My 2000 SSEi (a ton of pics)

Hi everyone,

In another thread, we've been discussing the later model Bonneville's, so I just wanted to chime in an show you all what I ended up getting to replace the Riviera. A 2000 Bonneville! I really was looking for another Riviera but the cost/repair ratio just wasn't jiving with my budget, so I ended up looking for '96-99 SSEi's but came across this gem a few minutes from my house. Worked the owner down to a decent price after a test drive and finding a slew of small issues. So I took it home the next day and started work! Had an interesting list of problems:

-Boost gauge didn't work correctly (turned out to be a stock boost bypass valve and offset actuator - took two weeks to fix)
-Oil pressure gauge pegged to 120 psi (needed new sensor)
-Brakes
-EGR malfuntion code (dirty as all hell)
-EVAP leak (along with a code - turned out it just needed a new gas cap)
-Trunk leak (bad weatherstripping seal)
-Leaking driver's side headlight (filled with water - just dried it out and resealed it)
-Faded headlights and foglights (got a good polishing)
-Interior was filthy (took a good 13 hours to clean)
-Rear driver's side window doesn't work (I think the glass is disconnected from the regulator - working on it)
-Sunroof glass needed adjustment (rear wasn't sealing)
-LIM gaskets leaking (replaced, and found out the reason they leaked was because the LIM bolts weren't torqued down hardly at all - very loose)
-Bad forward transmission mount (made a solid hockey puck mount)
-Needed new rear air shocks

I think that's all the basic problems. There's a few little things like radio lights are out, but that's no big deal. As you can see, I've fixed almost all of those problems and the car is pretty nice. Has 117,300 miles on it now, got it last month at 116,700, so I've been moving it around a bit to prove it's worthiness. But the T-type comes out of the garage soon . Now, pictures!

Filthy mess! Ack!



Ugh...what a pain this was to clean...




Check out this wheel transformation...from this...


To this!






Looking pretty good now!




This picture isn't actually of the finished interior...just what I could do by hand. The carpets were shampooed and steam cleaned after this...



Pulling off the supercharger to fix the bypass valve and then the LIM gaskets...


Old broken transmission mount...

Thanks to the NHL...


Nice and polished headlights!


And finally, clean engine!





My current desktop background...



Next up is an Intense Racing FWI kit, and depending on if I want to mess with it or not, a 3.6" supercharger pulley. That's as far as I'm going with mods. I already have the supporting mods in place: Cooler temperature spark plugs, 180 degree thermostat, and the intake will be on the way soon! I'm having fun with it so far. Pretty quick car for it's size! It's based off of the same platform that my Riviera was, so I'm used to the size as well. It's pretty agile too! Most importantly, it's BUICK powered .

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I miss my Riv . This is a really nice comfortable car, but the Riviera was my favorite 'feel' of a car so far. And trust me, I'm staying on this site because it has some of the best knowledge of the L67's around, and the people here are nice.

Thanks for looking everyone!

-Andrew Z

Looking good. I really like those Bonnes. You should take it back to the previous owner to show him what you did and how good his car could have looked with some care, lol.

nothincame2mind wrote:

Looking good. I really like those Bonnes. You should take it back to the previous owner to show him what you did and how good his car could have looked with some care, lol.

My thoughts exactly. Take it back and be like "LOOK A$#HOLE!!!!!"

Good job cleaning that thing up. It's been resurrected.....

Some love and wow!! How about doing some mods to the motor

Looks great! Very jealous you got a black one.

Haha Ryan and Scott...you're absolutely right, I should. I'm not that kind of person but for goodness sake, the car was a pile of crap compared to what it is now. And it was nice then! The shame of it, the owner was a 'she' and I'm not sure how much she'd appreciate it...

Flyineagle - I'm not sure how far I want to go with the mods. I'm going to eventually do a 3.6" pulley but if I get KR, off it comes. I'm not risking the reliability if I don't have to . But trust me, I wouldn't mind a faster cruiser!

Thanks Rick! I think i was pretty lucky to get a black/gray one. Black is my favorite color, and chrome wheels to boot! I'll bet with your cars, we'd look pretty slick!

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Awesome! great find great fix great car!

...

Flyineagle - I'm not sure how far I want to go with the mods. I'm going to eventually do a 3.6" pulley but if I get KR, off it comes. I'm not risking the reliability if I don't have to . But trust me, I wouldn't mind a faster cruiser!
I would say your very smart not to open up the motor yet at least until something goes wrong that pully might give you some kr maybe about 3 or 4 tops Get your self an Intence computer first then intake ,pulley exhaust and so on at least thats what i would do if i could again.

Nice to see a mistreated car get rescued. Looks good.

Great work. Looks like a completely different car. You're making this decision hard

Wow, what a difference Andrew, you could turn around and sell it for two grand more! Seriously though, great find and decent replacement for the Riv. Two questions, does it feel any quicker? and are the belts easier to replace on this one?

I agree flyineagle...a tuning would probably be more necessary than anything at that point. If I have the capability at the time, I assure you I'm going to do it!

Thanks again guys - nice to know my work is appreciated by many . And sorry manofmany, I figured you'd catch on .

BMD - I actually thought about that right before I read your post. If I were to sell it, just how much COULD I get for it? I might look that up, but I'd rather keep the car at this point! I've already grown attached to it. As far as feeling faster, that's a tough question. My Riv was a Series 1 and slightly heavier, so I have a feeling the Bonneville would have dusted it. However, as per the engine specs, you can definitely tell the Riv had more torque lower in the powerband, and I liked that.

Interestingly for the belts, they're almost exactly the same ease. The way the belts were routed on the Series 1 meant I didn't have to remove the mount to get them off. Luckily for me, the Bonneville doesn't even HAVE that mount there, so it's just as open and easy. Which is fine lol.

Wow, all your work really shows in this car! Looked bad at first but amazing by the end. I love the Bonnevilles with the fog lights where turbo intakes should be. Looks great.

Found out the one I'm looking at is a 2002 and they are asking $3995. Not sure of the miles yet but it's charcoal colored and looks to be in great shape besides a crack in the windshield and fogged headlights.

Can't get much accomplished working 10 hour days

lookin good dude!

Nice job! Car looks good to say the least! It motivated me to polish up the Riv in the garage lastnight. Since its snowing and supposed to snow all weekend here I doubt i will be driving it until like June... poor car, soo neglected.

Thanks guys! It's nice to know a bunch of people can still appreciate a car being saved .

Manofmany - seems like a decent price if the miles arent too high. If you get it and get the windshield replaced, make sure its an HUD windshield. It will say so right on the glass.

I like that idea IBx1 .

I like your Bonny, Andrew. Just curious...Are the center caps on your wheels stock or aftermarket? Somehow they look diffferent to me than what I've seen before.