@JunkyardDigs revived this Buick Century with a 5.7 Oldsmobile Diesel and I'm trying to keep it alive! I have repaired the glow plug controller since this filming so it is starting much better now!
Those videos you did of this car are some of my favorites of yours. A 100% unloved model and it's still kicking. Like my 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity Euro CL.
Here's a great idea for a collaboration because I know Aging Wheels likes doing reviews of weird quirky cars and stuff like they would probably would like to review your Buick Century Diesel perhaps a future collaboration please?
That's gotta be a rare car. You don't see many Buicks with the Olds diesel. Most of them made back then as well as most still existing today are Oldsmobile models.
I worked on many 5.7 350 Gm Diesels.Head bolts were the biggest problem as they were torque to yield and would just snap.Glow plug problem most of the time was a problem with glow plug timer.Hard starting was a indication of the injector pump letting go.Those engines were installed in all gm products including 1\2 ton pickups.Best thing is to install a truck fuel filter with water seperator.That box filter is junk.
That is a rare vehicle. It is highly optioned. Last year for this body style and only year 5.7 Diesel was optional. I would go easy on the throttle if it has factory head bolts. I have had many Olds diesel 5.7 vehicles thru the years and Main issue is factory head bolts are weak and will break and start leaking the head gasket. If its not leaking yet I would recommend replacing the head bolts with ARP head studs that will not break. It can be done without taking the engine apart. Just replace one at a time in the torque sequence. I have done 3 engines like that and went many years with no issues.
The head studs are good advice. I have this and another 5.7 Diesel in a Cadillac Deville. I usually take it pretty easy on these cars but I should consider the head studs if I start driving them more.
Might have a transmission problem... maybe the throttle swtich is bad, so not telling the transmission to downshift. Similar issues can occur on the vacuum controlled transmissions too. Given the grey cloud behind him it appears to be getting fuel or I would have suggested it was the fuel filter.
And on those bumpers you can remove the bumpers drill a hole in those shock absorbers release the pressure countersink the bumpers drill to that hole again and put a screw in there remount the bumpers and have what's known as tucked bumpers, and you don't need to ever replace all that plastic stuff that's missing that will also make that car look great I even did that to my Seville the rear bumper was the only one I could do because of the configuration of the front bumper won't allow it. It sure made the back end look a lot Slimmer and trimmer.
