Ben Bruce aka First Born

I like NTX5467s take on things. But in the end, one has to do what sets well with one's self. I like our BCA Modified division. It takes care of this. I like the "400 point" car, and would never cut one down, I hope, for going that route, but some times money and or abilities almost dictate something else. As for the Chevy 350!! Available, small, reasonable. Would not be my choice but I can understand why it is to many. Ben

I also THANK YOU for your service. While I am a Buick man, and believe a late '30s, early '40s Buick would fit your bill, poci1957 is correct that a mid '30s to '48 Plymouth would be a good choice. And the fact that they are an open drive line compared to the "closed" drive line of the Buick is an advantage if one wants better highway gears. Easy to add an overdrive. Good luck Ben

I am envious!! Would love to be there. I have dreamed of returning for a visit to Australia since working in Brisbane in 1969-1970. Good luck and a wonderful trip. Ben

Willy is spot on. One can not have too large a ground nor too many grounds. Story in point. In 1987 I bought a 1985 Autocar [i know, it is a truck, not a Buick]. Over the next couple of years, the headlight and clearance light switches, which were toggle switches, needed replacing frequently. One day, fooling around under the hood, I grabbed the ground wire from the engine to the cab. Burned my hand!! I went directly to a shop and had a ground cable made up with OO gauge[overkill, I suppose] cable. I drove that truck for another eleven years and never replaced another toggle switch. Ben

The wiper motor is probably like the cooling system. Anything short of rebuilding is temporary. Ben

I, for one, agree with West. Whether one pays $500.00 0r $3700.00 is basically immaterial. The difference will hardly be noticed in the total when finished. Looks to be a GOOD start. Ben

That last one is a WINNER! Ben

Scott said it well. Bernie will be missed. He is one man I would be honored to meet and be called his friend. Ben

Or the Smart car. Neat, John. Ben

Jeff, do it yourself. The final destination is great, but the trip is half the fun. Get it to a reliable driver, enjoy while making improvements. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!! Just my thoughts. Ben

Nice, John, How about some pictures of the teardrop. Do you use it or is it excess? Ben

COUNT ME IN, Lamar!!! But a studio apt on the end of the garage will do. Ben

Good news Robert. Glad she is operational. As for the wipers, just bypass the "pump" with a piece of hose directly from the intake manifold to the wiper motor. Ben

Jim, a long time since I worked on a flat head engine, but don't remember having to pull the engine for a valve job. Perhaps, but I think not. Don't want to burst your bubble, but valves generally get looser, not tighter. A loosely adjusted valve would prevent it from opening all the way. For adjustment to be the culprit, it would have to be tight enough to prevent it closing. The head will, of course , need to be removed to do a valve job. A close inspection at this time should reveal if the engine has indeed been rebuilt. Since your pocket book is like so many of ours, perhaps just a valve grind, if needed. If the rings are badly worn, this MAY cause a little more oil to be burned, but just live with it until you can do more. Don't despair.!! Ben

Let me be the first to say WELCOME, RanierHooker. A nice Buick. Scroll on down to the BUICK forums and join all of us Buick nuts down there. Ben

Welcome to the Ozarks, Mike. Had I known you were here, I would have greeted you personally!:D I hope you were in the motel when the deluge hit yesterday afternoon. Anyway, enjoy and we will enjoy your trip reports. Ben

You need a little more shim at "G". Your kit should have had multiple "shims" , looking like gaskets, different colors for different thickness, for the purpose of this adjustment. Do you have a shop manual? Procedure is pretty clear in my '50 manual. I can post if wanted. Although instructions from a '53 manual might be different. Ben

TEASE!! Ben

UNREAL!! At least he is not hoarding all his money. Ben

Sid, I am no expert on '55s, but bouncing sounds like a dry cable. I would try lubing it first. Unhook it at the speedometer and insert some graphite. Parts houses used to carry a product just for this. It was graphite in a thin oil, I believe. Luck Ben

Did your wife go , as well??:D:D Ben

Danny has it right!! The push button switch will serve the same function as the carb switch, the same as the TEMPORARY jumper. It was done a lot back in the '50s. Just UNHOOK both wires at the carb switch, connect another wire to each, run both NEW wires through the firewall to a convenient , easy to reach spot on the bottom of the dash and connect to the push button switch. Ben

80 mph!! What is the naysayers answer to that? The ones that say 55 0r 60 is all those "old cars" could run. Way to go, Pete. I am envious as h==l. Will it be at the Nationals? Ben

Congratulations to you and the Missus. Quite a milestone. Ben

The oil will drain if the bottom bolt is removed. Ben