(March 4, 2007 Update Pictures)

I sold my 1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe 4 Door a few weeks ago to purchase this bad boy, it?s a 1936 Buick Special 40 Series?.and I?ve named him ?El Jefe?. I finally got around to picking him up from Emporia, Kansas this past weekend (March 3, 2007), and brought it to its new home here in Austin, Texas. I?ll post pics of the progress, but for now enjoy the current photos. That's my little boy, I call him "The Boss"; who will be assisting me on this restoration.

P.S.- I intend on going traditional black with this one.





















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(March 15, 2007 Update Pictures)

Here we took off the hood and just got more familiar with our new project.

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I turn my back for a few seconds and the Boss heads straight to the engine. Those ?Bob the Builder? videos are really paying off.


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A job well done!

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(May 19, 2007 Update Pictures)

Here?s some new development on our ?36 Buick, now it?s onto the next phase; tearing out the engine and taking the body off the frame. Enjoy the pictures.

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Here?s the Boss hard at work, he was eager to get his hands dirty.

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I know this doesn't have anything to do with our '36 Buick project, but I'd thought I'd share these awesome pictures of my boy working on his '50 Murray Fire Truck Project. I thought he needed his own project so he can drive something he build himself (with some help of course). Enjoy the pics!

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Jefe,
That's a sweet car. It's cool that your son (?) is helping. Way to go on the safety glasses, too. Whenever my 3 1/2 year old son helps me he knows he has to wear 'em. Are you gonna keep it original?
Keep us posted.
Mike

Great photos. I only have one print of my son on a creeper with goggles on under the 29 Buick scraping crud with a putty knife. He is now 25 years old and that 29 Buick is now his car.

That's pretty much what I was going to write, so I'll save the effort...thanks Mike.

Guess I need to find smallish safety glasses for my varmints.

Buick5563 - Yes, that is my little boy...I call him "The Boss". He actually turns 3 on Memorial Day (Monday, 28th). I do plan on keeping this one all original, just upgrade to 12 volt. The Boss and I are really enjoying this restoration, all my previous ones I did alone because I didn't have a family..but I've found out there's a lot more sentimental value if you share a build. Updated pictures will be posted as this project goes on.

Rigo, that is a beauty. Back in 72, I was offered my choice of a 36 Special or a 54 Special by my next door neighbor/landlord for $250. I chose the 54 for reasons of it being a more dependable roadworthy car. I have wondered if had i chosen the 36, if I would be a 36 Buick fanatic now instead of the 54 crazy guy I am today.
Is the current color of the car the original color? If so I love that color and would have a hard time changing it to black. Look forward to following the restoration you and the Boss put on this babe. Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see and hear more. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This is a long time BCA tradition, kid being interested in cars by helping Dad restore one. The first case I know of was John & Barb Gerstkemper, BCA 12, great folks now gone. Their son is now the director of the chapter in Oregon, and "JonBar", a 1931 Model 96, is still his, as far as I know.
Great folks, missed by a friend on Memorial Day.
Regards, Dave Corbin

Dear El Jefe:
Interesting diversion of kids working with Dad. In my case, my son (now 40) never had much interest. His theory of cars is "If it won't go, call Dad."
However, my daughter (now 36) was my ace right hand when I restored the 39 Roadmaster in 1979-1982. She wanted to know "How's it work?" and "What's that called?" and the name of every tool. I won't tell you that she's as good as "Buick Racer", but nobody fools with her on her car.
Doing what you're doing and then having Jefecito learn how to judge with our 400 point system will make him a darn smart car buyer all his life, able to spot a "lemon" as far as he can see it.
Regards, Dave Corbin
PS: also great preparation to be in the car business in some way. Many vehicle engineers started with Dad.

I had to ask for some reinforcement from my little brother on trying to take the body off the frame, but we only got halfway there. We'll hopefully achieve the goal during this week or in the weekend. My plan is to concentrate solely on the frame and engine, and once that is finished I will continue onto the body and interior. Let me know what you guys think.














I wonder what they had to use these for? I found these under the front seat under the drivers side.









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This is my little brother's 1950 Trokita.

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This weekend I was finally able to separate the frame from the body, it was quite a challenge doing it myself…but I managed. It would be nice to send the body off to get worked on while I’m working on the frame, but my budget (allowance from the Mrs.) only allows me to do one thing at a time. I had to put the body back together to give me more garage space as well.

Next I plan on cleaning up the frame, pull out the engine & drive-train, send out anything that needs to get rebuilt or powder coated, and get my air bags put in. Then I’ll start on the body. Enjoy the pics, and as always I appreciate any tips and suggestions of what I could be doing to further my progress. Gracias!






















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Hey there fellas, this weekend the Boss and I spent it cleaning most of the frame. I’m surprised it still has the original black chassis paint intact…we just wire brushed what we could and decided to leave the rest to the sandblaster guy. It’s looking very very good, with no rust whatsoever!! Next step is to tear out the engine and get my airbag brackets welded on as well as getting this boy 4-linked before I get it blasted and powder coated.

Here are some pictures of what the framed looked like before we cleaned it up a bit.





After the cleaning….

















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It's pretty amazing how clean a chassis remains after being protected by 60 years of grease and oil. Lookin' good so far, Jefe.
Mike

Time for an update yet?

[b][/b]COME ON RIGO, ANY UPDATES YET ON EL JEFE....






RAFA.

Dear El Jefe:
Be aware before you do it that a closed driveshaft car like your Buick is a VERY DIFFERENT beast from the open driveshaft cars that you can convert to a 4 bar suspension easily. I think you're letting yourself in for some really difficult problems if you do that.
Regards, Dave Corbin

Are you planning to stick with the straight 8? Sounds like you'll be looking at a more modern power plant what with changing the rear axle mount.

Before you do that, consider the other thread here regarding the conversion of a 55 Buick. The owner in Buffalo took what looks to be the rear axle out of a C 10 Pickup, which is a open drive shaft but is mounted with the radius bar and panhard bar. He put in a Buick 455 engine and a tranny and apparently mated the radius rods ( at least that's what I call them, these are the ones going to the front of the car while the panhard bar is the one going perpendicular to the frame behind the rear axle) to the trans with using the truck set up. I hope to see this car at the great Lakes Regional show and I will shoot some pictures of the underside to complete that thread.

As I recall it, that guy made it sound like this was a bolt in operation, although I am not vouching for that in any way shape or form.

Good Luck. BTW, what color are you painting the Boss' firetruck?

JD

Well, the most appropriate question may be what do you expect Airbags to do for you on this car? I was actually surprised to see the leaf springs. I thought it was coils all the way around for Buicks. But the pictures don't lie. Also I would thinnk any modification for a 4 link rear may be very extensive now. So what is it that the airbags would change?

JD

Good luck. Looks like with those leaf springs you'll really be modifying the frame to switch to a 4 link rear. Not having any experience with lowriders, I'm guessing to lay the car on the ground you have no springs at all, just the airbags?

What do you do up front?

JD

RIGO, YOUR BOMB IS CLEANING UP GOOD. 4 - LINK THE REAR, STEP NOTCH THE FRAME, AIR - BAGS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS AND A 2 1/2in DROP SPINDLES IN THE FRONT..


RAFA.

Oye Rafa, I've been trying to find someone who would sell the drop spindles. Do you know who might sell them? Gracias bro.