78 Estate Wagon addition

imported_JohnD1956 · October 18th, 2008

Thanks to Zonda, we added this 1978 Estate Wagon to our small collection. We drove it the 100 miles home this past Thursday and were very pleased. Eventually it will need some work but for now I'm just glad to have it.

When I first looked at it I thought I smelled antifreeze, and figured it needed a water pump. But it turned out the owner had just not retightened the hose clamps on the new top radiator hose. The car has a new water pump, a clean timing chain cover so I suspect a new timing gear set, new brakes and battery. The A/C even works still.

It does need a headliner including the sun visors, and a good armbustin polish. Maybe later this week.

imported_Thriller · October 18th, 2008

Welcome to the Buick Long Roof Fraternity [img]<>/grin.gif[/img] [img]<>/wink.gif[/img] [img]<>/wink.gif[/img] [img]<>/cool.gif[/img]

ZondaC12 · October 19th, 2008

That's awesome I can't believe you actually went and grabbed it! Looks great. I'll have to stop and see it sometime, or maybe I'll see it at a chapter meeting. [img]<>/grin.gif[/img]

imported_75RivGS · October 20th, 2008

Thanks for now having another Buick on my wish-list.

Bill Stoneberg · October 20th, 2008

Its amazing how little they change from 78 to 88. If you hadn't said the year I would have guessed later. The wheels look like the ones on my 88 and the interior is almost identical.
What engine does it have in it ? It doesn't look the 307.

ZondaC12 · October 20th, 2008

Try as I might I can't find the thread it was first brought up in!!! Can't belive it. I kinda wanted to go back and see, I forgot how it all played out. And it would have said what engine it had. I think it was on craigslist...ad is probably taken down by now. Oh well.

imported_JohnD1956 · October 20th, 2008

That is the Buick 350 in there, with the turbo 350 transmission. The wheels were off an 85 wagon. I have a set of chrome road wheels here ( which should have been on there) but they are off a Riviera and are set up for my 69 Electra's disc brakes. Odd-ly the center hub hole on the Electra is 1/4 inch smaller than the hub on this Wagon, so I had to pull these rims off the shelf.

The nice thing is this engine runs very well. I had some trouble with the carb linkage but sprayed it down with carb cleaner and it works right now. I am going to start looking for a used 1970 Buick 350 to keep in stock in case I have future need.

Zonda, you had found the car in the Want Ad Digest, online, and sent an e-mail to the Chapter members. And this car was sitting within 10 miles of Dick Andrew's summer place in the Adirondacks...

The Old Guy · October 21st, 2008

I am pleased to see that I am not alone in my appreciation of wagons. My 69 Sport Wagon has become my "travelling car" and it is great! It allows us all the room we need in case Bernice finds something special at an antique shop.
I had an 87 ,but it had the 307 Olds and was such a "dog" ,I was afraid I would get run over.
I just found a 92 Roadmaster wagon that has 60k and was kept in a heated garage .it looks like it just came from a showroom.

ZondaC12 · October 21st, 2008

Originally Posted By: JohnD1956

Zonda, you had found the car in the Want Ad Digest, online, and sent an e-mail to the Chapter members. And this car was sitting within 10 miles of Dick Andrew's summer place in the Adirondacks...

RIIIIGHT now I remember. Wow. Ummmm that's...bad. [img]<>/blush.gif[/img] My mom would chew me out for that! "youre not allowed to forget anything yet!" Haha

imported_JohnD1956 · October 21st, 2008

I know what you mean Joe. Last time I went to get a piece of sheetrock with the Electra I had to bust it up to get it in the trunk. You would have thought with such a wide car you could get a 4 ' piece of sheetrock between the wheel wells but noooo, the thing was an inch too narrow. And then 3 feet was hanging out the back besides. I don't even ride around with the rear seats up.

I have plans to keep this car for a while.