RivRider

Fill her right to the top of fill hole till it won't take anymore,then add to it as it seeps in,then when you're ready to try getting loose put a small heater under the pan and let it warm the whole engine,makes a big difference when warm.An oil dip stick heater will work as well.

I just started reading your story and couldn't stop,just realized I'm late for supper,that is a gorgeous car,my first baby sitter was driving one exactly like that,wish I could find the picture of it.She had that car 'till I was in high school and there was nothing left of her. Keep up the posts,I'll be watching. By the way I used to send cars to your neck of the woods back in the '80s,every see a '55 Sedan DeVille in tan with dark brown roof cruising around? Had an Elvis plate on the front when it left here, that was the last one I sent over,it was at the time your government decided to get in on the act and started the big tax on them,my contact there was so mad it sat at the docks for 6 months until he finally paid equivalent of $1800 US dollars when he only paid $4000 for the car,you could probably add another 0 to that dollar amount today. The one before that was a '55 Lincoln Capri. Good luck with your ride and keep us updated.

And do I remember correctly that the points on these have to be set with a gauge? My Riv is hard enough to get to but at least it has the window,I have a flexible allen head driver and an old Hastings meter to do that one,real nice,I can get exact with the meter.Has the settings to do the carb as well.

As I don't know my models from that era can you tell me how to identify or send me a picture.I am sure there are a few up there,a few years back he needed some money and had an auction there and sold only cars up to '40,over 1000 cars left that weekend pre '40,they had to make a road out of the backside of the property to get them out because they where the first ones in.There where people there from around the world,as me and another of his buddies did some major advertising for the auction months in advance and he made close to $900,000 that weekend,took over a month to get them all out.The saddest part about this yard is that at least 3/4 of the cars there where driven in !!! Some of them in the back now are parked so close together that you have to walk across cars to get through,a lot of the nice ones are on blocks but most are disappearing in the dirt.One that I have been trying to talk him out of for almost 40 years and he still won't let go is a '49 Kaiser Vagabond Traveler Wagon camper special.Very few made like this,back seat folds down,rear tailgate drops,rear widow raises and there is a snap-on cover to extend the back for using to go camping,the left rear door doesn't even open because the spare tire is bolted to the inside of door.There where a few sedans made like this also,but I don't think they came with the rear enclosier. Also a '59 Imperial with a stainless half roof that is one of the few undercover,sitting next to his last purchase that he drove back from Colorado 15 years ago,a '59 Desoto. I'll get back to you soon. Dan

Good idea,seems harder every year to work under the hood of any of them for some reason,couldn't be that retirement is getting closer (for me) is it ?

I thought I would let you know,it's almost time for a graveyard trip,did you and "Mr.Earl" come across the missing parts yet? I need a tailgate for my Blazer and the 3 feet of snow we had three weeks ago is almost gone.I'm taking my camera to get some pictures of this amazing yard to post here,there aren't many left in this part of the country,although I do know of another that has around 1500 cars from the same era,just discovered he has 80 Hudsons.I found out this guy just started selling some parts.Both of these yards where owned by men that hardly ever sold anything,every time I went to the big one I tried to take something with me to trade because they where both the type that said "no,I'm going to fix that one someday" Back to your Buick,is that an original color? She sure looks great.I'm still hoping "Mr.Earl" decides he doesn't have room for that '38!! Did you see my post about Marvel Mystery Oil,every body has there own tricks,but I've rescued three stuck engine so far with it and hoping for number four "Elvira" this spring

Like I said previously just to many irons in the fire,bought as an investment,no money in the bank,it's all sitting on tires.We have two business's that take up most of my time,one dealing with the gas industry that is booming in the area,and a restaurant we bought last year.Just got five more wells hooked up and five more in line for this summer so will be getting royalties from twelve wells soon,then I can relax and work on all my investments and the next generation can run the business's

She's not running yet,got my fingers crossed for coming unstuck after 8+ years of soaking in Marvel Mystery Oil.Hoping to try breaking free soon,too many irons in the fire.My '53 Hornet is next in line,been under cover since '03,got her two years ago and needs brake lines replaced,and just got new carb for my '72 Riv,hasn't been out in four years.Anybody need a job,doesn't seem to be enough of me to go around.

Hope you're right Ben,this would be the fourth stuck engine saved with Marvel over the years.

Sorry Mr.Earl,it was all Mobil including the Pegasus that was over six foot and took up most of the trailer,sold that six years ago for $1800,was perfect and the rest of the collection made me over $2000 over the last few years.Also sorry to tell that I gave her $200 for the whole load,the only thing left is a counter top Zenith radio and large tire patch display kit.The tractor is still here and for sale,but need a clutch.

My Mom always told me I could fall in a pile of s**t and come out smelling like a rose,although I'm still jealous of "Mr. Earl"

They just keep getting more amazing!!

Can't quite compare to "Mr. Earls" adventure,but here's my last barnfind that I dragged home almost 9 years ago,and hoping to get to this summer.Was parked in the barn about 15 minutes north of New York City in New Jersey by the original owner in '78.I bumped into the owners Grand-daughter at a show in Scranton,PA one day when she was admiring my '72 Riviera and she told me that they where clearing out the place after her Grandparents had passed.They had owned a small restaurant-gas station on Rte.46 in Ledgewood,NJ and wanted to know if I would be interested in following her down to see it,she new the engine was stuck and I almost said no after hearing that,but when she told me it had 49,000 miles and they where also selling gas station items too,I decided it would be worth the trip.We had to cut down a tree 8" in diameter to get the barn door open it had been in there so long,and I could see through all the dust that it was going to be worth it,especially when she agreed to let me have it for $700 ! I also loaded up my small trailer with gas station signs and memorabilia from the '40s to '60s and Grandpa's 1961 International-Harvester Cub Cadet lawnmower,first year of production,and hauled everything home.The next day I put a battery in the tractor,it started right up and I mowed the lawn with it. The car came with all the original paper work and here are some before and afters,the only 3 days she's been out in the sun since '78 as I put her in the garage,filled with Marvel Mystery Oil and hoping for the best soon. Notice the interesting way they reversed the white strip in the seat front to back,and how many people out there know that the speedometer that you are looking at is actually a mirror with an adjustment wheel on the left of the speedo to angle the mirror for your height for better viewing ! The actual speedo is embedded in the top of the dash upside down and printed backward. This old girl is so cool that who cares if she has "too many doors",I'm leaving her as is including the paint that the old gentleman dabbed every chip with a brush and there are alot,considering he drove her for 18 years.The inside is perfect but for the scuff in the carpet on drivers side.

"Mr. Earl",you are really making me drool over that '38 ! Wish I was a little closer,it looks like you could use some help,my specialty has always been cleaning up cars to bring them back.What a great find,things that are what my dreams are made of.Check out my LeSabre in profile about me section,she looked like your dusty collection when I brought her home.Just saying,she could go with "Helen" if you decide.

If you have trouble finding those missing parts,let me know,a friend of mine has a graveyard of over 4000 cars from the '40s to the '70s.As soon as the snow disappears,I could see if he has anything

What a gorgeous ride,glad to see you got pictures before you blew the dust off.The last one I got like that,I was able to drive so I washed the windshield so I could see where I was going and there happened to be a show that weekend,drove in and had more attention than the shiney ones.It was a '65 Riviera that I'll be posting pictures of soon.

So do I and I am always nice to my customers,deal with the public,grin a bare it.

I live in PA and they use exempt on cars after a certain age with 5 digit speedometers,it pisses me off also,but if you ask when changing titles,most places will put in mileage,most people don't catch that and if you don't ask,they do it automatically.The old gal whom I got my Hudsons from didn't catch it and they say exempt now too,very irritating for us car fanatics ! Almost as bad as the young girl who did the work and didn't think there where enough numbers in the VIN,I had to explain that back then there weren't as many cars !

One thing people forget is the rear end,well worth changing.Just a suggestion,I use Lucas products in every fluid in the car,especially with cars not driven regularly,keeps gaskets and seals from drying.When I bought my Riviera 25 years ago,she had a whine in the rear,used the Lucas oil stabilizer in the rear,suggested on the bottle, and has not made a noise since.Rear main seal was dripping and that also stopped.I have a pair of Hudsons that have stopped any oil leaks also,Lucas in everything I own. One of the most unusual parts of that '60 is the speedometer,how many people realize is is embedded in the top of the dash,upside down and backward and you are looking at a mirror to read with an adjustment on the side for you're height behind wheel !

I just started looking on line yesterday

Very nice ride,I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that doesn't mind an extra set of doors ! So many people don't even give a 4-dr. a second look.Makes me even more antsy to get working on mine, a '60 LeSabre. How many miles on yours? Mine has been named "Elvira",all black and looks like she should be driving.

I'm looking for rebuild kit for '60 364 and not having much luck,finding 401 but no 364.Next question is are they interchangeable and could it be turned into a 401? I don't know engine work much and just looking for info.I plan on getting started on my '60 LeSabre that has been in a garage since '78.When I bought the car the motor was stuck,so I filled the engine with Marvel Mystery Oil,like I did with my '68 and saved that one,but unsure of this one,haven't tried to see if it freed up yet,it has been soaking for 9 years now.She only has 49,000 miles so wasn't to worn when parked and I have my finger crossed.I just have the feeling this one won't have the same results,so I'm trying to get ready for a rebuild.I have saved two other engines by doing this,a '54 Nash Statesman with 36,000 parked for 19 years and a '63 Skylark with 40,000 miles,aluminum 215,parked for 22 years,and drove both afterwords with no problems. Any guidance in this quest appreciated,Thanks,Dan. P.S.,I have obtained a 4-barrel intake to use,would this be helpful on this car? It has the better turbine trans.Keep watch of "Me and my Buick" will be posting pictures soon.

I forgot another unbelievable fact about both these cars that make most people squirm,I payed $1500 for the '68 LeSabre with the stuck engine and the son-in-law wanted the Cady out of his garage and paid $999 for that one !

For those who noticed the '77 Coupe DeVille in the pictures,wish I had that one back too,bought the same year from original owner with 31,000 miles,and also parked in '86,last hoorah for Cady with 425 4-barrel,crushed velvet full bucket seats and console.I never thought that anything built in '77 would do anything for me until I drove that car.Can't keep 'em all ! Wait till I post the pictures of my '60 LeSabre survivor off the road since '78,coming soon.

Looks like I better go looking as it is only dis-colored.