Smartin

Looks like my radiator guy can recore the heater core after all. When he told me is was "junk," he was merely stating a fact, and I took it as a "nope, won't touch it." I took it back to him today when I picked up the radiator. He's going to measure it and give me a call in the next day or two for a price quote.

Classic Heaters will recore mine, but I'd still like to find one that isn't going to cost me $150 ............. If I HAVE to, I will send it to them. I still have my hopes, though. Anyone?

Tom, Yes. he said it was "junk." And didn't bother to even pick it out of my hand. He's always been a great reference on radiator and welding stuff, but I guess this is out of his league. I emailed Classic Heaters (www.classicheaters.com) and included the pictures I posted above, and he told me it would be fine to recore. They charge $135 plus the shipping out and back. I'm still searching for one that isn't as bad as mine.

Guy, I really love seeing others' progress pictures and stories, so I figured I'd give some of it back by keeping this thread updated with my progress on the 60. I also am being very painstakingly anal about this project, since it is my "first job" of sorts. Eventually, I would like to do this full-time. I need to get some more experience under my belt before I jump in anywhere. Thankfully, Mr. Deglman sees my vision, and has offered his 60 Buick as my guinea pig. So far, he has been very very impressed with the detail of the work. He told me the other day, "Adam, this isn't what we discussed...etc" I told him, "Hank, if you want it done right, it's got to be done all the way." His reply, "So how far over budget are we going to get?" Me: "You never gave me a budget!!" Him: "oh....well, I trust you. Just do whatever you have to do to get it where it needs to be." Me: "No problem!" Him: "You're getting my 62 next...and whatever else I buy after that."

Thanks Guy, I hope I can find one, too. So far, this has been the most difficult issue. I hope to keep it that way! Cedar chips....makes sense! At the very least, it will mask the odor.

Pics of the alleged producer of horrid mildew smells..

Interesting... I will look at that when his 62 comes into the garage in a couple months for a bit of work. I'll also post a couple pics of the TOASTED heater core, too.

Heater core is junk...I'm looking for another one. Anyone?

I got the word that the heater core in this car is irrepairable. Anyone have a spare?

There is a radiator shop next to my office, and he is THE guy to go to for a radiator porblem, so I'll go to him first. I am taking the radiator and the heater core there tomorrow to see if he can revive it. I'm having the radiator boiled out and checked just to be on hte safe side. I'd hate to be halfway to Rochester and have a tank blow on me. If you're referring to Plano, I was there, but I think you might have been talking to Bob (the mechanic who was doing the work on his car at the time). I don't think they have it totally figured out yet, since the car does not want to fully engage in Park when "parked." The parking brake must be engaged every time he parks the car. I do remember your car, though. Very nice!! I'm a sucker for the Wildcat.

Got some more random stuff done today... Did some cleaning under the hood today, but concentrated on getting the heater box cover done, power steering pump, horns, and breather tube clean and painted. Every nut and bolt gets wire wheeled and clearcoated, unless noted a specific color. I love seeing things come together, even if it is just a heater box! Everything's clean and spotless. I love it!! PS pump: purrrrdy! Heater Box Cover - this should look good when mounted again:TU: T00B...nothing special here.. I got the heater core out last night and it is TOAST. When I say TOAST, I mean it must have been leaking for 5 years. No wonder everyone was complaining of mildew problems. I hope it can be recored!

Anyone else have an opinion on this? Seems to be pretty well divided..

This car never did ever appear to have any sort of gasket between the head and manifold...

I need the yellow clip that attaches the harness to the brake switch (see green arrow in picture) The one on Hank's car is missing. It has been replaced with cheapo wire terminals that have been crimped to the switch....not exactly factory correct.

Thanks John... I'll be machining the head and manifold surfaces so I don't have to use those lovely cardboard gaskets they give you in the kits. If I recall, Buick didn't install gaskets on the manifolds, correct?

Yep, I had bought small machine screws and nuts to replace them.

I will keep them in mind for future reference! I haven't really had to do much parts hunting for the early 60's cars. Most of the stuff I need for my Centurion is fairly readily available.

Sue at Wheatbelt came through for me today! Thanks Ken & Sue!

Looks good, Keith! As far as getting them to work again, the best bet is to drill the rivets out and take it apart to clean it up. THe contact points are usually bunged up. patsusedparts was able to get one working that I sent him...and I had already pulled it apart and totally lost interest in getting it to work, since i found another working trumpet horn. All he did was swap guts from a regular horn.

Part number for the passenger side exhaust manifold is 1186498 Pictures of the pass side manifold!!! Notice the chunk missing from the exhaust port....

Thanks Phil! This car is going to be much nicer than what I had projected at first... Discoveries I made this weekend: Dead heater core (which explains the mildew problem and the fogging windshield) I also got the passenger side manifold off and found that the heat riser was frozen shut. This would explain the power issue! The heads are getting rebuilt as soon as I get the gaskets and seals from CARS. Current state of affairs: waiting for parts.

emailed and left a message for Kenny yesterday...hope to hear from him this week!

The stud serves as a mounting point for the lower generator bracket...so it has a nut that goes on it when everything is mounted correctly. This little rubber doodad may be nothing, but I want to make sure it didn't fall out of something important. I would imagine it's not near any real heat, otherwise it would be trash by now.

Heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, and water neck all came off this morning with only minor fights. The impact wrench made short work of getting those old rusted exhaust studs out of the manifolds under the car. I'm waiting on an order from CARS to get the heads rebuilt with new seals and the rest of the engine parts cleaned up, also. They are sending engine and chassis paint as well. So, I'm dead in the water until I get the shipment from them. Hopefully I got everything I needed in one shot. I ordered over $500 worth of stuff in decals, little rubber parts, paint, sensors, etc. I'm proud of myself that I have only broken 3 bolts so far. One was on the t-stat housing, one was the bolt holding the tranny dipstick tube to the exhaust manifold, and the other one is still holding tight in the passenger side head with a corner of the exh manifold still sttached. I have pictures, but I don't have any time to post them right now. Tomorrow, maybe........