If its a rod knock you should be able to pull the plug wires off one at a time, when you pull the wire off for the cylinder with the bad rod the knock should quieten down. Like you said it could be the harmonic balancer, also could be the ac compressor. You can pull the accessory belt off and run it to check those.
I've always liked these things. Actually, I like anything with the Supercharged 3800, and the Buicks were always the best bet for that motor because they had tolerable interiors and didn't get lost in the cladding factory. I'd rather have a Regal GS myself, but Rivies and Park Avenues would work, too. Funny how your Buick running wrong sounds like a Subaru running right, though.
Still no problems? I like them and have always thought the Series II V6 to be reliable but I was curious how many miles you have on it now and how it has been holding up.
@Watcher3223 you nailed it! In one of my later vids I take the gaskets out of the replacement engine and show how bad they look on an engine that didn't fail yet. Never took this engine apart, must have been really cracked to leak as much coolant as it did.
@houkiko I haven't done it on this car yet, but according to the book you drain the coolant, remove the upper radiator support (big black bar on top of radiator), disconnect all wires/lines on the rad, remove hoses and fans, and remove. I bought the 1999 shop manual for my car. That year manual is dirt cheap on ebay, if you have a super charged engine they cover just about everything you need to know.
@btbbelesky Yup, its a 97. The center console looks different in mine because its out of a 96 (different wood and has cassette holders instead of CD). Don't know why it was replaced with that.
Nice deal for $450...im thinkin rod knock...but the clutch on that compressor was stuck and im thinking the compressor might be bad and making the noise...either way a junkyard engine wont be terrible
Wow...really is well equipped. Interior is great too! Be a nice car once she's done. What you planning on doing, keeping it or selling? Weird how americans call it 'moon roof' and in the UK it's called a 'sun roof'
Been fixed for a couple years now at least. I'm not a big fan of FWD cars (even though I do own a bunch), but I gotta say this thing drives beautifully. It's one of the most comfortable and best handling cars I ever drove.
hey moldymac I have a 95 SC my compressor for my level ride stays on I tried pulling the fuse out for but My dash lights went out along with my AC And Radio are they interconnected or do I have a electrical problem it there a clip to the power of the compressor I can pull out to shut compressor off
are they worth restoring how is part pricing my neighbor has one it's been sitting around a year and a half she got a more smaller economical car we've been talking about the car she's willing to part with it $500 but I don't know much about the car I'm a FORD GUY PRELIMINARY SHE TOLD ME IT NEEDS A TUNE UP AND BATTERY AND IT HAD A POWER STEERING LEAK IS IT WORTH INVESTING IN ??? OR ARE THEY PROBLEM CARS
As long as the engine doesn't have a knock or some serious problem it's worth getting into. Power steering leaks are common, all the rivs I had did that but it wasn't enough to bother fixing. I'd definitely find out what makes the think it needs a tune up.
I just got one for $400 and $45 tow bill. Mine has 178k on it and needs a fuel pump, rear shocks (load lvl gone bad!), front sway bar bushings. oh, and tires /: I had a chance to dirve it before and it pulls hard in first.
@moldymac oh i know it's worse then low octane knock i can hear that from when its running, i owed a grand prix gtp for a while, i was putting it out there that you can't run on those or you'll get even more knock but that motor sound pretty damn bad but i'm sure you already kno not to run any lower then 91 oct.
GM has a bad habit of putting the batteries under the rear seat more common than what you might think the reason you ask because normall put an engine under the hood that just barley fits and then the engineieers looked and said uh where we goin to put the battery I dunno under seat. lots of olds had it that way some buicks. For a record they are abount as much of a pain in the butt as the chrysler wheel battery that you mentioned.
@666mike2009 The clutch was sticking on it, but I don't think it could make a sound like this, they usually make a squealing sound. Once I get the belts off I will know for sure.
This model is one of the most underrated cars around. For $450 you stole it. Can't say I love the color, but still it's a sleeper. Get the engine fixed and let us know how she drives.
That other car was an 86 riviera. The car has since vanished and no one knows what it went (and I never got a chance to pull the parts I wanted). Either way the engines are too different. The earlier ones were not balanced like the newer ones.
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I have a 97 Riviera that I currently purchase and it needs a lot of work. To start with, I need to replace the radiator and I am looking for instruction on how to replace it or a repair manual for a 97 Buick Riviera would be awesome. If anyone could help, I would appreciate it.
the knock is the coupler in the supercharger. its a common problem. These engines rarely have rod knock because of the rev limiter
If its a rod knock you should be able to pull the plug wires off one at a time, when you pull the wire off for the cylinder with the bad rod the knock should quieten down. Like you said it could be the harmonic balancer, also could be the ac compressor. You can pull the accessory belt off and run it to check those.
great great deal. I drove one of these, dark burgundy with beige interior and wooden dash, one of the best cars I've ever driven
Thanks! All my B-bodies are LT1s, love the power! You nailed it, me and my collection live in CT
I've always liked these things. Actually, I like anything with the Supercharged 3800, and the Buicks were always the best bet for that motor because they had tolerable interiors and didn't get lost in the cladding factory. I'd rather have a Regal GS myself, but Rivies and Park Avenues would work, too.
Funny how your Buick running wrong sounds like a Subaru running right, though.
Still no problems? I like them and have always thought the Series II V6 to be reliable but I was curious how many miles you have on it now and how it has been holding up.
@Watcher3223 you nailed it! In one of my later vids I take the gaskets out of the replacement engine and show how bad they look on an engine that didn't fail yet. Never took this engine apart, must have been really cracked to leak as much coolant as it did.
@houkiko I haven't done it on this car yet, but according to the book you drain the coolant, remove the upper radiator support (big black bar on top of radiator), disconnect all wires/lines on the rad, remove hoses and fans, and remove. I bought the 1999 shop manual for my car. That year manual is dirt cheap on ebay, if you have a super charged engine they cover just about everything you need to know.
@chevymonte1 My 87 lesabre has a 3.8 in it, good solid engine. Its only flaw is all the electrical stuff around it
@1984diplomat Makes sense, a "minor oversight". The pain is the vent harness is missing, now I gotta either buy one from a dealer or make one myself.
Nice Buick!
@btbbelesky Yup, its a 97. The center console looks different in mine because its out of a 96 (different wood and has cassette holders instead of CD). Don't know why it was replaced with that.
Nice deal for $450...im thinkin rod knock...but the clutch on that compressor was stuck and im thinking the compressor might be bad and making the noise...either way a junkyard engine wont be terrible
Mine has individual Edison record cylinder storage compartment.
i have a 97 and i love it!!!!! awesome car. 111k on mine
@CSAKvids A lot of people call it a moon roof if it slides back and opens completely, or a sun roof if it just vents.
@Inuyasha11966 Yeah, it has air shocks in the back and if you add weight to the car, it will pump them up to keep the car at a set height.
@nickv11763 It was 2 years old whatever it was. This was beyond a knock from low octane. The new engine didn't knock with this gas in there.
you still have it?
ah! i just found a gray metallic with black interior! 1k$ Clean. But 400$ what a great price!
Wow...really is well equipped. Interior is great too!
Be a nice car once she's done. What you planning on doing, keeping it or selling?
Weird how americans call it 'moon roof' and in the UK it's called a 'sun roof'
my buddy has a rivvy, its a darn good car! same year i think.
@308RoadReady while there was play in the SC coupler, it still made the noise with the belt off.
@CODxFUNxMAN Nice choice of cars, nothing rides like a Roadmaster!
my 2004 Cadillac dhs has the battery under the back seat to as well as a fuse box
Nice car man, and boy do you have the collection of roadmaster wagons, LT1? looks like CT, I'm from there too!
also you sure its a 97, mine looks way different and has different interior features
Been fixed for a couple years now at least. I'm not a big fan of FWD cars (even though I do own a bunch), but I gotta say this thing drives beautifully. It's one of the most comfortable and best handling cars I ever drove.
moldymac I need some help with something if you could
was it a rod knock?
looks like the AC Compresser is what is makin the sound and not the motor but i could be wrong.
Nice clean car...
what kind of gas is in there, cuz if it's 87 or 89 youll get knock for sure they need 91 to 93 octane
I took the belt off and its not the accessories or the balance, I will have to give that a shot next time I get
So, it's been a few years. How is the car running now?
@Buickonthedragstrip Project has been done for a while, new engine is in and working great. That's one modded Regal you have there!
hey moldymac I have a 95 SC my compressor for my level ride stays on I tried pulling the fuse out for but My dash lights went out along with my AC And Radio are they interconnected or do I have a electrical problem it there a clip to the power of the compressor I can pull out to shut compressor off
Dee Jones
Did you figure out you issue with level control?
nice find!
are they worth restoring how is part pricing my neighbor has one it's been sitting around a year and a half she got a more smaller economical car we've been talking about the car she's willing to part with it $500 but I don't know much about the car I'm a FORD GUY PRELIMINARY SHE TOLD ME IT NEEDS A TUNE UP AND BATTERY AND IT HAD A POWER STEERING LEAK IS IT WORTH INVESTING IN ??? OR ARE THEY PROBLEM CARS
As long as the engine doesn't have a knock or some serious problem it's worth getting into. Power steering leaks are common, all the rivs I had did that but it wasn't enough to bother fixing. I'd definitely find out what makes the think it needs a tune up.
+moldymac hey I have a 95 supercharged is there any difference between the supercharged alternator or the option without the supercharger
+moldymac hey moldymac do you know anything about the VATS SYSTEM
moldymac what would make my starter grind when I am shifting in to neutral and drive
this is the car im looking for now, 400 for a supercharged car? not bad!! id love to have that motor in my 85 olds 98.
@mikehul That wasn't the problem on this engine. Had that go on my lesabre twice though.
@joshua0712 That piece is shot in the knocking engine, but that wasn't the problem. The knock was still there without the SC belt on.
I was thinking harmonic balancer. They are notorious in GM's plus everyone seem to mistake the loud knocking for a engine knock.
I just got one for $400 and $45 tow bill. Mine has 178k on it and needs a fuel pump, rear shocks (load lvl gone bad!), front sway bar bushings. oh, and tires /: I had a chance to dirve it before and it pulls hard in first.
I plan to keep her once I get her going
The 100ft I drove it to park it was pretty nice
@CODxFUNxMAN Thats an 87 lesabre custom. My family bought it new.
@AlwaysLyceum Still running strong and still fun to drive.
Interested
@moldymac oh i know it's worse then low octane knock i can hear that from when its running, i owed a grand prix gtp for a while, i was putting it out there that you can't run on those or you'll get even more knock but that motor sound pretty damn bad but i'm sure you already kno not to run any lower then 91 oct.
do you have yours still
@CoolVideoGameVideos It sure is, Body is straight, but the paint needs some work.
looks like the engine has a HARD life under 100k
wow what a steal.
counter balance shaft common also...
GM has a bad habit of putting the batteries under the rear seat more common than what you might think the reason you ask because normall put an engine under the hood that just barley fits and then the engineieers looked and said uh where we goin to put the battery I dunno under seat. lots of olds had it that way some buicks. For a record they are abount as much of a pain in the butt as the chrysler wheel battery that you mentioned.
Stock supercharger PSI?
@666mike2009 The clutch was sticking on it, but I don't think it could make a sound like this, they usually make a squealing sound. Once I get the belts off I will know for sure.
This model is one of the most underrated cars around. For $450 you stole it. Can't say I love the color, but still it's a sleeper. Get the engine fixed and let us know how she drives.
450! good deal
That other car was an 86 riviera. The car has since vanished and no one knows what it went (and I never got a chance to pull the parts I wanted). Either way the engines are too different. The earlier ones were not balanced like the newer ones.
@MultiCrazyCar Got the car registered, and an engine is coming next weekend.
Previous owner probably never checked the oil
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I have a 97 Riviera that I currently purchase and it needs a lot of work. To start with, I need to replace the radiator and I am looking for instruction on how to replace it or a repair manual for a 97 Buick Riviera would be awesome. If anyone could help, I would appreciate it.
You can pick up a good motor from a junk yard and slap it in!
It was optional in 97, standard in 98 and 99.
@Mississippi1313 Yeah, it was optional until 97, 98 it became standard
@Chocolate6mac8 Nice, $1k isn't bad either.
@motox458 I was thinking the same thing when I first heard it run
No question about it, rod knock it is.
Get the title figured out before doing the engine.
Talk about rode hard and put away wet. Some people could fuck up a bowling ball.
@14sonik14 All fixed now. Dropped a junk yard engine in it.
@FordBroncoMower Thanks
i have one with individual cd compartments
@axeme1 Mine does now too after a quick swap.
@conan6868 Thats what I will probably end up doing, maybe save this engine for a future rebuild
Hey buddy welcome to the GM world.
Anyways hows your project coming along?
If youd like you can check out my videos on the strip
Take care
@justin3zelda hell yeah!
Wus