New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv

Subject: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:08 pm

Wish she had known how to take of a car! Love this car. First week she had it the water pump froze. The car had obviously been wrecked and it appears that the gear drive portion of the SC has been replaced. So I'm looking forward to restoring this car for my daily driver. The car currently has 152,000 miles on it and it goes like stink! Needs a new rack and pinion (manual steering to the left) and a new AC compressor (tried recharging and had oil spewing from the shaft seal.

Oh yeah we're in the Little Rock area!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:19 pm

kimble01 wrote:: Wish she had known how to take of a car! Love this car. First week she had it the water pump froze. The car had obviously been wrecked and it appears that the gear drive portion of the SC has been replaced. So I'm looking forward to restoring this car for my daily driver. The car currently has 152,000 miles on it and it goes like stink! Needs a new rack and pinion (manual steering to the left) and a new AC compressor (tried recharging and had oil spewing from the shaft seal.

Oh yeah we're in the Little Rock area!

The gear drive portion of the SC may have been replaced because that's the one-hand-behind-the-back approach to an SC overhaul.

The rack and pinion - watch out they are unique to Buicks of that vintage. Not goldplated but not cheap either due to the Magnasteer. IMHO either buy one from GM through monsterpartsonline.com or gmpartsdirect.com and install it yourself (they should come with new tie rod *ends* included, that's $$ right there) or get a remanufactured Cardone. If you need to cheap out consider getting a rack from moradpartscompany.com.

The AC compressor is shared across a number of GM cars. *While you have it evacuated* be sure to put one of those $40 variable orifice expansion valves in the system. Your comfort will be superb and your wallet will be fatter (the Riv system is intended for variable orifice although it works with either) because the VO valve saves power.

Consider putting stiffer (Gabriel, KYB) struts on the front if that has not been done already and you want a taut(er) sportscar ride.

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:34 pm

Yes, I already found the Moradpartscompany ebay store had a used one. What about just putting a shaft seal in the compressor?

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:27 pm

kimble01 wrote:: Yes, I already found the Moradpartscompany ebay store had a used one. What about just putting a shaft seal in the compressor?

I have no experience with shaft seal replacement, good luck!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:29 pm

Is there a place to look up VIN numbers and see what this car came with? Cuz it does have the CD player. So I'm wondering what is in there!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:08 pm

kimble01 wrote:: Is there a place to look up VIN numbers and see what this car came with? Cuz it does have the CD player. So I'm wondering what is in there!

By 1998 pretty much all Rivs were similarly equipped. IIRC options were sunroof or not; a pearl paint, a theft alarm (almost none sold, as the Riv had a theft deterrent system standard as part of keyless entry), a CD changer under the rear package shelf operated via the radio and not via a separate remote (almost none sold), and a Prestige Package that included traction control, a self-dimming inside mirror and power lumbar adjusters that almost *all* of them came with. I think there may have also been a factory subwoofer available but don't quote me please...

That's right - the indash AM/FM/cassette/CD, the power windows, mirrors, front seats and antenna; remote keyless entry; dual zone automatic climate control; cruise control; power remote trunk release and leather-wrapped steering wheel were all standard on the '98.

So again not meaning to insult or anything, just saying that the lookup might be a waste of time.

That said - if you search on this site you will find a lookup that will let you determine how many Rivs (there were less than 11,000 1998s made) were deliverd with your exact same color and options.

If I was you I'd spend time looking on eBay for a factory service manual... you will find it comes in very, very handy and usually you can find them (3 volume set) for $25 - $50 plus shipping.... find one in the price range = buy it and don't settle for a Chilton's...

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:17 pm

Nice info, and great advice. Thanks, you've saved me some time!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:28 pm

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t6444-faq-how-rare-is-your-riviera-or-other-gm-car

_________________
'05 GTO 6.0L • 6-spd • 95k miles • 0-60: 4.8s • 16.9 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:26

'95 Celica GT 2.2L • 5-spd • 165k miles • 0-60: yes

'98 SC Riviera • 281k miles • 298 HP/370 TQ • 0-60: 5.79s • ET: 13.97 @ 99.28 • 4087 lb • 20.1 avg MPG • Nelson Ledges Lap: 1:30
3.4" pulley • AL104 plugs • 180º t-stat • FWI w/K&N • 1.9:1 rockers • OR pushrods • LS6 valve springs • SLP headers • ZZP fuel rails
KYB GR2 struts • MaxAir shocks • Addco sway bars • UMI bushings • GM STB • Enkei 18" EV5s w/ Dunlop DZ101s • F-body calipers
EBC bluestuff/Hawk HP plus • SS lines • Brembo slotted discs • DHP tuned • Aeroforce • Hidden Hitch
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles
^^^ SOLD ^^^ frown

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:38 pm

Welcome. Got any pics of the Riv?

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:55 pm

J. Chris Davis wrote:: Welcome. Got any pics of the Riv?

These will be "before" pics! Like I said, she didn't take care of it. Today I replaced the passenger outside door handle, and R&R'd the speaker that wasn't working, got it going. Couldn't get the power window to work, suspect the motor may be weak. I'll take some pics and put 'em up in a while. It's a hunerd and 3 or so outside right now!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:15 pm

Good Grief ... 103 !?!?! Where are you...Phoenix ??? scratch

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:51 pm

nope little rock!!! he said that at the top of the page. i cant imagine 103 but western ny can get high 90's with 100% humidity so i think it could be the same.

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:50 pm

So today I went to the picknpull and there was a 96 Riviera in just about flawless condition, white with tan interior. I swear the inside of that car looks new. So far I've gotten the AC compressor (what I was really there for) and the all the body side moldings on the bottom and the braces for the passenger side front and all the lights that go in there (daughter...) The rack and pinion is there, I need one, and now I'm gonna look at the write up for pulling it!

Subject: Re: New Owner of daughter's 98 Riv Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:56 pm

kimble01 wrote:: So today I went to the picknpull and there was a 96 Riviera in just about flawless condition, white with tan interior. I swear the inside of that car looks new. So far I've gotten the AC compressor (what I was really there for) and the all the body side moldings on the bottom and the braces for the passenger side front and all the lights that go in there (daughter...) The rack and pinion is there, I need one, and now I'm gonna look at the write up for pulling it!

There is a set of posts on this site about parts to get that have become unobtainable, you might want to have a look. The stainless wheel arch trim pieces for instance would be good to get if you have the $. The chrome escutcheon for the trunk lock if yours is corroded and the junk car's is not. The grille. The taillight (it comes out as one big unit including the license plate holder). There are some others, the posting lists many.

Albertj