My '77
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Certified GM nut
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Sycamore, IL
Re: My '77
Originally Posted by britguy
As of yet I have no complaints (apart from the rising gas prices), but I really need to spend some time tuning the engine, as it needs a good 5 minute warm up period after its stood for even 5 hours, otherwise the engine dies as soon as I put it into drive.
Gorgeous car! I
the color 
Big, boxy Bonnevilles are awesome! 
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True Car Nut
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,328
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From: Lakeville, MN
I love them big RWD family cars. Looks real cool. Learned to drive with a 89' Grand Marquis. Love them other then they got no guts. I wish V8 80s big cars had 200+ hp. Ah, well. A few tweakes to the carb and you're well into 200+ hp. 
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Joined: May 2006
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Ok, first off, I originally come from London for whoever asked, and now I'm in Billings (yeah BIG change hehehe). I used to be a big fan of the old style mini coopers back in england, I owned 3 of them and had one in particular that would easily hit 130mph (not bad for a coke can on wheels with a hairdryer for an engine). Now I have 4 more cylinders and 5 times the capacity to play with
As for the engine, its a 301, and a new transmission had been fitted a day or so before the car was last driven so the transmission itself is only 3 years old. I just found out today theres a sheriffs department vehicle auction in town tomorrow, so I'm gonna head down there and see if I can score me a 450 from some old beater.
Considering the car has sat idle in a barn for 3 years, it really does drive great. Its so nice to get on the interstate, hit the cruise control and curl up on the sofa of a front seat and let it drive me to work. I got back in the geo the other day, it made me have claustrophobia.....
Thanks for the advice about the carb too, I'll spend some time this weekend stripping and cleaning it and see if it runs any better. I'm used to tempremental cars so I'm no stranger to an engine bay. I once owner a peugeot that I had to take a hammer to the starter every time I wanted to drive it, and one of my mini'* ruptured a water hose AND the hydraulic clutch line within the space of 5 minutes (that was fun driving it home with no clutch and a fountain, but not as much fun as having to strip half the dash, the heater unit and the front seat just so I could get the damn slave cylinder off the clutch pedal). I knew there was a reason why I studied engineering at university!
As for the engine, its a 301, and a new transmission had been fitted a day or so before the car was last driven so the transmission itself is only 3 years old. I just found out today theres a sheriffs department vehicle auction in town tomorrow, so I'm gonna head down there and see if I can score me a 450 from some old beater.
Considering the car has sat idle in a barn for 3 years, it really does drive great. Its so nice to get on the interstate, hit the cruise control and curl up on the sofa of a front seat and let it drive me to work. I got back in the geo the other day, it made me have claustrophobia.....
Thanks for the advice about the carb too, I'll spend some time this weekend stripping and cleaning it and see if it runs any better. I'm used to tempremental cars so I'm no stranger to an engine bay. I once owner a peugeot that I had to take a hammer to the starter every time I wanted to drive it, and one of my mini'* ruptured a water hose AND the hydraulic clutch line within the space of 5 minutes (that was fun driving it home with no clutch and a fountain, but not as much fun as having to strip half the dash, the heater unit and the front seat just so I could get the damn slave cylinder off the clutch pedal). I knew there was a reason why I studied engineering at university!
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Dude, I love your car. I owned a 1978 2-door Bonneville with the Buick 350 V8 in it, and that car was the BOMB.
About your 301 stalling when you put it in drive:
Since it'* been sitting in a barn for 3 years, go over all of the vacuum hoses and replace any that are cracked. While you're at it check your belts and your hoses. Those things can dryrot pretty easy if you don't use them for a long time. If you're in doubt about any of the vacuum hoses, my advice is to just replace them all.
About your carb, in addition to a good cleaning, seriously consider a rebuild kit with new jets. Such is life without fuel injection.
Also, any emission devices that use a vacuum diaphragm, check them for proper operation. I found that mine would rip or tear with age, and it'* not something that you see right away like a broken belt.
If you just spend some time going over items like that, these cars will last and last and last. My 1978 is still on the roads somewhere here in California.
Take good care of your interior, because some of those trim pieces are getting hard to find any more.
That outside door moulding is easy to find in rolls at Autozone and easy to replace by yourself.
If you're considering a different engine, seriously consider a 350. The Buick 350 has the GM engine code "X" as the fifth digit of the VIN.
Welcome!
About your 301 stalling when you put it in drive:
Since it'* been sitting in a barn for 3 years, go over all of the vacuum hoses and replace any that are cracked. While you're at it check your belts and your hoses. Those things can dryrot pretty easy if you don't use them for a long time. If you're in doubt about any of the vacuum hoses, my advice is to just replace them all.
About your carb, in addition to a good cleaning, seriously consider a rebuild kit with new jets. Such is life without fuel injection.
Also, any emission devices that use a vacuum diaphragm, check them for proper operation. I found that mine would rip or tear with age, and it'* not something that you see right away like a broken belt.
If you just spend some time going over items like that, these cars will last and last and last. My 1978 is still on the roads somewhere here in California.
Take good care of your interior, because some of those trim pieces are getting hard to find any more.
That outside door moulding is easy to find in rolls at Autozone and easy to replace by yourself.
If you're considering a different engine, seriously consider a 350. The Buick 350 has the GM engine code "X" as the fifth digit of the VIN.
Welcome!
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From: Galveston, TX