buicknewbee

I have a problem with my speedometer and have had it since the day I bought the car two years ago. I have managed to live with it reading wrong, but I want to fix it if it's possible without too much work. Car is a 57 buick with dynaflow. It is reading about 67 at 55 mph. That is a guesstimate! I used a gps to calculate just how far off it was two years ago and I'm not positive that is an accurate reading according to my memory but close at any rate. My guess is possibly the speedo is off because the trans may have been replaced at some point. So another guess is that they never switch the speedo gear. I know!! a lot of guessing. LOL:D Anyway, in order to switch the gear does the tail shaft have to be removed? Can it be removed without removing the whole drivetrain? Is there some sort of external adapter that can be adjusted to change the gearing for the difference in speed?

Thanks, When I bought this system I believe the seller gave me everything I would need to convert over, he even made sure I had the vacuum tank. The system is even out of the same model car so I'm hoping it should all be a bolt in deal. I sure hope I have it all as I'm ready to get this part done if it's the only part I get done for this next driving season. One question though, did kanter have directions to follow with the kit that you bought? I don't want to make myself sound like I'm not capable of doing the rebuild, but I'm unfamiliar with the internals and don't want to screw it up as so much will be riding on the job to be done correctly.

Hello folks, I bought a used treadle (probably spelt wrong) brake booster along with the attached master cylinder for my 57 buick special some time ago. I have had the car over two years now and I'm tired of giving myself a stiff leg with the manual system. After some debate as to whether to use the treadle system over a newer system I have chose to go with the original treadle booster. Before I install it I want to send it off and get it rebuilt or at least checked out professionally. This is not something I want to do myself! Has anyone had this done before, and can recommend a place? Can you give me an idea of what this service will cost? Thanks

This is what I was needing to hear. As I said in my first post, I have the complete power steering system and the complete power brake booster with the single reservoir (the treadle system). I just didn't know if I should install them or look at the whole front end. I bought the parts, just after I purchased this car off someone who is a member of this group. But I just didn't know if they would preform well enough to have them rebuilt vs just buying a newer system. I still don't like the idea of only the single reservoir, but I'll give it a shot and install them after getting them back. Does anyone know of a reputable place to rebuild the treadle system?

I had a 72 Chevy truck that I truly loved to drive. Not really an old car. It was a solid Arizona truck with working AC and painted in Medium Blue with a white top. I bought it about 14 years ago with only 62,000 original miles. I sold it just before we bought the Buick with 68,000 miles because we just couldn't drive it anymore. Unfortunately, we only put a total of about 250 miles on it in the four years from when my daughter was born. Two kids and two adults just can't fit into a standard cab. So I decided to sell it and get something we all could take to shows and such. I kinda regretted selling it, but it would still be sitting. So we bought the Buick shortly after that. I seen it on Craigs list and just fell in love with it. Then not too much longer after we bought the buick we bought a 48 Plymouth also. It too is a lot of fun to drive.

No Kidding? Did the trailer have electric Brakes? How about the car, Did it have power brakes?

Thanks! We love the car very much and love to just jump in and take the kids to the park or the occasional car show. We are always the only Buick there which is kinda nice, but we would like to see more participation from other Buick enthusiasts.

No I have desire for a new car guys! So just drop that idea. I come here for advice and opinion, but try to see it from my point of view. The reasons for my thinking that a front end suspension rebuild is in order is because when I tried to have it aligned two years ago, they said it couldn't be aligned because the upper and lower ball joints were shot. They showed me with the tires in the air all the slop at the joints. not just the ball joints either, the bushings throughout the joints are breaking up and sloppy. That's when I got schooled on the 57 one year only front end ball joints. I have assumed it was a bad design from the start since it was used only one year and 58 on had a better design. Now the brake system, I'm literally standing on the brake petal to get this boat to slow down. So much so that after crossing town my foot hurts. Now my wife drove it once and she said she would never drive it again until the brakes were easier to depress. It's a no power system now. She has hardly enough weight to press the brakes down to the floor. So I gotta do something or she 'll never drive it again. Besides the brakes being hard to stop without a lot of weight on them, it's a single reservoir system. For safety sake with wife and kids it should be a double reservoir if I'm going to drive it or all brakes could go out at the same time. Am I right? If someone wants to take the car back to original I'll keep the parts. Same goes for the disc brakes. It takes much less foot pressure to push a large piston caliper on pads than it does to push two shoes out. It's not a question of shoes locking up vs discs locking up. You don't want your brakes to lock up anyway because that defeats the purpose of brakes. As far as the trans goes, Most of what I have read has come from this forum about the trans. The trans fluid seems to always leak past the rear seal to the tourq tube. Now my car has the very same problem that has gotten worse since I purchased it. I read where one owner has replaced his seal three times and still has fluid leaking back into the tube if I remember right. I looked for it earlier so I could substansiate it, but there are just too many threads on the subject. I thought to replace the trans for the purpose of the faulty seal and to possibly retro fit a overdrive. It would be nice to switch out the rear end gears for a better gas saving set, but that doesn't appear possible with the tube design. The reason I'm bringing this all up now is the car swap season is coming up. I thought I'd keep my eyes open for parts for whatever ideas or opinions I get.

Hello Guys, I hope that I type this so you all can understand me. I have lurked here for some time now reading posts now and then, even looked up posts from the past on 57 buicks. The wife and I have had this car for almost two years now and I feel (I think) I know what I want to do, but I wanted to get your opinions first. I have talked to other car aficionados asking for their opinion, but many haven't had much experience with older Buicks or know of the 57 dilemma. Here is my dilemma. First off as many of you likely know, the 57 buick suspension is an oddball system. It's four times more expensive to refurbish the front end than a pre 56 or later 58. I'm considering switching out the 57 design for the later or older suspension. I don't really even know if this is feasible. Here is my reasoning; 57 suspension is expensive, I'd like power front disc brakes, and power steering. Now I have an old power steering unit and treadle power brake system, but they would likely have to be rebuilt and the treadle system still is not separated front and rear. Another project on the car I have been tossing around is getting rid of the old dynaflow and tourq tube. Again very expensive to rebuild and hard to find parts for evidently. It seems many agree that they aren't a good trans and the tourqe tube doesn't work with other transmissions. Problem is, this to me sounds like a lot of work, fitment, and parts issues. Often when I think of doing all this work and trouble so that we can enjoy the car..... the more I think of selling it and buying another car that has all this done. We really like the car though, it just needs to operate with a little less effort. I could go on explaining this but I'd probably just confuse you or dodge the questions that I haven't answered yet. So, I'll check back often and reply to any questions that are asked. Thanks for taking time to read this if you have no opinion.

I sure hope it finds a home with Mike. If not, I will see what it will cost me to get her to Ohio. Darren

Hello All, I thought I might mention that you may want to attend our Vintage motorbike meet. I represent a Vintage Motor Bike Club. Our 41st meet will be held in Portland Indiana July the 20th - 23rd 2013. If you have any interest in visiting your past and reminiscing about the Cushman, Vespa, Simplex, Whizzer, Pony cycle, Salsbury, and more you will want to attend. We consist of over 2,000 members nation wide. You just can't see everything in one day. It is a combination scooter show and swap meet. Lots of parts to full machines for sale. You may check out our new web site at www.vintagemotorbikeclub.org for more information including a schedule of events. Thanks, Darren

Hello All, I thought I might mention that you may want to attend our Vintage motorbike meet after leaving the Buick Meet in South Bend IN. I represent a Vintage Motor Bike Club. Our 41st meet will be held in Portland Indiana July the 20th - 23rd 2013. If you have any interest in visiting your past and reminiscing about the Cushman, Vespa, Simplex, Whizzer, Pony cycle, Salsbury, and more you will want to attend. We consist of over 2,000 members nation wide. You just can't see everything in one day. It is a combination scooter show and swap meet. Lots of parts to full machines for sale. You may check out our new web site at www.vintagemotorbikeclub.org for more information including a schedule of events. Thanks, Darren

Roy, I just got my bugle and didn't see the ad. Have you sold this gem yet? Darren

Thanks everyone for your helpful tips. It looks as if I will be staying with a veteran of the meet. Doc Sam has offered to introduce me to the meet and the events. Darren

I can't believe someone hasn't bought it yet.

NO!!! Don't hook a 12v battery to it. It'll blow everything. If you know of a farmer ask him if you could borrow a battery from him, or you might be able to get a used battery at a battery warehouse. A 6v charger won't have enough juice to power up anything unless it is a circuit at a time, and that might not even be possible. Wish I was there to help. That'd be awesome to see it come to life after so long. Darren

That sounds interesting! Never ridden a train before.

Now that example for shipping is much more reasonable than I was lead to believe. I probably really didn't need to read this. Got me thinking now. My suggestion would be that you don't reveal your address or my wife may coma after ya!

Now that example for shipping is much more reasonable than I was lead to believe. I probably really didn't need to read this. Got me thinking now. My suggestion would be that you don't reveal your address or my wife may coma after ya!

Hello, My wife and I are planning to go to Hershey for our very first time this October. I think the dates for the meet are October the 9-12. We are thinking about taking the whole week off and staying that week. We will be the oddballs since we're in our thirties. I have a 48 Plymouth and she has a 57 Buick special. I personally can't wait to see all the old cars and antique signs and such. Sounds like you can walk for days and not see everything. Very excited! Are there other attractions that we should definitely see that Monday and Tuesday before the swap meet starts? We like to do things on the cheap (we have to because we have two kids 3 and 8years old) like hotels, food, and such. Any suggestions are welcome that will make for an interesting week in Hershey PA. Darren

Alright, I'm going to chime in here. I have been watching this thread since it was first posted and just hoping that someone will save that awesome buick. I love that patina! It looks like a good solid car to restore, but it seems shipping is the sore spot for most and they have a right to be concerned. I have never had a car shipped before, but I have heard a lot of hoar stories about the cars being shipped. Damage has a way of showing up and no one takes responsibility. It's been expensive recently with gas so high(especially these days at $3.80 a gall). I think the going rate for shipping is $2 a mile now. It's hard to find cars like that up here in Ohio as someone mentioned. I have the room and wouldn't mind another toy, but the shipping just wouldn't be very friendly even though the car is just $1000. Roy, it's just going to take your patience. I'm sure someone will step in before long to rescue her that isn't too far away. I admire what you are doing for the hobby! Darren

My ball joints are worn, but I don't know to what degree. Last year it was pulling to the left so I thought i'd get it aligned. He said the ball joints were worn so he couldn't do an alignment. I have had the wheels up in the air, and I remember moving them around what seemed to be a lot. Grease is of course no fix, but I have greased them up as much as they will hold. Unfortunately over the years they have been neglected not to mention their age. I am aware of the cost to replace these darn joints. If I was aware of the problem before I bought it I would have left the car for another buyer. However, I have the car now and I won't pass the car onto the next owner without disclosing the bad joints. Paying $2000 for a rebuild for the front end is just ridiculous. I was hoping that this kit might just get me by until I get the money and time to fix it right assuming I keep the car that long. Thanks for the heads up! Darren

I am interested in you helpers. You can contact me at djchafin@watchtv.net Thanks, Darren

Hello all, I figured this would be about the best place to start looking for the parts that I need. I am in the middle of a sort of refurbishing a 1975 Pontiac Lemans Sport Coupe. For the most part this is a decent survivor car. It has about 17,000 actual miles and has spent the better part of it's life in a garage for the past 30 years. 20 years of it spent in my dad's garage. It's amazing at how the Ohio salt has not had a chance to destroy the car. The colors of it are of a red exterior with a white interior and white half vinyl top. I have just completed a paint job on it to give the car a fresh shine, and I'm now looking at certain trim parts that just aren't going to work. The header has 6 grill pieces that I would like to replace along with the Pontiac emblem. Another item is some sort of ornament that sits on top of the header in the center. The chrome looks real bad and I haven't got a clue where to find one like it. I'm also looking for a molding that is at the bottom rear of the right fender. I also believe that this car was fitted with rocker moldings, but I have no idea what they look like. If anyone knows a source or lead that I may find these parts please contact me at djchafin@watchtv.net Thanks, Darren

Welcome to the forum! This has a great bunch of guys that can always answer any questions that you may have about your 57 Buick. I chime in every once in a while. I too have a 57 special. I just took her for a ride an hour ago. She sure rides smooth. I know what you mean about reading the speedo. It's kind of confusing. Like others have said, it's just an approximate reading whether you go from the bottom or top. What you might want to do is take along a navigation unit that reads the mph. Role your car down the road at 55mph and compare the reading on your navigation unit. The navigation unit doesn't lie. Always remember that your speedo reads whatever to your navigation unit. As for the transmission not shifting. Get used to it. It just tends to sound like its at one speed and locked. Just keep an eye on the transmission oil level. I hear that they can leak down after setting a while such as over the winter. Luckily mine does not or I drive it often enough that the seals stay fat or something. Darren