Nameplates

[dreamcruise]

:) I purchased my '71 Centurion convertible in July,2006. It was 2 weeks after
my '69 LaSabre convertible was totaled. The '71 had been repainted before
and the Centurion nameplates located behind the front tires were not put
back on. If any one knows where I can get them PLEASE let me know.
Also info about a parade boot. I am new to this site. THANKS,

[72gsx4me]

Dreamcruise,

The "Centurion" nameplates are not going to be easy. No one reproduces them. The "455" emblem is reproduced and can be found on ebay. Check the board for parts and someone on board might have a set. Then go to ebay, and also check the yards ie. Wheatbelt Buick Salvage parts, Speedway if they still answer the phone, and also your local yards. I found a few Centurions in Wisconsin yards, Vanns Auto Salvage.

As so far as the parade boots, EBAY. Type in PARADE BOOT and you usually will get a hit. Normally the will be from a Cadillac, which are the same and fit 1971 to 1976 Full size GM convertibles.

Lastly, someone from the board should be able to give you name of place that sells new parade boots along with clips.

Good luck.

Will:cool:

[scottrod]

Hydro-E-Lectric sells the new parade boots and hardware but they aren't cheap. They advertise heavily in Hemmings. I think the boots go for $795 and the hardware kit for $150.

[dewbers]

Parade boots can be found on eBay at a much lesser cost than buying them new. And, if you're patient, someone on this board will stumble across one for you. I purchased mine from someone on the board, but it took time...
Try www.buickfarm.com for other parts. They are located in DE (same I as me!) and they seem to have a ton of parts. Good luck!
Steve

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Dreamcruise,

The "455" emblem is reproduced and can be found on ebay. Check the board for parts and someone on board might have a set. Then go to ebay, and also check the yards ie. Wheatbelt Buick Salvage parts, Speedway if they still answer the phone, and also your local yards. I found a few Centurions in Wisconsin yards, Vanns Auto Salvage.
Good luck.
Will:cool:

Those 455 fender emblems can be found only on the '73 Centurion model. They are a one year, one model emblem that is bolted onto the fender like the "Centurion" emblem. You will ONLY find them on the 1973 Centurion that came with the 455 option. They are very hard to find. They may look similar to the GS 455 fender emblem, but a closer look at the Centurion 455 emblem shows the lower portion is thicker than the upper portion of the emblem. This is so because the fender curves inward so that the emblem makes up for the inward curve. Where as the Skylark/GS body doesn't as much so that the 455 emblem is even thickness. See below.

As far as I know, no one reproduces them. I hope I'm wrong saying that. All the 455 emblems seen on evil bay are the emblems for the GS cars. But there is hope, keep searching on evil bay. I found an extra nos set a few months back, they do come up now and then. You have to check out the photos closely posted on e-bay before plucking down cash.

Now if you own a 71 or 72 Centurion, don't even bother, they do not have any 455 emblems as all Centurions in 71 & 72 came only with the 455 engine.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

A side shot of the two. Emblem on the left is for the '73 Centurion, on the right is for the GS cars. Note how the Centurion emblem is thicker on the bottom.

[72gsx4me]

Just went to ebay and found the "455" emblems for the Centurion. They are being reproduced and GENE'S BUICK PARTS is selling them. They are the correct ones and cost $58 for the set. They do have bulge on bottom of emblem for contour of fender.

Plug in 455 Buick Emblem (Buy t Now) and you should find them in the ebay search.


Will::cool:

[dreamcruise]

Thanks for your reply. I will try all the places you suggested.
dreamcruise

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Just went to ebay and found the "455" emblems for the Centurion. They are being reproduced and GENE'S BUICK PARTS is selling them. They are the correct ones and cost $58 for the set. They do have bulge on bottom of emblem for contour of fender.

Plug in 455 Buick Emblem (Buy t Now) and you should find them in the ebay search.

Will::cool:

Wow! Good lucking out Will! Thanks for the info, I didn't know that:xyxthumbs:

[Robroy]

I need to put on a missing 455 emblem on one of my fenders as well.
Guess the only the way to mount them is to take the fender off (to get the nuts on) unless you glue them on which probably isn’t a good idea anyway.

If anyone on the board should have any smart trick to share about this, please do so...:user:

[72gsx4me]

You do not need to take off fender or use glue. There are special clips called barrel clips that you put on studs and just push on. My friend Srecko picked them up from a swap meet vendor who only sold clips.

I will check with Srecko if he has any extras. Not all barrel clips are the same. They are special and once pushed in, they are in for awhile.

Will:cool:

[centurion 455 ragtop]

I need to put on a missing 455 emblem on one of my fenders as well.
Guess the only the way to mount them is to take the fender off (to get the nuts on) unless you glue them on which probably isn’t a good idea anyway.

If anyone on the board should have any smart trick to share about this, please do so...:user:

Find yourself a skinny asss crack head drug addict and pay him $10 bucks to reach inside the door jam with his boney arm and a ratchet to remove the emblem:laugh: :laugh:

Actually a while back I did manage to re-bolt mine on. I remember using a small ignition wrench along with a 1/4" ratchet. Oh and I tied a small string to the wrench in case you drop it inside the wheel well. It wasn't easy and it was not a time for children to be around hearing all those nice words coming from my mouth.

Barrel clips are the way to go as Will stated. If your emblems are not on yet, install them with barrel clips. I have them holding the fender emblems on my with my '70 GS.:xyxthumbs: My Centurion still has them bolted, haven't found any crack heads around:laugh:

[EEE]

I almost want to have that on film, seeing you tightening those bolts and cursing.

[Robroy]

You do not need to take off fender or use glue. There are special clips called barrel clips that you put on studs and just push on. My friend Srecko picked them up from a swap meet vendor who only sold clips.

I will check with Srecko if he has any extras. Not all barrel clips are the same. They are special and once pushed in, they are in for awhile.

Will:cool:

Thanks Will!
That barrel clip sure seem to be the medicine for this problem and I truly appreciate that you check with your friend in case he has any extra of the kind for the 455 emblem.
Keep me posted:xyxthumbs:

[Robroy]

Find yourself a skinny asss crack head drug addict and pay him $10 bucks to reach inside the door jam with his boney arm and a ratchet to remove the emblem:laugh: :laugh: .
Actually a while back I did manage to re-bolt mine on. I remember using a small ignition wrench along with a 1/4" ratchet. Oh and I tied a small string to the wrench in case you drop it inside the wheel well. It wasn't easy and it was not a time for children to be around hearing all those nice words coming from my mouth.
I love your sense of humor Rick:laugh: :laugh:
Kimson suggested that I should bribe a ten-year old with lollypops which would be a similar deal:D . I actually got the missing 455 emblem from Kimson for being a loyal customer at Kimson Rally wheels Inc. :xyxthumbs: :xyxthumbs:

I was thinking on trying something similar but I’m worried to drop the small nuts down inside the fender. I guess I might be able to pick them up with a magnet if I’m lucky, but as you say, it would for sure be a lot of :Blasting: :Blasting: :mad: :Blasting:
I’ll go for the barrel clips if I can get such

[EEE]

Kimson Rally wheels Inc.

ha ha ha.. it's soon time to roll out another set of A-body 15*7 rallyes..

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Well yesterday I attempted the impossible. After cleaning up my Centurion I went and installed new 455 fender emblems and Centurion name plates. Well the drivers side was slightly difficult but took all of a half hour using a 1/4 inch socket with a small piece of sticky putty inside the socket so the nut wouldn't fall out. It was tight squeezing my arm up just past my elbo. Total success!! The new ones were bolted back in place.

Now the passanger side............FORGET IT!!!!:Dou: You cannot get at it from the door jam (no way no how) and can only get at one of the 455 emblem bolts and one of the Centurion plate bolts by stretching downward into the fender from the top with the hood up. The other two bolts are out of site yet you can feel them. I may attempt this next week, I'll let you know. Most likely I will be installing barrel clips on that side.

[EEE]

Get your neighbor's ten year old kid to do it, one ice cream should be enough, maybe two, since it's two emblems.

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Get your neighbor's ten year old kid to do it, one ice cream should be enough, maybe two, since it's two emblems.
No kids around to bribe, so I did some stretching exercising last night:D

[EEE]

Looks like your all set, do you plan to un-stretch when you're done? :laugh:

[Robroy]

Now the passanger side............FORGET IT!!!!:Dou: You cannot get at it from the door jam (no way no how) and can only get at one of the 455 emblem bolts and one of the Centurion plate bolts by stretching downward into the fender from the top with the hood up. The other two bolts are out of site yet you can feel them. I may attempt this next week, I'll let you know. Most likely I will be installing barrel clips on that side.

Thanks for the installation report Rick.:xyxthumbs:
My missing 455 emblem is on the passenger side, typical:p
What’s your source (company) for the barrel clips?

[Robroy]

Would this be the correct type of barrel clip for the 455 emblem?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/50-80-Buick-emblem-nuts-clips-barrel-tubular-1-8-stud_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33643QQihZ010QQite mZ200147348307QQtcZphoto

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Sorry I haven't gotten back in fact I haven't attempted that passanger side yet. Maybe this weekend. I blew the engine on my GS the other night at the track. :bawl: Broke both the lifter bores on #5 cylinder. (It's an all out 780 hp Buick race engine). So I was busy with that. I guess I'll be doing an engine over the winter. :tonge2: $$$$$

Anyway, I checked out that link. It looks good to me and for 7 bucks (with shipping) you can't go wrong. I have barrel clips for the emblems on my GS and checked them and they look very similar. I am sure someone else on the board may know for sure.

[Robroy]

I blew the engine on my GS the other night at the track. :bawl: Broke both the lifter bores on #5 cylinder. .
Hey Rick, very sorry to hear about your engine breakdown, guess that means a new engine block?
Speaking of lifters, I’ve got a noise one on my BMW. Doesn’t sound too healthy when the engine is cold. Think I’m gone do the oil change a bit earlier and at the same time take a Wynns lifter treatment cure with a pray it will clean out that lifter. I’m in general sceptical against “magic cans” but after talking with one of the mechanic I a really trust, I have hope.
If it will come to replacing that lifter, it will mean replacing the others as well. There are 32 of them and they are 50 dollars each. It’s about two days work to replace them. In all that will add up to a nice little sum $$$$:tonge2: :tonge2:

[Robroy]

Think I’m gone do the oil change a bit earlier and at the same time take a Wynns lifter treatment cure with a pray it will clean out that lifter.

The content from two magic cans (Wynns Hydraulic Lifter treatment) is now in the oil pan. Only thing left is to drive so it cleans and lubricates and hopefully cure the bad lifter. I'm bit excited about the result…

[EEE]

Broke both the lifter bores on #5 cylinder.

:tonge2: :( :tonge2:

[Robroy]

Well yesterday I attempted the impossible. After cleaning up my Centurion I went and installed new 455 fender emblems and Centurion name plates. Well the drivers side was slightly difficult but took all of a half hour using a 1/4 inch socket with a small piece of sticky putty inside the socket so the nut wouldn't fall out. It was tight squeezing my arm up just past my elbo. Total success!! The new ones were bolted back in place.

Now the passanger side............FORGET IT!!!!:Dou: You cannot get at it from the door jam (no way no how) and can only get at one of the 455 emblem bolts and one of the Centurion plate bolts by stretching downward into the fender from the top with the hood up. The other two bolts are out of site yet you can feel them. I may attempt this next week, I'll let you know. Most likely I will be installing barrel clips on that side.
Installed my missing 455 emblem on the passenger side fender today. Took us about one hour to get the darn nuts on place. I had a lot of help from what Rick had posted in this thread, for ex we had a string attached to the wrench in case it got dropped inside the fender. One person was operating the wrench from the engine compartment while the other was helping by pulling the wrench against the nut from the door jam.
A tip to all bachelors on the board, look for women with thin arms, they can come very handy for occasions like this :laugh: ;):D ;)

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Passenger side!!:eek: Your my hero!!! I tried and gave up. My original one still looks good, so for now it stays. Maybe in the spring I will make that attempt.

[Robroy]

I got a big bruise on my arm from squeezing it in there, but it was worth it. I’ve wanted to get it on there for a long time and it looks real good :)