LAS VEGAS DAVE
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Posts posted by LAS VEGAS DAVE
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I have three 1938 Buick carbs, all were rebuilt and all work. I have a "1938 BUICK FACTS" salesman handbook, 135 pages with questions and answers, one of the rarest pieces of literature there is for the 1938 Buick. I have a rebuilt 1938 Radio and two others for parts. Anyone interested should email me at slavedave@cox.net or call me at 702 592 8052. I also have the original TORQUE TUBE magazines from #1 up for many many years.
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I needed the garage space as well as some other reasons. It was and is a great car. I did not give it away and recouped every dollar I ever put into it plus the purchase price. The labor was a labor of love and I got much enjoyment from doing it as well as driving it. I have sold many cars and motorcycles to the same museum and I am always welcome to drive anything they have when I am there. I still have not made a list of extra parts I have for Mat. If any of you is interested in a restored 38 radio with a non working spare let me know. I also have a custom made tow bar and trailer hitch for a 37 or 38, it was posted as one of my projects. I have three working restored 1938 Stromberg carbs left. I have a bunch of literature and a super rare 1938 BUICK FACTS salesman book. I also have the original center bumper guard that flips down so that the trunk clears. I think I have a new fuel pump or two and some 38 headlight reflectors. Eventually I will get around to making a list and taking some pictures and sending them to Matt for the magazine.
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A wise choice Gary under the circumstance.
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Matt. I will take some pictures and make a list as soon as I get time and will send them to you. Thanks, Dave
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One reason is I go back there every year and I can drive it around while I am there. Its beautiful back there, right near Joplin Mo. I only have a two car garage and 8 motorcycles and the Buick was to crowded. I also have a 67 VW which easily fits into the garage and leaves me space to work on a bike. I had a great time making it as best as I could and driving it. I was offered a great price and along with the opportunity to use it once in a while I couldn't refuse. It came from a museum and it now has only 25000 miles on it and will most likely be in a museum when I am long gone.
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Today we sold our 38 Buick to a friend of mines museum in Kansas. I loved it and we had fun in it. In any case I have some 38 Buick parts someone may be interested in. I will post them on Ebay if no one wants them on this site. I have a professionally restored radio which I want $900.00 for (less than the cost of the restoration) and another radio not working $200.00. I have three carburetors, all of them work fine and have been cleaned and tested on my car, $250 each. I have a custom made tow bar mount and trailer hitch mount that I used to tow the car to Los Angeles from Las Vegas and back with no problems. This is made to fit the 38 bumper exactly and will not scratch it. If the 37 has the same shape bumpers it will work for it also. I want $400.00 for it. I have the rarest piece of 1938 Buick literature I know of called BUICK FACTS 1938, its 135 pages and was issued to the salesman in the dealership. It answers every possible question that could ever be asked. It is broken up into about ten separate sections such as motor, transmission, suspension etc. I have never seen another one and this one is almost mint. I want $400.00 for it. I paid more than that for it. I have more but these are the most valuable. Contact me by phone 702 592 8052 or email slavedave@cox.net. Prices do not include shipping and actual shipping charges will be added.
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I got a stock trans with a Borg Warner OD and its been a pleasure. I guess you wanted an automatic transmission.
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Many people don't realize what it costs to do a restoration with skilled quality people doing much of the work. If you want quality work that you can't do yourself be prepared to pay
for the service.
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I have thee on my 38 Special and after 4000 plus miles they still look good and have been on hot Las Vegas roads and freezing roads with no problems.
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Gary, I thought I would let you know that I am also a VW guy. Mine is a 67 that I bought from the original owner, she bought it new when she was 20 years old. I also bought one new in 1967 the same color ZENITH BLUE as this one.
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In my opinion the first thing to do is run a compression test. If the cylinders are within 10% of each other it can be made to run smooth, if not it will never be as you want it.
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I have driven my Lloyd Young overdrive unit with no problems or noises for slightly over 4000 miles so far in our 38 Buick Special. I don't care about the speedometer so its ok with me if its
not correct when in overdrive. Actually when we are on the freeway going along with the traffic the speedometer reads between 40 and 45 mph. This is the speed the motor thinks the car is running along at. I
would have sold our car if we didn't install the overdrive. 4000 miles mostly around here shows we use it regularly. I installed the whole thing in my driveway outside not in a garage. It was not hard and Loyd
was easily available by phone if I had a question. I guess the shop he worked with is still doing the overdrive conversions. I would recommend this simple conversion to anyone owning these old Buicks.
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I am happy to see so many still driving there old Buicks. To get full enjoyment you must drive the car. I love tinkering and maintaining the ol car also but if I never drive it then it will not even need an oil change!
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I'm not sure there are one hundred 1938 Centurys still running, and if they are running a new tank is probably not badly needed.
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We drive our car mostly locally to run an errand or visit a friend. We only drive it if the weather is nice. Usually about once a week. Sometimes but not often we drive to a car show. Once in a while we do a couple of hundred mile trip. We often drive at night as there is no traffic and the nights are good here in Las Vegas. We don't drive when its over 90 degrees in the daytime but we do at night no matter the temperature. Since we are retired and there are many stores open 24 hours here in Vegas we sometimes shop late at night. That is my favorite time to drive the Buick. I was wondering where and how often others drive their car.
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Another option is to slowly roll into the car behind you completely ignoring his horn while coming to a stop against his bumper. When th light changes just pull away while waving THANKS to the driver behind you.
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I took my original one off. It looks better without it. I also have the original license plate the car came with in 1938 still mounted on the rear. The correct current Nevada plate is just held by magnetics over the original 1938 plate. When we want we pull off by hand the Nevada plate and the original 1938 plate shows.
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Our BW overdrive with the newly manufactured 6 volt solenoid has been trouble free for over 4000 miles. No leaks or strange noises, never a problem engaging or staying in gear or disengaging. If I had not installed the BW overdrive in our car I would have sold it. As it is now I think we will have this car for many years. I live where you pretty much have to use freeways from time to time and without the overdrive it was no fun to drive over 55 miles per hour.
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The dash is completely stock, along with the steering wheel and interior. I bought the car with about 19000 original miles on it.
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I am always on the lookout for some little do-dad for our old Buick or about the old Buick. Its not easy to find something that seems like a good idea. I think this gear shift knob with the temperature gauge is pretty nice and I've never seen another one. It works and goes well with the interior. Supposedly from the late thirties or early forties.
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What happens to these connections is that the battery slowly dies in the car when they sit for long periods. Eventually they get to low for the battery to power the electro magnet in the clock. The clock winds down and the points close but not enough power for the electro magnet to lift the winding arm which normally opens the points at that time. Since the points stay closed but there is some juice left in the battery the wire gets hot, it can melt the solder or burn out the electromagnet coil. If the car is going to be stored the battery should be disconnected or left on a trickle charger.
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Matt, we have been lucky with ours as it doesn't leak at all. I do check it from time to time but it hasn't needed any between complete drains. I drain it and put new in it each year along with the trans and the rear axle. I just take a day and do everything under the car. I like the Gear Vendors OD also and have one in a 1978 Ford F150 but it does not drop the rpms as much as the BW does.
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Matt, at just 50 mph a Special is over 2800 rpms with stock tires, thats why it sounds busy. 2800 rpms is busy for these motors.
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I have always used 2600 rpms to be the HIGHEST rpms for these motors for extended periods and will continue to do so. That is the rpm that the engine likes. Buick like every manufacturer back then and today gives figures under ideal conditions. The cars could possibly hit 100 mph but were not meant to stay there. Also the car might cruise all day at 3500 rpms but for how many days. These cars (SPECIALS) like to cruise at 50 or 55 tops for hundred mile trips with stock gearing. The Centurys with more power could pull slightly higher gear ratios and so could cruise 60 to 65 mph all day. In 1938 there were very few roads where that kind of speed could be used. In 1960 the speeds on freeways were usually less than 65 mph but today most cars drive 70 to 80 mph on freeways and in many places out west where I live they drive even faster. I realize most of you disagree with my opinion, its just my opinion nothing more. My opinion is no more valid than anyone else as its only an opinion gained from my personal experiences. I am enclosing my speed and rpm charts for your general interest. These charts were made calculating 7.50 X 16 tires with a 31 inch diameter if I remember correctly. The rpms will be slightly higher with stock tires.
TorqueTube and Index, where to find?
in Buick - Pre War
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I have most all the original Torque Tube issues in a giant binder. I would like to sell them for 100 dollars to someone who would appreciate their history.