1) Where do the round "F-263" and rectangular "hydraulic lifter" stickers go?

2) The original water neck/thermostat gasket that was on my car was very thick and had no sealant. NAPA gave me two really thin ones with peel and stick on one side. Should I try to get one thick on instead? Why would they have given me two of them? Should I use silicone sealant? If so, which side do I apply it (or both?).

3) The big side fo the cam for the fuel pump is against the place where the cam follower should go so that it is hard to install the fuel pump. Should I try and turn the engine? Is this possible to do? I am assuming that I should remove the spark plugs before trying to do this. I have never run the engine yet but I am pretty sure that it is not stuck (but who knows how hard it will be to turn). Is it possible to get a socket and wrench on the balancer nut and still clear the radiator?

Rebecca

Put the Buick in first gear, hold down the clutch, have someone push your car, then pop the clutch. That is how many cars were started. Put a mark on the crankshaft pulley and see if it moved.

It has dynaflow.
Rebecca

Sure! A 1" socket, a short extension, and a flex bar, and you can turn the engine easy! Roll it over untill the cam lobe is up and kinda pointing to the top center of the engine, and you're good to go! alleycat

awesome. I am glad to hear this. I assume that I should remove the spark plugs. I will try this. Thanks so much.

Rebecca

Be careful when using silicon sealer as it tends to migrate and plug things up. The 2 thin gaskets will work in place of the original thick one and a thin coat of gasket cement on both sides with nothing between the 2 gaskets will work best.

When installing the thermostat make sure it has a small hole in it like the original. If there isn't a small hole drill one about 3/32nds of an inch to allow air to clear the system as the old cars don't have a bypass system like the new cars do.

I have not seen a car with the right engine decals so can't help on that.

Thanks for the tip about the holes in the thermostat. I got it at NAPA instead of my usual Buick place (www.oldbuickparts.com).

I hope that I can fit the tools to turn the engine without removing the radator because I really don't want to remove it again.

On another note, where can I find a radiator petcock that has alittle snout on it. original buick ones that I have seen have a little tube that sticks out so that it can clear a radiator support (there is a little cutout in it so that this can clear it). Right now I have the common kind on there but it is not really what I want. my regular buick place does not have them.

Rebecca

I found the radiator petcock with a short extention on it at NAPA so you might check with them. I bought my thermostat at NAPA also and it works great but did need the hole drilled.

Thanks for all of the great advice. Last weekend I turned the engine easily and installed the fuel pump. It took about 20 minutes (including finding the right tools). Pump overhaul was cheap. Contrast that to my having to spend $1000 on a new fuel pump for my Saab last week. $$$!!XX&&.

I ordered the snout type petcock from NAPA.

Rebecca