way down and it still screams, plus the watts are on tap if I ever for sum odd reason decide to upgrade.