stealthbob

I have power brakes in my '54... If the '55 is the same then it looks like this: I have my front clip off and engine out so pics are easy

I believe the issue has little to do with the car(s) but everything to do with your age... Stats bear out that you are the highest risk group there is.....

That is exactly what I was thinking as I was reading all this.... The rule is this: Please a customer and he tells a friend...p- him off and he tells 10! Sadly some companies don't get this concept but Insurance is a crazy game of risk balance and they just don't like it to actually BALANCE! No they want as little risk for as much money possible which is understandable...but you have free choice and with six cars lots of clout. My bet your business will be highly sought after elsewhere.

Yea these cars can be a real fun project...nice to see you have the manual. I read mine like novel and sometimes keep in the "Reading Room" Leaking fluid is not a safe thing....sounds like you have a leaking brake line or the cylinder needs replaced. Your best bet is to do a complete audit of your breaking system from the pedal to the drums before you drive it too much. Find out where that fluid is coming from.

Do you have a shop manual? The best advice at this point that I can offer is to get your hands on one if you don't have one. The Roadmaster had big brakes and should work good when in good shape....sound like they need some work. As for the throttle...could be a bad wire, relay or switch. The manual talks about how to operate and diagnose. Good luck with your new Roadmaster...any pics?

As an Internet junkie and now that I'm mixing my old drug of choice with my new found addiction I'm here more times a day than I'd rather admit. I basically read almost every Buick post other than Reatta (no disrespect just not my thing). I then post here sometimes but as MrEarl can attest I certainly know how to hit the post button at 54buick.com :eek:

I thought old people were just Classic...ooopppps classic. Not to be confused with Classy...

What, no duct tape available??????? Nice handy work....

I had one run into the trailer I was pulling only to have my wife hit another and the one I hit simultaneously! What an awful sight that was in my rear view to see one deer cart-wheeling over her car while the front of her car was bouncing over the one I had hit. All this when she was pregnant and my 2 yr old daughter in the back! All ended up fine..insurance repaired everything and nobody hurt...except for all the venison all over the road. Scared me so bad I still see that vision when I close my eyes.

Over Active Bladder Syndrome affects 2 in 10 Americans.....see your doctor for [insert med here] I don't know about you guys but going a little more often and maybe having to use your closest car gas tank seems simpler than this list of what can happen when these Meds are taken

I have to say that without this and the 54Buick site I doubt very much I would have considered jumping into a restoration project. With the seemingly endless assistance and knowledge I can't fail. Thanks to all who provide support.

As someone who just had the unfortunate experience of getting a ceased engine only after 1 hour of driving a new 54 Buick (my first old car) I can say most assuredly that intentionally ceasing an engine makes little sense. I'm now rebuilding...during a time when all these working engines are being intentionally sabotaged...??? Yes I understand the issues and the reasoning's but the optics, through my eyes, certainly suck.

It's the same people that complain and yes get the by-law folks out to stop kids from playing road hockey on a cul-de-sac (dead end)....a pastime for young kids growing up here. We even had a community locally that banned outside clothes lines!

I believe this was not our MrEarl... Thanks for sharing Earl....I know we all recount our many stories and always seem date stamp them as to what we were driving.

Will a crankshaft from a '56 322 fit my '54 and it's '54 Dynaflow transmission? I have been told by a trusted guy who knows his 56 Buick's that it won't mate well with the 54 Dynaflow but wanted to ask just in case as I have a possible deal lined up and I need a crank for my 54. Thanks

...so will duct tape, can't plate that either

Yep...just got mine here in Eastern Ontario Canada. Got to see my name as a new member #44892

That is what it is all about...

Yea that lip at the end of the garage was my main issue with this engine pull... I use my ATV with plow during the winter and inevitably year by year my driveway ends up on the lawn... I looked at the engine hoist at work and quickly decided it was too small. I then looked at a rental engine hoist and thought it would have the strength and hight but I still had to pull it straight out in front of the car. I then remembered about our old Gantry's at work They are not used any-more as we now have a nice Boomlift truck. A Gantry is just a lifting device that has a beam and that the lift point can moved along the beam. Typically used to span larger openings and for us to pull pumps and motors from lift-stations. The wheels are 4" and I used an old carpet over the gravel. I transfered the load weight to the side in the garage and was easily able to roll the and around and back into the garage with a little lift. I also did have another bud over for help but I figure it could have been done on my own. It's all made out of aluminium and can be assembled (attach boom to the two ends) by one person in about 5 minutes. The capacity on this one is 1100 lbs...close to my lift but certainly fine. Couple that with the electric chain hoist it made the whole process of pulling and separating the transmission quite simple and more importantly SAFE!

Thank you very much for your help...stay tuned.

Well it was a big day here in the Buick Garage...I completed my first ever pull out of an engine. It went off without a hitch and had fun doing it. The Gantry and electric chain hoist really made the job easy. My whole reason for pulling was that it was ceased and after loosening all the bearing caps that I could without out turning the crank it still would not move. To be honest I was worried because I had no idea how to get to the bolts that I couldn't reach. I took a little break and beer to contemplate my next move and decided to loosen off the Harmonic Balancer nut as I was really tightening it.....POP it moved and now it goes back and forth with ease. I will only turn it the required rotation to take the transmission off then I get to put it up on the stand and take the rest of the bottom end out. I have to say at this point everything looks great...all the bearings and journals are clean and free of any ridges or marks. This has to be the best possible outcome from this ceasing...whew what a great day! On another note...found a little sludge.

NP...I have yet to try that myself but have done extensive research on everything that I will have to fix for my ride. Good luck and please report results...

Ummm...I guess you missed that part, I made a blunder and broke the temp gauge. I barely pulled on it, I slid the retention nut off and gently pulled and it just came out easy...with out the end. It was really corroded and it's such a tiny tube that holds on...the bottom was completely corroded in place. Took some effort just to get that part out...

Thank you for that coolant advice...I have no pets any more but have heard about some tragic mistakes involving just such a thing. You just can't remind folks enough about stuff like that. I have to replace the rear springs anyway so I guess I will do that just after the engine replacement. Thank you for all your help..

The car (18') is in a 20' long garage...not much room for manoeuvring as there is a deep lip to my gravel drive way right in front of the garage. Yea.. I'm guessing that's where having some extra eyes/hands is good while lifting. I know this was about a simple question as it gets but I just wanted to make sure there was not something I was missing especially with the torque tube. I will have to drop the rear and move it back for reassembly though right?..... or will I be ok as long as someone is down there guiding it in? My equipment is well rated for this lift and it should be fun to do.