Re: 1939 Buick Special restoration

**39BuickEight** · December 27th, 2010

a few parts painted, we'll be moving the frame back in the shop once the roads are dry (gotta keep the boat looking new

and we can't get the frame back in until the boat is out, also got word of an allowance of funds to be put towards the car, so it will be done in 10 years instead of 20 now

**39BuickEight** · December 30th, 2010

moved everything around, boat out, frame in, ordering some more chassis parts today (cell phone pics)

back in the dirty shop at Dad's

**39BuickEight** · January 8th, 2011

some preassembly pics:

**30 Hupp** · January 8th, 2011

Lookin' good! Now....If only I had a garage like that!!!

**39BuickEight** · January 14th, 2011

got all the suspension parts in this week, it's mocked up without all the bushings for now, should have all the suspension done this weekend, put some fluid in the shocks and they work like a charm now...had one leak, but tightening a bolt fixed that, then it's time to figure out the Torque Ball stuff:

**39BuickEight** · January 17th, 2011

thanks to creative uni-strut usage, springs are in (Auto Zone spring compressor wouldn't exactly work with the dimensions we were working in), all bushings are on front, the only thing missing here is the sway bar, but that just bolts on easy...need to order brakes and engine mounts next, I think

**39BuickEight** · January 22nd, 2011

front suspension complete, ready for wheels:

put the axles back in today, and mocked up the torque tube/driveshaft, found out it has the standard 4.44:1 gears with 40/9 teeth and the white paint on the right axle, anybody know what the red and green paint on the left axle mean?

right:

left:

**Luv2Wrench** · January 23rd, 2011

Simply amazing. Looks nearly as good as your garage.

**39BuickEight** · January 23rd, 2011

rear suspension done (will need to adjust when it's actually under weight)

torque tube done (again, will need to adjust when the motor goes in and it's under weight)

**danhar1960** · January 23rd, 2011

It's certainly coming along nicely Billy.
Something satisfying about bolting things back together.
Danny

**39BuickEight** · January 28th, 2011

got the transmission on, the rear bearing seal was a pain to get on the middle shaft, but we got it eventually, got the wheels and steering shaft/gear out of the shed to sandblast next, Dad has been touching up the paint on the frame too since we scratch it every time we put something on

:

The transmission and entire driveline assembly is so much tighter now in terms of overall movement. Looking back at this one, you can see before where we had to put 2x4's under it to keep the transmission from flopping around:

Putting the jackstands under the lower arm in the front didn't budge the suspension at all. I'm guessing once the engine is in it will squat a little

The entire rear end is a little to the right, but when we put weight on it, it straightens out. If you loof at the old photo, it's a little to the right in that one too. I guess it does that when the springs are extended, geometry I guess. Of course it will all need to be adjusted when it is under full weight, but we are still trying to get it halfway straight right now.

**pm5471** · January 31st, 2011

Fantastic work you are doing.

pete

**39BuickEight** · February 4th, 2011

cleaned the garage floor and put the steering column in tonight

next up ordering motor mounts and sending motor off for rebuild

**stealthbob** · February 4th, 2011

If I ever need an operation I would like to have it done in your shop....

Good gawd man.

Very nice work, I am enjoying your very rapid progress through your project.

**39BuickEight** · February 5th, 2011

Originally Posted by stealthbob

If I ever need an operation I would like to have it done in your shop....

Good gawd man.

Very nice work, I am enjoying your very rapid progress through your project.

Well, the progress has been pretty good this winter, we have more done that we thought we would have done so far. It will come to a screeching halt when it warms up and the weekends will turn to fishing.

Dad likes to keep his shop clean. It does make it easier to work, that's for sure.

Today we disassembled the timing chain and found it was put together wrong, according to the manual anyway. The car couldn't have been running quite right.

**First Born** · February 5th, 2011

Billy, in what way was the timing chain put together wrong?? Inreresting!
Agree with others, fantastic garage and work.

Ben

**stealthbob** · February 5th, 2011

Originally Posted by 39BuickEight

Dad likes to keep his shop clean. It does make it easier to work, that's for sure.
.

This is a very important statement....

I found a loss of drive towards my project for a while, always dinking around and fiddling with all different things......getting nothing substantial done. My shop was a mess....tools everywhere, bench loaded and unusable and most importantly THE DUST! I sanded the car down and it layered everything! It wasn't until I cleared my bench, the floor and the dust from sanding that I was able to start getting some real work done again. I even scrubbed the floor as it does have a nice epoxy coating.

I doubt I will have that showroom garage like your Pop's but I try now to keep it neat to keep it enjoyable.

**39BuickEight** · February 5th, 2011

Originally Posted by First Born

Billy, in what way was the timing chain put together wrong?? Inreresting!
Agree with others, fantastic garage and work.

Ben

According to the manual, the 2 links with the washers line up with the marks on the gears. Well, the side facing out only had 1 washer link, and it wasn't lined up on either gear. The side with 2 washers was facing in, impossible to see. Unless they lined it up and just put it on inside out. It certainly didn't look like the picture in the manual.

**danhar1960** · February 5th, 2011

Originally Posted by 39BuickEight

Today we disassembled the timing chain and found it was put together wrong, according to the manual anyway.

That's interesting !! Did you take a pic ??
The genius that did my engine put the timing chain on totally wrong.
Thankfully I picked it up before I put the head back on otherwise I would have had smashedvalveatosis.
Danny

**39BuickEight** · February 5th, 2011

Danny, no photos, just seems to have been backwards (I don't see how that part would matter???) and off one tooth, if you can imagine that?

Anybody know off hand if this chain on eBay fits my 248?

40 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 Olds Nos GM Timing Chain - eBay (item 220722611132 end time Feb-08-11 09:15:38 PST)

**39BuickEight** · February 11th, 2011

some more bare metal:

getting ready for when the engine is done, mounts are in

**Buick36-49** · February 21st, 2011

WOW!! What a big progject. '39 Buicks are beatiful cars...a little different style than what you would expect from a Buick!! I love these at the show...BEST OF LUCK!!
Robert

**39BuickEight** · March 5th, 2011

It rolls! (those are 2 factory tires off my truck on the back for now

)

parts waiting on engine (still at rebuilder), water pump no longer seized, and Dad said there wasn't a single lube hole open on the rocker arm assembly, we are more and more glad we decided to overhaul the engine:

**Luv2Wrench** · March 5th, 2011

Stunning, great work!

**Landman** · March 6th, 2011

Great inspiration for those of us who lean to the messy side.

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