1967 Wildcat - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tinfoil · 03-04-2007, 08:53 AM

Ok folks,

My father-in-law and I have ourselves a bone-stock 1967 Buick Wildcat that is needs some tlc. The car runs and drives alright. It is the 430 engine and, if memory serves, a quadrajet carb. Last year we put new plugs, wires, rotor & coil as well as some cooling system bits.

Problem is that when it is cold (and an engine that big, well it takes a long time for the "cold" light to shut off) one has to be very easy on the gas or it damn near stalls.

Sure, I could take it to my mechanic (and my mechanic is begging me to let him have at it) but I want to learn. I've been told that these quadrajet carbs are a bitch to get just right, and we suspect that the problem is indeed in the carb. Thoughts/suggestions?

souzafone · 03-04-2007, 12:16 PM

I would recommend having someone familiar with carbs work on the car. That being said, if you're in Ontario and the car starts, but you can't drive it till it warms up a little, I would guess the choke stat works Ok, so it could be a pull off, or damn near anything else. When it stalls is it too lean or too rich? Consider a total rebuild not that difficult, but time consuming. Get a good name kit, don't skimp on parts and they should come with detailed instructions. I don't miss carburetors at all, but your car sound sweet. Closest thing I had was a '70 Skylark that was loaded. Had to put a manual choke in it when the 'stat broke. Good luck.

DaveOrion · 03-04-2007, 07:09 PM

If you're not against changing the original design of the engine, you could go to a throttle body, fuel injection system. These are so much better than carbs, especially during those cold ass Canadian winters!

Heres an example of a converted system....http://www.customefis.com/tbidiy.html

BadNick · 03-05-2007, 10:08 AM

I think those are/will be getting quite collectible soon, if they are not already. I know the price of nice ones is going up steadily. I've had my eye open for something like that just to cruise with on nice days ...maybe even a convertible if I can find a good one.

Other than giving my opinion that a car like should be kept as original as possible even if it means working with a pain in the ass carb, I really can't help with mechanical advice. About it being cold too long, I would check the obvious ...radiator thermostat if failed open will delay warmup; maybe the temp sensor itself is bad; is there an oil temp gauge or is that temp gauge for oil temp? ...make sure you have good oil circulation.

Very cool that you have a '67 Wildcat. The dad of one of my best friends when I was a kid got a new Wildcat about every year. I remember sneaking it to the local dragstrip ...we didn't even know what we were doing but he took class win once and got a little trophy but was afraid to show his dad. My second car was a '65 Buick LeSabre but the motor was marked "Wildcat V8", and I think it was a rather small displacement V8 something like 300ci; but I regularly beat my buddy's Electra 225 which had a 430ci or whatever big motor in that car; boy I really liked LeSabre; it had 33,000 miles on it when I bought it from the original owner, a local preacher, for $600.

tinfoil · 03-05-2007, 12:10 PM

souzafone, The carb was rebuilt about 7 years ago, and the car isn't driven often at all, considering that A) it's a pain in the arse to fill the tank and B) it requires filling often. But, it's probably a good start. Neither of us are mechanics, but we're both handy enough to probably not mangle it too badly. It is my belief that the car is running rich when it bogs down.

DaveMatrix it's something I've thought about for down the road, but the coldest that car has seen in recent years has been 10C. As soon as the trees have stopped shedding, the car goes into storage.

BadNick, the car is mint and has been in the family since new, and has about 60,000 miles on it. The only thing not original is the paint (which needs to be redone in a really big way). The thing is plenty quick considering it ways about 13,000 pounds.

BadNick · 03-05-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinfoil

...has been in the family since new, and has about 60,000 miles on it.....considering it ways about 13,000 pounds.

Awesome that your family kept it alive and sounds like pretty good shape, too ...congratulations.

If you're like many cars guys I know, if you scoop out the accumulated BS (~from shit talking) from the trunk, the car will easily be under 5000 pounds

souzafone · 03-05-2007, 03:38 PM

If the car isn't used much it's possible the fuel has gummed up the carb. It's important to use a fuel stabilizer when not driving regularly. Try using Gumout or similar to see if it helps. If it cleans something out and the car continues to run better you're moving in the right direction and you've only spent a couple of bucks.

tinfoil · 03-07-2007, 11:07 AM

Souzafone, damn, ya! I don't know why we've not thought of that one! Thanks

03-04-2007, 08:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	1967 Wildcat Ok folks, My father-in-law and I have ourselves a bone-stock 1967 Buick Wildcat that is needs some tlc. The car runs and drives alright. It is the 430 engine and, if memory serves, a quadrajet carb. Last year we put new plugs, wires, rotor & coil as well as some cooling system bits. Problem is that when it is cold (and an engine that big, well it takes a long time for the "cold" light to shut off) one has to be very easy on the gas or it damn near stalls. Sure, I could take it to my mechanic (and my mechanic is begging me to let him have at it) but I want to learn. I've been told that these quadrajet carbs are a bitch to get just right, and we suspect that the problem is indeed in the carb. Thoughts/suggestions? __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

03-04-2007, 07:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
DaveOrion Playing With Fire Location: Disaster Area	If you're not against changing the original design of the engine, you could go to a throttle body, fuel injection system. These are so much better than carbs, especially during those cold ass Canadian winters! Heres an example of a converted system....http://www.customefis.com/tbidiy.html __________________ *Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer... Last edited by DaveOrion; 03-04-2007 at 07:13 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost*

03-05-2007, 12:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	souzafone, The carb was rebuilt about 7 years ago, and the car isn't driven often at all, considering that A) it's a pain in the arse to fill the tank and B) it requires filling often. But, it's probably a good start. Neither of us are mechanics, but we're both handy enough to probably not mangle it too badly. It is my belief that the car is running rich when it bogs down. DaveMatrix it's something I've thought about for down the road, but the coldest that car has seen in recent years has been 10C. As soon as the trees have stopped shedding, the car goes into storage. BadNick, the car is mint and has been in the family since new, and has about 60,000 miles on it. The only thing not original is the paint (which needs to be redone in a really big way). The thing is plenty quick considering it ways about 13,000 pounds. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

03-07-2007, 11:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	Souzafone, damn, ya! I don't know why we've not thought of that one! Thanks __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

03-04-2007, 12:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
souzafone Insane	I would recommend having someone familiar with carbs work on the car. That being said, if you're in Ontario and the car starts, but you can't drive it till it warms up a little, I would guess the choke stat works Ok, so it could be a pull off, or damn near anything else. When it stalls is it too lean or too rich? Consider a total rebuild not that difficult, but time consuming. Get a good name kit, don't skimp on parts and they should come with detailed instructions. I don't miss carburetors at all, but your car sound sweet. Closest thing I had was a '70 Skylark that was loaded. Had to put a manual choke in it when the 'stat broke. Good luck.

03-05-2007, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I think those are/will be getting quite collectible soon, if they are not already. I know the price of nice ones is going up steadily. I've had my eye open for something like that just to cruise with on nice days ...maybe even a convertible if I can find a good one. Other than giving my opinion that a car like should be kept as original as possible even if it means working with a pain in the ass carb, I really can't help with mechanical advice. About it being cold too long, I would check the obvious ...radiator thermostat if failed open will delay warmup; maybe the temp sensor itself is bad; is there an oil temp gauge or is that temp gauge for oil temp? ...make sure you have good oil circulation. Very cool that you have a '67 Wildcat. The dad of one of my best friends when I was a kid got a new Wildcat about every year. I remember sneaking it to the local dragstrip ...we didn't even know what we were doing but he took class win once and got a little trophy but was afraid to show his dad. My second car was a '65 Buick LeSabre but the motor was marked "Wildcat V8", and I think it was a rather small displacement V8 something like 300ci; but I regularly beat my buddy's Electra 225 which had a 430ci or whatever big motor in that car; boy I really liked LeSabre; it had 33,000 miles on it when I bought it from the original owner, a local preacher, for $600.

03-05-2007, 03:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
souzafone Insane	If the car isn't used much it's possible the fuel has gummed up the carb. It's important to use a fuel stabilizer when not driving regularly. Try using Gumout or similar to see if it helps. If it cleans something out and the car continues to run better you're moving in the right direction and you've only spent a couple of bucks.