TxBuicks
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Posts posted by TxBuicks
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I went with Pete to Bud's because they had a rear end assembly for my 1991 Roadmaster Wagon for a very fair price of $175. They pulled it and took the cover off to make sure it was operable before they gave it to me. I was amazed at their organization. They have acres of land but all of the cars are parked head to toe, with no more than two deep in each row. That means every car is easy to get to, no climbing over three other cars to get to the one you want to look at. The roads through the yard were all mowed and on solid ground, so there was no problem in us driving the truck around to see everything. And, for the most part, each long row was of similar cars, like mid-1960's Buicks would all be together, etc. And they have several huge buildings for the small parts, all neatly organized in shelves and tagged. They are computerized, too. When I asked for an alternator for my 1966 Electra 225 convertible, it took them about a minute to locate one. I was very impressed. Thousands of cars from the 1960s and 1970s.
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I love the one in post #1248. Looks like they stopped at the side of the road going up the mountains in the fall. Both girls and the car are beautiful.
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That 2017 LaCross has such a low profile I think I'd have to stick my head out thru the sunroof.
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In Buick terms, "Super Wildcat" refers the 425 CI engine with the dual quad carburetor setup, chrome air cleaner, etc. In 1965, Buick could put that engine in several models (Wildcat, Riviera, Electra). Without official numbers in front of me right now, I'd say that 1965 was the most popular year for the "Super Wildcat" setup, but they are still relatively rare and very desirable. Especially with the 4-speed transmission. The value would greatly depend on which model you have and condition. If you want educated opinions from this forum, we will need to see some pictures. Which model do you have?
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Thanks, Bill. The article is a tribute to Patricia, too. I haven't shown it to her yet, but I can't wait to see the smile on her face when I do. She doesn't get enough credit for all she does.
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I, too, found it odd that the BOD voted this down. Although I have never owned a pre-war car, I am fascinated by them. And to see one 100 years old, running and driving, is truly amazing. I agree completely with Roadmaster_37_C. These cars deserve any special recognition we can give them. I don't think recognizing 100 year old Buicks at a National Meet will be an incentive to bring more of them out. I don't think the owners of 100 year old Buicks are in hot pursuit of awards. The ones I've met seem to have the simple desire to show the rest of the world their wonderful vehicles, and a National Meet is a perfect place to show them. We should be bending over backwards to welcome these cars and treat them and the owners as special guests. I recall the 2012 National Meet in Charlotte, where the decision was made to honor 1936-1938 Buicks. They set aside a special place in the parking lot for them. I remember the excitement I felt walking around them all. It was interesting to see them side-by-side and comparing the differences of the years and models. And at the 2009 National Meet in Colorado, they celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1959 Buicks successfully. Recognizing 100 year old Buicks at National Meets is not complex nor difficult, and should be reconsidered. I will personally thank the owners of one when I see them.
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I've seen that GSX El Camino. It is a beautiful car. He did a great job on it.
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I'm ok with anything that encourages more driving. Speaking of more driving, when did we get away from driving events at the Nationals? Now it is all bus tours. Not only is it more fun to drive our cars, but it is one of the best marketing promotions the club can get. Imagine the sight of 100+ Buicks driving to these museums. The public will eat it up. If you didn't drive a Buick to the show, I'm positive you can get a ride with someone else. Good driving memories that I recall from recent Nationals include the amazing drive of over 50 1959 Buicks in Colorado, the drive to the Drive-In in Seattle, the wonderful drive to Jewell in Iowa, etc. I know they didn't to this in Portland, but what a wonderful time it would have been to drive to the falls. Anyway, I think there should be a driving event at every Nationals. I encourage future meet planners to include at least one.
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There are certainly other options for those who drive their Buicks and feel like their cars are not 'good enough' for an award in the 400 point judging. If it is over 25 years old, you can consider the Archival class. The Archival judging doesn't really care about the condition, just that it is a mostly non-modified Buick. I have always driven to the shows and rarely had a Buick I felt 'good enough' to win an award in the 400 point judging. In fact, I have never won an award at a National Meet. I put it in Display only. And I am very proud to see my Buick parked on the show field next to all of the other show winners. I respect the time and effort it takes to maintain and drive a show-winning Buick, but that's not always in my budget. Display only gives me the chance to participate with what I bring. I'm ok with that.
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I'm biased toward wagons. They are much more scarce than sedans. Restoring a wagon will be more interesting and challenging than a sedan. Keep it. And you should have a larger audience for the sedan parts if you decide to part it out to help fund the wagon.
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I agree with JohnD. I rescued a 1951 Buick once without a key. I took the cylinder from the glove box down to a locksmith and he was able to make a key from the code stamped on it. It took him about an hour to do it. In 1951 one key fit everything.
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More fun with old Buicks. Great story. Smells like a Bugle article to me.
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I see a future article for the Bugle coming out of this adventure.
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What a fantastic experience. Thanks for sharing it so well with us. That 1958 Station Wagon in Day 2 is cool. Don't see many of those.
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A fair price for a rare Buick. I'm surprised it is still available.
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About the quality of parts versus the cost. More often than not, I don't know the difference in quality by looking at the part, or even knowing the manufacturer. Typically I walk into my favorite auto parts store and ask for a particular part. They usually have several to choose from, all will work as a replacement part that I need, but the price range can vary a great deal. I never know who made them or what country they were made in. They are the ones that the store has in stock. Which one do I purchase? I don't know. If they all will work, and have the same warranty, I typically will buy the cheapest. And why not? Here is where I put my trust in the auto parts store. I trust them not to sell me inferior parts, no matter what I pay for it. And I have my opinion on which auto parts stores not to visit because I perceive their inventory to be inferior.
Recently I had the need to purchase a brake master cylinder for a 1974 VW Beetle I was working on. They had a new one for about twice as much as a rebuilt one. I physically looked at both and they were identical, and both had a lifetime warranty. With the warranty the same, I purchased the rebuilt one. It seems to work just fine. Will it last as long as a new one? Who knows? But I bet it will last several years, and that's all I needed.
I feel like the highest quality parts (and service for that matter) come straight from the dealer. And, of course, you will pay much more from the dealer. It may be just my opinion, but if I want the highest quality parts and service, price being no concern, I feel like I have to go to the dealer. I rarely have a bad experience with a dealer, but I go in knowing I will pay extra for the quality.
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Here is an ad that runs in the Bugle every month. Perhaps it can help.
Wheel center cap reproductions for Skylark/GS, Riviera, Electra and Wildcat chrome wheels (1965–1978): Reproduction lug nuts available. BCA #33885.Visit www.buickcenters
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What Buick5563 said. I have seen it many times and any buyer would be proud to own it.
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May be a little late, but there is one in the August Bugle. Great price, too. Here is the ad.
1931 Buick 96S Rumble Seat Coupe: The big one, “California Special”, wire wheels, side mounts, rare metal covers, metal trunk, wind wings, cigar lighter,
67,335 miles, rust free. $18,500. Robert McConnell, BCA #23679, Los Altos, CA, 650-964-1575 (8) -
Thanks for the compliments on registration. Back when the local chapters would bid for the National Meets, each chapter had to figure out the registration process on their own. Every year, the local chapters had to come up with a program for registration. And that always seemed to be a major concern for any local chapter thinking about bidding for a National Meet. Sometimes, I felt it was a major reason chapters were reluctant to bid on one. I wrote the registration program for our first National Meet in Texas in 1996 and offered it to any chapters wanting to use it for future meets. I didn't get any real interest until after the meet in Kokomo. I re-wrote the program for our second meet in 2004 and again offered it to future meet considerations, but this time I offered to help the local chapters by setting it up and training them on how to use it. After a few years of that, I approached the BOD and my wife, Michelle, and I then offered to do the registrations ourselves from then on. We could feel the relief from the local chapters, knowing the registration process was taken care of. It has worked out great, and Michelle and I learned and have made improvements every year. The registration process, once a major concern to the local chapters, is no longer a factor in bidding for the National Meet. We will continue to do the registrations as long as we are wanted. In an effort of full disclosure, we do get paid a fee per registration and our travel expenses are paid, but we have not had any problems getting the job.
Having said all of that, chapters still have to step up and bid. When the bidding stopped, there was a definite need for a National involvement, and thus the National Meet Committee was formed. I give some credit to the NMC because they were needed at one time and did what they were supposed to do. However, the bidding process should not have stopped just because a NMC was formed. I don't think that was communicated to the membership well enough. Everyone thought that there was no longer a need to host a national because there is this committee and they are doing it now. However, as stated above, the role of the NMC should now be one of consulting with local chapters when needed. But, when no one steps up to offer to host one, the responsibility falls back on the National Office. Someone has to do it, or there will be no National Meet.
On another note, Michelle and I are not doing the registrations for 2016. The National Office is. We will pick it back up again in 2017 in Milwaukee if they want us to do it. We haven't received an official invitation yet, but it is still early.
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I had your twin at one time. Sadly, I no longer have it, but here are a few pictures.
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Wow, a 1966 Wildcat GS Convertible. I would have stayed there all day, hoping someone would think it was mine.
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More progress yesterday tearing it all down. Here are pictures of the pinion gear (what's left of it). I don't know how this thing ever ran after looking at this. I determined it is a limited slip setup (posi-traction), 3:23 ratio, 8.5 inches. I found pieces of the posi-traction brackets and springs in the differential case. My shop manual tells me the Auburn limited slip differential is not servicable and should be replaced as a complete unit. Does anyone know about that? I also posted a picture of what happens when you hold the slide hammer (used to remove the axle bearings) a little too close to the slide hammer. One thing for sure, I'm learning as I go.
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Even modern cars break down unexpectedly. When I hear people afraid to drive their old cars on long trips it tells me they don't drive it enough on short trips to have confidence in the car. The way I see it, if you drive it a few times a week around town or on shorter trips, pretty soon you'll have 500 miles on it. Well, then you'd be confident to take it on a 500 round trip the next chance you get. Driving it on short trips often will give you the confidence to take it on longer and longer trips. And I don't like driving an old Buick on a long trip after a repair until I am confident the repair is done and over with. For instance, if my car is overheating and I suspect it is the radiator, I wouldn't just change the radiator and start off on a long trip. I'd drive it around town until I'm confident the radiator fixed the overheating problem. My point is, drive it on short trips, get to know your old car, then you won't worry about the longer ones.
And having roadside service is a good idea, too. Just in case you need it. One time I had a flat and then realized the spare wheel was not for the car. The bolt pattern looked close but wouldn't fit. I never used it before so I didn't know it until I tried it on the trip. I explained it to the roadside service and they dispatched a truck out that had the capability to remove the tire from the bad wheel and put it on the flat tire's wheel. That one service was worth what I paid them for a year.
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Bud's Auto Salvage, Aline, OK. 4,500 cars--fabulous place
in Buick - General
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Although the parts were reasonably priced, I think the cars are not. We asked about several whole cars and I think the lowest price we heard for an entire car was $1,500. Although we did not ask about the Riviera specifically.