The Old Guy

What year and series???

Sid, your 58 should be a shoo in for an archival award!!!

You might also look at placing the 49 body on the complete Caddy chassis. I have a 57 special on a 72 Electra chassis and it was an easy swap

If the car was repainted and "freshened up" it should not have been in the archival class!!! That class is supposedly for "unrestored" cars. They are supposed to be judged for originality and authenticity only.

Switching to the Caddy will not be as simple as changing engines . the Caddy has an open drive line and to install it in your Buick will mean a differential swap and a lot of work to anchor it . If you do it ,there is a suspension specialist named :Fatman Fabrication that has dropped spindles for your 49. His E-mail is :www.fatmanfab.com<P>

The 37 engine uses an 18 mm plug and the C86 is a commercial plug that will do the job nicely. Your original post had info on a 46 plug and I assumed( something a person should never do) that your 37 had a later head,which would take the 14mm plug. I'm sorry if I confused you,but I read the post wrong.

A water pump,fuel pump, generator ,voltage regulator,rad hoses,fan belt,points and plugs are all you need for a LONG trip in Buick. That should leave enough room for your needs unless you are like my friend that carries a cooler bigger than his suit case.

I have removed mid-20s radiators and sometimes it takes an extension .The main problem is that many of them are like a stove bolt and the head will spin because of rusty threads. If this is the case, the only alternative I have found is to cut the nut off with either a torch or a chisel. Some you can get at with the torch but most will have to be done the hard way . <P>Good Luck

You are becoming a computer whiz !! Thanks for sharing the site.

Bert Waldron made an exhaust system for me 30 years ago and that was the last one he did for me. it did not fit and had the wrong muffler.

Bert Waldron made an exhaust system for me 30 years ago and that was the last one he did for me. it did not fit and had the wrong muffler.

If the car has a 300 engine ,it may also have a switch pitch trans ,and if that is the case perhaps you should check to see if the linkage is set properly. When it is set properly, the switch on the linkage should kick the trans into high stall which will help immensely

I thank you gentlemen for this post!! I have had an ongoing problem with my 455 powered 37 Buick because of the steering. it has a Mustang 2 rack with a GM steering pump,and the steering felt like it had a catch in it.After reading this post ,I went out ,drained the system and put in Valvoline power steering fluid and now it steers like it should. <P> THANK YOU

Most 37s had 18MM plugs and the early 14MM used in straight eights were 48s ,but they are almost impossible to find. They were used because they were hot plugs . The fuels of today and the fact that we have higher speed roads means that you can run the colder plugs without worrying. I run AC 46 plugs in my 40-56C and have had no problem with them at all ,and I have driven it 90,000 miles +

The only fly in the ointment would be if the 49 engine was for a dynaflow. Then you would need a pilot bearing in the crank.

The Le Sabre was on display at the Woodward cruise!!!! I t is on loan to the Ford museum ,but will eventually come back to the Buick Archives in Flint MIch

Classic Auto Air in Tampa has a package that includes a Sanden Compressor ,a thin condenser and an evaporator unit that mounts in the trunk. They have universal mounts that can be adapted to almost any motor ,so I would check with them. I have one of these units in my 57 ,and I love it!!

You really don't need anything, but you can always use permatex( the kind you brush on gaskets) or they also make a brushable pipe joint compound.

I just read the post again ,and I should have offered some constructive criticism instead of my remark. I am sorry if I have offended you. There are two places that I would suggest a change. First I would unhook the sway(panhard) bar ,as it is held by one bolt . This will guarantee that it won't be bent and the bushings will not be hurt. Second :I use a rachet tie down to stretch the springs as it is pliable and won't damage paint or chrome. On some Buicks the shock links must also be removed to allow enough movement without stretching anything. The only time I use the ratchet is if the bolts holding the springs are stubborn and I'm in a hurry( Which you are not ever supposed to be) I hope this is some additional help!!

If you will notice the BCA number of the man who wrote the article, you will see that he has been a member for less than a year! I have changed e few in my day too, and I would not recommend to anyone his system.

If you have a 364 or 401 ,there is a 400 trans that will fit , but you will have to machine the back of the crank to clear the convertor. The 64 -66 Electras, wildcats and rivs used a 400 with a round bell housing

I used to run out of Teds in the 60s and I can't take what has happened to Woodward, so I for one WON'T be there!!I also can't handle that kind of traffic anymore.

Joe Krepps from Florida was getting gear sets made for the 30-33 Buicks ,so he should be able to point you in the right direction.I have an old phone number that might still be good: 407-636-8777

MR,Buick ,I am just a youngster compared to you . I am only 68 ,but all the GS club members call me "The Old Guy " because most of the drag racers are younger than me.

The 71 up 455 has holes in the heads that correspond to the AIR system on the intake manifold. If you have a 430 or a 70 455 ,you will have to plug the end holes in the later heads or you will have problems. I tapped the holes with a 3/8 -16 tap and screwed in some brass screws until they bottomed. I then cut them off and filed the surfaces smooth . This seems to work just fine.