Guy,

I really love seeing others' progress pictures and stories, so I figured I'd give some of it back by keeping this thread updated with my progress on the 60.

I also am being very painstakingly anal about this project, since it is my "first job" of sorts. Eventually, I would like to do this full-time. I need to get some more experience under my belt before I jump in anywhere. Thankfully, Mr. Deglman sees my vision, and has offered his 60 Buick as my guinea pig. So far, he has been very very impressed with the detail of the work.

He told me the other day, "Adam, this isn't what we discussed...etc"

I told him, "Hank, if you want it done right, it's got to be done all the way."

His reply, "So how far over budget are we going to get?"

Me: "You never gave me a budget!!"

Him: "oh....well, I trust you. Just do whatever you have to do to get it where it needs to be."

Me: "No problem!"

Him: "You're getting my 62 next...and whatever else I buy after that."

Can I get in line

Adam, for as many cars as Chuck has had over the years, he alone may be able to keep you in business.

I'd like to be doing one like that someday instead of just paying people to do it...once I get my workshop I hope to be able to do work half as good as you are.

Adam, is your radiator shop saying the heater core can't be recored? I had the one in my '59 done last year at a local radiator shop here in Mpls and it looked as bad or worse than the one you have. I'm sure the '59 is the same as the '60. Took him a week or 2 as he had to order the core, but works great now. If I remember he charged about $150 for it. Also, I hope you're planning on redoing the heater control valve as long as you have it out.

Tom,

Yes. he said it was "junk." And didn't bother to even pick it out of my hand. He's always been a great reference on radiator and welding stuff, but I guess this is out of his league.

I emailed Classic Heaters (www.classicheaters.com) and included the pictures I posted above, and he told me it would be fine to recore. They charge $135 plus the shipping out and back.

I'm still searching for one that isn't as bad as mine.

Adam,

Good luck in following your dream on the business. With work like you've shown, you'll have them lined up waiting for you. I think you already have!

Looks like my radiator guy can recore the heater core after all. When he told me is was "junk," he was merely stating a fact, and I took it as a "nope, won't touch it."

I took it back to him today when I picked up the radiator. He's going to measure it and give me a call in the next day or two for a price quote.

CARS order came today.

Does anyone else notice that they use hydraulic hose for their power steering hoses? Not to mention the fact that they sent the wrong one...

I think I'll be going to the Bobcat dealer with my old hoses and have them make me two hoses that are identical to the old ones. Don't want to waste another month trying to get the right ones from CARS.

Everything else looks right except the head gasket kit. Where is the valley cover gasket??? There are what looks to be two sets of valve cover gaskets and NO valley cover gasket. WTF??

Heads are getting taken to the machinist tomorrow for a cleanup and rebuild, along with the exh manifolds to be hot tanked and blasted for cast iron paint.

BTW, the Buick Green paint is really nice!! It goes on thick and dries VERY fast. And so does the chassis black paint. I love this stuff! I got a bunch of little parts stripped and painted tonight, so I actually feel like I made it somewhere on the car. I feel like I've been sitting idle with this thing waiting for this one shipment from CAhhhhS.

OK Adam, havn't you read the MULTITUDE of negative post on CARS - I only order from them if it is truely the last place on earth that has something I need. Then I expect it to be wrong anyway

I have...and you are correct.

I was hoping for the best here, since all of these parts/paint I ordered were fairly straight forward. How DARE I think logically!!


There are quite a few parts they seem to have that no one else does.


So where can I get a valley cover gasket without calling CARS again? Can I get them (order) at the ZONE?

Smartin,
The full gasket set is available at Advance Auto Parts ( www.partsamerica.com ) for $68.88, FelPro #FS7922PT1. The head set is also available for $39.88, FelPro #HS7922PT1. They list just the valley pan gasket (push rod cover gasket) for $6.79 FelPro #PS11407R. Auto Zone does not list just the valley pan gasket but they do list the Full set and the Head set. Hope that helps, Carl

Thanks Carl! I'll check them out this weekend.

Any time Adam.

Hokay,

Got somewhere tonight! yay!

I painted all the engine brackets and such...(forgot to include the fuel filter housing in the picture )





I also shot the firewall tonight. It needed very little touchup, and much more general cleaning than anything. There were a few spots where the paint had chipped off and started to rust a bit, so I cleaned that up along with the rest of the wall. Masked everything off and bombed it with some paint. Came out very nice! It's starting to look like a car again

This is the part I really like - when I can actually see progress being made. HOPEFULLY, I'll be able to make it to the machine shop tomorrow to drop the heads & exhaust manifolds off, and also to the Bobcat dealer to make some new power steering hoses.

Here's the firewall:

More paint..


Block is done:



Intake:



Valley Pan:



Core Support top bar:

For what it's worth to you, I am loving this string, and following it closely. I'm sure lots of other guys are, too. Keep it coming!

I am having a total blast doing this. I've been wanting to do this to my car, but I drive it too much to take into this much detail.

There's a 62 Electra 225 vert coming in the garage next.

Took the heads, manifolds, and distributor to the machinist today for some attention. I also ordered a fitting for the pressure power steering hose and ordered the valley pan gasket.

I got the valve covers painted this evening. Those took over 3 hours to strip and prep, so nothing else got done tonight. I wanted these to be perfect, since those are what is noticed first. Same goes with the wheel wells and all the highly visible black parts. No chipped paint or cracking under the fresh paint - just clean metal. To me, that's what makes the difference between a good job and a great job.

Machinist found a burnt intake valve and a bad valve guide. Replacing 9 valves and doing a valve job.

Exhaust manifolds are there for some R&R and new stud installation.

They were able to press sthe pin out of the distributor so I can change the vac advance can, also.

Moving right along!!

I suppose that intake valve was sticking a bit due to binding in the valve guide, eh? Might maybe have been the cause of the "burning." Did you notice a miss or anything before you began the rebuild? Just kind of interested in your diagnosis, doctor.

It was tough to tell, really.

I did notice a BIG hesitation when cold just off idle. It simmered down after the car warmed up, but it still had a hesitation. I found the heat riser valve stuck closed, and rhe vacuum advance does not work.

If I had seen this before I drove the car 50 miles home, I wouldn't think the car could even run. The initial timing was set at 20* advanced.



Now, for the hook:

When they pulled the heads apart, someone had been doing some "work" on the tips of the valves. Grind marks are on some of the valves as if someone was trying to get them to line up properly. I have a feeling, that the burnt intake valve was held open slightly when the rockers were installed. Either that, or the bad guide was holding the valve at an improper angle causing one side of it to leak and burn.

Choose a scenario

Chosen scenario: some really bad wrenchin' by a careless "mechanic" wannabe!

It's great you are getting that poor nailhead "straightened out." Such a phenomenally good engine and someone did such an unfortunate job of spoiling it. I think it's one of the most satisfying things about working on an old car: "righting what has been wronged." Sort of the "Lone Ranger" spirit that seems to live on in conscientious motorheads--such as true-blue Buick nuts out there like you!

Progress!

I finally jumped in and got the actual surrounding of the engine painted yesterday. (more like around midnight last night)

All the black is done, and the master cylinder, power booster, brake lines, and transmission cooling lines are finished. The washer jug is back where it is supposed to be. The horns and a few other non-invasive items will be bolted back on tonight. These pictures don't do the car justice, it looks really nice. I'm very pleased with the progress so far.

Adam,
You're really sweetening-up the ol' gal. My 60 could benefit from this attention to detail! You mentioned getting everything down to bare metal, but how did you do the inner wheel houses? Didn't look like you removed them.

Also curious as to your "black of choice". The gloss level looks just right!

Keep us posted.....