Fr. Buick

If he doesn't have one, I do...

Oh, I love my Impala, a 96. It's my second one, and I have about 200K miles between the two of them, often to the BCA meets or pulling a trailer full of Buick parts. A fun and solid work-horse, but Baby don't like dirt roads and getting her shoes dirty.

Beautiful in all regards!

I had to look at that a second time. Wow, what a cool idea!!!

I don't know, but damn if they don't look good! No enterprising dealer would refuse a sale if someone asked for wire wheels, and there was a set to be found. I do know that they will not fit on the aluminum front drums.

Hey, Fins, I just noticed your post here. Thanks for the shout-out. I had a good time with you all at the Nationals. Springfield won't be easy schedule-wise. I still have to see about that...

Oh, that looks like a nice buy! I'm jealous...

Something not correct there. No reference to the 4-cylinder cars in 1924...

I love doing detail stuff like that. It is a Zen experience. Nice job!

Congratulations to all!! Lamar needs to wear his cape to all future Nationals. And how nice to deliver the awards personally, well deserved, guys!

The Buick factory never made a hard-top, so it had to be a conversion from a 40/60 car. Whatever it was, it was nicely done! I was not able to find the owner and get him to lift the hood and see the data plate. It had about all the correct goodies, including the dash plate for a Skylark, with the exception of a correct Roadmaster front seat and power antenna. A very nice car, whatever the story was...

Prayers as well...

Prayers as well. Hang on Roberta!

Cars are loaded - my '54 and the Impala, a great work horse. I'll be on the road at 5:45 Monday morning, and expect to arrive Thursday evening... See ya all soon! Mike, glad you are making it.

Oh Mike, very sorry to hear of such agonies and a hard decision. Back pain will never kill you, but I've wished it would at times. Rest up, do your therapy, and we will be thinking of you.

Happy to have you all stop by. I may have cigar for ya.

I don't know how standardized fans were in terms of the indexing hole and bolt pattern. There are a few rare 5 and 6 blade fans that were used for Buick AC jobs and extreme heat. You might do better seeing if a similar era Caddy had more blades and would fit. Once you get the radiator rodded or rebuilt, I don't think you will need to mess with the fan. Think hard about using a filter to keep rust from the block passages out of the radiator again, such as Tefba.

One thing you missed, on the bottom of the list...

Not sure where this should go, so I'll stick it here... Just to whet your appetite, as I know I have found some great stuff at a National swaps. Parts I am bringing to Portland: --Brake Drum Pins: hard stainless steel, threaded just like the rears, but ¾ longer thread for use on the front with a nut behind it, even with the thicker aluminum drums. --“Air Conditioned” Sticker: to go in the corners of the rear window, modeled after the Buick shield on the early Nailhead valve cover. Something fun for my own use, and I had a few extras made. --1954-55 Power Seat Motors. --1954-56 Seat Back Stainless Trim: nice condition, correct for Roadmaster and ’54 Skylark. --1955 Carter Carbs: older rebuilds. --1956 Seat Skirts: aluminum, for power seat car. --1954 Roadmaster Front Brake Drum: smooth surface, 50 thousandths, excellent original bearings. --1954 40/50/60 Front Brake Drums, Pair: 90 thousandths out, but excellent surface, low-mile shoes and great original bearings. Use with caution! The FSM calls for only 60 thousandths, but maybe they still have a little life left in them to help keep your car – a light car! – on the road. --1948-1952 early Inner Torque Ball Retainer, NOS in the box: for conventional trans, group 5.560, #1334021 which was replaced by #1390734. --1939 40/60 Inner Torque Ball Retainer: NOS in the box, group 5.560, #1309449 --Other sundries… See you at the show, and safe travels to all! Cell seven one four-488-one six six four.

All that in one day??????????????????????

Starting the engine with both your hands on the wheel. Look Mom, no hands!! That and a loud horn...

It's a very fun evening. Everything from a Locomobile and an Olds curved dash to a new Corvette - oh and a '53 Skylark last year.

Back to the top, as they say...

I find it handy to keep gin and tonic water in the trunk on a road trip. No matter where you land at the end of the day, the bar is open... and cheaper than what the locals will charge you. Safe drive, I leave on the Monday heading north from SoCal

I doubt your 55 valve is any different than mine. The '53-54 manual (pp. 22-23) calls for 7-12 turns, with a starting adjustment of 9. If you can't get proper pressures within those specs, it calls for replacement of the unit. I can see how the valve spring would get tired after 60 years, so perhaps a few more turns past 12 would not be a big deal. You need the correct AC manual for your car. I have never taken an exp. valve apart nor tried to adjust it. Looking at the cut-away picture (p. 11), I do not see an o-ring that could be replaced, but it seems there should have to be one at the adjustment shaft. But I would not want to take it apart unless I have to. Another possibility might be to find a soft copper washer to seal the cap at the adjustment end of the part. That might help hold back the leaks. Can you live with a little leakage? Are we expecting modern sealing on a more primitive system that assumed a little leakage and some more regular servicing and re-charging? Freon was cheap in those days. My '96 Impala has only been serviced once in 120K miles. I know my '54 will never get that well-sealed, and doubt it ever was when brand-new. Can I get an Amen from Willie? I did manage to buy what I believe to be a correct NOS replacement on Ebay last summer, here: This is my fall-back in case the original fails me, I hope you understand... Keep an eye out on Ebay for Frigidiaire expansion valve.