08-27-2012 Inner Circle

Greetings Turbo Regal Inner Circle Members - 08-29-2012

FALL OPEN HOUSE DATE -

Our date for our Fall 2012 Open House is Saturday, October 6th, 2012 at our Plumsteadville, PA location. The hours are from 9 until 3 pm.

As usual we will have an array of used parts, as will Pete. A supply of Yum Yum donuts will be on hand. Door prizes and our newest parts will be on display. This event happens rain or shine. Great time to bring any cores we need and it will save you shipping. So mark your calendar.



CARPET SAVERS/FLOOR MATS UPDATE -

This past week we heard from Jim Schneider, who ordered a brand new 1986 T-Type Regal in 1986. He did not want the carpeted floor mats, so he went with the "B32" and "B33" options, the rubber floor mats. This information now verifies that the only factory installed original carpeted floor mats is the format we sell.

These "B32" and "B33" codes can be verified in the Service Parts Operations booklet that GM published back then. The wording they use for that option is "Floor Mats Aux." The wording for the better mats "B34" and "B35" is "Floor Mats Carpeted Insert." The key word is "carpeted" for the B34 and B35 option.

PHOTO 1 - Jim was nice enough to email me these photos. The top photo shows the original rubber front floor mats. You can notice even the driver's side rubber floor mat only has a single notch on the left side. Although it may not be visible, Jim says both carry that GM logo in the upper center area.

The lower photo is a photo of Jim's trunk ID label. We have highlighted the codes B32 and B33 with red arrows. This would be correct for the rubber mats in Jim's 1986 original 1986 T-Type Regal.

So, in quick review, the only style front floor mats with the correct pattern are available from our company. The versions that have notches on both sides for the driver's floor mat was the accessory carpet floor mats set that GM sold and was probably the same for all the other G-body cars during that time. Again, I am not saying that version is wrong, only that it was available over the parts counter and not installed during actual production. Our version is the factory installed correct format carpeted floor mats. Our version and the other version lack the small GM logo on the passenger's side floor mat.


This past weekend I attended the annual Corvettes at Carlisle Show. This event is huge, and if I had to guess, it's probably the biggest all-Corvette show and swap meet in the U.S.

I did buy two items of interest. One is a Buick related reference book that I had never seen before. It's called "PARTS HISTORY CATALOG" and covers all 5 GM brands (no GMC). This particular copy covers January 1, 1982 thru November 30, 1990.

It is similar to the GM DEALER PARTS AND ACCESSORIES PRICE SCHEDULE that I sold August 8th issue. However, this manual lists every single part GM discontinued from January 1, 1982 thru November 30, 1990. It has just over 1,000 pages! Each page must have several hundred part numbers on it!

PHOTO 2 - Here the photo on the left shows the PARTS HISTORY CATALOG I got at the Corvettes at Carlisle event. I had never seen this book before. As you can guess, it covers any of the parts that came on our cars that would have been discontinued prior to November 30, 1990. In the photo on the right we show two typical pages. In most cases, it gives a new part number to use as a replacement. Otherwise it simply says discontinued by the part number. Unfortunately it does not list the date the part was discontinued.

Now with computers GM has stopped producing many of these printed manuals. Since these only went to dealers, most got thrown out once time expired. I have always been attracted to unusual automotive items that were available during the 1950s and 1960s that I have never seen before. This next item is something that I thought was unusual and probably had a short life span in the retail market place. I never knew that reconditioned spark plugs were a retail store item.

PHOTO 3 – The photo on the left show the front of a factory sealed complete set of eight AC reconditioned spark plugs. There is a small listing of what this set fits in the upper right hand corner. The first car listed is Buick 1953 through 1966. The last one is the Willys 1940 through 1966. It's stange, but the name of the company that marketed this set of reconditioned spark plugs is completely missing on the cover and the back of the package.

Also no price is shown on the package. The photo on the right shows the back side, which shows a chart listing the cars that this set would fit. It was changed according to the overlapped label to the listing on the front. I hope the company had other irons in the fire to make money, as this product probably did not have a long life span in the marketplace! Again, it's something I have never seen before. Judging from the years of cars it fits, this probably was marketed around 1967-1968.

It's a well-known fact that Corvette hard-to-get original parts, especially parts for the C1 through C3 models, usually are very pricey. Here are some examples I spotted at Corvettes at Carlisle last week.

PHOTO 4 - The top left photo shows a complete 1953 Corvette engine complete with transmission. The price tag was $25,000. There can’t be many of them around.

Although they have been reproduced, the original knocks-off wheels are still bringing big money as seen in this second photo. This set of 5 wheels was priced at $15,900.

In this lower left photo we show an original set of Eagle GT tires. These are almost identical to the ones our cars take, only the width is different. I believe this set was priced at $1000.

By far the most expensive 7 small items associated with early Corvettes I spotted are shown in the lower right photo. In the top center is a black oil cap priced at $200. Below that in the center is a RC-26 radiator cap, which also appears to be used and it can be bought for a mere $260! The bolt-on screwdriver must be unique as it was priced at $650! One of the PCV valves pictured is $600.

MORE FROM CORVETTES AT CARLISLE NEXT WEEK.



INTERESTING SIGHTINGS -

One such sighting was an actual car ad. The ad read in part “V6 with V8 4.6 engine”. This seller was obviously confused!

When I attended the recent Corvettes at Carlisle event last weekend, I noticed a vendor selling all kinds of automotive books. One title that caught my eye was a hardbound book about the Smart cars! I find it hard to believe that there would be enough interest in the Smart cars to print a hardbound book! Makes me wonder if they ever did a book entitled How to restore your collectible 1980s Yugo!



BREAKING NEWS - 1987 GRAND NATIONAL FOR SALE -

One of our customers, who resides in New Jersey, has decide to part with his 1987 Grand National that he purchased brand new in 1987. It was one of the later GNs built that year. It has T-Tops. Car is all original. Very clean with a few minor issues, such as a bad powermaster brake unit, and a non-working power antenna. Car has been garaged since new and only has 20,100 actual miles on it! The price is a very reasonable $15,900.

I have more details and photos for serious inquiries only. If you are interested, email me - [email protected]



VERY URGENT REQUEST - WE NEED POWERMASTER BRAKE CORES ! ! ! -

Once again we find ourselves needing complete powermaster brake cores. By complete we mean they must have a brake bowl, switch, and reservoir with lid. They can't look like they have been sitting 6 months in the local river.

You must email me direct - [email protected] - if you can help us help others.

For a limited time, we will issue a $125 Letter of Credit towards any of our website parts. Shipping by mail is the cheapest method to send it to us. If you are sending it by mail, you must use our PO Box in the address - Kirban Performance Products, P.O. Box 1199, Plumsteadville, PA 18949-1199. You MUST include your name, full address and a note explaining this is a core for the $125 Letter of Credit in the box. Do not send anything until you first email me, so we have a record of what units to expect.

This $125 Letter of Credit deal expires once we get ample cores. We still need more complete cores!



POWERMASTER BRAKE UNITS -

Because of the lack of powermaster brake cores being returned, we are forced to increase the core charge to $125 effective immediately.

Also, the price of our rebuilt powermaster brake units is now $549.95 plus the $125 core charge. On our website it notes that you must call our office to order or check availability. This way you know first hand if we have them in stock or how soon we will have one available for you.

I deal with one company that sells to another car market. He tells me cores have become such a major issue that you have to send your core in to get rebuilt before they can get it done and returned to you. I deal with another company and their core charge is almost half the price of the part they are replacing.

Here is a link to the Rebuilt Powermaster Brake units on our website -
http://www.kirbanperformance.com/product/316/REBUILT+POWERMASTER+BRAKE+UNIT+%237021.html



WE HAVE ANOTHER GNX DASH AVAILABLE -

This dash is just like the GNX. It has all new Stewart Warner gauges with sending units as needed. It includes a new upper speedometer cable, directions with a copy of the original AS blueprints, a good used original gauge bezel, new applique, most important a pre-cut stock dash bezel. In other words, this is a complete kit ready to install. You do not have to cut any part of your dash, you simply remove your dash and drop this one in. All the gauges are all pre-fit properly.

The only item you will have to buy to complete it is the proper plug-and-play harness, which is available from World of Motorworks. You have to specify if you have an analog dash or a digital dash when you order the harness.

The price for this complete GNX-style dash is $1,995 plus shipping.-



NEW PARTS & NEW LINKS -

1986-1987 Buick Turbo Regal -
BRAKE STOP LIGHT SWITCHES

This is the plastic switch that is under the dash, which controls the brake lights. There are two versions. One version is for all Regal models that have the optional cruise control option and one version is for 1986-1987 Buick Regal models that do NOT have the cruise control option. These stop light brake switches do not fit the earlier Regal models.

These stop light brake switches are no longer available from GM.

NOTE - When installing this stop light brake switch, be sure it is properly adjusted.

Be sure to order the correct switch for your application.

7445 - 1986-1987 Buick Regal (All Models WITH Cruise Control Option) -
Brake Stop Light Switch $27.95

7446 - 1986-1987 Buick Regal (All Models WITHOUT Cruise Control Option) -
Brake Stop Light Switch $29.95

Here is a link to these switches on our website:
http://www.kirbanperformance.com/products.php?search_text=7445&submit_button=



REPRODUCTION GNX SUSPENSION - NOW AVAILABLE -

Pete Hoffman has a limited number of the reproduction GNX Suspension Systems available. These are the Richard Clark systems that he has had made locally.

They are nearly exact to the originals, down to the welds and material used. They come with complete detailed instructions.

Limited availability!
Call or email Pete 215-778-1036
[email protected]



ALWAYS IN A BUYING POSITION WORKS -

Got any turbo parts you are not using? Why not cash them in for parts you need with a Letter of Credit. Simply email me a list - [email protected].

Also, we are still buying dead or partially dead 1984-1987 Turbo Regals under $4,000 that are within 250 to 350 miles of our location.



NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE - We have heard from a couple people that have viewed the photos on the website. Because these have to be low-resolution photos to work on the Inner Circle segments on the website, any photos of text don't appear clear when enlarged. This is a problem when you are trying to see numbers, such as those on the VIN labels or pages from Options booklet. Also, because of photo reproduction and computer screen variations, the colors may not be true to the actual product or photo.

If you would like to have us email you any photo at the higher resolution for viewing, just email us and we will email them to you. Be sure to be specific on which pictures you want to see - Reference Inner Circle date and photo number 1, 2, 3 or 4 - [email protected].



2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS -


2012 EAST COAST BUICK REGIONALS and FAST EVENT -
SEPTEMBER 21st and 22nd, 2012 - Friday & Saturday
Cecil County Dragway, Maryland
Event is open to all models of Buicks

Featuring the 2nd Annual MAGNA (Mid-Atlantic Grand National Association) All Buick-powered judged Car Show! All Buick's! All years! All makes!

Goodie bags for the first 50 Buicks in the show. Door prizes all day and 50/50 to win some cash. The ONLY ALL-Buick car show on the east coast!

For more information, contact Doug Dougherty - 302-653-2201 or John Csordas - 914-447-6068 or email questions to - [email protected] or [email protected]
Visit their website - http://tristategsclub.com



2012 GS NATIONALS -
OCTOBER 17-20, 2012 - Wednesday - Saturday
Beach Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Racing is FREE on Wednesday, October 17th. The correct dates are October 17-20, 2012. Because of the reschedule, they have negotiated FREE racing on Wednesday, October 17th. This includes "everyone" who comes thru the gate and pays the usual nominal entrance fee. There is NO usual additional charge to race your Buick powered cars on Wednesday.

The BCA (Buick Club of America) will be joining the GSCA event. This combination will make for a well-rounded event featuring all kinds of Buicks. This is one fall event you do not want to miss!

In addition to having representatives from Reynolds Buick of Wes Covina CA in attendance, it appears we also may have Jim Bell of Kenne-Bell fame also in the house. Don Reynolds Buick sponsored Pop Kennedy's unbeatable Buick's starting in '59 thru the early 60's.

Also scheduled to be in attendance & possibly racing is famed CA Buick racer Fred Caitlin. Reynolds Buick will be celebrating their 100th anniversary as a Buick dealer & will be highlighted & honored during the event. Add to this, the presence of BCA members attending, should offer additional interest & fun at the event.



EBAY LISTINGS -

If you would like to see any of the Kirban Performance Products items listed on eBay, here is a link to our store and auctions - http://stores.ebay.com/Kirban-Performance-Products-Inc_W0QQssPageNameZl2QQtZ km



ABOUT OUR EMAILS -

Any inquiries concerning used parts, you must email me direct - [email protected] - I will answer you. However, if I fail to answer you within 24 hours, please email us again. Since expanding into used parts, I get a lot of emails and sometimes I may forget your request or may not remember who requested the item.



IN CLOSING - Remember mark your calendar - Saturday, October 6th, 2012 for our Fall Open House!

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