1998 Buick Riviera

[kevm14]

They did not use the same engines and probably transmissions...

[Bob]

Also, at highway speed, it is faster than Kevin's Caprice during a 1.7 second race.

This made me do a quick search for the 1/4 mile trap speed. This was one of the first links that came up in Google: http://maxima.org/forums/general-maxima ... a-wtf.html

The thread is from 2002 and the word "hella" was used to describe the level of luxury in the Riviera. I don't think I need to say more.

[kevm14]

Let me check my database and see if it goes back to 1998. It just may.

It does.

Fun fact: there is boost control (really, all or nothing apparently)
Fun fact 2: no boost in reverse

[Bob]

Fun fact 2: no boost in reverse

Aww... no donuts.

[kevm14]

Probably not. Without boost, you are left with a lower compression 3800 and a taller final drive ratio.

[Adam]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfsjuB0kguo
SaabKyle does a nice review of his '95 Riviera. Pretty similar except his has no supercharger and the climate control is a little different.

[Adam]

So I'm still not driving this car.

The TODO list:
- Install RH axle
- Check my "quality" converter repair and proceed as needed
- Trans service
- More cleaning
- Burnouts?

[kevm14]

Did you do the coolant yet?

[Adam]

No. It has Dex-Cool, but it was recently replaced with the radiator hoses.

[Adam]

The crack in the converter I patched with muffler weld wasn't the only hole. I removed the heat shield on the converter and found these:

IMG_20161217_164007.jpg

IMG_20161217_163943.jpg

So obviously, I patched it with muffler weld. The good news is since the hole was so big, I could see the converter material. It's not broken and not clogged with oil, so that's good.

Putting the axle in revealed some information:
- The factory ball joints are riveted to the control arms
- The RH ball joint was replaced at some point (so there are bolts attaching it instead of rivets)
- The outer axle boot on the RH axle looks like it was melted. Maybe while replacing the ball joint?

Reassembly of the ball joint sucks. The rear bolt interferes with the spindle so you can't actually insert it. Tomorrow I'm going to separate the spindle from the strut and see if it goes together easier.