Rusty Heaps

I have no garage, attic, basement, or storage unit, therefore everything that I do not need is leaving, one way or another. If someone wants it they can have it. If you live in the Knoxville area, feel free to come and get it. I’m thinning the herd, paring down. I just sold my 1955 Pontiac Chieftain project because I cannot do 5 projects at the same time, nor house them all. Craigslist is full of my ads for junk I no longer need. Out, out, out, simplify.

We went to the junkyard today, unfortunately the quarter panel wasn’t much better than what you’ve indicated your car has.

Well....,it doesn’t look like it sits much higher in the rear than my ‘52 Special while the interior is pulled out. Can you drop the front end?

1952 Special 4dr minus back half. There is also a ‘53 Special convertible in the weeds. Hence the earlier pic of the cowl tag.

For some reason I’m only allowed one pic at a time. ??! What a waste of a convertible!

The weather cooperated with us today so we had a great time picking through a local junkyard. I found some small odds and ends that we’re on my list. How is it that no matter how many tools you bring, you never have that one tool to get a part you have on your wishlist? Let me see if I can post some pics.

Made it to the junkyard today. Found a few small items for my ‘52, but the older steering wheels I saw were too far gone, sorry.

Let’s see some pics. I’m just over the hills from you. I’m in Tennessee. Same car. Weather permitting, I’m going to a junkyard near here for parts, mostly smalls. There’s a 2 dr sedan that I’m picking from unfortunately the driver side quarter is gone. I need a driver door and quarter behind the wheel well. Also an engine. I’ll look at the quarter panel for passenger side. Although not fully interchangeable, the lower will work for what you need. There are a couple of ‘51 and ‘53 4 drs that I’m robbing parts from, all Specials. Let me know if you need me to look for anything in particular. A pic of one of the 4 doors

For some reason I’m only allowed one pic at a time

I just thought I’d throw these pics in from a junkyard I’m going to when weather permits. Unfortunately rain is in the forecast for the next few days. Don’t cry when you see the pics. I know, it’s an Olds, not Buick. But some interchange.

Love the car. I look forward to seeing what you do for it.

Do I toss it?

I hope no one took me seriously on my last post. That was a little sarcastic humor. I’m strictly for keeping same brand engines and vehicles, no bastardized cars for me. Punk1235 where are you located? I could possibly use your straight eight.

Clock is on the way. Any takers on the Special clock delete filler or the other gauge?

I’m searching for the manual put together by the west Michigan chapter. I’m told it’s right down my alley.

Give it a “Hemi”! Nothing quite like a powerful Mopar engine in a Buick!

Thanks Ben for the bit of engine swap info. It’s good to know that I have more options. I hope that I can find one on a budget. Unfortunately a few years ago I didn’t have sufficient funds to purchase a rough and cheap ‘53 Special 2dr sedan that ran and drove but otherwise wasn’t much better than mine. ‘I would not have felt guilty for pulling the drivetrain from that car and letting a hot rodder have it being that it is a much more common vehicle. Never the money when I need it!

I’ll probably be going to a junkyard Friday, weather permitting, to scavenge parts for my ‘52 Special, want I should look for a steering wheel while I’m there? Condition may not be the best, but it sounds like one in a not so crumbly state of decay may be better than the one you have. I believe there may be a Buick or two from the ‘‘40s in the pile. What a waste of a beautiful convertible!

Thanks 2carb40 for the info and a good chuckle! I’ll try to find a copy. Nice to know that there are good people out there who will help the young and ignorant. Oh wait a minute, 53 isn’t so young. Darn! Where did they go? The years that is. Oh well, no need to remain ignorant either!

Years ago we all did a brake job by blowing the dust or using an air hose to blow the dust out and never thought about it. Live and learn, eh?

It’s a little hard to read on my IPhone. I also have tendency to drag my shop manuals with me under hood, under car, etc. I’m old school and have a need for paper copy. I do reference teambuick manual. I’m using my Chevrolet manuals where there are enough similarities. I have the resources to work on Chevrolet from 1938 - 1964 now I need the same for 1952 Buick.

I don’t eBay or have paypal. I’m old fashioned that way.

It’s a rough old cob, but I would have hated to see it parted out. It’s a fairly uncommon car. I hope to make some significant progress quickly. Unfortunately I’ve done a little math, and it won’t be cheap, even as a driver.

The body only has a rattle can paint job that I applied a few years ago to save the car. But if it had an engine and brakes, I’d drive it as is. Add windshield of course. If I had known back in he ‘80s, my first car probably would not have been a ‘55 Chevy, it would have been a ‘51 or ‘52 Buick!