therios
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Great story and photos! Happy Trails, indeed!
I'm glad the trip was trouble free and so much fun. Congratulations!
Ike
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A friend just sent me the following link:
In Nebraska, a Field of Low-Mileage Dreams
The article reminded me of this thread about clearing out an old wrecking yard. However, the cars in the article aren't wrecks.
No Buicks -- the guy was a Chevy dealer -- but it's still a fascinating story.
This collection is being auctioned in Pierce, NE, (125 miles northwest of Omaha) on Sept. 28-29.
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While researching information about R152a (as Willie suggested
), I came across a discussion thread on the LeSabre T-type Forums (The Lesabre T-type Forums • View topic - Air conditioner Repair - Refrigerant R152A - Duster Spray) that included a link to this Youtube video (Air Conditioner Charge - HFC152A "Duster" Refrigerant - Accumulator explained - 1986 Buick Century - YouTube) explaining and demonstrating an A/C system conversion to R152a. (The guy who made this video goes by the handle "turbokinetic" on the LeSabre T-type Forums; maybe he's also active on this forum?)A very interesting part of the video comes at the end when he explains how the accumulator (dryer) works, and why it's necessary to replace the accumulator when converting an A/C system to a refrigerant that requires a different lubricant.
Pretty cool video. (No pun intended.) Edit: OK, I lied. Pun intended.
Ike
R12 is the gold standard that has excellent performance in these old systems (55 rear evaporator) and that is what I have used. When I rebuilt the compressor I could not find any original mineral oil for the compressor so I installed ester oil which is supposed to be compatible with all refrigerants and mixes with remnants of mineral oil. Although I had info from others with 55 factory air that R134a did not work well, I decided to try it... and they were right: pressures much higher and outlet temps in the low 50's. Next I will try R152a (do your own research and draw your own conclusions) and will report back.Mike (Buick5563) installed ester oil in his 55 factory air and tried Enviro-Safe with poor results (calls to tech support told us that we should use the 'industrial formula'==>more $$)...the msds for Enviro-Safe says it contains alkanes (probably propane or equivalent; highly flammable); he then installed Johnsen's Freeze12 with marginal results (this product is no longer being made....still some available on ebay = $$$); next R152a was installed and it seems to be working well with outlet temps in the low 40's and pressures actually lower that R12.
Willie
I finally got the details worked out. The 55 system uses 88 oz of R-12 and based on the difference in molecular weight of R-152a vs R-12 52% should be equivalent. Anyhow I put in 40 oz and the cooling was marginal, but the return line was frosty at the compressor as was the compressor body :eek:...apparently too much. So I started over: 12 oz was cooling pretty good (50* at outlets vs expected 40*) and the return line was cold only for a few feet; another 12 oz and the return line was cold back to the compressor, but the compressor body was warm as expected and the outlet temp was 40* (the liquid line is half full vs full for R-12). A 20 mile run a few minutes ago (105* outside) and it cooled like R-12. (So much for 'calculations'...it's alway better to be lucky than smart )I was worried about the viscosity of the ISO 100 ester oil vs the 525 vis mineral oil...apparently they are directly equivalent, just different nomenclature (like english vs metric)
Time will tell if it is a good long term solution, but the performance is good and the cost for 24 oz is about $10 vs $200-400 for 88 oz of R-12... and it is more readily available.
Willie
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The Sept. 4, 2013, Hemmings Daily featured an article on a book entitled Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile. The car featured on the book's cover appears to be a 1957 Buick; and I believe it's a Roadmaster because the headlight door is painted to match the car color, rather than having a chrome finish. 57 Specials and Supers had chrome headlight doors. Did 57 Centurys have chrome or painted headlight doors?
In addition to having the good taste to display a 1957 Buick on the cover, Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile looks like a very interesting book. Here are some more photos from the Hemmings article:
Ike
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Thanks to all who have expressed interest. The tires have been given away.
Ike
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grrrrowww!
Nice photo! I'm glad I asked you to re-post it.Jayne Mansfield, right?
Unfortunately, I have no idea what you mean by "artwork" as a hint for what this photo has in common with the photo of Sophia Loren. (That is Sophia Loren in #718, right?) Other than Mr. Earl's appropriately Buick-related answer (dagmars!), all I can come up with is Black & White photography.
Somehow, I don't think that's where you were going. Could it be that they each rode to the photo-shoot in a Buick? :cool:
Alas, I have to repeat: "I don't know art, but I know what I like!"
Thanks!
Here is the repost of the image from #719.[ATTACH=CONFIG]210426[/ATTACH]
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OK, now I'm really curious.
Would you re-post the image from post #719?
The image in #718 shows up well, but nothing appears in #719. :confused:
Artwork, huh? That reminds me of the retort "I don't know art, but I know what I like!"
Sorry guys not the answer.Hint........Artwork.
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Rob, what happened to the '84 GMC Caballero? It no longer appears in your signature.
The part of the thread quoted below was from mid-June. However, since changing one's signature affects the signature displayed in all previous posts, I can't tell when the '84 Caballero was dropped from your signature. I have reviewed your posts since June, but I haven't found any mention of the Caballero's fate. Did the '67 Valiant take the place of the '84 Caballero? I don't know if I just missed it or if I have completely forgotten that discussion. :confused: In which case, I may have to adjust my medication. (Less wine; more Guinness!)
Ike
Rob,After reading the entry about the sale of your MGB, I looked down at your signature to see how you have changed it. The MGB no longer appears, as expected, but I was surprised to see the new line "1984 GMC Caballero, ..." I was about to PM you about until I saw this post! Congratulations! I look forward to the photos.
Ike
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no pictures?
Yes, c'mon Rob. Post some pictures!
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Here's an entry for consideration:
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Congratulations, Lamar! That's one impressive '54!
Beautiful photos, too. I'm sure Morning Glory is thrilled with her new surroundings.
Ike
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Jim, I'm sorry you won't be going to South Bend. I was hoping to meet you there and thank you in person for helping me better understand my 57's wiper/washer system. It's still not working, but I understand how it's supposed to work a whole lot better!
I hope you have a successful trip to South America.
Ike
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Rotten luck, Rob.
I'm glad you're safe and that you were able to get some help.
Good luck the rest of the way home!
Ike
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That's great, Frank. I'll PM you with my phone number. I'm planning to arrive in South Bend on Thursday and leave on Sunday. I'll be staying at the Microtel Inn & Suites.
Ike
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Clearly, no one is interested at $150.
Anyone interested at $100?
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I just got my registration confirmation. I'm number 471.
I'm going to drive my '63 Electra from DC to Chicago the week before the meet, and then drive to South Bend with my father. Then, I guess it's back to Chicago before driving back to DC. I registered the Electra in the Driven category, which is appropriate considering how much it's going to be driven! (My father was lobbying for the '57 Roadmaster --I think because he hasn't yet seen it in person-- but I don't know if the '57 is ready for such a long trip. I think it needs a few more uneventful medium length drives before I have the confidence to attempt such a long journey.)
I'm really looking forward to meeting so many of you in South Bend, and to seeing all the great Buicks gathered there. It will be especially nice being there with my father, who will celebrate his 80th birthday a few days earlier. (By the way, he just recently bought a 2013 Buick Enclave that he loves!)
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Mr. Earl,
By giving the tires away for free, I am simply following the precedent set by Rob McDonald, and paying forward his kindness and generosity in sending me some parts for my '57 Roadmaster at no charge. (I shouldn't give myself too much credit, though. These tires didn't cost me anything, and would otherwise have been thrown away.)
I would be happy to meet you somewhere outside the beltway; unfortunately, I'm leaving DC tomorrow morning for 2+ weeks of travel for work. I won't be back here until Saturday night, June 29; so the earliest I could meet you is Sunday, June 30. Is there any chance you could come through at that time? If not, I might be able to arrange for a friend of mine to meet you, but it would have to be at my building in DC.
Ike
Ike, man this is great for you to offer these up for free. I may be going by DC on 81 next week or so, if no one else has spoken for them I would like to arrange to meet and get them. I don't like the DC Beltway. Bad things happen to me on the beltway, so maybe we can meet outside the belt somewhere. -
I have a brand new, unused, carpet set that will fit a 1957 (or 1958) 4-door hardtop Super or Roadmaster.
It was ordered for my 1957 Roadmaster from Auto Custom Carpets, Inc., but it's a loop cut rather than a pile cut, and I wanted the original style pile cut carpeting, which I purchased from another supplier. Unfortunately, the shop that bought the carpet for me couldn't return it (or didn't really try), and I got stuck paying them $225 for it.
I want $150 for the carpet set, plus shipping costs; or you can pay just $150 and pick it up if you're near Washington, DC. Another option is paying me $150 and meeting me at the BCA Nationals in Southbend to pick it up.
PM me if you're interested.
Thanks,
Ike
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[My apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. Since I'm not "selling" these tires, I didn't think the buy/sell page was the right place.]
I have an old set of 4 lightly used L78-15 bias ply wide white wall tires that I'm giving away. I'm also giving away an unused, possibly even older, 8.20-15 bias ply wide white wall spare tire. All five tires came from Sears. I prefer to give away all five tires at once.
PM me if you are interested.
These are old tires and shouldn't be used for driving (see Edmunds article about the dangers of driving on old tires), but can be used by someone interested in showing a car with wide white walls.
The tires were on my 1957 Roadmaster when I bought it, and I couldn't bring myself to throwing them away when I had them replaced with new radials. Each of the four L78s has a flat spot from sitting for many years, and I suspect it's a permanent plastic deformation. I personally wouldn't recommend driving on these tires long enough to see if heating them up will eliminate the flat spot.
I live in Washington, DC, and I would be happy to bring the tires anywhere within a 50 mile radius of the Lincoln Memorial. If you want them shipped to you, I would ask that you either arrange the shipping or pay me to do so. (I have no idea what it would cost to ship tires.) Another potential option is meeting me at this year's BCA Nationals in Southbend. Although, I'm not thrilled by the idea of lugging these tires all the way from Washington, DC, to Southbend, IN. I can fit only two tires in the trunk in addition to my current spare tire, so I'd have to put three tires in the back seat area (wrapped in plastic, of course!).
Photo comparison of L78-15 and 8.20-15:
L78-15 tires:
8.20-15 spare tire:
Thanks,
Ike
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Brian, my condolensces for the loss of your father. May his memory be eternal. Thank you for sharing the story and photos from your journey home in the Centurion. It's wonderful that the car performed so well on such a long trip. It's a testament to the quality of our old Buicks, to your father's good judgement in buying the car, and to your excellent care of the car over the years.
Ike
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Rob,
After reading the entry about the sale of your MGB, I looked down at your signature to see how you have changed it. The MGB no longer appears, as expected, but I was surprised to see the new line "1984 GMC Caballero, ..." I was about to PM you about until I saw this post! Congratulations! I look forward to the photos.
Ike
57BUICKJIM, THERIOS don't get too excited but as one door closes, another opens. I just bought a Caballero and it's an excellent runner. Pictures eventually. -
Oh, man! What an awesome car!
Adam, your work is truly remarkable. Very impressive.
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Did anyone take pictures? It would be great to see some photos of these WWII Vets riding in your '58 Roadmaster 75!
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Here are two good articles on the dangers of driving on old tires.
), I came across a discussion thread on the LeSabre T-type Forums (
Nice photo! I'm glad I asked you to re-post it.
Somehow, I don't think that's where you were going. 
RUST DOES SLEEP, ACTUALLY (life with a '57 Roadmaster)
in Me and My Buick
Posted
Awesome progress Rob! I'm excited for you. You must be feeling pretty good about all you and your wrenching buddy managed to accomplish over your garage vacation. Keep up the good work and in no time you'll be driving that baby around town and ready for the drive to Portland!
Hey, now you can return that rented engine hoist!
Ike