WillBilly53

bump. this is the last dash item I need to clean up and it's keeping me from installing the dash. anybody have any ideas on removing the glass? Thanks!

just wanted to say thank you all so much for this thread. I could not for the life of me figure out how to use the tool. I could see the clips and understood what needed to happen, but was trying to push the tool instead of gripping the open ends of the clip and pulling it. Been messing with it all weekend and finally managed to get one of the window cranks off! And yes, still wasn't really easy but glad I understand now!

Thanks Fr., but there doesn't seem to be a screw. I've attached some photos of what I'm working with.

I thought I had posted this before but couldn't find it. Any ideas on how to remove the glass on a 1953 Clock? It's binded by the time setter shaft/mechanism. Or do I just need to take the whole clock apart?

excellent. The car is down at the moment. I'm still in the stages of putting everything back together. The interior is what I'm concentrating on right now so the dash is out and all the instruments are removed. Installed a brand new wiring harness and I'm in the middle of putting everything back so I'll probably try both suggestions. I think I could swing $6.99 for the decals and also try painting on the spare speedometer I have from my parts car and see what comes out the best. Thanks everybody! and thanks for checking out my website

What is the best way to get my faded odometer numbers restored? Should I take it apart and repaint them myself or is this something best left to a speedometer restoration shop? The MPH numbers are fine, but the odometer numbers are faded almost beyond recognition. Any tips? I'm mighty handy with brush and paint.

howdy all, i'm parting out some redundant parts from my '53 resto. I'm slowly going through the stuff I need, would like to keep as an extra part, and the things I don't need. So far, I've got: -Sonomatic radio. 12 volt. I'm not sure if it works. -Dash (no gauges, just the frame) Light surface rust, no rust-through. -Gas tank. I'm honestly not sure this can be salvaged but thought I would see before I sent it to the metal scrapyard. It had a dime size hole punched in it by a fellow at a radiator shop to "drain" it. then they attempted to patch the hole. I used Eastwood's gas tank restorer and Tank Tone but it was done poorly and rust is seeping through and I hear flakes inside. (see photos) here are some photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/1953buick/1953BuickSuperParts?feat=directlink Make me an offer on any of this stuff, I just need the extra space and could use a little extra money. I'll be posting more as I move forward with the restoration... Thanks!

did a little more research and found a couple sites in case others are interested (amazing what changing the words in a search can do on the web): Upholstery Supplies - Chipboard, Car Panelboard, Furniture Chipboard, Automotive Panelboard EZ Boy Interiors :: Panel Boards - Accessories

Killer car for a killer price. what a find! Congrats and welcome, Jerry!

excellent, thank you all.

Anybody know where to get door panel material for 50's era cars? I'm doing a slight custom interior myself for my '53 Super and need the blank cardboard-ish material that was used. I could swear I found a place online or someone mentioned (but never ordered it) some years ago but can't remember now. (Jeez, I'm only 33 and already suffering memory loss! I guess I better start taking my gingko biloba or quit cooking with aluminium...) But seriously, any ideas? Thanks!

I've finished the tail light and dash re-wiring and I'm about to put the gauges, speedo and clock back into my repainted dash and install the dash. However, I need to clean the bezels and glass of the dash items before I put them back in. There's this black gunk that looks like it melted in between the glass and bezel. my guess is it is some sort of rubber gasket? What would you all suggest for cleaning this off the glass? Should I just soak it in purple power or simple green for a few days and then scrape. And does anybody make a replacement gasket, if that is indeed what it is(was)? Second, are the bezels stainless or chrome? and How should I go about cleaning them? If stainless, I was just going to take them to my bench polisher. Suggestions?

Thanks Lockhouse. Well after demolishing the lens, I saw that there are 4 metal tabs that poke through slits on the inside of the metal casing. The tabs are slightly bent to keep the dome assembly attached to roof. I staightened the tabs and was able to remove it. New wiring harness here we come!

Kings Mountain, just West of Charlotte, right off 85. That's where I grew up and my parents still live there (my sister lives in Clayton, right outside of Raleigh. I spent 2003 in my hometown and had my buicks stored at my dad's garage while I worked on the main one. I then moved to Nashville to hang out with my brother for a few years trying to work on it on some weekends when I'd visit the folks. I never found an appropriate place to have the car to work on it until I bought this house recently.

Thanks Lamar, yeah, having a hard time visualizing it all. The rub, is that the hood with springs is back in N.C. I'll have to get my Dad to bring it down or I'll go get it one weekend soon and hit you up?

Thanks Bob. I'm having a bit of trouble figuring this out. I posted about this a few years ago and then life and other things got distracted and now I'm back. My situation is this: my main car has a good hood and hinges attached, but no springs. My parts car has an unattached "bad hood" with hinges and springs. All I want to do is either install the whole hinge spring assembly from the parts car to the good car or just get the springs onto the hinges of the good car. Does that make since? Which would be the easiest or what would be the best thing to do? Is it even possible to separate the hinges from the hood itself? P.S the manual says to make the spring removal tool locally. I don't know the first thing about how to do this.

understood, thank you!

Saw a 1954 Product Service Bulletin for sale and was wondering if anyone knows if it covers 1953 items. Specifically the Hood Springs and Hinges. Thanks!

Yeah that's a sweet lookin '56. (the photo wasn't loading on my machine before) Hey Lamar, Yep I'm still in Athens, loving it here. I work over at TSAV next to the chicken plant on Barber. I finally bought a house a little while ago with a 2 car garage and now have my '53 in there and I'm chipping away at it. She's coming along very nicely. I'm hoping to have her driving by the end of summer. We should meet up sometime if you're out and about in one of your '54s!

er, how does one remove the dome light on a '53 Super? I'm installing a brand new wiring harness and I've gotten to this point, but can't see any screws or anything to take it off. I didn't see anything in the manual or in the replacement parts catalog. thanks!

Congratulations on the new purchase and welcome to the forums! Sounds like you got a nice driver! If you haven't already, I might suggest replacing the brake lines with new stainless steel ones. The way I understand it on these older brake drum systems, if you get a leak in the lines, all 4 brakes go out. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong) I went ahead and converted my front ends to disc brakes and replaced the old rusty lines to stainless steel. Classic Tube has both standard and power for your year and model: Classic Tube: Standard & Power Brake

Buick Rust Repair Panels - 1950-53 Buick Front Floor Pan (Series 50-70) (sorry-series 50-70 Duh!)

Awesome, thanks Pete! I noticed the tabs last night. Now I can clean up these instruments and put them in my other (repainted) dash and start on the wiring harness!

I need to remove the speedo, clock, etc. And clean them up. There's this black gunk that is seeping underneath the glass. I'm assuming it's a gasket that melted while being out in the sun for years? How do I take these instruments apart to clean them up? I've got the dash off and can get to them but can't figure out how to remove the glass to clean these up. Any ideas?

oh awesome, can't wait to try it out. Thanks kevin!