ABV

By the way... Pics of last week end :

Hi grift1419, Welcome to this new project, that you have in mind. My position would be as follows : - start with a car that already works. So that you can enjoy it a few weeks or a few month before starting the restoration. This will help you to keep faith, when, once restoration started, your car will be in pieces, all around your garage. - by starting a restoration you know where you start, but you never really know where you will end... I had a professional garage that helped me, for the big issues, in my two first experiences : My Peugeot 403 : And my Peugeot 404 : Then, the Peugeot clubs were very helfull for me for the day-to-day restoration. I would therefore recommend that you meet people and attend oldcars meetings before deciding the scope of your restoration.. And as to my Buick experience, same approach : A car that already works to enjoy it before starting soon the restoration. Already love my car. And here, in this "Me and my Buick" forum, you will find lots of amazing guys doing amazing things ! Good luck Alain

And I think I just found anotherone just now...

Thank you retirednow. That's exactly what I wanted. I put a bid but was unfortunately not able to get the sale. At least, i know that I may have a chance to get maybe anotherone anotherday.

After several attemps, breaks seem to work fine now. Thank you Jean Christophe ! So,yesterday was our real first time out to try the car. Some dust on it, after several weeks in the garage... What I am worring about now is that, two weeks ago, we wanted to try the breaks and when going out of the garage, the garage door slammed on the roof. i was dejected I now have to repare the roof, but my main concern is that the antenna was broken. Any chance to find a shop to buy a full set to replace it ? I saw some pieces on CARs INC but didn't find a full set. Thanks in advance Alain

We did it !!! Once again, Jean Christophe from the "Peugeot 404 Club " came and gave me a hand. I tried to do my best as an assistant. I prepared all I could before he arrived and then scrupulously followed his instructions. It is so nice to be able to count on such experience. Things appear much more easy when you see them at least one time But for sure, changing wheels cylinders and changing all the brake fluid (don't remember how to say) requires at least 2 persons.</SPAN> Yesterday’s experience was a good one. And I have nothing to be ashamed of. I committed myself not to lose too much time taking pics. So not too many today. But some souvenirs. JohnD, to answer your question, we changed the 2 back cylinders. I know I should have changed all of them, but will do it soon. Yes we had our specific wrench and everything came out easily.</SPAN> We exaclty did what you explained in your message of january 11th. Thanks.</SPAN> Thank you EricW for your youtube links. It was so helpful that I was able to take the lead when it was time for putting the springs back !</SPAN> Thank you 1953Mack and Wheelnut. You were right, shoe lining of the back right wheel were not correct and I could change them.</SPAN> Unfortunately, we discovered a gasoline leak under the middle of the car (can be seen in the 5th pic). Probably due to the fact that the back of the car was higher, when working on it.</SPAN> We managed to start the car but after 45 seconds it suddenly stopped</SPAN> Probably due to the fact that some air came in the carburator.</SPAN> It took too much time to make the gazoline come back and we killed the battery. </SPAN> We therefore could not try the car and the brakes. Hope to come back soon with great news Enjoy your week end.

Oups ! Sorry for the 1941 Mistake.</SPAN></SPAN> I saw “Pearl harbor 1941” on the plate of this car (</SPAN>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Buick_Super_Straight-8_ca_1940_dressed_for_war_at_Dover_Docks.jpg</SPAN> from Wikipedia), but was undoubtedly wrong.</SPAN></SPAN> I went to the Rétromobile show this Week end (some pics hereunder).</SPAN></SPAN> I was able to find some US tools as expected and started working on my breaks this afternoon.</SPAN></SPAN> Thanks to your explanations, links and comments I felt confident… and managed to strip down the break system of my first wheel. So happy for this… Even if I know that what I did is very little, compared with what you all guys do here.</SPAN></SPAN> Tonight, you must be informed that I AM THE KING OF THE WORLD !!!!!!</SPAN></SPAN>

Nothing really new since last time here. Following Eric W's advice, I tryed to order some stuff and tools at harborfreight.com, but they never answered (nor my mails, nor my calls). The only reason I see, is that they probably considered the shipment costs would be more expensive that the tools themselves. But they never mentioned it, even when I was in contact with international shipment team. Next option for me to buy US tools will be the Rétromobile show (http://www.retromobile.com/) opening within 3 days in Paris. I'm sure I'll find all I need. On the opposite side, CARs Inc, from Shadetree77's list, were very reactive and I got my new wheel cylinders, ready to install within a few days. Can't wait for next week end to work on it. This is why my Buick stayed in the garage yesterday for the monthly Vincennes en Ancienne meeting. It gave me the opportnity to take my Peugeot out, and to meet among others, a nice Buick super from 1941. I also realised that the links I posted a few weeks ago for "la traversée de Paris" could not reach the appropriate threads in the "Peugeot 404" Forum. Pics are here : Summer 2012 : http://www.pbase.com/abv/traverse_de_paris_et_2012 Winter 2013 :http://www.pbase.com/abv/traversee_de_paris_2013 Summer 2013 : http://www.pbase.com/abv/traverse_de_paris_t_2013 Winter 2014 : http://www.pbase.com/abv/traverse_de_paris_2014 Good week ABV

Hey, That looks like a tightly knit family here. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all the answers. I am going to go through them in detail. With all these explanations, things now sound to be at my level for me. I know what to look for. All this is reassuring. Thank you again Alain

Thanks to Jean Christophe, from the “Peugeot 404 Club”, I started to have a look at my break issue…</SPAN> </SPAN> 2 good news, 1 bad news:</SPAN></SPAN> 1st</SPAN> good news: after removing the right rear wheel: I discovered that everything is brand new inside and has been recently changed.</SPAN></SPAN> Don’t know if this was changed by the former owner or by the intermediary, just before the sale, but that’s a first good news for me: I will not have to fight with full of antique parts to change.</SPAN></SPAN> There is still a leak and everything is wet and full of oil.</SPAN></SPAN> The 2nd</SPAN> good news is that the leak does not come from the rear axle, but from the brake cylinder.</SPAN></SPAN> Don’t know why they have changed everything but the cylinder.</SPAN></SPAN> I will only have to change the Cylinder</SPAN></SPAN> The bad news is that I expected to use the car tomorrow morning for the “traversée de Paris” (the crossing of Paris) meeting, but won’t be able to use it until everything is repaired.</SPAN></SPAN> That’s a really bad news since I was waiting for this meeting to use the car for my first real ballad.</SPAN></SPAN> The “traversée de Paris” title refers to a French film of 1956 (</SPAN>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049877/</SPAN>) considered to be among the top 100 most classic French movie. With Jean Gabin and Bourvil.</SPAN></SPAN> This event takes place twice a year.</SPAN></SPAN> It is organized by the biggest French multi brand association.</SPAN></SPAN> All day long, more than 700 cars drive through Paris from one point to another point.</SPAN></SPAN> Pics from the summer 2013 meeting :</SPAN></SPAN> http://leclub404.celeonet.fr/smf2/index.php/topic,6078.0.html</SPAN></SPAN> Pics from the winter 2013 meeting :</SPAN></SPAN> http://leclub404.celeonet.fr/smf2/index.php/topic,5458.0.html</SPAN></SPAN> Pics from the summer 2012 meeting :</SPAN></SPAN> http://leclub404.celeonet.fr/smf2/index.php/topic,5117.0.html</SPAN></SPAN> I Will attend tomorrow with my Peugeot and make some new pics…</SPAN></SPAN> Coming back to the BUICK: My I ask some questions?</SPAN></SPAN> - Question 1: I didn’t find in the shop manual any explanation on how to empty the brake liquid from the system.</SPAN></SPAN> Any trick to know? Any screwdriver to use? Any hidden part to look for?</SPAN></SPAN> - Question 2: Once the wheel cylinder will be changed, How to fill the car with brake liquid ?</SPAN></SPAN> I didn’t find any fluid tank. Where should I pour the new brake oil?</SPAN></SPAN> The hand brake was said to be insufficient by the inspector.</SPAN></SPAN> We found out that a piece of metal was broken.</SPAN></SPAN> - Question 3: has anyone already fixed that?</SPAN></SPAN> Thanks in advance and Good week end ABV

Good news, After a second test, I managed to go through the inspection and got my permanent plate for the car. I can now officially drive it. The repairs will however still have to be done, but this gives me some time to do it. I will keep you posted. Thank you John for your last comment. As a consequence here are some pics of the day.

Such a great thread. Thank you

Thank you JohnD, your very precise comments made me understand where I will very soon and undoubtedly find my limits... Huge mistakes avoided thanks to your experience ! As to Shadetree, also thank you. Instead of spending hours under my car in a cold garage, I will start spending hours comfortably sprawled in my sofa, surfing on internet !! 2 pics from the Christmas break.

Love your car, love your job, love your thread, love your pics, love the details you give Thank you so much. ABV

Me and my Buick... Happy Christmas to all. I am in (little) trouble, To get my new french license plate, I need to do some work on the Buick. I have issues on : - suspension - breaks - Suspension should be harder that what it is now - The rear break is not efficient. Seems that oil from the rear axle has leaked in the wheel. The break shoe must be full of oil and becomes unefficient. Question 1 : Is there any tutorial around here with pics and advises, on how to proceed on both subjects ? Question 2 : Is it easy to do it alone for a beginner ? Question 3 : Do I need some specific tools ? Question 4 : Would you do it on your own ? Question 5 : if you'd need to buy new pieces, where would you buy them on internet (do they ship oversea to Europe) ? thanks in advance ! Alain

Thank you for your comments. New pics this Weekend

Whaouu !!!! I now have no doubt on this ! THANK YOU very much for these quick and complete answers, shadetree77. I will follow your threads with big pleasure. ABV

Already have some questions,if I may... Question n°1 : What's that ? Someone told me it could be related with carburator. But where should I plug it ? could you please show some pics ? Thanks Question n°2 : Where does this go ? What is it for ? Just found it on the floor after shiping Question n°3 : How would you fix that ? Question n°4 : Should not this be aligned ? And last one (for the moment)... Question 5 : What is that ? A manual pump ?

I just received it last week. Already love it