buick looks fine for 39

Good evening all, The wood top bow on my 39 Buick convertible is beyond repair (falling trees will do that) and it's so badly damaged I have doubts it can be used as a pattern. Somebody out there must have had a replacement made for their car. I'm nearly positive 1939-1940 Buick, la Salle and Cadillac used the same wood rear top bow with minor modifications.I have a beautiful 1940 Super top bow but it's not close enough to be used on my car. Hopefully a shop somewhere has a buck or a pattern to make this type of bow. The bow is for a 1939 Buick convertible coupe. Any help would be appreciated Leif

I didn't explain the top bow I was looking for. It's the wood top bow in back

Good morning all, The top bow on my 39 Buick convertible is beyond repair. Does anybody have a recommendation as to where I can have a replacement made? Thanks Leif

I can help. I have an antenne installation manual and a 39 Sonomatic Instruction Manual. If both you and he feel comfortable, message me his number and I'll text him the info he needs. Thanks Leif

After a car has been apart for many years anybody can make a mistake. This site is a collaboration of people that have made many mistakes themselves. Thanks Leif

It's in the right place, just upside down

It's great you found a tag. If I can help you with anything else let me know. Thanks Leif

39 is the year, 46 is the body style meaning coupe,67 is convertible coupe. The plate seems to be a repro probably made by Backeast. If Per Sande has no body plate or a plate heavily damaged he's a luck duck. As I understand it the owner of Backeast has retired and the person who bought his company is no longer making tags. There is a gentleman in Sweden who would die for a 66C tag. Backeast body tags came with rivets or the originals can be carefully salvaged. Thanks Leif

Yes you can drill out the rivets and use bolts. The rivets were originally peened hot and they swelled into the entire bore of the hole in the lower control arm assembly. With care you can drill the rivets out. Replacement bolts are usually a little loose in the bore and some folks drill out the hole oversize for a tighter fit. I didn't drill my holes oversize and it didn't seem to be a problem. Be sure to install the lower outer pivot pin before you tighten your newly installed bolts. That will keep the threads in the lower control arms aligned. Thanks Leif

The parts are located in northwest Oregon. The parts range from fair to excellent and include the following; convertible top latches, a stainless steel convertible winshield surround, convertible interior door window hardware, streamboards, 1939-1940 hub caps, 2 coupe front seat backrests, 2 jump seat springs, a fresh air heater, 1 set of connecting rods machined for inserts, parking lights, a 39 special short block, 39 special transmission, an exhaust manifold, 1 rear end probably with a 3.90 gear ratio, a special sedan parts car(might be sold), a coupe trunklid with bullet holes,a 1937 248 short block, post 41 hubcaps, 40 and later special transmission, 39 trim including excellent used potmetal, and other parts as well. The owner would like to sell the parts as a lot. Phone number 360-422-6025 please leave a voice mail and I will return your call. Thanks Leif

I remember seeing your car several years ago. It's a beautiful low mileage original. The color of your glovebox does look closer to the color of my mirror, but my mounting hardware is entirely different. Thanks Leif

Thanks Mark for the great photo. Unfortunately the woodgrain on my nos mirror is more of a tan color and the attaching point on the mirror is entirely different. Thanks Leif

I have a nos mirror, but it might be for a 1940. Do you, or anyone else on this website, have a woodgrain photo I can compare my mirror to? Thanks Leif

The folks who have responded to your inquiry have given very good advise. 1939 40 series exhaust manifold will work on a 1940 special, but the heat stove for the automatic choke is different between 1939 and 1940 or later requiring a minor change. Try Dave Tachney for an exhaust manifold. To repeat what other people have written, it's important to use the proper washers, make sure the exhaust manifold is not warped, consider honing the manifold face making it dead flat, torque it no more than 20-30 lbs, and loosen the exhaust manifold valve body from the exhaust manifold and intake manifold. When the engines were originally built the exhaust valve body was intentionaly left loose. The exhaust manifold and intake manifold was then torqued to the head and finally the exhaust manifold body was torqued to the exhaust and intake manifold. Thanks Leif

Thanks Gary, that sounds better.

I bought my first 39 business coupe the year of Woodstock and I still have it. There are many idiosyncrasies between late and early models and quite a few items are 39 only. I'd be glad to help anyway I can. Thanks Leif

Thanks for the input. A change in cone angle between 38-39 and 40-47 was the main concern regarding interchangeability. In my car it dosen't seem to be a problem.

A while back I wrote a post regarding the use of 40-47 synchros in a 39 Buick Special transmission. There are 2 different part numbers for 38-39 synchros and 40-47 synchros. Many people believed the two different synchro types were not interchangeable. I posted the different part numbers were due to a synchro design change. 38-39 synchros were spin poured in a steel shell like a babbitt connecting rod and the brass friction surface was machined into the synchro. 40-47 synchros had the brass friction surface press fitted into the steel shell. Years ago I found a Muncie (?) interchange manual and it listed 38-47 as having the same part number. I believed 40-47 synchros were superior to 38-39s because the earlier synchros had a tendency to delaminate and shed brass fragments into the gear box. Today I made my maiden voyage in my 39 Buick 46c with 40-47 synchros and the transmission performed flawlessly. Finding 40-47 synchros are still like hen's teeth but It might give folks more flexibility who own 38s and 39s if 40-47s will work as well. Thanks Leif

Try Vern Bethel in Vancouver BC. He has a fair amount of series 80-90 parts he's collected over the years. He once owned the 1939 McLaughlin Royal Limited convertible used by the king and queen of England during their tour of Canada in 1939. Thanks Leif

Thank you for the suggestion

Thank you so much for your reply. All I know is that the coupe express is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Leif

A family member is looking for a bullet nosed 1950-1951 Studebaker. I'm a GM guy and don't know what a reasonable price is for a good driver. So far we've looked at 3 or 4 and they turned out to be junk. As we were looking for a bullet nose I stumbled across a barn fresh 1939 coupe express truck. The body was in amazing condition with next to no rust. There was a 2 inch square soft spot in the passenger side cab corner, the transmission cover edge was a bit lacey, and the sidemount well had a 50 cent piece soft spot. All for fenders were dented but not even pitted on the inside. The rear end and front suspension had been competently rebuilt by a mechanic, and the engine plus transmission were supposedly rebuilt but out of the truck. The grill and center nose stainless had seen better days. All I know is that it's a rare and desirable rig. Any suggestions about determining price rangs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I took a while but I solved the problem with my steering box by adding an Ace Hardware neoprene washer in addition to a thicker O ring. The original felt seals had lost their compressibility and no longer provided a satisfactory seal. Thanks Leif

G code at least for 1939 is for an accessory oil filter. Thanks Leif

For crying out loud Ben, couldn't you come up with a more exotic answer? Probably right though Thanks Leif