Buicknutty
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Posts posted by Buicknutty
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Ken, that looks like excellent progress you are making.
Your statement about a lot of time with little to be seen is where I've been with the Wildcat project lately.
Keith
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Here are a few pictures of a few pieces we just picked up today, the rechromed bumper, and the reconditioned steering box, which now looks like new. The rebuilder said he could quicken the ratio so I decided to go for it. I hope this isn't mistake though I know some have done this and like the results.
I also got the cleaned rad, which wasn't all that old as I'd had a newer high density core put in for the Electra a little while ago, then changed rads again on it, so this became the one for the Wildcat. It had had enough use that it was a bit crusty so I figured I'd get it cleaned so everything is tip top as I can manage.
The other thing here are the upper ball joints. The rubber boots were bad, but the joints themselves were still quite tight, but I was able to get replacement ones which fit perfectly!
This week I plan to start to put the steering back together, which will be awesome to be putting some of this girl back together after spending so much time taking it apart!
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That is a lovely car, and I have a '41 Canadian built Roadmaster which is the same colour. These are great driving cars!
We are all waiting for Spring so we drive these beautiful babies again.
Keith
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I just discovered this thread. It looks like a neat project and there's nothing better than bringing a car which was left for dead back to life!
Keith
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4 hours ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said:
Thank you, Keith,
As I said somewhere in the past, the extra performance is not tremendous, just significant. The trip to Spokane encompassed all types of terrain. Only a couple of times was 2nd gear needed for a hill. And this with the 3.36 gears and pulling the 1200# tear drop. AND just shy of 18 mpg round trip. I am happy.
Ben
That sounds great Ben, good mileage too along with a few creature comforts! Win, win, win!
I am led into temptation by someone who has offered me a rust free (they claim) '49 56S for a couple of thou, but it is a project. Which once again got me thinking about upgrading the engine somewhat, akin to what you did to yours.
I'm running 3.4's in my '41 Roadmaster and it drives and pulls great, it has only slightly higher compression than stock and could likely turn a bit taller yet without strain.
Keith
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Ben, great to see this thread updated! I had a discussion with a couple of other car guys last week and was reminded of you and your car when we were discussing modifying original engines for a bit more performance.
Nice to see you and the car again!
Keith
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1 hour ago, EmTee said:
After spending the better part of an hour trying similarly to get the pitman arm separated from the shaft on my '38, I gave-up for the evening, leaving the puller in place and under tension. When I looked under the car the next morning, the puller was on the floor and the arm was free and up against the loosened nut.
Yes, I tried that too, only it didn't work as well for us!
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We are well into the front steering and suspension now, and it was time to pull the steering box as it was leaking and also to clean and paint everything.
Wow, what a job. Never have I had such a time. The retaining nut of the pitman arm came off without as much fuss as I'm used to, but that's where the easy part ended. Removing the pitman arm from the shaft was a tough job.
I have a pro grade puller, but it took a huge amount of force, plus hammering, etc etc, then it finally started to move. Then on to the rag joint, which was in pretty poor shape, but the bolts were rusted and took a nice bit of acetylene to per them that it would be in their best interest to undo.
Then it was the spline shaft on the rag joint. The bolt was rusted solid, and shrunk with rust so the 12 point socket it's designed to take would not grip it well, heat didn't even help. So a bit of cutting with a small blade, then the torch, finally a chisel broke the bolt. Then we were able to spread it so it would break free from the shaft.
I did find a local rebuilder who says he can do these steering boxes, so this afternoon I left it with him.
The bushings in the upper control arms were nearly as bad, but they are out now as well.
So the work continues a bit at a time, it's slow go though.
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The previous owner is a long time friend of mine from the late 70's or so. The car has been a bit of a chameleon. Originally it was a triple white car, then it was painted blue, then red which it was when my friend bought it.
You memory is correct, we are planning on painting it Sherwood Green, which should look sharp against the white interior and top.
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7 minutes ago, sebastienbuick said:
Thank you so much !
A I'm glad to know that your trunk lid is also in good condition .
Good luck for the future, this Buick is going to be very beautiful when it is finished !
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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7 hours ago, kgreen said:
Keith, just read your postings here. Wow, this is an ambitious project. Good luck and hold on to that ambition, I'll check back.
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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6 hours ago, EmTee said:
I wonder whether they might have been dipped originally...
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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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.
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Very cool video and thank you, Morgan for sharing it! That car is so much like my 1916 McLaughlin D45, which used the Buick running gear. Makes me want to go take mine for a drive.
Keith
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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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2 hours ago, kgreen said:
Nope, handles are positioned downward and push to exit the vehicle.
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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On 1/11/2024 at 12:10 PM, ajazataaca said:
Thanks Ben, it is actually not about believing or not in the manual, but its info is also very limited and ambiguous. I have been also told by some other owner his chassis only has round pieces in some holes while square just underneath the trunk area. So, that's why I want to make sure to get this puzzle solved by some experienced people before ordering the wrong pieces for my particular application in order to doing it correct and accurately this time.
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.
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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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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
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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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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!
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My Wife's 1968 Wildcat convt
in Me and My Buick
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A seller on d'bay. He was very good to deal with and supplied a lot of sizing info to me. Good service I thought for just a small sale.