Some stupid questions...

[dewbers]

Hey guys, I have a few stupid questions I need help on! The car arrived.
:xyxthumbs:
1 - tires - what size? I want same size all around. What's the meatiest size this can handle? OPINION - Raised white letters or white wall??
2 - top - Car came in the middle of an ice storm, so I have not been able to climb all over and under it yet. Where is the switch to lower the top?
3 - radio - need to install one along with the speakers - looking advice. Nothing that requires cutting. Just want to get some tunes playing.
4 - I'd love to get my hands on a parts book. Is there such a creature?

Appreciate your expertise guys. :beers:
Steve

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Hey guys, I have a few stupid questions I need help on! The car arrived.
:xyxthumbs:
1 - tires - what size? I want same size all around. What's the meatiest size this can handle? OPINION - Raised white letters or white wall??
2 - top - Car came in the middle of an ice storm, so I have not been able to climb all over and under it yet. Where is the switch to lower the top?
3 - radio - need to install one along with the speakers - looking advice. Nothing that requires cutting. Just want to get some tunes playing.
4 - I'd love to get my hands on a parts book. Is there such a creature?

Appreciate your expertise guys. :beers:
Steve

Steve the only stupid questions are the ones not asked. Never a problem, that is one reason why Adam set up this great site! I am sure others will add to this.

Books: Got mine searching on E-Bay
1973 Buick Chassis Servive Manual (thick blue book)
1973 Fisher Body Service Manual (dark orange book)
Buick Chassis and Body Illustration Catalog Models thru 1975
Convertible Top Guide 2. Got this from Hydro-E-Letric 800-343-4261. They have a slew of parts for the sizzer tops

Radio:
I still have the factory am/fm, I just installed some better speakers and I use an IPOD with the ITRIP attachment. It's wireless and it plays your music thru your factory dash radio, no cutting no wires no hassles, and you can keep that factory stock look.

Tires:
Sorry the car is tucked away, I am sure some one else can add to this. I do know I have a heavy load rating because I tow with the Centurion

Power top switch:
photo attached and don't lower the top if the temps are cold out. Oh and the two clasps next to the sunvisors must be opened first

[Bob Alberini]

Hi Steve,
Like Rick said, no question is a stupid one if you don't know the answer.

As far as tires go, Keith and I are both running Bridgestone Insignia steel belted radials. I have 225/75 R15 on mine; Keith has the beefier 235/75 R15.
Both have the nearly correct whitewall width and are excellent tires. I'm sure Keith will add his thoughts on this. You have a very classic convertible and it is my hope you go with the standard whitewalls. The steel belted radials drive and ride beautifully compared with the original nylon tires where
H78x15 was the standard and the J78x15 was optional.

There were a few stock radio options for 72. The standard AM is the Sonomatic. There was also a monaural AM-FM, an AM-FM Stereo, an AM-FM Stereo 8 track and perhaps the oddest one, an AM Stereo 8 track. I'll leave the modern conversions, speakers, etc. to those in the know. I have stuck with the original factory radio and speakers in my Centurion.

Literature wise, Rick mentioned some items he has for his '73. These same literature pieces exist for 72 and surface on ebay rather frequently or can be found at Buick meets or from many literature dealers at auto shows. I have a preliminary 1972 only parts book but found it long ago at a Buick show and it is not a terribly common piece. The Master Chassis and Body Parts book can be found (they are separate books) and you'll want them dated into 1972(They are listed as 1940-1972, 1940-1973, etc.) If you find one for 73, 74 or 75, they will serve you equally as well and may reflect some parts number changes. I have Masters for both 72 and 75 and use them both.

Hope this will be of some help. If things still aren't clear, ASK.....

[buckeye455]

nice buick steve my 73 also has 235/75/15 michelin xw4 white walls tires, very smooth & quiet tires. As for the radio, I left the factory 8 track am in the dash and mounted a deck under the dash, as rear speakers are behind the rear seat,facing rearward & under the well cover,I went with speaker boxes for 6x9s, they sit on the back seat a bit of a nuisance but no cutting!

[drail1eye]

You need to put a set of thick white wall tires on that car I just put a set of Broadway Classic Tires on my 73 convt. I am not at my house but I will get the size for you. Also I think the tire is made by Goodyear but will get all the info for you, hope to get pic up soon!

[drail1eye]

You might look at a hideaway radio system, you can keep your factory radio in place but have all the options of new systems.

[Smartin]

I have a nice stereo system hidden in the glove box. The only problem with that, is that I have no glove box space.

[drail1eye]

The www.customautosound.com product takes little space and has a remote

[Robroy]

My plan is to have one rather modern stereo in the glove box and connect that to two 6x9’ in the package tray.
Additional to that I will put an Mp3-player with a transmitter also in the glove box, so I can use the original radio as well. Thought it could be rather cool playing songs from 73 on the original radio.:cool:
I’m a bit concerned though if the transmitter works on an AM-Sonomatic? Anyone who knows how to see if you have the AM/FM variant of the Sonomatic? I have a Fq-scale from 6 to 16.
Anyone who have seen Mp3-players with an integrated transmitter?

Regarding tires I prefer the 225/75/15 or 235/75/15 with a thin whitewall on a 60-70’ full size. I went from 235/75/15 to 225/70/15 on my Caprice which improved the road handling and made the car less sensitive for hard side wind, but then again that was a newer car and not cruiser like the Centurion.

[dewbers]

Good stuff so far, thanks a bunch gang!! :beers:
Can I ask more?!?!
1 - What size gas tank do the beasts have? And, do you all add any additives or power posts?? I know I need to run 93 octane, but do you add anything more?
2 - I think I read that the 455 engines produce 255hp, is that correct? Sounds low to me, but my experience is with Skylarks and the 350 engine.
3 - Are owners manuals still available? Car came with all records dating back 30 years, but no owners manual.

I am sure more will come, but that's it for today's round. Now, if you all can do a good weather dance for me, I can actually drive the beast rather than just drool all over it!!! :bawl:

Thanks again,
Steve

[scottrod]

I'll leave your question on the horsepower to the more expert since there were several engine / horsepower options but I can tell you where to find the owner's manual. classicbuicks.com is where I bought mine. I can't remember the price but it wasn't bad......

[Centurion]

1 - What size gas tank do the beasts have? And, do you all add any additives or power posts?? I know I need to run 93 octane, but do you add anything more?
2 - I think I read that the 455 engines produce 255hp, is that correct? Sounds low to me, but my experience is with Skylarks and the 350 engine.


Steve, the horsepower ratings can be somewhat confusing during this time period. The Buick 455 engine produced 370 horsepower in the 1970 large cars, but compression ratios were reduced in 1971 due to emissions concerns and the reduction in lead content in gasoline. Horsepower on the '71 Centurions was 315 with the standard 455. These were gross horsepower ratings, and the industry moved to net horsepower ratings for the '72 models. Net horsepower ratings were considered a more accurate measure of horsepower, since this method took into account the power consumed by belt driven accessories, etc. This explains why the reduction in advertised horsepower to 255 for 1972. If you're comparing to earlier Buicks -- whether Skylarks or full-size cars -- this is why the horsepower rating of the '72 455 engine will seem low to you.

The Centurions have 25-gallon gasoline tanks. The general consensus is that no gasoline additives are generally necessary, since Buicks were said to have hardened valve seats from the factory. If the car is raced or pulling loads, like towing a trailer, then it might be prudent to utilize a lead additive. My '71 Centurion runs fine on 91 or 92 octane unleaded fuel, without pinging, knocking, or dieseling. I suggest that you utilize a good brand of gasoline, and drive the car sufficiently that you're keeping "fresh" gasoline in the tank.

The one additive I've begun using is the General Motors Engine Oil Supplement, which contains zinc. Zinc has been removed from most motor oils during recent years because it can damage catalytic converters. This is not a problem for cars built since about 1986 with roller lifters and roller rocker arms, but the flat lifters and aluminum rocker arms of the older engines require zinc additive in the oil for wear protection.

While there may be some disagreement regarding the need for a zinc additive, I'm following recommendations made by Denny Manner, who was a Buick engine designer/developer during the period that our Centurions were made. His advice is good enough for me!

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Steve, The general consensus is that no gasoline additives are generally necessary, since Buicks were said to have hardened valve seats from the factory. If the car is raced or pulling loads, like towing a trailer, then it might be prudent to utilize a lead additive. My '71 Centurion runs fine on 91 or 92 octane unleaded fuel, without pinging, knocking, or dieseling. I suggest that you utilize a good brand of gasoline, and drive the car sufficiently that you're keeping "fresh" gasoline in the tank.


When I rebuilt my engine I was torn between more HP high compression. The gas spike made my mind up. Went .020 over and installed replacement low compression cast pistons along with a mild tow cam. The heads I had the larger valves installed with harden seats. Towing? YES you put in the highest octane you can find. Cruising without the air I can get away with regular every other fill up. But any load such as a long trip with the ac I put the better octane in. I still manage 16-17 mpg highway with the ac on, of course that is with my weak 2.73 gears.

[Shrav]

Hey guys, I have a few stupid questions I need help on! The car arrived.
:xyxthumbs:
1 - tires - what size? I want same size all around. What's the meatiest size this can handle? OPINION - Raised white letters or white wall??
2 - top - Car came in the middle of an ice storm, so I have not been able to climb all over and under it yet. Where is the switch to lower the top?
3 - radio - need to install one along with the speakers - looking advice. Nothing that requires cutting. Just want to get some tunes playing.
4 - I'd love to get my hands on a parts book. Is there such a creature?

Appreciate your expertise guys. :beers:
Steve

Here is what I did to hide my radio and retain the stock look.
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=71447
Works for me! :xyxthumbs:

[dewbers]

Very nice Glenn...... Good look.

OK guys, do any of you run the Red Line White walls or Red Line Raised Letters? I am still trying to decide what to do. Raised letters vs White walls. Now I see these Red Line tires and I am really in a pickle...... :confused2:
Opinions welcomed!!
Thanks!
Steve

[Smartin]

There are a couple shots of my car with redlines in this thread:

http://www.buickcenturion.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23