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1947 Buick convertible project "An alternative Therapy"


Nahuelsan

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'48 and '48 convertibles are real favorites of mine. I like that car. And the shop.

I just showed my son the picture of your tools and asked him what I would not like.

He said he wasn't sure, but he knew it had to do with the Cresent wrenches.

Just to let you know I was paying attention here's a tip. Hang the tools so you have to reach farthest for the adjustable wrenches and keep the sockets and end end wrenches at your fingertips.

Great car, Bernie

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Hi Bernie!

Every single time I have to take a wrench or a socket I say my self: Why did you put that so high?!

I've made the board a cuoples years ago and I get the car only a month ago. At home I usually don't use the wrenches or sockets (or just a few times) But now, with the car it's different... Maybe if I were an NBA player there would no problems, but I'm not so tall.

Thank you for your advise and when I re-arrange the tools I'll post some more photos.

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As I recall the transmission has a pin thru the outside of the case, and this pin is driven further into the case so the shaft is released and now can be driven out.. Strange but true.

Amazing! It was all the time in front of me and I didn't saw it.

Just like you said, there's a pin thru the case, you remove it and then you can remove the shaft and the gear. Thank you very much for the tip.

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Well, while I wait for the gearbox parts for replace, I decided to "play" with the clock. Here in Argentina, there's a web site like e-bay, but smaller that is called Mercado Libre (it means free market). There, I just found another clock to use of spare parts. Well, I get itand I began to disassemble them. I have to find a 6VDC power source to test it and if it not goes, take it to the clock repairman. Something I found in both clocks was a label with the guarantie expiration date (jun-1947) and the adress of Jaeger, there in NY. Does anyone know if that adress is in Manhattan, in Brooklin or in somewhere else?

Here, a photos of the original clock:

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Here, the one I've bought:

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Here, the label:

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Here, the disassembly:

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Next I'll do will be to take the outer and the inner ring to the chrome plating worksop, then test the clock and repair it (I hope I don't need to) and reassembly it.

I'll keep postig the progress...

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Today I went to get the re-chromed parts back. They did a very nice work on them. I've ordered also a battery to begin the electrical accesories tests. I hope the clock start working when I connect it. If I can't repair the original clock, it's a very good idea to fit a quartz clock instead of the original.

The tab you noted, is bent (it's really straight). Normally it is 90 deg. bent but it was straight. Nothing that a pliers can't fix.

As soon as I begin the reassemble of the clock, I'll post more photos.

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...I hope the clock start working when I connect it...

I think your clock will work. They just get dirty over time and when you clean them they start working again. The clock in my '49 was just dirty and started working as soon as it was cleaned.

Getting your parts back from the plater is exciting. They always look so very beautiful and new. Post some pictures!

Dan

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well, here again...

here I'll show you how I keep removing all fenders and leaving all the front suspension accessible. Lots of bolts were cut with a grinder. They were impossible to loose them. All the parts are guarded, waiting for its turn to work on them. Here some photos, the last one is like De Lorean in back to the future LOL

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Here I show how I did to get a better looking of the dash clock. I dissasembled and re-crhomed the rings. The metal sheet where "BUICK" and "F | S" is printed was rusted only in the BUICK side. Looking in the Web, I found a good advice and I followed it.

1st, I scanned this metal sheet, then with a photo editor, I "re-painted" the letters and the background last, I printed it. Only need to glue the printing to the metal sheet when I assemble. If somebody want the file to print and restore the clock, just ask and I'll e-mail it.

Here some photos:

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  • 1 month later...

post-50932-14314224584_thumb.jpgNahuel

My name is Jeff I live in Mt Laurel which is in Southern New Jersey I have a 47 Super also. (BIG YELLOW) I've had her 4 years this December. She needed a complete restoration when I got her. Currently she is close to completition and is being driven a lot. This is a wonderful automobile. By Profession I am a automotive repair Master technician. I wish to offer any help I can in your restoration project. There are a host of knowledgable other people in this site too. so with all of our help and advise perhaps you can complete your project sucessfully and quickly. I look forward to seeing and hearing of your progress.

Best regards

Jeff Schulte

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Hi Jeff!

Thank you for the help you offered me. Good to know about you, your expertise and you experience. Sure I'm going to need it.

Right know, I'm still waiting for the spare parts of the gearbox. They are hard to find. Meanwhile, I'm working on the radio and today and I hope to have time to post some photos. Here in Argentina there weren't much Buicks of this model and just a few convertibles. I have a lot of missing parts, that's is the most worrying issue about the restoration. But with time, e-bay and without hurry I think she is going to be restored in a time. Even if I'm not an automotive Master technician, actually I'm an aeronautical Technician, when I was teen, I've worked in a automotive repair shop, where I've learned welding, bodyworking, painting and of course the most funny part: mechanics. I've assisted in a Chevy 46 stylemaster coupé, then a Pontiac 50 chieftain convertible and last but not less, a Renault 4S 1971 restorations. Now with 36 years old I bought this one and just for fun I've started the restoration.

Happy to count on you too!

Have you some thread or photos of the restoration to see your progress?

Greetings,

Nahuel.-

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...I'm an aeronautical Technician, when I was teen, I've worked in a automotive repair shop, where I've learned welding, bodyworking, painting and of course the most funny part: mechanics. I've assisted in a Chevy 46 stylemaster coupé, then a Pontiac 50 chieftain convertible and last but not less, a Renault 4S 1971 restorations. Now with 36 years old I bought this one and just for fun I've started the restoration...

Algunos se preguntarán por su ayuda, señor!

Dan

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Algunos se preguntarán por su ayuda, señor!

Dan

Hi Dan! It was when I was 20, some time ago... I hope I remember some of that time!

Fortunately I've found this site for asking help, because there are issues that there aren't in the manuals, or in the own experience... they are in the other people's experience. Isn't it?

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Well, still waiting for my spare parts of the gearbox... but I've finished the radio front. Here some pics:

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I've started to restore the radio, I disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, striped the paint, re-painted the case, the numbers of the dial, the pointing needle,etc. I found a fuse and another component inside the radio, but there's not place where it belonged!

I found a guy that replaced the speaker coil and the "cone" (I don't know if you say like that to the "paperboard"). Now it's like new. Well here some more photos. In these days I'll post some more.

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If someone need detailed pictures of the radio, just ask and I'll send what you need.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi! I'm stuck with an issue: I can't remove the ignition (switch?). I remove both attaching nuts but I have the front that doesn't let me remove the assy. I only see a small hole in the font where you insert the key to turn the ignition on, when insert a pin in that hole, it feels that you press something because a spring expels it outside. Does someone knows how can I disassemble this part to remove the ignition switch. I'll appreciate any help. Here some photos.

In this days, I'll post some little progress... Thanks in advance.

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Nahuel

As long as the switch is in the off or on position, you should be able to remove it by using a small metal pin and lots of penetrating oil and patience. If you are removing for key pattern, it is much easier to remove glove box mechanism or door tumbler to get the key code. On the door, the code is on the flat rod that connects the back of the tumbler to the door latch. If you have a manual, all of this is in there. Matt

Edited by jackofalltrades70
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  • 6 months later...

Hello again! After several months no posting, here I'm again. Nothig big to tell, finally the gear box spare parts never were found and I'm just like the beginning. I sent the radio to the shop an it´s alive again. Soon I'll post a clip to listen how it works.

Now I've just restored the top hydraulic pump, I don´t remember the brand, but it's somethig like "HydrElectric". The issue is when I connected the motor (with the pump removed) to 6V, it spined a little slow. Obviusly when Installed the pump module to the motor, it spinned slowly also. I checked the rotor for stuck but its free to rotate. Some days later I connected to 12V and it goes really fine and spines great. The motorpump is phisically identical to the one of the Buick shop manual.

When I bought the car, there were two motorpumps to choose form the place where the car was guarded. The owner had also a Cehvy 58 Impala convertible and I´m affraid that I choosed the wrong motorpump, altough I saw many pics of the pump, and those pumps were like I picked. Even Matt, sent me pics of the motorpump fo his 47 and it was the same...

My questions are:

Is there a chance that the Chevy 58 was equipped whit that same pump?

Does someone knows if the Buicks were equiped with other brands of motorpumps?

I really don't know if I have to return my actual pump and take the one that I left in that place

Another possibility is that someone changed and adapted the rotor for another 12V rotor. Is this possibly?

Like always, I really apreciate the help you can give me.

Thanks!

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The first thing to check is that your six volt source is fully charged. The 58 Chevy will be 12 volts so if you do have the 12 volt pump you will have to go and find a 6 volt pump.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest ñandu33

Greetings to the forum completely! And thanks for the invitation.

I awakened great interest to see how the car was NAHUEL in Argentina and if you still see new photos.

My dad had one just like it but in the year '60 coupe

Greetings to all pals , from Buenos Aires.

rhea

Saludos al Foro por completo! Y gracias por la invitación.

Me despierta gran interés ver como quedó el auto de NAHUEL en Argentina y si lo sigue teniendo ver nuevas fotos.

Mi papá tuvo uno igual pero coupe en los año ´60

Un saludo a todos desde Buenos Aires.

Ñandú

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Guest ñandu33
Hi Ñandú!

Are you from Argentina?

Where do you live?

As soon I can I´ll post some more pics and videos of the restoring. Too hard to find the missing parts here.

I wait for your reply.

Thanks for reading the post.

Si chabón, soy porteño como vos.

Contesté en inglés por respeto al foro.

Ese auto que comprastes lo tenía visto hace 6 meses, pero me enteré que lo comprastes....EN HORA BUENA!!!

De pura chusma como vas con la restauración.

Un abrazo

D.

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Hi again, here some more pics of the radio restoration. Finally after the cleaning and painting I sent it to the shop and here I have it completely functional, besides I can plug a Mp3 reproducer and listen my music...

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Here a clip playing a song...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzLU2gzeIkyYaXkxRDVnSjVNUms/edit?usp=sharing

Here the Fuel/Oil press indicator. Note the turn indicator with discolored arrow, many years of sunlight. I "fix" it painting it with a green text marker. Both indicators seem to be ok.

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Here the turn signal lever mechanism disassembly:

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The home-made sand-blaster I did with the BBQ place (the grill is removed). A wooden front, a pair of long gloves, a glass and a sand blaster gun. It's not as powerful as an industrial one, but by now, it's ok for me. Note: never forget to clean all the sand after use it, otherwise next BBQ will be a disaster!

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One more pic of the front of the radio. It's upside-down

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Here a few of the hydraulic pump

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Here my home-made paint cabin in the backyard, that's only the PVC tubes structure, then I "wrap" it whith transparent nylon (like the serie Dexter)post-91957-143142599677_thumb.jpg

Last but not least the steering wheel before and after the epoxy putty, now I'm sanding it.

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Well, after a long time with no news this is the little advance in the restoration.

Greetings!

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Edited by Nahuelsan (see edit history)
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Guest ñandu33

te está quedando genial!!!

Te felicito

te mando un mail con algunas cosas que creo te pueden servir!!!

Un abrazo

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  • 1 year later...
Guest fatherfocus
Hey there

My English is very bad

 

I am of the country Chile

 

I found this buick. 47-48 ??

 

how much would be right to pay for this car?

 

I would like to add buick fans (47-48) on my facebook, because I think I need much help and I only have my favor strong will to good end this beautiful car

 

I also have two Buick to donate vital organs to convertible :)

 

a big hug to all of you
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Guest fatherfocus
Hey there

My English is very bad

 

I am of the country Chile

 

I found this buick. 47-48 ??

 

how much would be right to pay for this car?

 

I would like to add buick fans (47-48) on my facebook, because I think I need much help and I only have my favor strong will to good end this beautiful car

 

I also have two Buick to donate vital organs to convertible  :)

 


 

a big hug to all of you

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