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My wife and I wanted a car to drive on prewar tours which are becoming popular in our area, Motor Muster at the Henry Ford, Gilmore and local clubs all have at least one. We have a prewar car but we wanted a faster, late thirties sedan, really a roadster but being on a fixed income, a sedan. I believed you couldn't be a proper gear head until you have had a Packard but then I found this 1939 Century was available. I've admired this car for over twenty years. This car was an early example for Ziebart rustproofing and was in one of their showrooms for decades, taken out for the occasional show. The fellow I purchased the '39 from drove the car 1,000 miles in the past 10 years. The car needed a lot of things to make it a touring car, I changed all of the fluids, scraped out the oil pan but mostly the wiring was in poor condition. It is not an original car, it has been repainted and reupholstered and the undercoating is excellent. Just finished changing the wiring harness and we have a nearby show in mind in two weeks. The photo is taken in front of my shop which was built in 1954. No more thoughts of getting a Packard, this is the car for me. Regards, Gary

Final update, I have who friend who says education is expensive until you try to do without it. Body harness is attached running along the floor and everything works, but I am not happy with the job because it is messy and I had to remove the original trunk matting and likely did some damage to the fabric. My headliner is a replacement though nicely done and I am loathe to mess it up as well. I am thinking I will remove the harness, store it, and run new wires individually. Then I can make them anyway I want and hide them better, you don't see them until the last few inches before the lamps. Started the engine this morning and my wife and I went for a test drive around the county maybe ten miles. Steering wheel is finished and I am pleased with the result, speedometer is free now until at least 60 MPH, gas gauge reads mostly E though I put in two or three gallons from the lawn mower so I suspect it is not working properly. The '39, which have named Trudy, is quiet and comfortable. I'm sure it will become a good and reliable touring car. And I installed a Buick 8 valve cover vinyl from Bob's, next a spring time wash. Thanks, Gary

Update Thursday. Main or engine wiring harness is in, the engine starts and the ammeter reads charging correctly according to dashboard gauge. No smoke or sparks, however, I learned I have the wrong voltage regulator and the vacuum switch is not functioning. I installed a spring loaded button located inside the car to run the starter for now. Brought the engine up to temp and changed the oil. Last night I reviewed Gary W fine restoration post concerning his wiring and found we had the same problem specifically which terminals to attach which wires at the starter solenoid. I guess it is moot because the starter cranks the engine nicely. Also on his thread my friend Larry said he laid the rear body harness on the floor of the car and didn't disturb the headliner, seems right and I plan to copy him. Headlamps harness should be easy and the dome light is a project for the future. Thanks, Gary

Tuesday update. I've managed to remove the light switch, it was similar to the instructions above, thanks Rodney. The harness is laid loosely around the engine and under the dash. The time consuming item now is when I touch some electrical part I have to clean the part to find a letter, number or symbol which relates to the instructions, hope that makes sense. Then because I am driving an old restoration I have to decide whether to reinstall the item as is, to match the look of the rest of the car or to restore or replace the part. For instance the horns are left alone although they are less than ideal, the generator relay is new, bright and shiny so I refinished the horn relay to match. So far so good, the new harness is flawless. Regards, Gary

Personal choice purely and in my opinion the 1954 Century hardtop or convertible is a beautiful looking auto. Don't have one but that is my favourite from your list. Regards, Gary

Haven't found any interesting slogans, worked on the replacement Sunday afternoon, standing on my head. Unpacked the new harness and tacked up the directions from Rhode Island on a handy message board in the shop. Cut away or unscrewed the old, crusty wires and threw them into a corner in case I need some hardware, various switches I bagged up and marked. With the dash panel loosened now I plan to address the binding speedometer, I hope a gentle tweak of the needle will help it to clear the base. Then I will refinish the surround in the dark burgundy colour, doesn't look as if it was woodgrained, polish the bright work and it should be ready for new wires and reinstalling. So far so good, I am not a mechanic I just play one in my garage. Do not understand yet how to remove the light switch? Regards, Gary

Cruising the Pre War tour at the Gilmore Museum near Kalamazoo, Mi and one of the stops on our 75 mile drive was the home of civil war hero General Benjamin Pritchard. I parked my 1913 Model 31 in front of the home and two civil war re-enactors. Pre '42 car show on the grounds tomorrow with activities. Lovely drive today, through rolling countryside and 75F with sun. Life doesn't get much better does it? Regards, Gary

Thanks for the encouragement, I will keep you posted as it goes. Gary W used Rhode Island for his car, me too, they supplied both main and body as well as the headlamps. Didn't get extra signals for the front even though the car has fender lamps, I am funny that way, keep the car the way it came. Someone else suggested removing the front seat for more comfort and the steering wheel had voids so it was restored as part of this job, also the speedo jams at 45 MPH so I hope to address the issue during this retrofit. My car had electrical problems, mostly involving the starter, I am nervously looking forward to getting this completed. I have a car show in mind June 10th for this rocket. Gary

Next project, and electricity is my weakest subject among others. I am confident, I have good parts, tools and a book. Wish me luck, Gary

My camera is a Nikon and it has a setting in the menu where two images are recorded, raw and jpeg, per click. I always select jpeg from the computer's hard drive to upload an image for this forum, newsletters, email, etc. Raw is for hard prints, desktop backgrounds or to study a detail. Regards, Gary

P Glad your car is painted, it is a major step. You don't have to compare your progress to others, do what you are able when you can and stick with it. I wish I was as organized as Gary W, he is the best, I am 3 years into my project and there are others who are 20. We are all just guys, hang in there. Thanks, Gary

An hour from Doug's house in Kent County a farmer I asked told me received 6.5 inches of rain Saturday. The most rainfall he has ever seen. I have a storm catch basin in my driveway, it measures 4' wide 4 ' long and 6' deep and it was full of rainwater to the top, glad I live 8 miles from the nearest river or lake. Today, Sunday, the sun back. Regards, Gary

Hello Peter. You can come to Chatham Sat, May 26 for a free car show downtown, the BIA pays the expenses. My local car club is the host so I will be there to do my part. I do not show there because it is for hot rods and a few antiques but it is, so far anyway, no cost to show or to the public. Bev and I will be going to Essex again this June 10th, $!0 to enter a car but the public pays as well because it has a museum and controlled entrance. Free shows also at Erieau and Blenheim if you are looking for places to go in Ontario we would go with you. All the best, Gary

Do not know if I can add to the conversation concerning measuring, here is a collection of caps which I have acquired and fit my '13 and '15, the same size and thread for all. The black cap is closest to original equipment and I use it the most often, especially if I am away from the car visiting museum for instance. The large Buick Motometer on the wings has an insert to correct the size, same for the Moore Semaphor on the lock-a-meter, which has been re nickeled. The dog bone has a 1915 Boyce meter made in Hamilton On. has a McLaughlin logo. Finally the flip top is the fanciest, original, lovely, finish. It had exterior threads which I cut off and internally turned to my size and 16 TPI. Hope this helps you see some of all the choices available Ronnie. Regards, Gary

Here is my entry for taillight Thursday, our 1913 Buick model 31 loaded into it's trailer ready to attend the Gilmore Museum's Pre War event week from Friday. Third annual tour and show on the grounds of the Gilmore near Battle Creek, Mi and my first. Any pre war Buick people going? Look me up and we will ride around the red barns on Saturday. Hope we visit the OFF brothers on the Friday tour. Regards, Gary

Bev and I are attending from Canada for the first time with our 1913 Buick model 31. Looking forward to it, hope we visit the OFF brothers. Regards, Gary

Made some progress on my 1915 McLaughlin touring car lately so an update is provided. Last I posted I got it running with the original Marvel carburetor. Body is back on the frame. battleship linoleum is applied to the running boards and I installed the old top just so I can get it off the floor. Last fall I did a bad job of painting of the hood in black single stage. I had to sand off the paint on the louvered sections and redo them but I managed to save the tops with 1000 grit and then 2000 grit before machine compounding and polishing. Today I installed the hood on the car and it is wonderful to be past that issue, looks good to me. I have an arrangement with a local restoration shop who does small jobs for me and he doesn't mind me bringing in jobs if I do them myself. So I sandblasted the windshield, I provided the sand and the labour he let me use his shop and equipment. I pointed out a small dent in the tubing and asked him how to repair it. Turns out it was a small job and he fixed the dent for me, again looks good. Windshield parts are painted black and ready to go on. Next step rear fenders, end is in sight now, I am going to install the original upholstery at least to begin with. The last load of nickel plating is due from the platers soon. I plan to drive the car locally this summer and work out the bugs if any before hitting the road. Thanks, Gary Van Dyken

Great news, thanks for the update. Regards, Gary

Good Luck, Matt. A few more hours and you will be on the prairies. Gary

At Flint, Mi in 2003 at the Buick Centennial show I saw a modified '38, which I would call a hot rod being loaded into an enclosed trailer. What was that about, I thought the idea of putting a modern driveline in an old car was to make it a fine, reliable, safe driver? I say sell the Buick, sell the trailer and the pickup and get a new Porsche. If a person wants to use a trailer leave the old car original or am I being too judgemental? Regards, Gary

Please bear with me, I've not seen this discussed and I will relate two stories which have me thinking of the way I view antique cars. Last year on the AACA Vintage Tour there were several Model A Fords as you would expect. About half of them had wider, lower tires, one stop I was parked beside one and I asked the driver. He showed me his car, I repeat his car, he told me the wheels are from a '37 Ford, he was using a 12 volt alternator, had an overdrive transmission and hydraulic brakes. One of those times when the mouth begins without a brain I blurted out " It's a hot rod." Wish I could take the remark back, the owner assured me his Ford was not a hot rod. I don't know? On another forum I told how I rebuilt the original Schebler carburetor for my Buick and surprisingly it was working well. Another poster said a modern Carter was better and the only use for a Schebler was for a show car. That made me feel pretty good, never had show car before? Regards, Gary Van Dyken

Sorry to hear of your bad experience with the HCCA, did not know that. A fellow in my region sold his Mitchell from the HCCA ad perhaps a Somali prince purchased the car? Anyway lovely Buick, good hunting, Gary

If you could stand more advice, perhaps advertise at HCCA.org. There is a fee but could be worthwhile, let the Snapper's treasurer know the car is available and it would be useful for this ad to say where the car is located. We are planning to attend the summer tour in NY state and the Hershey Hangover with the Snappers. BTW welcome to the AACA Forums, Gary

This is a beautifully restored Buick. Qualifies for Snapper's tours, painted the correct dark blue and grey wheels and has the 165 Cu In engine which is well known and likely the easiest to keep maintained. A few years ago we toured 9 days, 700 miles around Lake Erie and one of these Model 35 did it with four adults on board. I am not associated with the owners, just offering an opinion, if you want to step up from a pre '16 Ford this seems like the car. Best of luck, Gary

Thanks for the gentle reminder to place our best foot forward and out of our mouth. Regards, Gary