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Everything posted by Buicknutty
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Thank you! I certainly hope so! As we getting near to the point where we can actually start to put it back together with the $1,000's worth of new parts I've collecting over the years we are all getting anxious to see it looking like a nice car again. The former owner, whom we got the car from is also keen to see it, and told me a few months ago that when we finally get it out on the road again he will be coming to see as soon as he can. He is now early 80's but still fit and healthy looking.
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Thanks Ken! Yes this was a bit more ambitious than I originally counted on, but that's the way it goes with these old cars.
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That's what I've been wondering too, I'm thinking it is quite likely but otherwise I have no idea.
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1955 Buick Primary vs Secondary Brake Shoe Orientation
Buicknutty replied to buickbrothers's topic in Buick - Post War
Just my few cents worth here. I have seen them mixed up many times over the years, Kudos to the OP for questioning this to make sure. -
This was one of today's projects, sandblasting the brackets which hold the front bumper on. After a bit of blasting these thicker spots in the original paint appeared, and they are just where I was going to hand them to paint them again myself. So it looks like I'm doing the paint much the same way as the factory did way back. I thought it would be interesting to document this before I finish the blasting and painting. Progress is being made on the girl!
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That's the same as on my '41 McLaughlin. Confusing, as the Post War cars we have work by pulling them the other way, though it's handy to push down, but perhaps too much so.
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That's fabulous work Sebastien! Mine is now looking much better too. This is rather tricky work, but with patience and careful welding doable.
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That's a gorgeous car! Keith
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Alex J's 1956 Buick Super Riviera 56R 2D Hartop Coupe.
Buicknutty replied to ajazataaca's topic in Me and My Buick
I've had similar issues figuring this out with a very few cars I've done this too. I've ended up doing what previous poster suggested, and deciding what is there and replacing them with new ones, and shimming as nec to get a good fit onto the frame. I've wondered if the various factories used different body pads depending upon the local availability. -
Here is the trunk lid as it is tonight. Stripped and primed. The right back side has an old repair and I'm working on a patch for it and I want to at least have it close to the correct shape before I cut it out. The original is still there under the patch, which was pretty standard procedure. It looks like they brazed it in, then beat it into shape. I'm hoping I can do a neater one! It's a tricky compound curve so we shall see!
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Alex J's 1956 Buick Super Riviera 56R 2D Hartop Coupe.
Buicknutty replied to ajazataaca's topic in Me and My Buick
Great car! I have it's sister the Roadmaster 2 dr hardtop and have put well over 100,000 miles on it since I bought it in 1976. You can call me a fan of these! Keith -
Here are a few pics of some of the recent work. We took the trunk lid off to better facilitate the work on it, and to clean up the gutter the weather strip fits into. You can see the clean steel which was under the hinges, and the blue paint which wasn't covered by the shop when they did the red. Also I took it outside before the weather closed in on us and sandblasted the tail of the quarter panel, you can see a bit of brass from the factory assembly too!
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To continue a bit about the body restoration. At the time when I started it I was really afraid to take the body off of the frame, though that would have been the better course of action, and easier to do some things too. I did lift the body off of the frame of my '41 Roadmaster in my large one car garage in the city house, but it's a coupe and stronger. With no structure to the top, and the amount of rust I was afraid it would get twisted and then never fit right again. Now with way better facilities, a lot more outdoor space and no nosy neighbours not to mention a bit more experience I would likely take the body off.
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Raise your hand if you drove at least one old Buick this weekend
Buicknutty replied to JohnD1956's topic in Buick - General
It took me a few days to get a Buick out, a vintage one that is, but we took the '41 Roadmaster out for some fresh gas, then a cruise around the countryside. Due to the intense farming which is done in my area there is little salt used unless really required and even then it's sand/salt mixture. However the roads were very clean. She started well then was a tad grumpy till it warmed up then it idled so smoothly I could barely feel it running. About 12 miles or so, but but it was a real pleasure to have it out for a drive! This is a vintage tractor place near home, and he does buy and sell these things, they aren't just junk! -
The drive line needs a bit more work. The engine is still good, runs well, no smoke and has good compression. The timing chain was rather loose so a little while ago I replaced it, along with the timing chain cover to take an updated front seal and freshen the cavity the oil pump gears run in. At the time I also removed the oil pan to clean and check things in there, and all looked good after a nice cleanup. The oil pressure is very good at 40 lbs+ and no leaks, so far at least. The trans is slipping and when very cold (like today) simply won't work till some heat gets into it, so it needs going through for sure. With the rear axle all it seems to need is re sealing of the pinion and perhaps wheel seals whilst I'm at it to prevent (I hope) issues once it gets on the road. The steering box seals are leaking a little bit, though the gears are tight. This brings up a question for the bunch here. I have read elsewhere these steering boxes will interchange with other models, and the variable ratio ones which will give a better on centre feel, and generally give better road feel. Does anyone have experience with this? If so I'd appreciate your thoughts. Keith
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I am always so bad about updating this thread. The work is progressing on the 'Cat, albeit slowly for one reason or another. Mostly it's nothing all that sexy, just slugging grinding down welds, stripping old the undercoating off, then finding yet another bad spot. This poor old thing! A beautiful car that time and the elements have nearly destroyed. Though we are nearly finished everything structural from to the firewall and will paint it top and bottom soon. My son has been a great help with the hard stuff as I'm doing some of the more fussy body work. I am so looking forward to installing some of the new things which have been sitting on the shelf, in some cases for several years now. A friend of mine in the area who is a good mechanic and an old car guy too, might do the rest of the steering for me this winter, which would be awesome. He works in a country shop almost in the middle of nowhere with minimal heat, so I've suggested on some cold days come to mine and do the ball joints and related work for me in relative comfort. My place is in a huge tobacco growing area, due to the soil conditions and they cure it using natural gas ovens, they call "Kilns" so although I'm out there too I am able to have natural gas furnaces in my shop. No pics today, you folks will have to trust me, but I'll try to post some soon! Keith
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Raise your hand if you drove at least one old Buick this weekend
Buicknutty replied to JohnD1956's topic in Buick - General
Great to see it out in '24! Happy New Year! -
Wow, that's some awesome looking car! Great find, and I hope you will put more than 200 miles in the next 5 years, lol. Keith
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That's what we are hoping for!
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Grant, mine had the 3.9's, which were the stock ones, and here most had this ratio, though 3.6's were optional. I got a set of 3.4's out of a '55 Century plus I have a recalibrated speedo so I know what speeds I'm going. I did drive it for a while with the 3.9's in it after I got it on the road and it wasn't horrible, but the 3.4's are better. Less engine noise too. It seems to be comfortable driving in the 65-70 MPH range for long distances as I've done that in it. Metric, that's 110 or a bit over. My self imposed speed limit is 75 MPH, or about 120 KPH, it's got lots more but I figure that is plenty fast enough. I also run wide white radials, Diamondbacks, and they help with the driving experience. I hope this helps. Keith
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I got the hood back this morning, as expected some of the underside parts where the insulation was sitting did blow through, but the rest of it looks quite decent. Sorry folks I forgot to take a pic of the underside before I flipped it over to do the topside. Progress is being made! There are a number of tiny dents and imperfections on the surface and small dent in the nose, not uncommon. But it's otherwise in quite decent shape!
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Thank you so much! I'll check them out!
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My 58’ Century Caballero Estate Wagon Build
Buicknutty replied to jackofalltrades70's topic in Me and My Buick
That's awesome fast service, great for you! -
After another hiatus, things are moving a bit on the car again. We are expecting to get the hood back tomorrow morn, so after a close look and I'll see all it's sins! We also pulled the driveshaft crossmember off to facilitate some other work, but these mounts which go on the end of it, and bolt onto the frame are in rather poor shape. I have not been able to come up with replacements, or even the proper name for these things. Is anyone able to help me on this?