Pro touring 1970 riveria

[rfalker1]

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what about this car pro touring style??? a 5000 pound 455 pro touring beast!!!!, its actually my brothers, but i would love to get him involved in my hobby

[srh3trinity]

I like it. Riviera's have great lines. I would love to build one, but I think I would aim for a nice cruiser that could handle as opposed to trying to make a cone killer, although if you showed up and whooped everybody in that boat it would be pretty cool.

[rfalker1]

how much you think you would have to invest in order to make, into a bad-a$$ cruiser that could come to a pro touring event and just shock people at just how well it was doing.... (because I understand being competitive in this style is difficult enough)

[jon72vega]

That would be bad a$$ !
I always liked the looks of a Riv!

[rfalker1]

I agree, I am wondering if I could make it into something that looks pro-touring and convince my brother to lower it two inches, and maybe he could just swap out wheels, after he re- does the suspension and brakes

[ProTourGSX]

Randal,
The Riv would be AWESOME as Pro Tour, with plenty of room underneath to use huge brake components, custom suspension & wheels, and all that is required to improve overall handling and performance!

I'm working on a '70 GS Stage 1, as my project, so as a fellow Buick supporter, I say Go For It!

[rfalker1]

So would the suspension components need to be custom? and do the two cars have the same suspension base??? I would love to see the gs stage 1

[ProTourGSX]

So would the suspension components need to be custom? and do the two cars have the same suspension base??? I would love to see the gs stage 1

I'm not familiar enough with the Riv to say one way or another, but I can probably find out what might be available for it, from my other Buick sources.

My project GS is here, as I've been acquring sheetmetal & a few goodies that I plan to use on it:
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?75627-Pics-of-Stage-1-project-car&highlight=

[RAMKAT2]

The Riviera and the GS share nothing as far as suspension components except for the lower control arms on the rear suspension. There are a few companies that make disc brake conversions for the 66-70 Riviera models, and one that makes sway bars for the front & rear. There isn't alot of other parts available if you want to build a "cone killer". On V8Buick there has been some conversation lately about converting a 2nd gen Riviera over to a later model quick ratio steering box.
That said, there is alot of room for tires and wheels under a Riviera, and you can improve the looks and the handling of the car. It will be a little harder to get a wide tire and wheel under the 70 model due to the lowered rear fenderwell/skirt design compared to the 66-69 models.
How large of wheel & short a sidewall are you looking at using on the car? You have to be carefull because you still have to find rubber that is load rated for at least 1250lbs each or the weight of the car will just wear them out in a very short time. You may have to look at a tire designed for an SUV the get the load rating you need.
I am a little older than most of the guys here on the board, so I like to see decent sized sidewall on my tires, if for no other reason than they look and ride better on a highway cruiser than those skinny little 24" rubber bands that the wanna-be gansta's like to play with. I wouldn't go any larger than a 17" wheel on my 67, although I have seen a few Riviera's with 18" wheels that looked great. Later, Randy

[rfalker1]

Hmmmm thank you Ramkat2, that bit was very informative. So in short if we wanted to do a pro-touring riv then we would have to run a frame off custom restoration and unfortunately have to cut, find, and fabricate parts.
That sounds fun but very difficult, especially since I have never seen one done before and they dont seem to make alot of parts for it.
I guess leaving it as a cruiser would be best.
P.S its nothing like hitting a pothole on some rubber bands looool

[RAMKAT2]

There are some very nice Riviera's out there, but not too many 2-1/2 ton canyon racers. I can send you some pictures if you like. I have quite a collection of 2nd generation Riviera pictures that I have been building up over the years.
Send me an email at [email protected] if you are interested. Later, Randy

(Note: there is an underscore in between my first and last name in my email address)

[Bullockracing]

Some trimmed springs and some stiff swaybars on that beastie with some 17" rims would make for a much-better handling ride, I would think. I say go for it! Can you pick up a set of 17" GSX-ish wheels from someplace like Wheel Vintiques?

[6806goats]

Wow, figure the odds of searching to see if anyone has done a Riviera. Even more to find out that Randy has he same beast I'm wanting to swap brakes out on. Not really after a canyon carver but I'd like to firm things up and get some good brakes on her. I'll send you an email Randy, I'd like the pictures you have. I didn't check to see if we can add photos to a garage but I don't have any one this computer. Sorry to H/J the OP thread. Hope you get your bro involved with his Riv and thanks for creating this thread.

[rfalker1]

oh its my pleasure, and I saw a couple of brake kits on ebay that say they will work on the riveria, but that is about all. Other than that its just a big torque hungry cruiser. So Mr 6806 goats are you planing on doing a Riveria or a GS?

[rfalker1]

I also loved the vintage wheels they look awesome, but would they really help performance out that much???

[RAMKAT2]

Wider than stock wheels and hi-performance tires with a stiffer sidewall and a larger than stock contact patch will definately help the handling. If the wheel/tire combo is lighter than stock, then that will help as well. Going to a larger (1.25" or larger) diameter front sway bar, adding a rear sway bar, and some performance gas shocks will make a real difference in the handling of the car. I would stay away from the urethane suspension bushings if you do more cruising than autocross.
Beef up the brakes for some whoa, try to find a 3.42 posi out of a Riviera GS for some go, and just enjoy the car. Rivieras are made to fly down the interstate, and if you have ever spent any time in a mid to late 60's model on a long trip, you know that they run really smooth above 70mph, so much so that the speed just creeps up on you, and before you know it you will be running 90mph or more. This may not seem very fast to the guys here with their 100K plus cornering machines with their custom chassis, tubbed fenders, and 40K motors, but we would be comparing apples and oranges. I think those are awesome machines and serve their owners well, but the Riviera was designed with a completely different purpose in mind.
I intend on using 17x8 front and 17x9-1/2 rear wheels on my 67. I could probably fit wider or taller wheels in the fenderwells, but I don't want to restrict the suspension in order to stuff them in there and still get the wheels to turn without any tire rub, especially in front. The 17" wheels will give me just enough clearance to use a 13" brake rotor in front, and will easily clear the 12" rotors in back. My wheel of choice is the polished American 200S.
My Riv is strictly for street duty, and I am not going to set it up where I have to take a 5 block detour to avoid a pothole or a speed bump. If I ever get it finished, I am going to drive it till the wheels fall off! Later, Randy

[rfalker1]

so good idea would a 3:42 posi, just to help the launch, the drums are already good in my opinion, and maybe some wheeks

[RAMKAT2]

The 3.42 posi rear will make a big difference if your car has a standard 3.08 open rearend. On the V8Buick website there is a thread in "The Hides" forum called "68 Riv...What size OEM tires" that has some good info about tire and wheel sizes that fit under a 2nd Gen Riviera, although most of it is about 15" wheels and tires at this point. You will be grinding off the fins on the outside edge of the drums to get 15" aluminum wheels over them unless the wheels are spun aluminum like a centerline autodrag.

[ProTourGSX]

Some trimmed springs and some stiff swaybars on that beastie with some 17" rims would make for a much-better handling ride, I would think. I say go for it! Can you pick up a set of 17" GSX-ish wheels from someplace like Wheel Vintiques?

The 17" Buick Rally mags were only a short run, and discontinued almost immediately, so no longer available, as I've been wanting a few sets for my own custom Buicks, unfortunately.

[rfalker1]

Ahhm really, So is there any posi set I should for in order to replace the open differential???

[RAMKAT2]

Thats the problem. The Riviera used a 9-3/8" rearend, which is different from the usual 8.5" 10 bolt or the 12 bolt GM rearends. You will have to find a 66-70 Riviera or other FULL size Buick to get the parts from, because no one makes new posi units or gears for them. Note also the Riviera rearend is mounted differently than other Buick rearends, using a 3 link setup with a panhard rod instead of the usual dual upper & lower control arm suspension. You could do what some have done and have a 9" ford custom made to bolt in where the original rearend was.
There are some parts available for the 9-3/8" rear, such as bearings, seals, and gaskets. Don't be fooled by some of the ads claiming to have 8.5" posi units that will fit a 66-70 Riviera. That is a lie. That posi unit might go into the opening, but it sure won't bolt up. The 9-3/8" rear is said to be able to handle about 600 horsepower, but I have never tested one at that level myself. There is a really great thread on V8Buick (I know, I am beginning to sound like a broken record here) about all the various versions of the 9-3/8" rearends (71 and newer were different than the early versions). I believe there were even some full sized Oldsmobiles that used them in the late 60's.
Keep your eyes open, the 9-3/8" posi rearends pop up for sale every now and then. You just have to be quick and bring lots of cash. Later, Randy

[rfalker1]

Ohhh man that sounds terrifying, they really meant to make that car a cruiser. Details, I talked to my brother about it and he happly declined my offer saying he would much rather drive my car or get a split bumper camaro!!! So it looks like this build has met its end before it could even begin.

It would have been cool though, if it was my car, I might have tried it. Thanks for all the info, and Randy thanks for all the extra effort. If he changes his mine I will let you know first

[RAMKAT2]

Well now I feel bad. I wasn't trying to talk you out of building the car. A Riviera like your brother has can make for a fantastic looking street ride with just some chrome rims and wide tires, as you saw in a few of the pictures I sent you. It rides great, runs strong with a mild 455, and other than the crappy fuel mileage compared to a more modern ride, they turn heads wherever they go. Will it win the timed course at a Goodguys event? No, not a chance. But then again, how many of us can beat the heavy hitters (Read $$$$$ here) at one of those events anyway?
I hope your brother keeps the car, even if he just drags it out once and awhile to show the world what luxury hardtops used to look like. Later, Randy

[rfalker1]

Oh don't feel bad, you have helped tremendously. I mean the biggest issue is its my brothers car. Personally I would have loved to upgrade the wheels and brakes and change the rear end gears, and maybe put a overdrive tranny in it. I think it would make a huge difference but its not mine. I will continue to try and convince him Randy but only time will tell what he would do.

P.s you have great advice, i have learned bunched just from chatting with you