Grant L. Meredith Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Hi folks. A embarrassing moment happened to our 28. Got it running great and finally got up past highway speed first time since I bought it . That's where it happened. Right side of roof wasn't clamped properly to windshield post. Roof lifted up and left side held on for a couple seconds and then it unhooked and it slammed down in front of rumble seat are but folded up like I laid it there. Then during inspection I saw damage. Couple screws broke which is easy to fix but the 4 bars on the deck 3 broke from the roof impact. Sigh. I'm hoping someone has ideas on where to find 3 or 4 replacements I can buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27donb Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Sorry to hear about your misfortune. "up past highway speed"...how fast were you going when this happened? On my 54CC I have the 4 bars installed 180 degrees from the way yours are installed. I have seen several pictures of Buicks with them installed as you have them. Are mine installed incorrectly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylormade Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Are they pot metal? I hate to say it, but the best thing to do would probably to cast new ones, using the old parts as patterns, and get them chromed. My chrome plater managed to reassemble the three pieces (pot metal) of a decorative cowl spear on my 32 Dodge Brothers sedan. It worked, and the piece looks brand new, but it lies flat on the cowl and is under no stress as your parts are. Best of luck with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27donb Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 46 minutes ago, Taylormade said: Are they pot metal? They are aluminum. I had forgotten that I have an original photo of the model 54CC, and it clearly shows the irons installed the way I have them, opposite of the way they show on the 28 in question. This may have contributed to the breakage, with the curled end taking the weight of the top at the far end near the rumble seat. I wonder if a good welder could tig weld them back together, sand down the welds, and polish like new again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25 Buick Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 (edited) They would be cast aluminium. Mixed with different alloys. Hard to weld and harder to find a suitable filler rod of same composition. So that when polished shines at same colour. Something with higher silicone content will weld easier but many trails will need to be done to get same shade of metal for polishing. Casting and chroming may be more successful or cast in aluminium and polish Edited September 23, 2017 by 25 Buick (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Engle Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Wouldn't the finish be nickle plating? Tig weld and plate would be my solution. Bob Engle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27donb Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 2 hours ago, Bob Engle said: Wouldn't the finish be nickle plating? Tig weld and plate would be my solution. Bob Engle Mine are not plated, they are polished aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25 Buick Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 I'm pretty sure you cannot plate aluminium, you can clear or silver anodise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Engle Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 There are a number of plating processes that can be done to plate aluminum. Google chrome plate aluminum. A nickel finish would be closer to your original aluminum polish. Bob Engle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted September 25, 2017 Author Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) On 2017-09-23 at 1:47 PM, 27donb said: Sorry to hear about your misfortune. "up past highway speed"...how fast were you going when this happened? On my 54CC I have the 4 bars installed 180 degrees from the way yours are installed. I have seen several pictures of Buicks with them installed as you have them. Are mine installed incorrectly? I got it to 58mph.......which is "new" to us. only owned the car for 2 years. When bought it did well to go around town. Mine could be installed wrong. What you see is how I bought the car. Edited September 25, 2017 by Grant L. Meredith added to response (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 25 Buick, please do not tell the folks at Harley-Davidson that aluminum cannot be plated. It can be and is plated all the time for appearance. It is better to polish it out on a motorcycle application. Plating of aluminum engine parts on any motorcycle is like wrapping that turkey in the oven in aluminum foil. It holds the heat in and cuts down on dissipation of the same. Sorry about getting off topic a bit there, but aluminum can be plated. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25 Buick Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) Thanks terry, good to know. I did look into this a few years back and couldn't find a solution. Lots of clear coatings but no chrome or nickel plating. Are you sure it's not an anodise. either way interested in how you get on with this job Edited September 25, 2017 by 25 Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 25 Buick, aluminum is a very porous material and when one polishes it to a high luster it will stay that way for quite a while. Then it will begin to oxidize. I have a set of wind wing brackets that are on my 1916. They are cast aluminum and I had them polished out to the point that they appear to be chrome plated. I keep them looking freshly polished all the time by waxing and buffing them regularly. If Grant has these parts recast in aluminum he can do the same thing with them - that is have them polished out and then keep them waxed and buffed. This is why aluminum is plated in certain applications - to cut down on the continual maintenance of the surface. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 My friends totally original 1927-54 sport roadster showing the scuff bars with the rolled edge toward the top. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 Larry thank you that picture....being original sure helps a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 Terry, IM going to look into getting them re-cast. Now find a trusty caster....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Grant, will you look at having them cast in aluminum or stainless? Since you have one good one to use for your pattern it shouldn't be too awfully hard to get good results. The best of luck to you in this endeavor. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 Terry I'll have them cast to close as possible to original. I'm picky lol. Whatever I do with this car it will be to better it and bring closer to brand new looks and mechanical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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