69GSColorado's 1996 Riviera GS -- New Tail Light Design!!!

Goddamn, that is one sexy hood!

I said ~65ºF ambient because that's abut the temperature that causes ECT to drop below 158ºF with a 160º t-stat at cruising speed. On hotter days, it stays above that. Below 158º with stock PCM, the engine has no protection against knock, so you will hear it banging like a hammer if much above 3ºKR equivalent. In cooler weather you'll see 155º, even cooler in winter. One scan during a freeway cruise on a cold winter day, ECT dropped to 145ºF and stabilized until I slowed down a bit.

I know 20º drop doesn't seem like much, but go another 20º and you're not much warmer than ambient at Death Valley - hot to us, frigid for an engine. Point is, cylinder wall wear follows an exponential curve as temperature drops. It's not a linear 20º each time. Quick search dug up this image from Big Block Ford Engines, which led me to the discussion below:



Note the curve is like Cobra Valley's 50-hr example. Here's a thread where some Ford truck guys are having the same discussion:

http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=46691

I don't believe the t-stat (as a restriction) affects coolant pressure enough to matter. The pressure is created from heat. I've seen racers use block-off plate with a 1/2-3/4" hole to eliminate the stat, which is considered a point of failure. Cooling temp is determined by size of the hole. That's what I meant about running w/ no stat.

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So I called around to different salvage yards and found one located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, about 1.5 hours from my hometown for $75.

That's an incredible deal on an aluminum Riv hood. Did you weigh the OEM hood and the finished product?

Daaaaaaang....super cool

Haven't weighed it, but I'd say it gained maybe 8 pounds or so at the most. Factory hood shocks support it perfectly with no strain at all.

Problems waiting for a shop to do a project like that seems to happen all too often. It's like pulling teeth trying to make people earn their own living. It's crazy sometimes. It was like that for me doing the pillar gauges and that was a much simpler project - ended up taking just as long as your hood did. It was worth the wait though - that looks unbelievable. Did you have a hard time getting the Jaguar hood vents?

69GSColorado wrote:

Grandma’s Sunday cruiser had officially been transformed into a menacing, muscular machine that any automotive enthusiast can appreciate.

Yup. You no longer have a sleeper Riv!

Codith, I was able to find the vents from an OEM Jaguar parts store online. Can't remember the name of the website. They were a little pricey, but not as bad as I would have guessed. I want to say $150 or so for the pair.

Sweet build pics Jordon! I don't think I could have been patient enough to say "see you in 6 months", let alone doing that twice. I did mean building a second hood, but was only half serious. Shipping something like that would make it not an option. I'll just have to try duplicating the work.

Ordered my Christmas present today! While I had given serious thought to the 97+ front suspension swap, I decided to pass and order new 96 KYB GR2 struts from RockAuto. They were having a closeout sale at only $32 per strut! Can't beat that.

69GSColorado wrote:

Ordered my Christmas present today! While I had given serious thought to the 97+ front suspension swap, I decided to pass and order new 96 KYB GR2 struts from RockAuto. They were having a closeout sale at only $32 per strut! Can't beat that.

Maaaaannn, you should have gotten the stuff to do the 97 swap. It's worth it. On the bright side you could just go straight to coilovers instead of using OEM 97+ springs.

With the money I just spent on my hood, I'm not comfortable dropping well over a grand on custom lowering springs, Grand Prix GXP front and rear brakes, 97+ Spindles and 97+ Struts. If I was going to do the swap, I'd do it right, and not skimp on springs or brakes. I'm just not at a point where I can swing that financially right now.

In a few weeks, I'll be installing these struts along with my Addco front and rear sway bars and Riv Performance sway bar links. Should make for a fantastic handling upgrade!

Plus, my wife and I will be purchasing a new car in the next month or two to replace her Mustang so I'm on a short leash when it comes to ordering any more parts lol. I don't have a problem with it, as we've narrowed our search to the car of my dreams. After letting her get behind the wheel, she was sold. I knew I married the perfect woman.

I bet if you did the 97+ swap and swapped calipers/rotors with her she would never know the difference

2015 regal gs?

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After letting her get behind the wheel, she was sold. I knew I married the perfect woman.

Missing detail: 6-speed manual option? Say yes and I'm sold.

You'll love those new sway bars, Jordan. They were a nice upgrade on my car.

It'll never come close to that new GS though...you'll love the heck out of that car too!

It will be an auto 2013 GS. We've been looking at models with under 20K miles for 15K less than MSRP. Actually drove 14 hours to OKC two weeks ago to pick one up with only 4K miles on it but walked away because the salesman wasn't honest with me over the phone. It had been keyed and ramped up on a curb. The front bumper was ruined and needed replaced. Also had small chunks out of passenger leather seat. A car with that low of miles should have been perfect.

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It will be an auto 2013 GS.

Ahh, that makes more sense. Wasn't going to accept you'd gotten that lucky without some confirmation!

Congrats on the upcoming purchase. Gorgeous car, one that I hope to own at some point.

Haha Aaron no manual. I think she could learn, as I tried teaching her on my SHO before I sold it. I also let her shift frequently while I operated the clutch. But she still prefers an automatic, and I can't really blame her. I sold my recently purchased 90 SHO two weeks ago and her Mustang will be listed for sale soon. I honestly can't wait!

Buick bias aside, I think it's the best looking sedan on the market. Best of all, it can be driven all 12 months and doesn't have to be parked for the winter. Ever since I installed a limited slip differential in her Mustang, it's like driving on ice skates. I think it will look pretty good alongside the Riv

Agree, color looks close to your Riv. I will probably end up with a 2.0L Regal T at some point, unless I can find an ATS at low enough price. I like the looks of the Regal, but the RWD of the ATS.

I love the new Regal GS. If I didn't have my heart set on the Volt that's what I would be driving instead. Enjoy it!

69GSColorado wrote:

Ordered my Christmas present today! While I had given serious thought to the 97+ front suspension swap, I decided to pass and order new 96 KYB GR2 struts from RockAuto. They were having a closeout sale at only $32 per strut! Can't beat that.

Glad I read this thread!
I just ordered what looked like to be the last 2 struts for that price.
Merry Christmas to the Riv

Jbird

Finally got my custom GS badges put on the Riv. This has been something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but didn't feel the time was right until after the hood was on. I know they didn't make a Gran Sport model, but if they did, I'd like to think that it'd look something like mine. These emblems are replicas of what came on the 1986 Buick Century Gran Sport, the only car that ever came with them. Very similar to the Grand National design with the power 6 logo. I think I'll be removing the cursive Riviera emblems now, as I want to keep people guessing.